I think if people would just chill out and run a few TF's and do some arc's in the right level, the shards will come. It's not a big deal. I do expect to see a little grief when they open up more slots for the incarnate and open up the whole tree. Thats alot of shard's and TF's to do.
/Threadjack
My questions are these:
With IO's and stupidly awesome builds, you add all these slots and toons will end up being stupidly overpowered. How will the DEV's create content that will offer the right kind of dificulty?
/end threadjack
Anyway, it is just a matter of time and you will get what you need. They could have made it worse by not allowing the crafting of individual componets. I do like the by product of all this though: More teams, more TF's, and more fun. However, I am afraid of a majority of lowbies seeing the game as a race to lvl 50.
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thanks for the reply StarKitten. I will just keep on testing the old RNG until it finally gives up and lets me have some shards |
Originally Posted by StarKitten
Yes. It feels extremely tedious though. I farmed for about forty five minutes on X8 +1 with bosses. I managed to get 5 shards from it, which is close to what you'd get on a TF. I've been running kill-most/kill-all TF's for the past two days and in 1.5 hours or so, I usually end up with between 4 - 8 shards that have dropped.
I actually expressed a little frustration on a global channel while farming. I said something to the effect of: Man, feels like it takes forever and a day to get a single shard drop without a TF. That led to people telling me that this was an MMO and that TF's were the way to go and that's how shard drops were designed...etc... Looking back on it the farm was almost a little bit better time wise, but it felt incredibly tedious. Long story short, yes, you can get shards from regular missions. |
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| That led to people telling me that this was an MMO and that TF's were the way to go and that's how shard drops were designed...etc... |
I like to do TFs and try to participate in some when I can but that is nowhere near as often as a lot of players. but I like new shiny things as much as they do and think there should be a reasonable way for all of us to do so. I have no problem with the solo route being slower than the teamed TF route but right now, it seems like just a tad bit too much slower
It'd be a funny, but dick move, if they set a handful of farm maps to not drop shards and didn't tell anyone.
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There is level shifts attached to the Incarnate abilities, so enemies will level as we do. Probably up to lvl 60(at +0) by the way things are looking. (Some inspirations even cause a level shift without the enemies leveling) Ramiel also calls the new TFs we'll be getting "Incarnate Trials", so I'm sure that they'll be more suited to Incarnates.|
Originally Posted by Medic_brietz
/Threadjack
My questions are these: With IO's and stupidly awesome builds, you add all these slots and toons will end up being stupidly overpowered. How will the DEV's create content that will offer the right kind of dificulty? /end threadjack |
Battle Maiden is just a taste of the harder content to come, as well as a way to curve players to the new challenges.
I found about 3 shards running solo missions set at +0/x3 in the course of about an hour. As long as you're fighting enemies that are Level 50 or higher they have a chance to drop.
Of course, Lieutenants and Bosses have higher chances of dropping them then Minions. Of those 3 I found, 2 of them were from Lieutenants and 1 from a Boss.
Arc ID: 348998 - Becoming a villain
Arc ID: 373341 - To Save a Hero
Got Inf?
Just went at it on one of my scrappers. About twelve missions later and I had a shiny new cardiac, made out of Incarnate shards.
I did about 3 solo story arcs and an ITF today; crafted my Spiritual Boost alpha power afterwards. Only took about 2 hours.
People need to stop whining so much. Getting your Alpha abilities isn't as hard as it seems.
Arc ID: 348998 - Becoming a villain
Arc ID: 373341 - To Save a Hero
Got Inf?
Quote:
I have been playing the past 3 nights for a few hours each night. I've run 3 TFs (1 ITF and 2 LGTF) and then just solo missions and some street hunting in PI. I made my "Cardiac Core Boost" tonight (second tier). I'm now sitting on 1 Ancient Nictus Fragment, 2 Gr'ai Matter, 1 Hero 1 DNA sample and 5 Incarnate shards.
|
Originally Posted by Smash_Zone
I did about 3 solo story arcs and an ITF today; crafted my Spiritual Boost alpha power afterwards. Only took about 2 hours.
People need to stop whining so much. Getting your Alpha abilities isn't as hard as it seems. |
~ Infinity Heroes ~
Dark Voltage - 50 NRG/NRG/EM Blaster
Shure Shot - 50 Arch/NRG/MM Blaster
Silent Shadow Blade - 50 Katana/SR/BM Scrapper
Uphir - 50 Fire/Fire/Fire Blaster
Teamed with a friend doing missions. We did 7-8 missions set at +0x4. He has already crafted his alpha slot (common) and I have 11 shards. I don't really see a problem with the drop rate. Then again I am in the mindset that shards are just a part of the game and not my objective for playing. I don't need the newest shiny toy NOW... When I get the shards - I get them... I play to have fun everything else is a side benefit.
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Thats quite a lot like my mindset:|
Originally Posted by Fixxer
Teamed with a friend doing missions. We did 7-8 missions set at +0x4. He has already crafted his alpha slot (common) and I have 11 shards. I don't really see a problem with the drop rate. Then again I am in the mindset that shards are just a part of the game and not my objective for playing. I don't need the newest shiny toy NOW... When I get the shards - I get them... I play to have fun everything else is a side benefit.
|
Celebrate when you get the shards (or something else).
Dont despair when you dont (for youll get then, when the time comes).
I also make a heck of a work on annoying my friends, always telling then when I get a shinny.
** Guardian�s Crazy Catgirl **
************* 22 XxX 10 *************
Yes. I can get lost on a straight-line map.
As I recall from my time on beta:
They do drop outside TFs.
They drop more often on teams.
They do drop solo, but it feels really rare (running solo x8 on beta and only got 1 or 2 in every 5 missions or so).
More often with bosses > lts > minions.
(this I am less sure of) More often the higher the level of the opponent.
City of Heroes was my first MMO, & my favorite computer game.
R.I.P.
Chyll - Bydand - Violynce - Enyrgos - Rylle - Nephryte - Solyd - Fettyr - Hyposhock - Styrling - Beryllos - Rosyc
Horryd - Myriam - Dysquiet - Ghyr
Vanysh - Eldrytch
Inflyct - Mysron - Orphyn - Dysmay - Reapyr - - Wyldeman - Hydeous
Quote:
if you are directing your comments to me, I am not whining. I am questioning the drop rate of shards outside of task force missions. and, for me, the trend definitely continues|
Originally Posted by Smash_Zone
I did about 3 solo story arcs and an ITF today; crafted my Spiritual Boost alpha power afterwards. Only took about 2 hours.
People need to stop whining so much. Getting your Alpha abilities isn't as hard as it seems. |
I ran 5 more tip missions last night. now up to around 15 tip missions and probably 20 Vanguard missions. I had enough Vanguard merits drop to buy the incarnate piece through the vendor there but have not had a single shard drop from a defeated foe.
I was able to run an ITF last night and besides the reward piece at the end, I got 9 shards that dropped from foes during the missions.
so now up to 2 components and 10 shards that I haven't combined yet and everything has come from the original mender mission and the ITF. not 1 shard in several hours and a couple dozen solo missions. with those missions set on at least +1/x3
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Ugh, the RNG is just not liking you at all. There's got to be something else going on maybe? I ran three tip missions at x7 on my tank yesterday and even without going out of my way to clear the maps got a shard. It sure seems like in the 15 tip missions (at least) you should have gotten something! If you're getting shards in the ITF though I can't think of any reason other than RNG hate that you wouldn't be getting shards.|
Originally Posted by kendo
if you are directing your comments to me, I am not whining. I am questioning the drop rate of shards outside of task force missions. and, for me, the trend definitely continues
I ran 5 more tip missions last night. now up to around 15 tip missions and probably 20 Vanguard missions. I had enough Vanguard merits drop to buy the incarnate piece through the vendor there but have not had a single shard drop from a defeated foe. I was able to run an ITF last night and besides the reward piece at the end, I got 9 shards that dropped from foes during the missions. so now up to 2 components and 10 shards that I haven't combined yet and everything has come from the original mender mission and the ITF. not 1 shard in several hours and a couple dozen solo missions. with those missions set on at least +1/x3 |
Hang in there!
EDIT: Are you running all the tips in the same zone? Maybe they don't drop in the RWZ or something? Maybe it's a zone thing? Weird.
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This is incorrect. Incarnate Shards and Gr'ai matter are different types of Incarnate Salvage. Gr'ai matter is a specific ingredient used in the Cardiac and Spiritual entry-level recipes, and (I think?) in the higher level recipes, and can also be crafted by using 4 Incarnate Shards.|
Originally Posted by Fritzy
4 [Gr'ai matter] can combine to make one of the other ingredients for an Alpha recipe.
|
As for drops outside of TFs, over 2 nights (about 2-3 hours of play), I was able to accumulate enough shards on a Controller running x2/+0 missions (combination of Tip and Story Arc) to craft a common Spiritual Alpha Slot enhancement (after spending 150 Vanguard merits on Gr'ai matter). The following night, I ran an Imperious Task force taking about 75 minutes, and received 4 shards plus the Incarnate Salvage reward I chose at the end of the TF.
TFs are typically going to be the fastest way to get the components for your Alpha slot, but they aren't the only way.
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"I got really lucky with shard drops, getting 12+ shards in two hours just from regular missions, so therefore NOBODY ELSE has problems"|
Originally Posted by Smash_Zone
I did about 3 solo story arcs and an ITF today; crafted my Spiritual Boost alpha power afterwards. Only took about 2 hours.
People need to stop whining so much. Getting your Alpha abilities isn't as hard as it seems. |
Bad way to think, sir.
Please stop posting things like this...It doesn't add anything to the conversation.
For the record, I ran an ITF last night that took 2 hours and only got 2 shards. where's my alpha boost? I thought it was soo easy. I spent the same time as you did, after all.
Note: I already have two incarnate boosts from running ITFs and LGTFs, so that 2 shards thing is just an example.
Characters!:
Pinny - Scrapper
Shadewing - Defender
@Pinny
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And we apparently need to say to you the exact same thing we always say to people complaining that they never get (tips, purples, whatever).|
Originally Posted by Smash_Zone
People need to stop whining so much. Getting your Alpha abilities isn't as hard as it seems.
|
"Random number generator is random."
Maybe you had an amazingly lucky run. Maybe it was average. We don't know yet. Accept that, for everyone getting incarnate shards in every mission, some people are getting NONE in that same span of time. Let's give it a month or so before we try to evaluate the drop rate.
Paragon City Search And Rescue
The Mentor Project
Shards make components and G'rai Matter is a component that can be made from shards or bought at the Vanguard Workstation with V-Merits. Personally if I need a G'rai Matter component I will buy it not create it from shards.
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)
and the drought is over !!!!
finally got a shard to drop, just one mind you, but at least I know they can drop for me
I logged in today and was sitting in Cimerora after the ITF last night. so I decided to spend some time bashing mobs on the walls and about 15 minutes in, a shard dropped. haven't seen any more since then, though a minor purple recipe dropped a little later on.
so after 3 days of various types of missions in various zones, along with some street sweeping in RWZ and Cim, the score is:
shards 1
purple recipes 1
so from this, we can now conclude that shards are as rare of a drop as purple recipes
doubt they are, based on other people's comments but then one can always draw a wide range of conclusions from relatively small data sets.
will be interesting to see how this pans out over the next month or two. as with purples, just not going to worry too much about it. they will drop when they drop and I will eventually get where I want to go with the incarnate system.
thanks to everyone that had constructive input. looks like I just need to find a way to bribe the RNG to be a bit nicer to me. any ideas on that one, let me know
I ran a hero tip mission in Talos set to +1/x1 and got one.
Originally Posted by Megajoule
We're being invaded. Again. This time, instead of aliens, zombies, or eyeballs with teeth, it's the marching band.
The score so far from my council mission is;
Run 1: 4 for my Tank, 1 for my controller
Run 2: 2 for my Tank, 1 for my controller
Run 3: 1 for my Tank, 2 for my controller
Note: the Tank is doing all the work. =P
Run 4: 3 for my Tank, 1 for my Blaster
Run 5: 2 for my Tank, 1 for my blaster
Liberty Server
Active Character: Canadian Firestorm
Fire/Rad Controller Level 50
I got 3 shards on release day from clearing 5 morality and 1 alignment missions set for x6+0. My duo partner got 4 in those same missions.
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Did a really lucky LGTF thursday. Found 11 shards. My brother got 12 (and 2 purple recipes(!)) in that same TF. The rest of the team found plenty as well.|
Originally Posted by Medic_brietz
I got, NO BS, 8 from a LGTF.
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Only found 3 shards on the LG I did yesterday though. So I guess it balances out.
@True Metal
Co-leader of Callous Crew SG. Based on Union server.
To answer the OP, yes they drop outside of TF's, which has already been made clear. BUT make sure you've done the Oro arc first or they won't drop.
Next, to each their own. If someone likes to do TFs and has the time, PLEASE do it. For others that like to farm or can't team during the week like myself, then farm it up or set your missions to as many mobs as you can handle and play your heart out.
Think about it as a goal for your toons. I was farming last night to try for some shards (which ive been averaging about 2-3 per run set to 0x8) and guess what else fell?? A Ragnarok dam/rech. I was KIND OF disappointed that i only got 2 shards in that run but was kind of happy i got another purple. Not to mention 2 platinums and a hami goo.
Moral of the story? There are multiple benefits from farming shards other than just doing TFs.... So, play, enjoy and stop worrying and blasting people that don't play like you.
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I had one drop from a Rikti bomb during an invasion ... go figure!
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Originally Posted by Fritzy
I got one of mine during an invasion in Cap. Perhaps they'll drop, not because of the 'level' of the Rikti, but because they con to your level when fighting them.
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I actually expressed a little frustration on a global channel while farming. I said something to the effect of: Man, feels like it takes forever and a day to get a single shard drop without a TF.
That led to people telling me that this was an MMO and that TF's were the way to go and that's how shard drops were designed...etc...
Looking back on it the farm was almost a little bit better time wise, but it felt incredibly tedious.
Long story short, yes, you can get shards from regular missions.
"Certain it is and sure: love burns, ale burns, fire burns, politics burns, but cold were life without them." - Romulan proverb
My Characters