Ark of Harclave Loot Changes

[Evadne]

Well, I didn't notice in the patch notes that zygomids should be dropping corpse loot until this morning.  But last night when I did the instance I noticed that after the buff I got 1 fulginate mirror, one gnoll ear (off of a skeletal gnoll) and two chests, one each off of the named(king and gnoll on the throne).  All those mobs and they dropped nothing.  Sort of makes sense though.  Fleeona tells me she has to work to stay alive even with the buff.  Apparently it works different for me, if I can cast through the interrupts(hard to do) I really don't need to. I tested it on a group of level 51 gnoll skeletons, I just stood there and let the damage shields kill them.  I lost no health virtually and no power at all.  I also took the risk of fighting 4 groups at once.  They actually knocked me down to 40% health, but it was virtually impossible to cast on them, I think I got 1 or two group dots off.  But as soon as one group was dead my health was regenning faster than they were hitting me.  Again, I stood there.  I can go afk in these fights.  Now, that being said that's fun for a few fights. But sheesh, I would like to be responsible for something besides moving boxes.  I  guess most people find this really fun, but since there really isn't much I am doing but standing there I found it somewhat amusing and tedious at the same time. ~Eva 50 Defiler <div></div>

[Picknose]

<P>Heh, carefull Eva.  I sugested making a zone a bit more challenging and I got a one star rating.  </P> <P> </P> <P>I do agree with you.  If there is no challenge why bother.  Solo should not mean I can wade in and fall asleep and not have to worry.  If anything a solo encounter should be more challenging due to the fact I only have to pay attention to one player, not the whole party.  It should be able to be accomplished yet should be a reminder that you are very alone in there and  one mistake could cost you dearly.</P> <P> </P> <P>BB</P> <P> </P>

[Shantee]

When I went in with my monk at lvl 26, she died after the buff.  I almost died several times, then all of a sudden i had 4 groups on me and this was after clearing one of the rooms, I was at the last fight in the Room.  I haven't tried it with Kaida yet.  Kaida 50 Defiler Chii 27 Monk <div></div>

[EtoilePirate]

<P>*laugh* It must be nice to be a priest.</P> <P>I've died (or had to evac with under 15% health) after getting the buff many times.  Many many many times.  It's easy as pie as long as I don't get adds but if I get hit by two mobs at once -- or three -- I'm dead just as fast as I am anywhere else.  So maybe defensive classes can enjoy the hell out of Harclave but for the Assassin -- purely offensive -- or at least, *this* assassin, it's still hard, careful, delicate work getting to the end.  Usually I have to die or evac as soon as I cross the boards to the zygomids, because those two groups at once can knock me out and it's very hard to get across without getting adds.</P>

[bcbroom]

I've tried this zone 4-5 times and died horribly every time after getting the buff. The farthest I've made it is jumping across the trench to the first group of mushrooms, agro both groups, and die very quickly, so i'ts not trivial for all classes.

[Kadurm]

<P>Not sure if this works for everyone, but in your maintained spell list..after you get the buff, you will notice that there is alot of spamming of a stifle and a root..this is cast on the mobs that hit you... I know this is the case with Inquisitors and Wizards. if you get too many on you..there is a good chance you can run out of melee range of the masses and alot of them will be rooted. Took me forever to even make it to the ark, but once I did..I can more or less just run around and get 2 or 3 groups on me and let the DS take care of them. This is on all lvls of the trials at lvl 49 and 50.</P> <P>Not sure if this is the same for all classes as Tor's assassin does not get the root/stifle aspect of the buff...but she can still complete it on diffrent lvls of difficulty..even with her wizard..(invis IS your friend in this) </P> <P>Just a couple of things to check out..might save ya if they cant chase you.</P>

[Fire&ice]

<P>I tried this zone at lvl 32 for the first time and after getting the buff I died about 2 min later due to getting more than 1 group. As a wizard I find the zone fun because there is no way I could even anticipate doing what i do in there in a normal situation. I have gone in there since that first death and learned to time my pulls so I don't get adds (hopefully) and make it thru in one piece. As a healer I can see where it might not be so difficult especially with higher mitigation values, but as a VLA wearer it is great fun to stand there and actually take the mobs head on once in a while.</P> <P>:smileyhappy:</P> <P> </P>

[bcbroom]

I'll have to check this out, but I was really just pointing out that not all classes have a cake walk after the buff.

[goboy]

<P>Yep, as a 45 wizard this is fun.  However, if I dodge quickly and get out of range - then the healing part of the buff can normally keep up.  I have died a few times though.</P> <P>edited an oops</P><p>Message Edited by goboy on <span class=date_text>07-11-2005</span> <span class=time_text>10:31 AM</span>

[Ceruline]

<P>Harclave is an odd zone.  Some people can't manage it at all, others think it's trivial.  I've probably been through it more times than anyone on the server (What?  Me? Powerleveling?) and can understand both points of view.</P> <P>One of the strangest thing is that players of the exact same class can have wildly different perspectives.</P> <P>Harclave is all, all, all about aggro management.  Generally speaking, regardless of what class you are, you can easily take out any single heroic group in the zone.  The trouble comes in a few spots where it is very very easy to aggro two groups at once.</P> <P>One of the toughest is the jump across the ravine onto the ledge with two groups of Zygomids.  Unless you hit the far left portion of the ledge, you will aggro both groups.  The key here is to remember that you actually have two planks available to you - the one that you use to jump up to the ledge with the first torch and the one that's on the platform - the first one is inrange to pick up from the top of the platform.  With two planks, it's easy to jump onto the platform at a spot that's out of aggro range for one of the groups.</P> <P>Another tough part is the ark room, after you kill the wraiths up top.  You really have two options here - you don't have to kill the wraiths up top at all - this will stop the gnolls on the entire ark side of the ravine from spawning, and it'll be a clear run to the Zygomids (Unless you bypass the solo mobs, like I do.  I like to bypass them, get the buff, and then go back and kill them while buffed.  Mages and scouts have it easy here, as it's a cinch to invis or stealth to the ark)</P> <P>If you do kill the wraiths, it'll pop the undead gnolls on that side.  Right up against the ledge that the ark is on, you'll have three encounters to contend with - double ups near the walls, and a group of four in the center.  There's also a roamer group.  Between these four groups, it's very easy to pull extra aggro and get in over your head - which is why it is very important to know that if you climb back up to the ark platform, usually the gnolls won't be able to reach you and the encounter will break - or you'll only get one or two stragglers that manage to reach you up there.  This will usually reset any encounters you didn't finish, but it's a good panic button.  With a four hour timer, it's far better to be safe than sorry.</P> <P>The rest of the zone is just a matter of going slowly and pulling groups back to a location that you know is aggro free.  You could say that this is too easy - but really, if you play methodically you could say that about the vast majority of the game's content.  I usually don't follow my own rules all that well, as it's more fun just to run in (Even if I end up needing to run away frequently) but that's the way to do it more easily.  Depending on the specific buff your class gets you may have an easier or harder time with it - but if you're careful, you ought to be able to do it with any class if you can win a battle against a single one of the heroic groups.</P> <P>Is it too easy?  I certainly don't think so.  Even knowing exactly what to do and how to do it, it still takes a lot of work for me to clear the place.  What Eva is reporting is an experience that is a lot easier than any experience I've had with the zone on any difficulty level (I've been through it on all three)</P> <P>Perhaps there is an issue with the way level 50 defiler buffs stack with the Harclave buff that makes them too powerful?  I know that other defilers have had a good deal more trouble, which might mean that there's a skill in the upper 40s which is the culprit.</P> <P> </P>

[Heiro]

<DIV>Templar here, </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>And Harclave is great for exp .. but not good for loot options... I get more chests and body drops off the upper tunnels than I do from Harclave.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Also, on very difficult, chests are rare, and then they drop either the same loot every time ( leather hat, leather shoulders)  OR  crafter books...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>hehe oh well  least is its coin worthy.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Have done Harclaves a number of times on my Templar,  all 3 lvls ,  and  also done it on my SK and wifes  Pally... and I will say this..</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Templars are much easier to run through  this than melees ...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>just my 2 cents .. which is worth about that much</DIV>

[Shantee]

I tried the harclave again last night with my monk.  She was doing well til a deadly trap hit her and killed her =(  It was a close fight again, I was able to avoid having more than 1 group on me at a time 90% of the time.  I came close to dying more than once from being beat to death.  And those dang healers.. *rants* <span>:smileytongue:</span> I was enjoying it, even fell off, trying to get to the shrooms, thought i was a gonner but lived.  Loved the little elevator lifts <span>:smileyhappy:</span>  Maybe next time I'll get closer.  I'll just keep trying. I'll try it with my defiler soon and see how much different it is. Kaida 50 Defiler Chii 28 Monk <div></div>

[Ce]

<P>If I get multiple groups on Romy, it's a problem, but I usually just run a bit and loose aggro.  Now I don't get more than one group (since I've learned not to just randomly run around).  I've tried normal and difficult, and have no problems with these mobs, which seems very odd to me, considering my uber sucky mitigation and avoidance.  I have no idea how everyone else has problems with these, especially higher mitgation classes, unless the zone adjusts itself based on class or perhaps, because my defense is sooo poor, the effects of the harclave buffs are firing off more consistently.</P> <P>Strategies that I can suggest... find a range pull item and don't jump into any platform or room without range pulling an opening first.</P> <P>There are zones that I can't do no matter what (arena solo anyone?).  I can kill the two first mobs, and that's it.  Paladins on the other hand, have no problems at all with that zone from those I know that have done it.  Sucks to have the lowest HP, and mitigation, with very low DPS.  No wonder when I type "/who all enchanter" I see</P> <P>[43 Coercer] Romy (Wood Elf)<BR>1 player found.</P> <P> </P>