Nope, you do the Incarnate arc and voila you have the slot. No vanguard or other merits needed. You also earn Incarnate Shards from level 50+ foes you defeat.
But it's MY sadistic mechanical monster and I'm here to make sure it knows it. - Girl Genius
List of Invention Guides
The arc is soloable, but rough to do so for some builds
Shards drop from any level 50 or higher mobs.
Everything in the alpha slot currently released can be achieved solo, though it will be slower than doing the level 50 TFs.
@Catwhoorg "Rule of Three - Finale" Arc# 1984
@Mr Falkland Islands"A Nation Goes Rogue" Arc# 2369 "Toasters and Pop Tarts" Arc#116617
Release notes are your friend.
"If all else fails, minor Incarnate Shards sub-components for constructing your Alpha Abilities can also be occasionally acquired off of level 50+ foes and level 50 players in PVP."
Oh yes in the Rikti War Zone mission of the Incarnate arc think about that last room before you attempt it. What is your goal, not what do you see.
But it's MY sadistic mechanical monster and I'm here to make sure it knows it. - Girl Genius
List of Invention Guides
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Nope, you can do it all solo. At least, what we have so far you can do solo, no idea about future stuff, but I imagine that will be soloable as well. |
Originally Posted by BloodFairy
Do we have to group and do group content to achieve this now?
Because if the Vanguard merit thing is the only other option which is massive grind this game is broke, farming, wasting my life and I'm through with it. It's just that too many mmos are like this and I left all them for this game years ago, because there was no "end game" raids you HAD to do to unlock something and there was no farmer grind either to get stuff, but if that is case now, failed game. I am just asking. Like I have said before I play at very very late hours, barely anyone is ever on but the developers never take that into account when doing anything. If a games too fun they consider it broke and make it miserable. I want access to the incarnate stuff but I don't want to do raids with people that aren't online, I don't want to change servers, I don't even want to group with complete strangers if it was an option and I don't want to grind away with vanguard merits to get this either. Games should be fun and not a job. I already have a job. |
After running the arc you get the Alpha slot, and gain the ability to have Incarnate Shards drop for you. All of the pieces you need for Alpha slot enhancements can be created with 4 Incarnate Shards.
The only thing teaming does is speed up the process, because TFs will give you the pieces directly instead of having to create them with Shards. From what I have seen thus far, Shards drop with roughly the same frequency as rare salvage. And one of the pieces can be bought with 150 Vanguard merits.
Soloing Incarnate stuff is slower, but then, soloing most stuff in the game is slower. You won't level as fast solo as you will on a team, so it makes sense that you won't acquire Incarnate abilities as fast as on a team, but you CAN do it. I played normally, not faring anything at all, and after an hour I ended up with 3 Shards, so it's a pretty reasonable rate to earn them at.
Now, if you think that slower acquisition of pieces = grinding, then I don't know what to tell you. It is the endgame content a lot of people have been waiting for for years, of course it isn't going to be easy, why should it be? If you play your 50s regularly after running the arc, you will eventually get everything you need without really trying that hard, it just won't be as fast as running a few TFs.
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Originally Posted by Dechs Kaison See, it's gems like these that make me check Claws' post history every once in a while to make sure I haven't missed anything good lately. |
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On a Fire tanker? That room was the most fun I've had in ages. Straight for the boss, Hasten up, cycling Build Up, Fiery Embrace and Healing Flames, and dropping as many AoEs as I could. Made for a rather surreal conversation afterwards.
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Originally Posted by TerraDraconis
Oh yes in the Rikti War Zone mission of the Incarnate arc think about that last room before you attempt it. What is your goal, not what do you see.
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What do you consider "Incarnate stuff"? Do you just want the Alpha Slot enhancement, or do you actually want to run some new content? The only thing that *requires* the Alpha slot is the two new TFs, so if you don't want to team up ever, you're not missing anything.
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Originally Posted by BloodFairy
I want access to the incarnate stuff but I don't want to do raids with people that aren't online, I don't want to change servers, I don't even want to group with complete strangers if it was an option and I don't want to grind away with vanguard merits to get this either. Games should be fun and not a job. I already have a job.
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Character index
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and so far, after arresting several hundred level 50+ foes, I have had exactly ZERO incarnate shards drop. yes, I know all about the RNG but right now it appears that a shard dropping is about as rare as a purple recipe. |
Originally Posted by Symar
Release notes are your friend.
"If all else fails, minor Incarnate Shards sub-components for constructing your Alpha Abilities can also be occasionally acquired off of level 50+ foes and level 50 players in PVP." |
I would suggest that they also allow us to buy incarnate pieces with hero and villain merits. that would help those of us who cannot run a lot of TFs to have a more consistent way of obtaining incarnate material. it still wouldn't be all that fast compared to people that can participate in a lot of TFs but would be way better than the options I see now for solo players.
the best you can do is get 3 merits every two days but it's a good week if I can average even close to 1 per day. so I wouldn't be rushing to the top of the incarnate list any time soon. but it would certainly provide a lot more options and enjoyment to this part of the game.
as it stands now, I totally agree with the OP. farming for 150 Vanguard merits will take way too long and be way too boring as the only solo option to obtain Incarnate items.
I have considered myself primarily a soloist since I started playing this game back in 2005.
I started with an emp/elec defender. If you avoid the forum builds and use some sense, any build is soloable- although, some will work better than others.
Attending an MSR, if you're online when they happen, is the easiest way to get those vanguard merits. And you know what? You can be on a team during MSR, and still "Solo". Nobody is going to tell you where to stand while someone "pulls" or "herds". You don't even have to respond when they say "Welcome!". Just use as many AoEs as you can, and you should get plenty of vanguard merits.
Now, if you're not online, and you've done Leventara's arc, that arc alone should have provided you with the vanguard merits you need to get the grai piece.
"Most people that have no idea what they are doing have no idea that they don't know what they are doing." - John Cleese
@Ukase
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Let me just say this. Last night I had quite a few people to message me about getting incarnate stuff. They all asked the same question which was do you need a team for this. You dont but it goes exponentially faster with a team. I dont see whats the big idea why so many are against teaming in this game to do a lvl 50 tf. I can understand there maybe schedule issues and such but how hard is it to set aside 2 to 3 hours on one day to do this? I know on some servers they are starting tfs as late as 3 am. This game is an MMO for a reason and doing this solo is only going to make it harder on yourself. Also being solo unless your doing farm missions set for 8 people then you really have no real use for this slot anyways so you arent missing out on much.
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Originally Posted by BloodFairy
Do we have to group and do group content to achieve this now?
Because if the Vanguard merit thing is the only other option which is massive grind this game is broke, farming, wasting my life and I'm through with it. It's just that too many mmos are like this and I left all them for this game years ago, because there was no "end game" raids you HAD to do to unlock something and there was no farmer grind either to get stuff, but if that is case now, failed game. I am just asking. Like I have said before I play at very very late hours, barely anyone is ever on but the developers never take that into account when doing anything. If a games too fun they consider it broke and make it miserable. I want access to the incarnate stuff but I don't want to do raids with people that aren't online, I don't want to change servers, I don't even want to group with complete strangers if it was an option and I don't want to grind away with vanguard merits to get this either. Games should be fun and not a job. I already have a job. |
Bump and Grind Bane/SoA
Kenja No Ishi Earth/Empathy Controller
Legendary Sannin Ninja/Pain Mastermind
Entoxicated Ninja/PSN Mastermind
Ninja Ryukenden Kat/WP Scrapper
Hellish Thoughts Fire/PSI Dominator
Thank You Devs for Merits!!!!
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A VERY similar thread is in the Open Beta discussion, but I'll continue a little bit here.|
Originally Posted by kendo
and so far, after arresting several hundred level 50+ foes, I have had exactly ZERO incarnate shards drop. yes, I know all about the RNG but right now it appears that a shard dropping is about as rare as a purple recipe.
I would suggest that they also allow us to buy incarnate pieces with hero and villain merits. that would help those of us who cannot run a lot of TFs to have a more consistent way of obtaining incarnate material. it still wouldn't be all that fast compared to people that can participate in a lot of TFs but would be way better than the options I see now for solo players. the best you can do is get 3 merits every two days but it's a good week if I can average even close to 1 per day. so I wouldn't be rushing to the top of the incarnate list any time soon. but it would certainly provide a lot more options and enjoyment to this part of the game. as it stands now, I totally agree with the OP. farming for 150 Vanguard merits will take way too long and be way too boring as the only solo option to obtain Incarnate items. |
A single ITF for 1 common component plus at a minimum 2 shards is rougly 30 minutes. In the time you took to fight "several hundred foes", you could have run an ITF.
An RWZ raid takes roughly 45 minutes, if you stay until the shields come back. You could even enter the zone right after shields drop to avoid the time it takes to kill pylons.
While I do like the idea of getting shards from completing story arcs at level 50 or the likes, the current system has no reason to have such a change occur.
The problem with Vanguard merits is they only buy the one component which is only useful if you want the particular boosts that use it.
Running the TF's are fine but there's only so many times I want to run the ITF or LGTF before I get sick of them. Some members of our SG are already sick of the LGTF. I've never tried the Statesmen or ... whatever the other one is. I'm guessing I will soon but I don't see those ever being a "casual" TF run for us. They seem pretty intimidating for folks who are lucky to have 1 or 2 50's in the stable like me.
What I'm hoping is that the shard drops off level 50+ enemies is often enough that I can gather what I need over the course of a month or two doing my normal couple of times a week games (some solo, some 7-8-man teaming). Because I would like to run the two new TF's eventually. 
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You're not counting the time it takes to assemble the required players to complete the task forces and raids, which - depending on schedules and servers - can increase said time considerably.|
Originally Posted by Bringer_NA
A single ITF for 1 common component plus at a minimum 2 shards is rougly 30 minutes. In the time you took to fight "several hundred foes", you could have run an ITF.
An RWZ raid takes roughly 45 minutes, if you stay until the shields come back. You could even enter the zone right after shields drop to avoid the time it takes to kill pylons. |
With everyone wanting to run more task forces to get the shards that will be much less of a problem in the immediate future, but I sure would like to have - since I can already run at +6 to +8 on most of my 50's - the ability to start and run things like the Imperious TF with just me or with the two or three people I team with regularly.
That's one of the main reasons I've run the Oroborous TF's so many times...
The Scrappers' Guide to Dark Melee | Kheldian Binds and Strategies
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Stupid question here, but, you DID complete the arc and got the Alpha slot unlocked before you did that right? |
Originally Posted by kendo
and so far, after arresting several hundred level 50+ foes, I have had exactly ZERO incarnate shards drop. yes, I know all about the RNG but right now it appears that a shard dropping is about as rare as a purple recipe.
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Because you won't have any shards drop at all if you haven't completed it.
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Originally Posted by Dechs Kaison See, it's gems like these that make me check Claws' post history every once in a while to make sure I haven't missed anything good lately. |
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possibly a large SG can set up and run an ITF in 30 minutes but I have yet to be on a PUG run that can do that. it usually burns up at least a couple of hours and have had some groups where folks bail out and we never finish at all.|
Originally Posted by Bringer_NA
A VERY similar thread is in the Open Beta discussion, but I'll continue a little bit here.
A single ITF for 1 common component plus at a minimum 2 shards is rougly 30 minutes. In the time you took to fight "several hundred foes", you could have run an ITF. An RWZ raid takes roughly 45 minutes, if you stay until the shields come back. You could even enter the zone right after shields drop to avoid the time it takes to kill pylons. While I do like the idea of getting shards from completing story arcs at level 50 or the likes, the current system has no reason to have such a change occur. |
as far as I saw, a RWZ raid is only good to get you vanguard merits for 1 specific incarnate piece. so doesn't help with anything else
and I didn't suggest they change it to award shards from completing story arcs. I suggested they add to the list of items that can be purchased using Hero or Villain merits. that will generally entail running at least 2 or 3 story arcs or completing the 2 day tip mission sequence to get 1 merit. would still be way slower than someone who can run TFs but more consistent than the rare random drops right now.
and such a suggestion doesn't take anything away from someone who likes, and has the time to run, TFs. it just adds to the enjoyment for others on different schedules and allows them to participate in more of the game's features. to me, that's a good thing
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Originally Posted by kendo
possibly a large SG can set up and run an ITF in 30 minutes but I have yet to be on a PUG run that can do that. it usually burns up at least a couple of hours and have had some groups where folks bail out and we never finish at all.
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Try joining the global channels for whatever server you are on if you haven't already.
I play on Pinnacle, and I can usually generate interest in an ITF or other TF and get the team rolling in about 20 minutes, at just about any time of day. I just holler in the ghlobal channel and off we go.
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Originally Posted by Dechs Kaison See, it's gems like these that make me check Claws' post history every once in a while to make sure I haven't missed anything good lately. |
I did 2 tfs last night. Kill all ITF and kill all LGTF. I got a ton of shards doing this. The thing is we are so rushed to speed thru stuff and never take the time to stop and smell the roses. This is why folks arent getting stuff. Even with a non-aoe heavy team it goes pretty fast. Total time in all of this with both TFs was like 3 hours for 20 shards not to mention vanguard merits.
Bump and Grind Bane/SoA
Kenja No Ishi Earth/Empathy Controller
Legendary Sannin Ninja/Pain Mastermind
Entoxicated Ninja/PSN Mastermind
Ninja Ryukenden Kat/WP Scrapper
Hellish Thoughts Fire/PSI Dominator
Thank You Devs for Merits!!!!
Another thing to consider is that the shard drops from foes has different rates for their ranks. IIRC 1100 minions, 160 LTs and 60 bosses was the numbers. So soloing you have to fight bosses and LTs to get a decent shard drop rate.
Protector Server
Woeful Knight (BS/Regen/Body Scrapper)
Kevin Christian (MC/FF/Primal Controller)
SilverCybernaut (Eng/Dev/Munitions Blaster)
Apixie OhNo (Fire/Fire/Pyre Tanker)
Y'ru Glowen (Rad/Rad/Psy Defender)
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Grav/Storm/Mu ftw |
Originally Posted by TerraDraconis
Oh yes in the Rikti War Zone mission of the Incarnate arc think about that last room before you attempt it. What is your goal, not what do you see.
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I wormholed the rikti from the first portal (wow, that was a lot of them spawning. I don't think my MM faced that many), ground them to dust, then wormholed the EBs (died once, I should have timed my accolades/inspirations better), then wormholed the EBs AGAIN (crushed them with a wiser use of Hurricane, Immobilizes, and inspirations for survival), then ran straight into the remaining portals with Surge of Power and took them all out before crashing (I exited the mission prior to being squashed by the swarms of remaining Rikti).
That said, the above powerset combination is nearly optimal for fighting Rikti (60% energy resistance, and Hurricane to keep the swords away
), only needing the occasional breakfree inspiration for when a Mez lands.
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Amen. Did a kill all ITF last night. Got just enough shards to craft my common. |
Originally Posted by EvilRyu
I did 2 tfs last night. Kill all ITF and kill all LGTF. I got a ton of shards doing this. The thing is we are so rushed to speed thru stuff and never take the time to stop and smell the roses. This is why folks arent getting stuff. Even with a non-aoe heavy team it goes pretty fast. Total time in all of this with both TFs was like 3 hours for 20 shards not to mention vanguard merits.
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Currently playing:
The Domestic: Broom/WP
Shadowhex: Dark Control/Dark Affinity
Defenestration Lass: Grav/Kin
"See, this is what happens when you have to shove all this stuff into your pockets: it's easy to misplace a suborbital warhead." -Arcanaville, on how crowded our power trays are getting lately
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Argueably, the Alpha slot is useless, unless you plan to run the new TFs. You don't NEED them to play the game. We've been playing the game this way since i1.
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Originally Posted by kendo
and so far, after arresting several hundred level 50+ foes, I have had exactly ZERO incarnate shards drop. yes, I know all about the RNG but right now it appears that a shard dropping is about as rare as a purple recipe.
I would suggest that they also allow us to buy incarnate pieces with hero and villain merits. that would help those of us who cannot run a lot of TFs to have a more consistent way of obtaining incarnate material. it still wouldn't be all that fast compared to people that can participate in a lot of TFs but would be way better than the options I see now for solo players. the best you can do is get 3 merits every two days but it's a good week if I can average even close to 1 per day. so I wouldn't be rushing to the top of the incarnate list any time soon. but it would certainly provide a lot more options and enjoyment to this part of the game. as it stands now, I totally agree with the OP. farming for 150 Vanguard merits will take way too long and be way too boring as the only solo option to obtain Incarnate items. |
Right now I already slotted 2 alphas, and one of then with the second tier.
Ran exactly 1 LGTF, 2 ITFs and 1 Barracuda to do that. One of the ITFs lasted 2 hours. The other 1:23. Both were taken as a Kill-all.
Its pretty easy to get your shards. I plan on doing the routine Respec/Unlock arc/Run 1 TF/Slot the power at least 3 more times tonight.
One of the things I liked on this was a shift on mindset. People werent skipping parts of the TFs. No shortcuts. No intentional fails.
** Guardian�s Crazy Catgirl **
************* 22 XxX 10 *************
Yes. I can get lost on a straight-line map.
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I'd recommend a group for the slot unlocking, I needed a duo for Honoree and Trapdoor. But we should have had more, it took a LOT of dying to get the strategy for the Honoree right ^_^.|
Originally Posted by BloodFairy
Do we have to group and do group content to achieve this now?
Because if the Vanguard merit thing is the only other option which is massive grind this game is broke, farming, wasting my life and I'm through with it. It's just that too many mmos are like this and I left all them for this game years ago, because there was no "end game" raids you HAD to do to unlock something and there was no farmer grind either to get stuff, but if that is case now, failed game. I am just asking. Like I have said before I play at very very late hours, barely anyone is ever on but the developers never take that into account when doing anything. If a games too fun they consider it broke and make it miserable. I want access to the incarnate stuff but I don't want to do raids with people that aren't online, I don't want to change servers, I don't even want to group with complete strangers if it was an option and I don't want to grind away with vanguard merits to get this either. Games should be fun and not a job. I already have a job. |
The taskforces REALLY accelerate getting the slot filled, but killing a few bosses here and there on your normal missions will eventually get you shards to convert to the better pieces. But the only content that actually really needs the slot filled, are the new Task Forces.
So, if you don't want to run that content with the people you have online, and don't want to do PuGs, then you really won't miss a lot.
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I can see needing help for The Honoree, but Trapdoor was a pansy. |
Originally Posted by Warsuit X-5
I'd recommend a group for the slot unlocking, I needed a duo for Honoree and Trapdoor. But we should have had more, it took a LOT of dying to get the strategy for the Honoree right ^_^.
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Just pull him out of the room into the cave and he gets out of range of his bifurcations' regeneration boost, and he turns into a kitten. Without that insane regen rate he's pretty easy to kill. You can also pull him into the lava below the platform and it damages him enough to overcome his regen rate if you are attacking as well.
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Originally Posted by Dechs Kaison See, it's gems like these that make me check Claws' post history every once in a while to make sure I haven't missed anything good lately. |
Do we have to group and do group content to achieve this now?
Because if the Vanguard merit thing is the only other option which is massive grind this game is broke, farming, wasting my life and I'm through with it. It's just that too many mmos are like this and I left all them for this game years ago, because there was no "end game" raids you HAD to do to unlock something and there was no farmer grind either to get stuff, but if that is case now, failed game.
I am just asking. Like I have said before I play at very very late hours, barely anyone is ever on but the developers never take that into account when doing anything. If a games too fun they consider it broke and make it miserable. I want access to the incarnate stuff but I don't want to do raids with people that aren't online, I don't want to change servers, I don't even want to group with complete strangers if it was an option and I don't want to grind away with vanguard merits to get this either. Games should be fun and not a job. I already have a job.