Making money before 20

Kador

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2009

Is there any way to make decent cash before hitting 20? Every thread and guide I read about farming areas and builds are for post 20 characters.

I'm trying to take my time and play through carefully and complete most of the quests and missions. I'm also completely broke all of the time.

I made some cash in pre-searing selling a few white dye drops and the daily Gifts of the Huntsman, but that money is in Pre and I have no way to get it to Post without posting my remaining characters that I want to leave there. Nobody is interesting in trading post gold for pre gold and I'm not sure I would trust such a transaction either.

Are there any relatively early quests in Nightfall or Prophecies that I can use to farm some cash or items? I can't even afford the needed minor runes and insignia for myself let alone any heroes.

My Prophecies characters are around level 9-11 and my one Nightfall character just hit 12. I have 2 accounts if there is any way to use that for farming. I thought there might be some way to farm PvP battles but if they are all randomly matched then that won't work.

I get occasional purple drops and from chests but frankly they have all been completely worthless. Are all of the drops in this game such total crap? At least in other MMORPG's you can get decent drops and make money before you max your level.

I have factions also but haven't started there yet. And EotN Platinum but haven't installed it as I'm not sure I want to lose the Prophecies by adding it to my existing trilogy account.

Any tips or quests or missions to watch for would be helpful.

Shy Guy

Shy Guy

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2009

...

W/

Well, personally, I would try to just level up to 20. It really shouldn't take all that long, and if you're not level twenty or can't do that, try merching, or buying items low and selling them high.

That's all I really have :P

dunky_g

dunky_g

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2005

[SNOW]

just level to 20, you will get enough money for max armor and weapons by just playing the storyline(s).

Kador

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2009

That sucks I shouldn't have to level to 20 just to make a minimal amount of money and I don't want to be in a big hurry to level to 20.

Selling to merchants for 2 or 3 gold doesn't quite cut it, but currently that's the only income I am seeing.

Achrr The Archer

Achrr The Archer

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2005

Minnesota

[Bye]

Mo/

You don't lose Prophecies by installing EoTN either.

Kador

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2009

No I meant losing the extra copy of Prophecies that came with the EotN platinum that I bought. It's Prophecies and Eye of the North but was cheaper than buying Eye of the North alone. (9.99 shipped at Newegg versus 14.99 shipped for Eye of the North alone)

...and as for merchanting things, I just discovered, which I had not known, that ID'ing whites and quest blues gives them their gold value and they sell for a heck of a lot more. Wow I wasted a ton of money merching whites and junk blue quest drops without ID'ing them. I didn't think there was a point to identifying a white or blue that is already described. Well, its usually worth it though sometimes a wash as it costs 4g to ID something.

Shayne Hawke

Shayne Hawke

Departed from Tyria

Join Date: May 2007

Clan Dethryche [dth]

R/

You don't need lots of money before level 20. You don't even need that much at level 20. Beat the game once, then start thinking about cash.

Black Metal

Black Metal

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2009

N/

if you are a monk, save your starter armor. If you start in proph, save the -50 cesta. Other than that, if you are like most players, your pre-level 20 time spent playing will be infinitesimally small compared to post-level 20, so don't worry about scrounding a few extra coins, because it'll be more difficult and time consuming. Learn the ropes and take a long-range outlook.

kupp

kupp

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2008

The Shiverpeaks

[KISS]

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shayne Hawke View Post
You don't need lots of money before level 20. You don't even need that much at level 20. Beat the game once, then start thinking about cash.
This right here. Also on Factions and Nightfall you can get a pretty nice cash income by completing the missions. On prophecies, there's collectors for armor all the way until max AL so you don't even have to buy it. That, plus end-game green weapons you can get for free will give you all the gear you'll need.

And, if you have EOTN, doing those missions can also give you quite a bit of cash.

Estief Yu

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Oct 2009

GA

Ctrl Alt Elite

Rt/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kador View Post
Is there any way to make decent cash before hitting 20? Every thread and guide I read about farming areas and builds are for post 20 characters.

I'm trying to take my time and play through carefully and complete most of the quests and missions. I'm also completely broke all of the time.

I made some cash in pre-searing selling a few white dye drops and the daily Gifts of the Huntsman, but that money is in Pre and I have no way to get it to Post without posting my remaining characters that I want to leave there. Nobody is interesting in trading post gold for pre gold and I'm not sure I would trust such a transaction either.

Are there any relatively early quests in Nightfall or Prophecies that I can use to farm some cash or items? I can't even afford the needed minor runes and insignia for myself let alone any heroes.

My Prophecies characters are around level 9-11 and my one Nightfall character just hit 12. I have 2 accounts if there is any way to use that for farming. I thought there might be some way to farm PvP battles but if they are all randomly matched then that won't work.

I get occasional purple drops and from chests but frankly they have all been completely worthless. Are all of the drops in this game such total crap? At least in other MMORPG's you can get decent drops and make money before you max your level.

I have factions also but haven't started there yet. And EotN Platinum but haven't installed it as I'm not sure I want to lose the Prophecies by adding it to my existing trilogy account.

Any tips or quests or missions to watch for would be helpful.
Salvage EVERYTHING, you can also try to do missions in areas with good selling drops, such as the feather drops from Tengu outside of LA and such.

CronkTheImpaler

CronkTheImpaler

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2006

midwest

AE

W/Me

There are several early prophecies areas that can be farmed by level 13-15 chars. You arent going to rack up 100k or anything but you can still pull together 5-10k a night, even with less then max chars.

Early shiverpeaks comesto mind. North kryta also.



Cronk

Kador

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by Estief Yu View Post
Salvage EVERYTHING, you can also try to do missions in areas with good selling drops, such as the feather drops from Tengu outside of LA and such.
Thanks, This is the kind of info I was looking for. Telling me to get to 20 doesn't exactly answer the question of how to make money before 20. As I said, I'm not in a hurry to get to 20. I'm playing several characters simultaneously and that slows things down as well.

Yawgmoth

Yawgmoth

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2005

PreSearing gold is worth about 2x as much as post gold, there are many people willing to do such a trade. You may need a moderator if you want to trade with someone you met ingame, may want to ask for help on presearing.com forums or just trade with a reputable trader found here. I wouldn't expect any established guru forum member to scam you for a couple plat, especially not the richer guys.

Good money is to be made on the incoming Halloween event - you can farm easy low level areas with practically any profession for collector drops like Charr Carvings or Decayed Orr Emblems. Complete list on wiki: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Halloween_2008
Also salvage all metal weapons you find with basic salvage kit and gather Iron Ingots, which are easily sellable in full stacks of 250.

Muwhahahahahaha Ha

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2009

A/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kador View Post

I get occasional purple drops and from chests but frankly they have all been completely worthless. Are all of the drops in this game such total crap? At least in other MMORPG's you can get decent drops and make money before you max your level.

Any tips or quests or missions to watch for would be helpful.
thats because GW was intended for people to get to 20 quickly so it wasnt spent leveling *cough*runescape*cough* but unfortunately, yes most of the better drops are much later in the game.
my suggestions:

#1 find someone you trust in pre to go post then give your char the gold in post. risky, but if you find a friend who plays this and you trust him, its a great way to keep your chars in post and get your cash.

#2 when i started, it was tough to make $$ at a low level, but i merched everything i didnt use, never attempted to salvage, so basically my income was all inwards and nothing outwards. Until you get to lv 20( which could take a week or two in proph) this will probably be the best way to get cash.

#3 if you "farm" pvp, once you have/find a build that works, save you balthazar faction for zaishin keys. at 5k balth faction, it could take a little for a new pvper, but they sell for 4k per minimum nowadays. one of the easiest profession to not get into trouble with: ele. almost any fire build you use should be decent enough to win a few matches in RA if you get paired with a monk

gl cash hunting, and factions is a good ay to make cash if you know the starter island. i once knew a friend who made 100k doing the all starter quests/missions on the first island, banking the cash then making the char again. time consuming and boring, but its cash.

Rhadamanthys

Rhadamanthys

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kador View Post
I don't want to be in a big hurry to level to 20.
Well, to be honest, you're not really doing much until you hit level 20.

Obrien Xp

Obrien Xp

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2009

Canada

The First Dragon Slayers [FDS]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kador View Post
That sucks I shouldn't have to level to 20 just to make a minimal amount of money and I don't want to be in a big hurry to level to 20.

Selling to merchants for 2 or 3 gold doesn't quite cut it, but currently that's the only income I am seeing.
Umm you wont need any more money than that at that lvl. This isn't like other games, lvling is only learning how to play, its not the point of the game. I can lvl a char to 20 in around 5 hours.

Bluefeather

Bluefeather

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2005

Philippines

[PNOY]

W/R

You won't earn much money in Prophecy. If you need money, create a new character in Faction and do all the quests in the tutorial island, include all the secondary quests. When you finish all the quest, trade the trophies for the rune that sells for 100g each.

You can finish all the quests in that island for around 2 hours and you'll be surprised how much gold you have.

Delete the character or create a new one and do it again.

its the easiest way to earn money i think while you are still low level.

BrettM

BrettM

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2008

Fuzzy Physics Institute

E/

Drops get better as you move through the game. When you get to the Shiverpeaks, armors with runes will start to drop. When you get to Kryta, gold weapons will start to drop. The merchant value of the drops will increase as you move through the game, with some items merching for a couple of hundred gold and average items -- even whites -- going for 40-100g. Cash drops get bigger as you go, until you will routinely be seeing drops of 100g+. Salvageable items provide larger amounts of materials as you go, providing dozens of units in some cases. Salvageable items have a better chance of producing rare mats as you go, and some foes will even drop rare mats directly.

So don't judge your potential income based on the lousy drops in Ascalon. Just playing through the storyline will get you more than you think right now.

Kador

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by BrettM View Post
Drops get better as you move through the game. When you get to the Shiverpeaks, armors with runes will start to drop. When you get to Kryta, gold weapons will start to drop. The merchant value of the drops will increase as you move through the game, with some items merching for a couple of hundred gold and average items -- even whites -- going for 40-100g. Cash drops get bigger as you go, until you will routinely be seeing drops of 100g+. Salvageable items provide larger amounts of materials as you go, providing dozens of units in some cases. Salvageable items have a better chance of producing rare mats as you go, and some foes will even drop rare mats directly.

So don't judge your potential income based on the lousy drops in Ascalon. Just playing through the storyline will get you more than you think right now.
I just got to Shiverpeaks tonight and I'm finally seeing some improvement, though no runes or any bonus salvagables have dropped yet. Cash drops of 30+ have been a nice change compared to the 10- for most of the game so far.

I think playing to 11 or so in Prophecies on 2 characters and then starting a new character in Nightfall just made it look a LOT worse to me than it would have been had I stuck with 1 character.

It also helps to have finally figured out to ID -everything- before merchanting. I was selling a lot of whites and quest reward blues for 2-10 gold that should have been significantly more.

Rushin Roulette

Rushin Roulette

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2007

Right here

Ende

Dont bother Identifying low level whites. I believe someone calculated that you are loosing money on White IDs below a certain level because you have to calculate the cost of the ID kit.
Wait with IDing the White drops until whites with a base value of about 50g each drop for you and just concentrate on IDing blues, Purples or Golds until then.
Btw, a bonus for when you finally get to areas where golds drop is that you can either ID them and get one point on your wisdom title track per gold item ID, or if you are not interested in farming titles (The wisdom title track is a VERY long farm btw) you can collect the Golds and sell them to players for about 5-7K per 7 unidentified golds. It doesnt matter what level or if the golds are Max damage, common skins no one else wants or not for them. They are going for the above mentioned Wisdom title track and are willing to pay players to help them.

VoodooNemesis

VoodooNemesis

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2009

South Africa

Me/N

Quote:
Originally Posted by Achrr The Archer View Post
You don't lose Prophecies by installing EoTN either.
Kill the worms out side boreal station & use scrolls to lvl up fast and while doing this you could make 500 - 1250 gold a run.

nice and safe i did this the moment i could get to eotn worms are like lvl 20 dont really do much damage and you gain lot of exp and only have to fight one at a time if you like.

Die You Infidel

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2008

Holland

The Mirror of Reason [SNOW]

D/

if you wanna get your money out of pre:

get this program: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10373154

Run 2 instances of GW, create a second pre-searing char on the account that doesnt have the pre searing chars yet. Then make the characters meet up ingame, trade the money and sear your dummy char.

If you don't have proph on your 2nd account, then youll have to pre-post trade with someone.

Bob Slydell

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by VoodooNemesis View Post
Kill the worms out side boreal station & use scrolls to lvl up fast and while doing this you could make 500 - 1250 gold a run.
I was doing this earlier with 5 lockpicks, because there is always a chest out there in HardMode... I got more gold weapons from wurms than the chests themselves, figures...lol. And those guys are stationary melee attackers, perfect for rangers.

Kendil

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2009

Sweden

The thing is, you are still in a low level area. Which means, as you've realized, that the drops suck. So just play the story, and watch the drops getting better.

As people have said, you don't really need money before hitting lvl 20. Don't bother fixing runes to your armor until you have max armor, it's just a waste of money. And that will not hapend for a long time in proph (but sooner in NF), you don't need to worry about having max weapons either, just use the drops, you'll get a good one after a while, and won't really need a better one for the time being.

As for farming in PvP areas, roll a PvP Ranger (or elementalist or ritualist if you really want) and get a trapper build (or nuker or spirit spammer) and start doing Zaishen challenge (you won't need the optimal build to do that, just team up with a nice person that already got the build). Use the balthazar factions(bf) to unlock the trapper (nuker/spiritspammer) build you'll need. Once you've got the optimal build, you can unlock the Zaishen elite and start farming it for 6k bf per day (the cap on Zchallenge is 2k/day). Use the bf to buy zaishen keys and sell those to players for (don't remember the exact price) ~4k ea.

There isn't many low-level farming builds as it is easy to get to lvl 20, and people want to make a profit, and that one is so much bigger for farming for example UW (in Hard mode), than killing minotaurs over and over. But if you really want to, I guess you could try farming Shards of Orr, or feather farm. But that will have to wait until you reach kryta.

Hope it helps

newbie_of_doom

newbie_of_doom

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2006

WTFPRIVACYDUDE

Endangered Feces [DoDo]

W/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kador View Post
That sucks I shouldn't have to level to 20 just to make a minimal amount of money and I don't want to be in a big hurry to level to 20.

Selling to merchants for 2 or 3 gold doesn't quite cut it, but currently that's the only income I am seeing.
Why would you need more money at such a low levle.

gremlin

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2006

GWAR

Me/Mo

Halloween is coming up there will be money to be made there if you identify what materials will be wanted by the collectors.
Stock up on them exchange for alcohol or party items sell to players and bank the cash.

You have received some sound advice so far, I would add that the 2 main ways to make serious cash are power trading which needs loads of seed money to do or farming.

The first is out as you don't have the resources yet or probably the knowledge of the market yet.
The second can be done if you farm low level areas solo.
In prophesies I would farm Grawl, Stone elementals or best of all Charr.
If your as far as lions arch try for feathers and caromi scalps.

In Nightfall just outside Kamadan you have a wealth of farming Mandragor, boga petals Chunks of drake flesh, sentient roots etc.
Nearly all are wanted for festivals so check them out.
Also use the free buried treasure for nice gold items.

Factions well Shing Jea island you can farm around Zen Dajun which is hard at low level but a ranger can do it fairly well.

Take a pet if it helps and if you have access to the igneous summoning stone then use the fire imp to make it a lot easier.

AlsPals

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2007

Sellin hot stock tips for pro[fit]

Me/E

If hes gonna farm, the lvl 12 mergole outside Gate of Kryta is his best bet. Not only do they KO after practically no damage, but when I was lvling from 12-18 on my very first character, 3 days of that I came away with 4 black dyes, countless reds, some Grey...you get the picture. Also since you will be killing them 1 by 1, you dont get screwed by the AOE bug/feature.

Lifestyle

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2009

R/Mo

Also to clear up: Runes don't drop directly. Instead, you need to ID the drop and then salvage the rune off.

Enko

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2006

VA

Mo/

when I first got guild wars, I just played through prophecies normally, picked up every item that dropped and merched them. I had enough to get an Elite armor set by the time I got to Droks. You can get money from playing, its just not a lot or fast.

Kador

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kendil View Post
As for farming in PvP areas, roll a PvP Ranger (or elementalist or ritualist if you really want) and get a trapper build (or nuker or spirit spammer) and start doing Zaishen challenge (you won't need the optimal build to do that, just team up with a nice person that already got the build). Use the balthazar factions(bf) to unlock the trapper (nuker/spiritspammer) build you'll need. Once you've got the optimal build, you can unlock the Zaishen elite and start farming it for 6k bf per day (the cap on Zchallenge is 2k/day). Use the bf to buy zaishen keys and sell those to players for (don't remember the exact price) ~4k ea.
Hope it helps
I can't GET a decent trapper build with no money to buy runes or insignia or skills. Guess I can get skills with the faction but that takes forever when the only way I can get any is via the Zaishen training.

I tried the Zaishen challenge and got my ass thoroughly kicked. My heroes are all the default crap builds because I have no way to upgrade them. This is one of the main reasons I asked about how to make money before 20.

Kador

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by newbie_of_doom View Post
Why would you need more money at such a low levle.
Why even bother posting this kind of worthless comment? It doesn't help or add anything to the thread.

Kador

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lifestyle View Post
Also to clear up: Runes don't drop directly. Instead, you need to ID the drop and then salvage the rune off.
Yes, thanks, I am aware of this, I have had all of 1 salvageable rune drop so far.

I got to Shiverpeaks but its slow going there, even with a full complement of henchmen I was getting beaten pretty badly. I need to remember to use that stupid imp.

CronkTheImpaler

CronkTheImpaler

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2006

midwest

AE

W/Me

im going to say this the nicest way i can... you whine alot.


Every single solitary person in the history of this game has started the same way you have. There are no shortcuts or magic bullets to accumulating gold. I gave a few options that are sure fire ways to generate gold. You wont make 100k a night BUT you will have a steady and pretty healthy way to make money.

By the time you have beaten the moeny tree for 50-75k you will be at lvl 20. (use scrolls youve gotten through drops to speed up the exp pts you gain.

Getting skills though balth faction is not slow in the least. Reg skills are quick. 3-5 a night. elites a little slower but you dont need a fistful of elites to make a servicable build.

Take the info given in this thread and use it, or dont. Ultimately its up to you. But if you dont like the advice given here you are S.O.L.


Cronk

Obrien Xp

Obrien Xp

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2009

Canada

The First Dragon Slayers [FDS]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kador View Post
Yes, thanks, I am aware of this, I have had all of 1 salvageable rune drop so far.

I got to Shiverpeaks but its slow going there, even with a full complement of henchmen I was getting beaten pretty badly. I need to remember to use that stupid imp.
In my day there was no imp, and there were no heroes before nightfall or eotn.
When someone says that you don't need money at a low lvl they are correct. There are very few things that a low lvl needs money for. The armor from Ascalon city will last until the maguuma, or you could just go to factions, nf or eotn and get max quick. (or if you have the extra cash go to droks). If you want to lvl to 20 the cheap way, go to eotn and do the dwarven boxing.

When you ID my rule is not for any whites below r10. Depending on the rune that shows, always id blue or better pieces of armor, even one from a lvl 3 grawl could have a rune worth 1k to the trader.

Kador

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2009

Sorry if pointing out how some suggestions might not work easily is considered whining, but so be it. Nobody is being forced to read this thread.

All constructive tips ARE appreciated, and as soon as I actually get to the areas mentioned I will be sure to give them a shot.

As for not needing money so I shouldn't be whining, well that is an opinion. I prefer to be able to play the game and have fun, and that means being able to occasionally purchase things that will help the gameplay go a bit easier.

gremlin

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2006

GWAR

Me/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kador View Post
Sorry if pointing out how some suggestions might not work easily is considered whining, but so be it. Nobody is being forced to read this thread.

All constructive tips ARE appreciated, and as soon as I actually get to the areas mentioned I will be sure to give them a shot.

As for not needing money so I shouldn't be whining, well that is an opinion. I prefer to be able to play the game and have fun, and that means being able to occasionally purchase things that will help the gameplay go a bit easier.
You have the right idea esp the having fun bit.

anyway just posted to say that feathers could well be the easy way to getting money.
I have been using a spirit spam ritualist to farm for caromi scalps getting in a nice stock ready for halloween.
In addition I gained 10 stacks of feathers, just sold 4 stacks for 40k which is a good price.
Ok it took me a few weeks to get them as I only do a couple of runs each day.
Salvaging all the decent drops have gained me maybe 20k in the same time and I still have the scalps ready for the festival.

to some 60k isn't much but if I keep that rate up while gaming I should have all the in game money that I will ever need.

CronkTheImpaler

CronkTheImpaler

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2006

midwest

AE

W/Me

Listen Kador, believe it or not im not pickin on you. I dont think anyone else is either.

The bottom line is at low levels the options are VERY limited. You are limited to farming in the areas you have already explored. IF you have made it to LA then you have options available to you. They are not great BUT they will make you money. North kryta will make you some money. Bergen will make you money. You dont need to be level 20.

HOWEVER if you do these low level farms you will be lvl 20 rather quickly. that cant be avoided. you kill stuff you level up. Take a look at the overall map available to you then look through this post and find the farms people have offered. See what ones are in that area.

As for RR day, go nuts if you have hero battles open to you wait for RR day in the zaishen quests and have at it.

I guess i just happen to agree with most of the others here. Makin in game gold is something best accomplished at 20. If you want to knock around and make some scratch at level 13 15 16 whatever, then youll have to find a way to do it the old fashioned way. GRIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ive been playin GW since its incept date. this is how i would do it as a low level.

bog skales
mergoyles
undead
tengu (caromi) whatever they are in the area you are at.
Ettins

all the above are around LA.

Anything in the PvP arena is WAY better for scoring balth for unlocks. Zaishen challenge (6 reg skils a day or 2 elites)

thats all i got. good luck and give er hell.


Cronk
Semper fi