Scout Archive

Hey..

I know that you've been talking to the devs about this, and that maskscent should be working better when the Big Patch comes up, which (and I'm sure I speak for the whole scout community here) I really appreciate So good job.

One question though..

Three of the biggest (non-grouping) problems that I see from scouts here are concerning maskscent not working, survival xp, and the fact that foraging/fishing should give xp. I agree with all these.

Now, the fixes that I've heard from you (and I know that none of them are set in stone) are that maskscent should work better (more often) with a lower xp grant, and that foraging/fishing should be giving xp at some point in the future. This is all fantastic.

My question though.. Wouldn't it make sense for maskscent to give Wilderness Survival Xp rather than scouting?

A) From a logical standpoint.. By masking your scent, you've averted an attack from an aggresive creature. Survival!
B) Would be nice if survival xp had another inlet, no?

I mean.. I realise that there are two skill trees that take scouting xp.. but the thing is.. I'm working my way towards Exploration IV and Hunting IV at the same time, so I need 30K scouting xp, right? At the same time, I'm working towards Survival III, so I still need.. what is it.. 20K or so of survival xp? Assuming I'm solo, and using a multiperson camp, isn't that something like 25 camps at half an hour each.. almost 13 hours of sitting in a camp and doing nothing.

I wouldn't mind the camping grind if it weren't for the aloneness of it (I don't group at all.. Don't particularly want to fight for my scouting xp)... I mean.. entertainers/artisans complain about their grind, but macros (easy macros at that) save the artisans and the social setting of the cantina save the entertainers...

ANyways. Just a suggestion.. Sorry if it turned into a bit of a rant.. I'm not the best with words

~Mishtaq

You shouldn't be spending more than 15 minutes in a camp. The gain you get from 15 - 30, without major healing (which would've already occured in the first 15 minutes) is less than setting up another camp for 15 minutes.

I agree with the principle behind changing Maskscent's XP type, but only if the Exploration line then also requires survival experience.

Actually, Artisans have a horrible grind ahead of them, once they specialize. I made Master Scout way before my buddy even hit Novice Weaponsmith. Sure, Surveying flys, but for the rest of it you can't really macro it, to the best of my knowledge.

As for macroing entertainer, macroing has got to be as boring entertainers as sitting in a camp is for us.

In my opinion, the Survival chain for camping is fine for scouting. It is slow, but not really that slow. I know you said that you didn't want to group for it, but really thats wherecamps shine. They were designed as mobile Cantina/Medic centers. If you get in a decent group, you can get Max XP from a camp within 5 minutes, with all the healing that is needed.

However, I think Survival might be a bit tough for the Rangers. At least, that's what I hear.

Droopu,

This is a good question.

Increased survivability in the wild is the primary intention behind the maskscent feature. This is both my opinion, and the Scout dev's. Yet I personally feel that it is so integral to being a Scout, it isn't in the wrong place by granting Scout XP and not Wilderness Survival XP. It provides an added incentive to working up through the Explorer track, and while it may not be the most reliable feature, the opportunity is there for it to help considerably in your progression through the trees.

I know that there are concerns with Survival XP, and you all know that changes are coming. There WILL be more inlets to gaining Survival XP besides camping soon.

As for the loneliness of it, you're telling me. Being a Scout can be a lonely job. All I can say is that finding a friend who is willing to help you - even if it is another Scout and you alternate camps- does take the edge off. The bride-to-be and I had a long wedding planning/guild discussion last night and I got two Field Base Camps worth of XP off it.

B

I've learned that Novice scouts can use improved camps, even if they haven't been trained in Survival 4 (an thus can't build them). I bought a few improved camps off the bazaar, got into a group of 4, once everyone got injured I built an improved camp, healed everyone up, and got between 840 and 1060 per camp, geting 8000 camping xp in just over2 hours.You can cut down on your 13 hour plan doing it that way.

Frog,

Now that has got to be a bug - because you can't do that with multiplayer camps. I'll bring it up with the Devs.

B

Hmm on that note i think i'll go buy a big camp :-) and take advantage of this exploit before it gets nixed. Tanks frog i love ya.