Nicholas the Traveler - Location Discussion (Updated Mondays) - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

ne33us

Academy Page

Join Date: Nov 2005

Athens, Greece

12 Aug 2009 at 07:44 - 2683

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad King Corn

This week and the idea of Behemoth hides is stupid, I have done this (Nicholas) from the start and always enjoyed it, but this time it was not fun, and if they were all this difficult, I would not even bother for the junk I get from him anyway. These hides drop almost as scarcely as perfect REQ9 golds. I have used a 3 man team to farm those damn things and have spent about 6.5 hours off and on since yesterday and only have 6 hides.
This is just insane grind.
I'm even more upset because of the fact that their stupid mistake cost me even more time farming krait skins all for nothing. They could have posted a message by the login screen, explaining the mistake, so people did not work for nothing.

I collected mine doing the Vehjin Mines route.

And yes they didn't drop easily for me either. (but I wasn't "farming" them)

Using 2 "old" accounts in HM (2xGW/PC = 2 players + 6 heroes) I got 1 hide per run IF I was lucky enough to even get that (playing my most played characters).

Using 1 "old" account and 1 "new" account in HM (again 2xGW/PC = 2 players + 6 heroes), the "new" account got it's hides in 3 "runs".

Just happened ?
I'm very unlucky ? (in fact I was "showing" my Tragic(4) title while doing the above "runs")
Overplayed "old" accounts get "panished" ? (I'm not even farming with those characters)
Who knows.

Anyway ...

cosyfiep

are we there yet?

Join Date: Dec 2005

in a land far far away

guild? I am supposed to have a guild?

Rt/

12 Aug 2009 at 09:20 - 2684

sent my hubby to get his gifts....nic doesnt like him : 15 (yes 3 times) mysterious tonics, 10 honey 10 ales....oy.
I think the gifts are better on the first day for some reason....later in the week they seem to er, uhm, well....suck!

Thalador Doomspeaker

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2008

The Ruins of Rin

Incarnation of the Reaper [GRIM]

W/

12 Aug 2009 at 09:58 - 2685

I had had a Traveler's Walking Stick from my previous gifts, and I just had a Vampiric Dragon Sword and Red Rock Candies. Before these, the only "jackpot" I hit was Kegs of Aged Hunter's Ale (3).

Painbringer

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2006

Minnesota

Black Widows of Death

W/Mo

12 Aug 2009 at 15:06 - 2686

1 hour straight farming of hides and not a single drop of them... not even one. I got a greenie and fangs and claws and some good runes but not a single common drop??? (4-man team)

So I guess in my mind the traveler is still bugged and I will not be participating this week (what a waste of time)

WTS 15 Kriat skins

Danger Russ

Academy Page

Join Date: Jan 2006

US East Coast

KISS

Mo/

12 Aug 2009 at 17:22 - 2687

I must admit I hate farming these things. All the degen all the hate all the undead. My solo earth ele/derv kills them well enough on NM if I avoid the skree. I am farming those few (about 22) in wilderness of bahdza. Takes too long with too few hides. I have probably farmed about 30 of them.

I generally like the whole travelers thing when the farming is challenging so prices are good. Is there a better place to farm them?

LONGA

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2006

Thailand

Agot

N/

12 Aug 2009 at 17:31 - 2688

Another easy week for me.Glad to be a packrats.Test my new pet build as well.

KiyaKoreena

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

USA

Kirins of Holy Light

N/

12 Aug 2009 at 17:33 - 2689

Finally got an egg out of the deal... too bad I broke down last week and paid the zcoins for it. Ah well. Maybe next week I'll get a mini!

It took about 2 hours for my husband and I to farm 58 hides in the Mines area. Got two green scythes and a lot of golds for IDing.

lilDeath

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2006

Treehouse #1

W/

12 Aug 2009 at 20:42 - 2690

I would strongly suggest that people who farmed the kraits, keep the skins. I would even suggest to farm even more krait skins, if possible.

I have a suspicion that location in Arbor Bay will be coming up, maybe soon, even next week or possible the week after.

Whoever updates the location for Nic is likely to have made a typo or select and that is how he ended up there. They could have easily incremented a number incorrectly.
Chances are that ANet have all his locations and what he will be collecting planned out weeks in advance, but not necessarily the Greeting text, which was the problem when he was in Arbor Bay.

I am still farming the hides, they are really dropping very badly for me...

I would go as far as to say, this is the worst of all the drops so far for Nicolas.

Arachnephobia

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2007

Tyria

FaR

E/

12 Aug 2009 at 20:58 - 2691

Fought 3 of them, had 1 hide drop the first time (friend gave me 9 more). What I got was Blue rock candies, Aged ale, Keg, 10 mysterious stones, and a Vampiric Dragon sword. For once I didn't get just stones, tonics, and whatnot. I finally get lucky! Yet, I'm still waiting for my moss spider egg, and the miniatures. I wont give up.

MisterB

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2005

Planet Earth, Sol system, Milky Way galaxy

[ban]

W/

12 Aug 2009 at 21:19 - 2692

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danger Russ

Is there a better place to farm them?

Vehjin Mines. Leave from Jennur's Horde and head to the Holdings of Chokhin portal; there are 50 of them in hard mode near that portal. Zone back and forth at portal to reset. Unsure how many are in normal.

SharonC

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2007

USA

Confused and Ridiculously Lost [CARL]

R/

12 Aug 2009 at 21:35 - 2693

50? Hmm, must be missing a group or two. I found 41, including the boss pack.

Fril Estelin

So Serious...

Join Date: Jan 2007

London

Nerfs Are [WHAK]

E/

12 Aug 2009 at 21:38 - 2694

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilDeath

I have a suspicion that location in Arbor Bay will be coming up, maybe soon, even next week or possible the week after.

Actually, Linsey said on her wikipage that it's the location of Nick... in a year's time! So keep them

.

Leviathon

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2008

BAD - Bass Ale Drinkers

E/Me

13 Aug 2009 at 00:20 - 2695

I am amazed as to how much ANET has messed with the monsters at the mines.

Yesterday I was cleaning house on hides with my Sabway Hero build in HM. Today, it is like the monsters "upgraded" their performance !

I am getting my A$$ handed to me.

ANET needs to stopped messing with players this way !

Neo Nugget

Site Contributor

Join Date: Jan 2006

R/

13 Aug 2009 at 00:33 - 2696

Got my hides and purchased a another 12 gifts for fun thinking I would get lucky. *shakes head* I should know better. Got plenty of ale and honeycomb >.>

Tearmaker

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2005

Seattle, WA

Sovereign Knights [SK]

R/

13 Aug 2009 at 03:22 - 2697

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterB

There's 46 Behemoths in Vehjin Mines near the Holdings of Chokhin portal, at least in hard mode. Easy to 600/smite, and zone back and forth to reset.

Do these things drop more in HM or NM ??... because I have been through this like 12 or 13 times and I only have 1 hide to show for it.

I'm running in NM right now with me and 3 heroes. Seems like I should have more to show for it.

CronkTheImpaler

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2006

midwest

AE

W/Me

13 Aug 2009 at 03:29 - 2698

30 runs in normal mode and ive scraped up 1 hide. ecto has a better drop rate.

Cronk

Lawliet Kira

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2006

E/Me

13 Aug 2009 at 05:28 - 2699

The people that are getting 0-1 drops...i dont know what your doing wrong...but i get 3-4 drops each run..most ive gotten was 5. i am at vejin mines in NM...soloing with my ele (no heros or hench), unfortunatly the build i created cant do the boss group, but i still get a very nice amount of hides.

SharonC

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2007

USA

Confused and Ridiculously Lost [CARL]

R/

13 Aug 2009 at 06:01 - 2700

When I farmed in normal mode with 3 people plus full party of heros, we got 6 hides in about an hour. When I did a 600/Smite with 3 people plus one hero, we got 25 hides in about an hour.

And I found out where the nine behemoths I was missing were. I just wasn't going far enough down one one of the canyons. In hard mode, there are 50 behemoths in easy reach of the Holdings of Chokhin portal.

Solas

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Oct 2006

Ireland

Currently LF Active HA Guild, Glad 2, Comm.3, R2

E/

13 Aug 2009 at 13:01 - 2701

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterB

Vehjin Mines. Leave from Jennur's Horde and head to the Holdings of Chokhin portal; there are 50 of them in hard mode near that portal. Zone back and forth at portal to reset. Unsure how many are in normal.

Would an ele be able to solo this or any other prof?

ll Jamie ll

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2009

Devon, England.

Desolation Lords [DL]

E/Mo

13 Aug 2009 at 14:08 - 2702

Well, i havn't tried stoneflesh yet but, it would be annoying i think.

Not really very profitable if you ask me, im just gonna do it with heroes + henchman, havn't tried the ole' spirit spam yet.

Tearmaker

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2005

Seattle, WA

Sovereign Knights [SK]

R/

13 Aug 2009 at 17:18 - 2703

Well I guess I get to skip this week. Ran that path again for the last hour and didn't get one hide drop. But at least I have some krait skins - sigh.

MisterB

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2005

Planet Earth, Sol system, Milky Way galaxy

[ban]

W/

13 Aug 2009 at 20:46 - 2704

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tearmaker

Do these things drop more in HM or NM ??... because I have been through this like 12 or 13 times and I only have 1 hide to show for it.

I'm running in NM right now with me and 3 heroes. Seems like I should have more to show for it.

I think the problem is the party size in your case. They have ~5% or more drop chance for me running duo(4 runs, 50 foes, and 10 drops, so 10 drops divided by 200 foes is 5%) and even more solo. It could be just random chance in my favor, though.

If anything, I think they would have a slightly higher chance to drop in normal because hard mode has more items available in the drop table and increased rare item chance. It seems to me that normal would be better for common drops like this, but proving it either way would require thousands of drops.

The reason I was farming them in hard is because I used a 600/smite build with Ogden and a solo "55" build on my Necromancer with 105 hp. Both builds used Spirit Bond, and foes hit faster as well, resulting in greater energy gain.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solas

Would an ele be able to solo this or any other prof?

I don't play elementalist, sorry. But any profession can 600/smite these guys. There's an excellent guide for 600/smite with different professions here. It's for Cathedral of Flames, but it should apply here as well.

Spirit spam apparently works: any profession except Paragon or Warrior could probably do that. A guide for spirit spam can be found here. Credit belongs to spun ducky and A Simple Farmer for those two builds.

If anyone wants my solo necro build, I posted here. It's really overkill on healing, because I'm bad at "55" builds when fighting lots of foes combined with heavy degen. Build inspired by Fuzzy Taco.
A monk primary could almost certainly use this build in reverse, too.

According to ReZDoGG's guide, a 330 Rt/Mo should be able to kill these behemoths. I don't play Ritualist, either.

Edit: Here is an Elementalist build and guide that will work here.

Also, it has occurred to me that the build I used should be able to adapt to other primary classes with Monk secondary. Just include damage skills and max the associated attribute. Sliver Armor or blocking in general would seem to have anti-synnergy with the build, but I don't play ele nor have I used that skill.

Coney

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2008

14 Aug 2009 at 01:03 - 2705

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solas

Would an ele be able to solo this or any other prof?

Yes, pretty much any */Rit with a decent spirit spam build can solo it in HM, fairly rapidly too. War and Para will have problems given their energy regen, but I did it on an ele and ranger primary...

Rushin Roulette

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2007

Right here

Ende

14 Aug 2009 at 08:29 - 2706

I've been using a variant of the 600 tank build;
Protective Spirit
Shield of Absorption
Spirit Bond
Rotting Flesh (Disease speeds things up just slightly, but I couldn't think of any other skill to put into this slot)
Necrotic Traversal (to stop the Gravebanes creating too many Minions which speeds up the run immensely)
Blessed Aura
Essence Bond
Balthazar's Spirit

With only 3 points in Death Magic Rotting Flesh lasts for 13 seconds which is more than enough to kill any group. Drops aren't too good, but its still 1-4 hids per run (mostly being 1 hide per 50 Behemoths).

Danger Russ

Academy Page

Join Date: Jan 2006

US East Coast

KISS

Mo/

14 Aug 2009 at 16:35 - 2707

Yep you can solo NM with ele. Ele/Derv

Here is my build: 16 earth, 10 ES, 9 earth prayers

Ebon Battle Standard of Honor
Sandstorm
Sliver Armor
Glyph of lesser energy
Stone Flesh Aura
Armor of Earth
Earth Attunement
Mystic Regeneration

This build can kill the boss but it is a close thing. I think I kill him 5 of 7 times. Keep MR and your defense up at all times. If you neglect MR you will die pretty quick. Set defenses and then wade in. Use EBSH and sliver, then wait until sliver is killing the second foe then drop a sandstorm. If attacking the boss, do not wait for something to die but wait a moment then drop sandstorm. Rinse and repeat until everything dies. Wand anything that runs away.

Usually get from 1-5 hides per run in the mines. Got a good number of vitae and attunement runes from armor.

This is my main reason for fooling with the traveler and gifts. It makes you come up with ways to solo a new group of monsters. I tried a number of earth build and this one is the most reliable for farming these creatures so far.

Tearmaker

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2005

Seattle, WA

Sovereign Knights [SK]

R/

14 Aug 2009 at 17:31 - 2708

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterB

I think the problem is the party size in your case. They have ~5% or more drop chance for me running duo(4 runs, 50 foes, and 10 drops, so 10 drops divided by 200 foes is 5%) and even more solo. It could be just random chance in my favor, though.

If anything, I think they would have a slightly higher chance to drop in normal because hard mode has more items available in the drop table and increased rare item chance. It seems to me that normal would be better for common drops like this, but proving it either way would require thousands of drops.

The reason I was farming them in hard is because I used a 600/smite build with Ogden and a solo "55" build on my Necromancer with 105 hp. Both builds used Spirit Bond, and foes hit faster as well, resulting in greater energy gain.

I don't play elementalist, sorry. But any profession can 600/smite these guys. There's an excellent guide for 600/smite with different professions here. It's for Cathedral of Flames, but it should apply here as well.

Spirit spam apparently works: any profession except Paragon or Warrior could probably do that. A guide for spirit spam can be found here. Credit belongs to spun ducky and A Simple Farmer for those two builds.

If anyone wants my solo necro build, I posted here. It's really overkill on healing, because I'm bad at "55" builds when fighting lots of foes combined with heavy degen. Build inspired by Fuzzy Taco.
A monk primary could almost certainly use this build in reverse, too.

According to ReZDoGG's guide, a 330 Rt/Mo should be able to kill these behemoths. I don't play Ritualist, either.

Edit: Here is an Elementalist build and guide that will work here.

Also, it has occurred to me that the build I used should be able to adapt to other primary classes with Monk secondary. Just include damage skills and max the associated attribute. Sliver Armor or blocking in general would seem to have anti-synnergy with the build, but I don't play ele nor have I used that skill.

Thanks for the info. I finially made a spirit spammer out of my ranger and soloed the thing. I got 8 hides in one run

I guess GW was saveing them up till I did what it wanted me too.

Kaitoa

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2006

W/

14 Aug 2009 at 19:28 - 2709

First week since farming Djinn for Nick that its actually been worth farming drops to sell. Obviously people have been finding the going tough, so many are willing to pay for the drops instead of farming them themselves. Ive been farming hides with 600 been getting 5-8 per run, easy money really.

Fay Vert

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

R/

15 Aug 2009 at 16:30 - 2710

Quote:

Originally Posted by SharonC

In my opinion, the best way to have handled the problem with Nicholas would have been to leave him in place with a repaired text. That would have been the best thing for the players. It would have helped prevent people from having lost time, it would have kept people who didn't know about the change from losing money by buying items they thought he was collecting but no longer was.

I share your opinion and am somewhat stunned that ANet didn't do this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrettM

I think ANet knew that, and it is unfair to assume they wouldn't see something so obvious. I also think it may not have been possible for them to do.

I'm sick of this pathetic "oh, it might be too hard to do" excuse. They could have just done nothing and left it as a very minor anomally. What is unfair is that many players have been grinding away for nothing.

Fril Estelin

So Serious...

Join Date: Jan 2007

London

Nerfs Are [WHAK]

E/

15 Aug 2009 at 20:01 - 2711

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fay Vert

What is unfair is that many players have been grinding away for nothing.

Not completely true: Linsey said this location and the Krait skins were for Nick's position in a year's time. So these players have them for next year. It's still bad for those that paid for them, but well, get over it.

lilDeath

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2006

Treehouse #1

W/

16 Aug 2009 at 00:32 - 2712

Man, this week's farming was utter crap. Worst yet!

I tried 3 different chars, Spirit spamming (group of 4), solo SF sin, and ended up with doing 600 / smite (2-man).
9 hours and 15k sunspear points later I finally have all my behemoth hides. The most I got in one run was 5, which happened once, then I got a few 3's in a run, some 2's in a run and the vast majority was 1 hide in 50 kills and some runs were completely dry.

!@#$%!!....

AngelWJedi

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2008

orlando,florida

Society of Souls [Argh]

Rt/E

16 Aug 2009 at 05:57 - 2713

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fril Estelin

Not completely true: Linsey said this location and the Krait skins were for Nick's position in a year's time. So these players have them for next year. It's still bad for those that paid for them, but well, get over it.

and how do we know that we(peeps that got gifts with the skins) will be able to get gifts with them then? and i am glad at least i didnt have to farm for the hides.

ll Jamie ll

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2009

Devon, England.

Desolation Lords [DL]

E/Mo

16 Aug 2009 at 14:37 - 2714

Confirmed: Nicholas hates me.

25 mysterious tonics

..
*roll eyes*

Vilaptca

Pre-Searing Vanquisher

Join Date: Jun 2005

Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]

16 Aug 2009 at 18:46 - 2715

First week I've ever bought the item he was collecting. These just weren't dropping for me at all. I don't have many characters that far in Nightfall, so I was kind of limited to going out with hero/hench on my warrior. I hope next week's drops a little better than these ones did.

Bingobomb

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2009

Summit of Human Evolution [SOHE]

W/Mo

17 Aug 2009 at 01:16 - 2716

10 stones, 10 tonics, 10 bottle rockets this week. o.O

Arduin

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

The Netherlands

Limburgse Jagers [LJ]

R/

17 Aug 2009 at 13:00 - 2717

Skipped farming the items this week, hopefully he'll be wanting something a bit more fun to farm after he has moved today

FalconDance

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2005

...deep within the sylvan splendor...

Order of the Migrating Coconuts [ALBA]

17 Aug 2009 at 14:13 - 2718

No pressies for me or for husband this week. I think he ended up with three hides after *many* runs with various builds. (Don't know if he turned those in for a gift or not.) In all the while NF has been out, with all my girls who could find Behemoths (and send them back to Grenth), I can only remember seeing one drop - two if I give the benefit of a faulty memory!

Darkstar The Legend

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2006

The Boat Crew [boat]

W/

17 Aug 2009 at 15:04 - 2719

He has just moved. So the search begins again.

DonCorleoneCS

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Mar 2006

Connecticut

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

W/

17 Aug 2009 at 15:11 - 2720

Nic has moved....on the run now

Darcy

Never Too Old

Join Date: Jul 2006

Rhode Island where there are no GW contests

Order of First

W/R

17 Aug 2009 at 15:15 - 2721

I vote for Factions somewhere, checking.

To Chicken To Die

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2006

Mo/

17 Aug 2009 at 15:21 - 2722

<< searching off wastes ;D
Joko's domain
alkali
shatterd
outcrops