Best strategy for endgame spell upgrades?

[Psynaut]

<p>I am into my 70's now and am starting to get my final spells.  Since level 20 I have never received a single one of my own classes Adept 1 spells, in spite of having looted in exccess of 100 of them for other classes, so I have just purchsed Apprentice IV spells off the Broker.  Anyway, now that it makes sense to spend some plat to upgrade my spells, I am wondering what is the best strategy for this?  Since the highest Master spells cost more plat than I have accumulated in all my play time, that isn't really an option. And since I don't know what the level 80 game is like or when/where/how often spells drop in level 80 group instances, I am wondering what is the best strategy for upgrading my spells whem money is still a real issue?</p>

[Noaani]

<p>Buy adept 3s, and scribe any masters you get for your class.</p>

[Gipper]

<p>Harvest a lot, to hunt your rares. Look on broker frequently, rare prices fluctuate. Find a sage or whomever that makes your spells and have them made. Lots cheaper than buying already made AD3s. Be sure and find out how much your fuel cost is per spell and tip them above that. Masters can wait, some will drop and sometimes you can trade one you get for one for your class.</p>

[Psynaut]

<p>Excellent.  Thank you both.</p><p><cite>Gipper@Mistmoore wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Harvest a lot, to hunt your rares.</p></blockquote><p>Could you please elaborate slightly on this.  Are you saying to harvest rares for cash, or for ingredients to give to the spell crafter to make the spells or are you recommending something else completely?  I haven't researched crafting yet, and I will, but right now I don't even know enough to be sure of what you are recommending.  Thanks.</p>

[feldon30]

And realize that in November 2009, they'll increase the level cap to 85 or 90, so you'll need spells again. At level 70-80 you really should be making enough plat from dungeon runs and quests to afford Adept 3 spells.

[The_Cheeseman]

<p>Make sure to acquire all your Adept 3 spells. If you plan to do any really difficult content (such as TSO dungeons) then going in without at least the very best off the broker is simply being a slacker and a liability to your group. Once all your spells are Adept 3, and all your gear is either Mastercrafted or Legendary, then you should consider running some instances and collecting shards. Masters are basically a luxury, they are prohibitively expensive for most folks, so nobody really expects you to have them (for heroic content).</p><p>As you continue running instances nightly, you'll get more and more loot drops that are essentially vendor fodder, so money will naturally trickle-in over time. I try to run at least 6-10 TSO instances per week, which is a fairly casual pace, and even then I can generally save up 30-50pp for a master each month or so. I've also gotten 3 or 4 masters for my class as drops in heroic zones, and sold/traded a few more from other classes to acquire those I needed.</p><p>I suggest making a list of the spells you feel are most important to your performance, and make those your immediate goals. Unless you are active in a guild that regularly raids or does other activities with guarenteed exquisite chests, I honestly wouldn't expect to get fully mastered before the level cap increases again. But just playing casually, I have managed to master the majority of my class-defining spells, with all others at Adept 3. Just take things one step at a time.</p>

[Psynaut]

<p>I have accumulated 55 plat with just over a level to go until level 72.  That should allow me to get my MC gear and some Adept 3 spells, since I vaguely think I remember them being about 1-2 pp a piece.  Thanks again for the advice.</p>

[Paladin776]

<p><cite>Psynaut wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Excellent.  Thank you both.</p><p><cite>Gipper@Mistmoore wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Harvest a lot, to hunt your rares.</p></blockquote><p>Could you please elaborate slightly on this.  Are you saying to harvest rares for cash, or for ingredients to give to the spell crafter to make the spells or are you recommending something else completely?  I haven't researched crafting yet, and I will, but right now I don't even know enough to be sure of what you are recommending.  Thanks.</p></blockquote><p>Yes.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  Depending on your class, you will want to harvest, harvest and harvest, keeping the rares for your Adept 3's and, if you haven't already, your Mastercrafted armor needs, and sell the rest to generate extra cash.</p><p>It shouldn't be all that difficult to find an accomodating Sage, Alchemist or Jeweler (depending on your class) that will make you your Adept 3's for the cost of fuels and you provide the rare.  I want to say it costs around 10G for the fuels for a 71-80 spell/combat art Adept 3, and a tip on top of that is never unappreciated.  I want to say I have only 5 or 6 Ad3's left to get for my paladin (rare - Silicate Loam), and I probably have spent around 7-8 plat to get the ones I do have made. (Every loam has been harvested by myself or a guild mate.)</p>

[mdell]

<p><cite>Psynaut wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Excellent.  Thank you both.</p><p><cite>Gipper@Mistmoore wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Harvest a lot, to hunt your rares.</p></blockquote><p>Could you please elaborate slightly on this.  Are you saying to harvest rares for cash, or for ingredients to give to the spell crafter to make the spells or are you recommending something else completely?  I haven't researched crafting yet, and I will, but right now I don't even know enough to be sure of what you are recommending.  Thanks.</p></blockquote><p>The rares for each archetypes spells are</p><p>Fighter/scout- silicate loam -- jeweler makes the scout spells and alchemist makes the fighter ones</p><p>Healer- rough fire emerald  -- sage</p><p>Mage- Tynnonium cluster -- sage</p><p>The emeralds and tynnonium come from the nodes that look like gems, and the loams come from those other rocks. </p>

[Kordran]

<p>If you're a scout, you'll need silicate loams. If you're relatively cash-poor, then don't buy them from the broker. Depending on the server, day of the week and phase of the moon, they're going to typically be anywhere from 3-7p. Harvest <em>everything</em>, except perhaps bushes (unless you're also a provisioner). The other rares that you'll get, you can sell.</p><p>You'll actually find many alchemists will make your T8 ad3s for free as long as you provide the loam; they keep the dust byproduct, which can then be used to make mastercrafted potions (alchemists in raiding guilds are particularly likely to prefer this arrangement, since they make pot stacks for the coming week's raids). If you find an alchemist that insists on being paid, then tell him that you also want the dust byproduct from your loams; turn around and put that on the broker and recoup some of your costs. If the alchemist tells you he wants paid (more than fuel costs), and wants to keep the dust, tell him to get stuffed. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" /></p>

[x82nd77]

<p><cite>Kordran wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p> Harvest <em>everything</em>, except perhaps bushes (unless you're also a provisioner).</p></blockquote><p> Please take the extra second to harvest the bushes too.  As someone who harvests a lot there is nothing worse then getting an area clear and seeing some buttmunch come along and only harvesting the newly popped stone nodes.  This is called cherry picking and can lead to some very upset people in your level range.</p>

[Kordran]

<p><cite>Sargran@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Kordran wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p> Harvest <em>everything</em>, except perhaps bushes (unless you're also a provisioner).</p></blockquote><p> Please take the extra second to harvest the bushes too.  As someone who harvests a lot there is nothing worse then getting an area clear and seeing some buttmunch come along and only harvesting the newly popped stone nodes.  This is called cherry picking and can lead to some very upset people in your level range.</p></blockquote><p>Notice the very first sentence in the OP is "I am into my 70's now and am starting to get my final spells." He's not level 40, asking about harvesting in Lavastorm or Everfrost. What you're talking about doesn't apply to T6-T8. Harvesting nodes are handled differently than they were back in the original zones. Chosing to not harvest bushes in Ro, the Overrealm or Kunark has absolutely no effect on the respawn of ore nodes. None.</p>

[x82nd77]

<p><cite>Kordran wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Sargran@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite></p><p>Notice the very first sentence in the OP is "I am into my 70's now and am starting to get my final spells." He's not level 40, asking about harvesting in Lavastorm or Everfrost. What you're talking about doesn't apply to T6-T8. Harvesting nodes are handled differently than they were back in the original zones. Chosing to not harvest bushes in Ro, the Overrealm or Kunark has absolutely no effect on the respawn of ore nodes. None.</p></blockquote><p>Thank you for this information... I now have something to look forward to.   =-)</p>