Question about loot and such

Well, I have never been one to farm for common items before, but I decided to get Traveler gifts this week. I figure I can easily farm Chromes in Gate Too Far. So I pick a char and build at random and end up with monk, doing 600 tank with 2 heroes.

Well, I go on hard mode, 1 scale in 3 runs. I have some questions:

1. After loot scaling took effect, is having only 3 people gonna adversely affect drop rates?

2. Are those annoying mental reject Norn's affecting drop rates?

3. Is there any difference in drop rates for common items between hm and nm?

4. Do chrome scales just have an unbelievably low drop rate?

It doesn't seem to be affecting the folks using solo/duo farm build in Battle depths. But One thing you may want to do, is go it in Normal Mode. The reasoning is this: Since in HM the drops are generally better, it's less likely that common items will drop. And yeah, the drop rate for those scales seems to be a bit lower than other common drops. But that could be a matter of perception - there are those that think they shold be dropping like flies.

1. Yes
2. No
3. No
4. No

Heroes do affect droprate. But i just needed 6 runs for 5 scales (did that with 3 heroes, sabway necro's) and 4 hench (mesmer, earth elem, interupt hero and extra healer) in NM. I played Barage ranger myself...

how can u have 3 sabway necros and a interupt hero on same team by urself?

read the entire sentence. He meant interrupt henchie.

so there are 2 different answers for HM vs. NM. Does the rate go down for common drops or not?


edit.. inquiring minds want to know

According to wiki

http://guildwars.wikia.com/wiki/Drop_rate

It is unclear, however in my experience the normal crap, like scales, have no effect in NM or HM. I have found the same for ecto drop rates as well as other items. You will get more gold weapons in HM but that is about the only thing I have ever see drop more often in HM for me.

Common drops, such as Chromatic Scales (or last week's Mandragor Roots) are subject to Loot Scaling. That means they are spread across an 8-man party whether there are eight of you or not. It also means that your hero/hench get their share.

So why NM instead of HM for farming them? Because it is faster. You don't need to do a quest to farm - just enter the Battledepths from Central Transfer Chamber, turn right and right again - three rooms of drakes. Leave those rooms and turn right again, kill two Chilling Whisps and there is another room of drakes. Map back to CTC and redo.

But still, you will be lucky to get more than two scales per run. They have never had a high drop rate.