Slots Question.

[Mastertrek]

Also, at this point Equipment for every character is a DROP, you need to make everything at the Forge using ingredients found as monster drops. There's no equipment in Chests, but all Towers give Essences rarely to make stronger equipment.

[1oldtymer]

In fact, I still have 4 essences, 14 parchments, but no "raw" material for the spell caster equipment.

I'm impressed you did so much in the tower...I die just knocking on the door.  I'll stay in the Wisp area for awhile, but I'm not sure the spell caster equipment drops there, as I've probably thrown away 20 thief items, more bracers for my party, than I can count.  I just never see anything for the spell casters (except their weapon). Both Juggernaut and Warrior have their forged equipment.

[Mastertrek]

[quote=36555]

In fact, I still have 4 essences, 14 parchments, but no “raw” material for the spell caster equipment.

I’m impressed you did so much in the tower…I die just knocking on the door.  I’ll stay in the Wisp area for awhile, but I’m not sure the spell caster equipment drops there, as I’ve probably thrown away 20 thief items, more bracers for my party, than I can count.  I just never see anything for the spell casters (except their weapon). Both Juggernaut and Warrior have their forged equipment.

[/quote]

Don't throw away anything unless you are 100% sure you won't need it. Because all equipment parts for Characters drop anywhere with exception of Essences which are only obtainable at Towers as I mentioned. There are a total of 20 Equipment pieces (Warrior/Templar, Cleric/Sorcerer share the same equipment while Juggernaut, Thief and Archer have their own equipment) so you've got 20%* chance of getting equipment suitable for Sorcerer/Cleric, 5%* chance to get the piece you don't have.

*The chance is, of course, lower as you are not guaranteed to get a chest and you also have other stuff possible to drop for you.

As I said, level up to 110 and improve your spells, you will probably find some Forge equipment along the way.

[1oldtymer]

I'm inching along, with just 2 more pieces of equipment to forge for the "wisp" set (both for spell casters).  I do have a question about the towers.  In reading your posts, it appears that Towers provide "higher" essences (than the "wisp essence").  Are these in chests, or just drops?  If drops, is there any point in trying to loot the chests? (If there are chests--I haven't been in the tower except to get an express trip to the cemetery.)

I'm only at level 104 right now...I have forged a few tomes that I can use at 105 that should prove useful.  I have several parchments, and still about 8 wisp essences.

[added after more play: I finally got all the dreamforge equipment.   At this point, Warrior and Sorcerer are at lev 107, Cleric is at 106 (about 100k exp behind the others), and Juggernaut is 102.  I have loads of parchments & wisp essences leftover, which I will drop if it turns out other materials are required in the subsequent locations.  Monsters in the Wisp area are now easy, even most mob ambushes are not a problem.  However, the next area is much tougher, with monsters that hit harder and have healing power.]

[Mastertrek]

[quote=36560]

I’m inching along, with just 2 more pieces of equipment to forge for the “wisp” set (both for spell casters).  I do have a question about the towers.  In reading your posts, it appears that Towers provide “higher” essences (than the “wisp essence”).  Are these in chests, or just drops?  If drops, is there any point in trying to loot the chests? (If there are chests–I haven’t been in the tower except to get an express trip to the cemetery.)

I’m only at level 104 right now…I have forged a few tomes that I can use at 105 that should prove useful.  I have several parchments, and still about 8 wisp essences.

[/quote]

I remember that there's not much essence in Tower Chests, maybe one Essence in a tower from chest. You're already very close to me so I guess you will finish the game. I lost my interest although I'm not going to delete the game because there's no way to recover the Save file.

[1oldtymer]

I looted all the treasures in the Tower (Aberration of the East) and then defeated Lyx the Cloud Catcher.  There was one (maybe two) tense moment when only Warrior was alive, but otherwise a constant chipping away at the boss.  The debuffs from the boss were the most trouble.

[1oldtymer]

Say it isn't so.  I see better equipment can be forged using the scarce "Essence of the Cloud Catcher."  But is it required to start with raw unforged item all over again, and not just applying the essence to the already forged "wisp" weapon?  Awful.

But I'd like your advice here, @Mastertrek.  What should I forge?  I looked at the Crystalwind Cudgel for Sorcerer, but since Sorcerer never "attacks," the only major benefit is +171 Focus.  That doesn't seem as valuable to me as forging a new blade (Crystalwind Cleaver +113 Damage, +183 Vitality, +57 Speed) for Juggernaut.  Also, given how few essences I'm likely to get, is it better to use them on weapons or on defensive equipment?

I'm assuming that "Essence of Cloud Catcher" must come from drops in the Tower dungeon, so I'll have to go back there if that is where I can get some.

[Mastertrek]

[quote=36565]

Say it isn’t so.  I see better equipment can be forged using the scarce “Essence of the Cloud Catcher.”  But is it required to start with raw unforged item all over again, and not just applying the essence to the already forged “wisp” weapon?  Awful.

But I’d like your advice here, @mastertrek.  What should I forge?  I looked at the Crystalwind Cudgel for Sorcerer, but since Sorcerer never “attacks,” the only major benefit is +171 Focus.  That doesn’t seem as valuable to me as forging a new blade (Crystalwind Cleaver +113 Damage, +183 Vitality, +57 Speed) for Juggernaut.  Also, given how few essences I’m likely to get, is it better to use them on weapons or on defensive equipment?

I’m assuming that “Essence of Cloud Catcher” must come from drops in the Tower dungeon, so I’ll have to go back there if that is where I can get some.

[/quote]

Sorcerer needs equipment to boost Focus. And because he's your main damage dealer anyway, giving him the best weapon is a priority. Unless you are going for a suicide route (trying to beat the Boss using only Juggernaut, that's impossible.). 

[1oldtymer]

I recall your posts about how hard it is to get essences.  Well, I spent enough time to raise a level (about 350k EXP) in the cloud catcher dungeon, and got exactly zero essence drops.  In the "wisp" dungeon I got several wisp essences in the same number of battles.  So it appears that the drop rate for the cloud catcher essences is significantly less than the wisp drop rate.  Not fun.

To make things worse, party is now getting ambushed almost as often as it receives a drop.

[1oldtymer]

Hey, @Mastertrek, I think you beat the boss in the Delusion of the West.  I don't see a way to defeat it without using a pile of life in a bottle or flood of life.  I'm at lev 110, with decent equipment, and I can definitely do some damage (Prismatic Nether, Prismatic Nether II, Grip of Death, Cosmic Bolt III, Torment of Spjon III), but the monster kills 2 at a time, so unless I heal both in same turn, my party quickly gets defeated.  As the monster hits with 99999, buffing defense isn't of any use.

Any advice?

 

BTW, I did some record keeping for drops of the higher essences, and I get about 1 every 450 battles.  That works out to somewhere between .25%--.50% (once or twice every 400 battles).  I don't see any reason to continue trying to get those essences at that rate.