Mini polar bear returns - same drop rate - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Sjeng

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

in my GH

Limburgse Jagers [LJ]

W/

09 Dec 2008 at 06:39 - 1

Quote:

The Miniature Polar Bear will return, and the drop rate is going to be the same as last year. --Regina Buenaobra 19:27, 8 December 2008 (UTC)

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/User_...ra#Mini_Ursula

same drop rate FTL.

So, I guess everyone will be farming the Snowman Lair this Winterday... yaaaay. </sarcasm>

fenix

Major-General Awesome

Join Date: Aug 2005

Aussie Trolling Crew HQ - Event Organiser and IRC Tiger

Ex Talionis [Law], Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] ????????????????&#

W/

09 Dec 2008 at 06:51 - 2

I might farm it a few times, we shall see. I could use a few thousand ecto...

Gli

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

09 Dec 2008 at 07:39 - 3

Good.

If they'd make it a more reasonable drop-rate, I might be tempted to run that quest until I get it, the boredom setting in after run #2 notwithstanding. This way, I'll have no reason to take time away from the snowball arena.

Wish Swiftdeath

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Feb 2007

Mo/W

09 Dec 2008 at 07:40 - 4

haha, imagine if anet secretly removed it?

Owik Gall

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2007

Guardians of the Light

W/Mo

09 Dec 2008 at 07:51 - 5

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wish Swiftdeath

haha, imagine if anet secretly removed it?

NOOOOOOOOES! Don't jinx it!

Mammoth

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2005

The Yakslappers

Mo/Me

09 Dec 2008 at 08:06 - 6

Ehh.... drop rate can stay the same... now that we know about it more than a few days before the end of the event... eh? ehhhhh?

Ratson Itamar

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2006

"Flame Shield On!"

09 Dec 2008 at 08:06 - 7

The Mini Polar Bear will not be available in the Chest of Wintersday Past, which is the normal chest in the Secret Lair of the Snowmen quest - Gaile 21:26, 2 January 2008.

Here's the link - http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Talk:...i_Pola r_Bear

Daywalker2004

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jun 2008

Germany

German Guild Of War

D/

09 Dec 2008 at 08:11 - 8

Is the drop rate the same in NM and HM?

Maybe I will take a few runs but I think after a couple of hours and no polar bear I'd probably give up.

upier

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

Done.

[JUNK]

09 Dec 2008 at 08:22 - 9

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sjeng

So, I guess everyone will be farming the Snowman Lair this Winterday... yaaaay. </sarcasm>

That, we will not.

Sjeng

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

in my GH

Limburgse Jagers [LJ]

W/

09 Dec 2008 at 08:46 - 10

You might not be, but I'll bet hundreds op people will.

And yes, to clarify: it's the reward for a quest, not the normal dungeon run.
http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Wintersday_Chest

maraxusofk

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

San Francisco, UC Berkeley

International District [id多], In Soviet Russia Altar Caps You [CCCP], LOL at [eF]

W/

09 Dec 2008 at 09:53 - 11

good thing the drop rate will stay the same. else it would be meaningless if everyone ran around wit one.

ZenRgy

Zookeeper

Join Date: Jul 2005

Australian Discussion Posse HQ - Glorious leader

҉ ̵̡̢̢̛̛̛̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟&#

N/E

09 Dec 2008 at 10:16 - 12

I just got two in a row.

Shasgaliel

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2008

[bomb]

09 Dec 2008 at 10:25 - 13

there will be plenty of them. They would be farmed 24/7 by hundreds of people during the whole event. I guess there would be no issue with getting one later on. Their price will go down as well. I think there is no need to increase a drop rate.

Earth

Always Outnumbered

Join Date: Jul 2006

09 Dec 2008 at 10:37 - 14

I guess alot of people will be crying and angry now.

How sad.

EDIT @ above: The drop rate is EXTREMELY low, so the price won't go down that much.

upier

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

Done.

[JUNK]

09 Dec 2008 at 10:44 - 15

Quote:

Originally Posted by maraxusofk

good thing the drop rate will stay the same. else it would be meaningless if everyone ran around wit one.

Oh noes, that guy has the same mini as I do! That must mean I fail at GW!1!!

A mini is there for the Barbie-kids. You choose a Barbie based on which girl is sporting the best haircut.
But in the end you are still playing with Barbies.

greyhawk

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2007

IGN : Greyhawks Destroyer

guildless

W/

09 Dec 2008 at 10:45 - 16

price WILL go down, because there will be more, common sence.

the price of them has been goign down slowly up until now due to people not wanting to risk if they did drop this winters day, if they didnt the price would sky rocket,

it is a risk either way to have one.

Aerial Assault

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2007

IGN: Ingame Notoriety

09 Dec 2008 at 10:55 - 17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sjeng

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/User_...ra#Mini_Ursula
Same drop rate!?!? Great. 2 more people will get one then. GG! Can't believe you people want players to grind the snowman cave the entire wintersday event. *cough*fail*cough* Sjeng talk 06:31, 9 December 2008 (UTC)

Quoted from: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/User_...ra#Mini_Ursula

You must be really dense if you think only 2 more will pop out as a result of this year's upcoming Wintersday festival. 2 polar bears triggered from last year isn't even an accurate number for the actual amount yielded --Though it's possible that 2 is an accurate estimate of how many Ursula's are currently left ingame as a result of the number of them being removed from the multiple account bans that occurred during the whole duping fiasco.

Point I'm trying to make is this: More than 2 were triggered from last year.

Take into account of the circumstances then: that hardly anyone even bothered to attempt Wintersday last year because it was not known that the mini Polar Bear would be an actual reward. Actually, its existence was even (wrongly)DENIED by Gaile in an interview, which probably even discouraged players to even participate.

This year,the sheer # of people going to farm Wintersday will drastically outnumber the count from last year (obviously), and will consequently yield an even larger number of Ursulas being triggered. Added the fact that Regina has now confirmed that Ursula will be offered again this year, how many more people now would you care to guess will participate in hopes to snag one?

tmakinen

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

www.mybearfriend.net

Servants of Fortuna [SoF]

E/

09 Dec 2008 at 11:09 - 18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerial Assault

This year,the sheer # of people going to farm Wintersday will drastically outnumber the count from last year (obviously)

With a drop rate somewhere around 1 per 100 000 chests opened and time constraints setting the maximal number of opened chests per player at around 500 (unless you bot 24/7) it is indeed possible that the total number of mini polar bears will reach that of other rare minis. The question is, how many people are willing to spend their entire holiday on a wild goose chase with a negligible chance of producing a favorable outcome?

Gli

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

09 Dec 2008 at 11:23 - 19

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmakinen

With a drop rate somewhere around 1 per 100 000 chests opened and time constraints setting the maximal number of opened chests per player at around 500 (unless you bot 24/7) it is indeed possible that the total number of mini polar bears will reach that of other rare minis. The question is, how many people are willing to spend their entire holiday on a wild goose chase with a negligible chance of producing a favorable outcome?

If I remember correctly, a vast part of the guru community went into farming frenzy for the final few hours, not turning up a single bear. That has to amount to quite a number of chests popped.

I'm not going to play those odds.

fenix

Major-General Awesome

Join Date: Aug 2005

Aussie Trolling Crew HQ - Event Organiser and IRC Tiger

Ex Talionis [Law], Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] ????????????????&#

W/

09 Dec 2008 at 11:43 - 20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerial Assault

Quoted from: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/User_...ra#Mini_Ursula

You must be really dense if you think only 2 more will pop out as a result of this year's upcoming Wintersday festival. 2 polar bears triggered from last year isn't even an accurate number for the actual amount yielded --Though it's possible that 2 is an accurate estimate of how many Ursula's are currently left ingame as a result of the number of them being removed from the multiple account bans that occurred during the whole duping fiasco.

Point I'm trying to make is this: More than 2 were triggered from last year.

Take into account of the circumstances then: that hardly anyone even bothered to attempt Wintersday last year because it was not known that the mini Polar Bear would be an actual reward. Actually, its existence was even (wrongly)DENIED by Gaile in an interview, which probably even discouraged players to even participate.

This year,the sheer # of people going to farm Wintersday will drastically outnumber the count from last year (obviously), and will consequently yield an even larger number of Ursulas being triggered. Added the fact that Regina has now confirmed that Ursula will be offered again this year, how many more people now would you care to guess will participate in hopes to snag one?

Around 3 dropped last year, that is all. If you believe otherwise, your information is incorrect.

This year, I imagine maybe another 10 will drop. It will be a stretch if over 20 will drop, so I would say 10-20 is a good guess. The drop rates are tiny, everyone knows this. Low player activity paired with a tiny chance of getting one means that not as many players will be farming it as you think.

Longasc

Forge Runner

Join Date: May 2005

09 Dec 2008 at 12:00 - 21

The drop rate is so low that I will not take the extra effort to increase the odds in my favor by spending a lot of time running this dungeon over and over.

Should special events not entertain people?
Nobody likes running this silly dungeon over and over again, the bear is the carrot.

I fear it is going to cause a lot of frustration to those who try to get it. Special events should create some kind of community spirit, especially at christmas, not always be farming marathons/opportunities.

Kook~NBK~

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2005

A little chalet outside Drok's

Natural Born Killaz

09 Dec 2008 at 12:17 - 22

It's OK that they're going to be dropping, but I think it will detract from the rest of the holiday. There will be a ton people who will waste all their playing time during Wintersday farming for that thing and come out with empty hands. And there will be a ton of people who are going to be disappointed after the holiday is over and come here and whine that this Wintersday sucked.

Meanwhile, everything else the holiday has to offer gets put off to the side and probably won't be as much fun, since people taking a break from trying to farm that thing will come into other events and take their crappy moods out on those of us who aren't getting our shorts in a wad over a vanity item.

Evil_Necro

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

川崎区、日本

currently guildless..

Rt/

09 Dec 2008 at 12:50 - 23

lalala.. something to do in the christmas morning me guess

When's it gonna be available anyway?

:0

go cubs

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2007

Chicago

[SIR]

D/

09 Dec 2008 at 13:06 - 24

whenever the rest of the npc's come

Tom Swift

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Aug 2007

09 Dec 2008 at 13:44 - 25

Once again Anet shows they are getting their inspiration from

5 year olds and Pokemon

I used to like the minis but I am so sick of them being about the only things that are worth anything in this game.

Pleikki

WTB q8 15^50 Weapons!

Join Date: Nov 2006

???oo ???ugs ???lan [?????????]

09 Dec 2008 at 14:13 - 26

hmm quess ill try get it few times, then if i wont get one, who cares, i can live without it.. i guess price drops few hundread ectos atleast..

Riot Narita

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2007

09 Dec 2008 at 14:24 - 27

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenix

not as many players will be farming it as you think.

You could be right.

Although, I farmed the hell out of that quest last year without even knowing there was a chance of a polar bear: because it's quick, easy, and gives a lot of candy shards. I expect it will be the same this year.

It's an excellent farming spot even without the polar bear.

Shard drop rate is better than HM raptors - over 190/hour (about 130/hour from drops and quest reward... plus 5 goodies from the chest at the end of each run, which are equivelent to 2.5 wintersday gifts, which are equivelent to 5 shards each. Effective total: about 190 shards/hour, more if you're fast). And you don't need a high-level character, EotN, or a Raptor farming build to do it.

Makes a nice change from Raptors if you're after shards (wintersday prezzie stuff)... AND there's a chance of winning the polar bear lottery. Bonus! :-D

Miki Zu Heltzer

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2007

Netherlands

None.

Mo/

09 Dec 2008 at 14:43 - 28

Quote:

Originally Posted by upier

Oh noes, that guy has the same mini as I do! That must mean I fail at GW!1!!
[IMG]picture/IMG]

A mini is there for the Barbie-kids. You choose a Barbie based on which girl is sporting the best haircut.
But in the end you are still playing with Barbies.

That made me laugh. But it is the hard truth. ^^

keli

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2006

Budapest

E/

09 Dec 2008 at 15:01 - 29

Quote:

Originally Posted by upier

Oh noes, that guy has the same mini as I do! That must mean I fail at GW!1!!

A mini is there for the Barbie-kids. You choose a Barbie based on which girl is sporting the best haircut.
But in the end you are still playing with Barbies.

if it is that useless, then why do you fight for a better droprate? "^^

Shayne Hawke

Departed from Tyria

Join Date: May 2007

Clan Dethryche [dth]

R/

09 Dec 2008 at 15:04 - 30

Enjoy your one-in-a-million chance at getting a Polar Bear.

I'll enjoy my easy gamer points.

killerbot3009

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Oct 2007

the beaster

the Gold Fish [GOLD]

W/

09 Dec 2008 at 15:10 - 31

i don't like people that say the dungeon is useless, i already farm it, which means that i can charge people a lot for runs over christmas. it will be awesome. i always get quite a lot of dyes and golds from it already.

upier

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

Done.

[JUNK]

09 Dec 2008 at 15:14 - 32

Quote:

Originally Posted by keli

if it is that useless, then why do you fight for a better droprate? "^^

I think you must have confused me with someone that gives a shit.

Louis1976

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2008

in the shadows

Ashfords Last Heirs [olsq]

09 Dec 2008 at 15:23 - 33

oh - they're keeping rarity? Maybe I should not have sold mine....

l

lordheinous

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2007

09 Dec 2008 at 15:49 - 34

Quote:

Originally Posted by killerbot3009

i don't like people that say the dungeon is useless, i already farm it, which means that i can charge people a lot for runs over christmas. it will be awesome. i always get quite a lot of dyes and golds from it already.

WRONG, the bear doesn't drop from the normal secret lair, but from a seperate quest that takes place there accessed from one of the port cities. If you're going to crow like an idiot, at least know what you're talking about first please.

Riot Narita

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2007

09 Dec 2008 at 16:06 - 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shayne Hawke

Enjoy your one-in-a-million chance at getting a Polar Bear.

I'll enjoy my easy gamer points.

Snowball Arena. Fun for a while. Gives gamer points. Gives balth faction, and a few candy shards.

Strength of Snow quest. Fun for a while. Gives loads of shards -> loads of sweets/alcohol/party points/cash. And a chance of a polar bear is just gravy.

You imply that people farming the quests are wasting their time on a million-to-once chance of a polar bear, but they are not. It's as worthy a farm as snowball arena... all depends what's more valuable to you.

I consider gamer points to be worthless/useless, but balth faction is nice (zkeys). I'd still rather have the quest goodies.

O Frost O

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2006

Ascalon

E/

09 Dec 2008 at 16:41 - 36

I'm actually glad they are bringing the mini polar bear back. First off anet didn't have to, so thanks for that.

Secondly, the majority of people only found out about its existence the end of last years event so there will be more accessibility to it(farming or purchasing it as price will drop a bit) and really would there be this much of a reaction if it was just another mini pig.

Just think of it as a rare mini for PvE players, which we have none of.. It's a chance to get a rare mini we wouldn't normally have if we weren't in top GVG guilds or slaving away in HA. Just like having to go through a dungeon to get a rare end chest drop, or fighting your way to HoH, I think anet was quite fair with the quests and process/drop rate of attaining the mini polar bear.

EroChrono

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2006

Netherlands

[WitB]

W/

09 Dec 2008 at 17:10 - 37

I'm wondering this;
*If* you get a polar bear mini, what to do?
1) Sell straight away.
Because of the initial hype, the price will drop from whatever it is now, to the 1xxx, or xxx ecto range. But if you sell it early enough, the price will still be high.
2) Keep it for a while.
Once the fog has cleared, it may turn out, there aren't all that much mini polar bears after all. And you can sell it later in 2009 for a massive amount of ecto's/zkeys/armbraces.
3) Dedicate it and sell/keep it.
If you have high hopes that this will get you something good in GW2 + even selling a ded polar bear should be a nice retirement fund for the remainder of GW1.

Rothan Celt

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2008

Aura

Mo/R

09 Dec 2008 at 17:13 - 38

im good with the drop rate

i'll do one or 2 runs for luck but i wont bother for long.

cute little mini however!

How much is it worth?

IlikeGW

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Aug 2005

09 Dec 2008 at 17:18 - 39

They should make them a same rarity drop for the winners of snowball arena. How do they figure people who aren't already OCD farmers would have any fun with this.

Molock

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2006

Qu??bec

Legacy of Angels [Halo]

E/

09 Dec 2008 at 17:25 - 40

I hope they make a mistake and the chest drops tons of them, I wanna laugh...