Key Runs worth it?

Gigamaster89

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2006

W/E

20 Shiverpeak Key Result:

1. Purple Smiting Rod (Req. 8)
2. Purple Jeweled Staff (Req. 12)
3. Purple Jeweled Staff (Req. 10)
4. Purple Truncheon (Req. 11)
5. Gold Water Wand (Req. 10)
6. Gold Recurve Bow (Req. 10)
7. Purple Accursed Staff (Req. 10)
8. Gold Great Axe (Req. 12)
9. Purple Inscribed Chakram (Req. 10)
10. Gold Holy Staff (Req. 11)
11. Gold Air Wand (Req. 11)
12. Gold Long Sword (Req. 12)
13. Purple Spatha (Req. 10)
14. Purple Holy Staff (Req. 11)
15. Purple Fiery Dragon Sword (Req. 12)
16. Purple Inscribed Chakram (Req. 13)
17. Purple Fire Wand (Req. 12)
18. Purple Great Axe (Req. 9)
19. Purple Ivory Bow (Req. 12)
20. Purple Truncheon (Req. 8)

Questions:
1) This isn't affected by any "anti-farm" thing right"
2) Is there a set amount of chests per area?
3) Are they all suppose to be uber high requirements?
4) Do you think key runs are worth it?

I payed 8.8k for the 20 keys and those are the results.

My opinion: Not worth it, too high requirements.

It's late now but tomorrow I'll ID them all, if I get some nice perf mods, I'll reconsider.

twicky_kid

twicky_kid

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quite Vulgar [FUN]

Location of the chest really matter. Some regions only drop specific weapons.

baz777

baz777

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Dec 2005

South East England

Leader: Lady Hairy Armpits S[mell]

E/

When I used to farm the trolls outside Droks I never bought keys and only used the ones that dropped. In retrospect I wish I had sold the keys as most items, including poor gold, went straight to the trader.

Matsumi

Matsumi

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Mar 2006

1. Not really sure
2. Not sure either
3. Depends on the area
4. Probably not, it's like a lottery ticket purchase

Dav85

Dav85

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

i do think only fow chest run worth the time and the money

Rustjive

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2006

Chests drop items that spawns in that area drop. So before you go chest farming a place like Witman's Folly, think: Do I like what Grawl and Nightmares drop?

Thallandor

Thallandor

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

Singapore

Seers of Serpents [SoS]

R/

Personally after having my fair share of woes with keys from just chest that give gold drops- not even comparing purple drops here.

Its not really worth it unless its keys from the end missions of the game.

Tomb, UW and Fow have been giving its fair share of junk even from gold drops. SF might be a different story.

It more likely a gold item drop from a mob would have better stats than one you would get from a chest.

Currently as it stand keys to me are a gold sink.

my 2 plats.

jackie

jackie

/retired

Join Date: Dec 2005

On the Beach

From almost year of playing this game I've got maybe 8 Really good items from chests (perf fell, chaos etc)...

From my experience I wouldn't do chest runs or buy keys at all. If enemy drops a key then it's fun to try your luck

nirhan shadowmauler

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2005

potland,oregon

Through the eyes of the dragon [eyes]

E/W

you get crap doing chest runs solo. best results are when your in a group. this is from my own experience and likely wrong. but it seems to me from doing FoW. that out of 8 people using keys. there is almost every single time 2 good items drop. i.e. chaos axe shadow bow shadow shield shadow blade.

makosi

makosi

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

"Pre-nerf" is incorrect. It's pre-buff.

Requirement Begins With R [notQ]

Me/

Definitley a way to make us spend and get nothing in return. Think of the amount of gold that is 'sunk' out of the economy by the means of keys - it stabilizes the economy and prevents the rich getting richer and the poor remianing poor. That's why the tempation of FoW armour is there because it will drain more than one million gold worth of assets.

I know that there are a few occasional good drops from chests but I (personally) believe that we get so shocked, tell everyone we know, and they all buy keys and get a nice purple cane each! ....there goes another few K out of the economy.

Raif Bahlaan

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2006

I used to do chest runs pre-keys whenever I wanted money. I don't see how it's worth it now.

Xenophon Ualtar

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2005

chest runs are better with a small group of friends. You all bring keys and then take turns testing to see if the chest is gold or purple. If it is purple then nobody but the tester uses a key on that chest. If it is a gold chest then everybody uses a key on that chest. If the first item to come out of a chest is Purple then every item after that will still be purple.


I think that chests are worth is in the Southern Shiverpeaks, Sorrow's Furnace, UW, and FOW.

The hammer that my warrior uses came from a chest that my wife got. It is max damage 15^50 and req 9. I personally got a axe grip of fortitude from a chest that I sold for 76p. I have spent less then 10p on keys yet I have made all in all probably 100p.

Synthetic

Academy Page

Join Date: Jun 2005

W/Mo

It really is a risk to go chest farming. I do FoW runs every once in a while and I would bet that I am about even with what I've spent on keys for what I have been able to sell. However, the only reason I do it is for that one good item that I might get and make my money on. Furthermore, I only go chest farming when we have favor since the rate of a good drop increases (so I hear) and I make sure that I have a chance of getting something is worth some money. That is to say I don't look for a sephis axe in the troll cave in Talus Chute.

tuf pepper

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Mar 2006

Mo/

IMO I only buy keys for UW since I can use those keys in two places and I only buy about 10 each time and I rarely use them.. but when I do go down into the UW or tombs I never open the chest first lol I always let the next guy open it why wast my key on a purp call me self sentered for that but I bought 10 keys for 10 golds not for purps ...

Esprit

Esprit

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

Dvd Forums [DVDF]

E/

I got the gold bow I use on my Ranger from a chest in Tombs. Not the greatest, but better than any drop I've gotten, and better than paying a bunch of gold on an auction.

If I go on a Tombs run, I take keys, but I don't specifically do runs with keys for chests.

Ctb

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

W/

I used to farm shiverpeak chests. I fully believe that, yes, there is anti-farming code in place. I got a couple of really nice items at the beginning, including the Fellblade I'm currently using. Anymore, I don't even carry a key unless it drops from a monster because all Shiverpeak Chests give me complete junk. Even the golds are useless things now like Hale's with a +24. I get a lot of value-less "versus" items now, especially, it seems, "Tenguslaying".

In short, no. Don't waste your time. Get lucky like I did and you might get a 30k mod like a 20% +1 of fire, but, generally, it's not worth it.

XvArchonvX

XvArchonvX

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

R/

Chest runs will always be a gamble. In the example, you spend 8.8k. It is still possible for you to spend twice or more than that and just end up getting a super rare item that is worth several hundred plat. Even if you just spent 8.8k and get all crap, it's still possible to get a mod that you can salvage and sell for a profit.

Imo, chest runs are not wise, but simply opening chests when you get around to them isn't necessarily a bad idea. I say this because when you go specifically on a chest run and use as many keys as you did, consider how long it took. Then consider how much money you would have made from doing something else (i.e. farming)

Oh, and I seriously doubt it sets off the over farm nerf unless you are killing enemies along the way.

AxeMe

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Atlanta

HEX

W/

When I do the solo spider cave run in FOW, I do bring keys and open chests. My guess is that - like another poster said - I'm about even.

I still enjoy opening the chests though since the gamble is fun. I don't do organized FOW chest runs anymore though.

I also open chests - using keys that drop, but not bought - with the trolls and also with the hydras. I seldom get anything very special. My best finds in those areas have come from drops - including a perfect brute from a minoatur.

And me too -- I loved chest runs before the keys. I'd hit the one outside Grotto (in those days) - it was quick and a easy way to dependably bank some gold.

fiery

fiery

Banned

Join Date: Oct 2005

maryland

InYurFace Gaming [IYF]

R/

You should identify, and sell for the expert salvaged PERFECT MODS. I farmed eoe bombing grawl, I recieved 21 keys, used them all up. Out of all I got some good perfect mods, sold the rest and kept the gold max 15^50 war hammer that needs to be remodded .

Dav85

Dav85

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

i do fow chest runs usualy, recording stats of what i get:

190chests opened. 179 gold items (don't like to be the first to open a chest)
in those 179, 21 were perfect or near perfect stuff, sold for about 2milions. the remaining things have been sold unidentified. making anther 1.2milions

of course i test weapons... but it's just profitable to me

Gigamaster89

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2006

W/E

You decided:

Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2005

Gaelic Storm

Chest runs = Gheed.

And Gheed was never worth it, unless you had money to burn. ;P

Gigamaster89

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2006

W/E

But then again, money in D2 meant nothing

Count to Potato

Count to Potato

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2006

Imagination Land

I Swear She Was Eighteen [Gwen]

W/

Ita all about luck, randominzzation, 1 chest u get a req 7 gold chaos axe another a req 13 purple smiting staff its all luck

fiery

fiery

Banned

Join Date: Oct 2005

maryland

InYurFace Gaming [IYF]

R/

Wasn't there a Gheed in Diablo 2 LOD?

Phaern Majes

Phaern Majes

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2005

Anywhere but up

The Panserbjorne [ROAR]

R/Mo

I've bought nearly 200 shiverpeak keys. I've found 2 sup Absorbtions (when they were 100k each), 3 superior vigors, and a couple decent weapons. So I've spent about 120k but the 2 Absorbtion runes paid that off. Everything else was profit. Also I've found that since generally the items do suck. You can go to Ascalon sell unid purples for 600g (get your money back) and unid golds for 1k. Although I never sell gold armors.

This said, I think you need to spend alot if you have any hope of making alot. If you just use keys you find or just do a single chest run once a week, then you probably won't get anything good. Also avoid the easy run for chests in Port Sledge. Every decent gold I've got was from the shiverpeak chests in Grenth's.

Gigamaster89

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2006

W/E

Eh, chests don't...drop armor? (do they?)

Also, gheeds IS from D2 =) The gambling at the merchant of D2 = useless.

Phaern Majes

Phaern Majes

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2005

Anywhere but up

The Panserbjorne [ROAR]

R/Mo

Obviously they do, seeing as I've gotten at least 10 gold armor, and probably double that in purple. I've only found this in the chests in Grenths. And its not a frequent thing, but out of 20 keys I usually get 1 or 2.

EDIT: Different areas drop different items. The ones in Grenths drop, fellblades (rarely), armor (sparsely), truncheons, wands, staffs, and swords. Thats for sure. The ones in Whitmans I know drop alot of bows and axes.

RuPee

RuPee

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2005

Los Angeles, CA

[RoD]

Mo/

quick hint: chest locations matter. if you're chest farming s. shiverpeaks and going around talus chute you wont get good skins in contrast a place with mursatt or some place on fire islands has a chance of getting skins like mursatt horn bows or magmas shields.

Evilsod

Evilsod

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2006

England

Lievs Death Squad [LDS]

Never actually tried a chest run. But i think my lucks over anyway, i got these 3 items last month within 2 weeks from normal farming trips.

Req 8 Chaos Axe - 15% while enchanted
Req 9 Chaos Axe - 15% while stance
Req 8 Chaos Axe - 15% above 50%

The last was definatly a chest drop, the other 2 im not sure about. So from spending 4.5k (i usually find my keys, don't buy many) i've got 3 items worth probably about 500k (the 15^50 is now 10/10 sundering and +30 health).

So if i got these items while doing chest runs, thats about 5-10 keys a run, right? So 30-45k on keys, theres still a profit. Even if you use 100 keys for 150k, take off the 200-400 average for each item sold to the trader leaving you down about 100k. 100k you really should've made up with the odd perfect mod (some guy gave me a gold Shadow Staff for no reason, i ID'd it later to find a nice 20% enchantment mod on it ) and the odd decent gold. It may not seem it but you will eventually make a profit from it, that or your luck just sucks

pyrohex

pyrohex

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2005

I've been pretty lucky, too.

Req 9 Gold Healing Prayers Ankh
Req 11 Gold Falchion; 10/10 Sundering, +29 Health, +14% enchanted
(Just wondering - would it be more profitable to try and salvage the 10/10 sundering or +29 health mod, or to sell it as a piece?)

Kool Pajamas

Kool Pajamas

Forge Runner

Join Date: Aug 2005

Maryland

Mage Elites [MAGE]

My best from a shiverpeak chest was while farming trolls. I used a key that was dropped to open a chest and got a max +15% while enchanted axe. I've gotten a few decent ones from Tombs like a 19% staff wrapping of enchanting. Most stuff i get is high req junk. + armor vs plants mainly. :/

leprekan

leprekan

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2005

Posers and Wannabes [nubs]

W/E

My personal experience is ... the best chest drops will happen the first FEW times for that char in that zone. After 3 trips Anet breaks out the purple crayon for the majority of the chests.

Kool Pajamas

Kool Pajamas

Forge Runner

Join Date: Aug 2005

Maryland

Mage Elites [MAGE]

My best from a shiverpeak chest was while farming trolls. I used a key that was dropped to open a chest and got a max +15% while enchanted axe. I've gotten a few decent ones from Tombs like a 19% staff wrapping of enchanting. Most stuff i get is high req junk. + armor vs plants mainly. :/