Foraging question - is deposit tracking working?

[oldmess]

Having gotten bored of killing the same thing repeatedly, I decided to start digging in the sand a few weeks ago. During that time, I've been rather frustrated with Deposit Tracking. My action consists of

350m range
Lake spec
Choice only
minor mat spec (shell for example)

I run in circles until it tells me I'm within 1m (I always did like playing warmer/colder as a young Tryker child). I then use my prospecting to find some choice shell:

90 degree angle
40m range
choice only
minor mat spec
multi-spots

Since it's 90 deg, I do the full circle in 4 tries and find nothing. Ever.

If I switch to "up to Choice" instead of "choice only", then I find some shell. If I remove the mat spec and leave it as "choice only", I find some choice items, but never the item I'm searching for. So, I'm confused. Is the "Choice Only" and "Mat Spec" working as an "OR" instead of an "AND". i.e. finding a spot that has either choice mats or shell. Is there a better way to find what I'm looking for?

Any illumination that can reduce my confusion would be appreciated. Thanks.

[bcharles]

I've tried exactly what you descirbed, except I use major instead of minor mat spec, and it works fine. Maybe minor mat spec is busted?

[calel]

No, doesn' t seem to be a problem with minor mat spec as i favor that one of the more expensive major mat spec and it doesn' t seem to make a difference to me. What i did notice though is that i had a hard time as a lower lvl forager finding the right deposits then i now have as a 180+ forager; and i mean deposits of any kind: minor group, major group and specialized mats (ofcourse the later two were only available at higher lvls).

One thing you could try is instead of dividing your circle into 4 equal parts with a 90° angle, divide it into 8 equal parts but still use your 90° angle. When doind so i always tend to find the materials i' m looking for; possibly because the angle is widest at the end of your cone, not at the starting point. Oh, and perhaps decrease your range, but well, that might just be personal preferance, I like my 10metres range.

[vguerin]

Deposit tracking can be a bit tricky to get a feel for, but I have found it to be nearly flawless. In your example the first thing I would ask is if you got a weather or season message when you didn't find your choice shell ?

Choice etc may only be available during specific periods and it is taking to a site that contains choice shell, but maybe not at this particular time. As bcharles touched on, using the major material specialization will increase your chances of finding what you want and may also provide you the result message that is more descriptive when it is not available.

When this skill was added many folks said it was broke, and I have had a long standing offer to port to wherever you are and pop the mat you say is not there or tell you what message I get. If it's not there you should get a message...

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[aylwyne]

For the most part, deposit tracking works perfectly for me. I usually use a material specialization combined with a grade filter ("choice only", etc.).

Recently in Fount, however, I ran into a situation where I just couldn't seem to make it work right. I was looking for choice seed and amber. I had my tracking set up with Major Seed and Choice Only. It led me to a spot where I started prospecting with a Major Seed/Choice Only prospect. When I started prospecting, I was getting the "no materials detected in this area" message. After several tries, I finally got the "...different grade..." message. When I removed the Choice Only, I finally turned up basic seed.

I then tried removing the material specialization from my original prospect (i.e. a generic Choice Only prospect) and I couldn't find ANY choice materials in the vicinity.

My friend was doing the same thing with amber with the same result. It led her to the same area but she could only turn up basic amber.

At that point, I logged a ticket and a GM came out and spent about 30 minutes with the same result. None of us could turn up any choice mats in the area where the Choice Seed/Amber tracking led us.

So far, this is the only time I've had this happen when tracking Choice Only in the standard mat fields.

So the moral of the story...

"It works except when it doesn't."

[rushin]

here's another suggestion: reduce the range of your prospect action. there is an issue that long range actions start from the max range and work back, but can miss mats right at your feet. It happens to me all the time, i can stand up from digging a source, step back and throw a full range prospect only to be told 'no materials were detected..' but then using a range1 brick in the same action the sources pop.

[borg9]

here's another suggestion: reduce the range of your prospect action. there is an issue that long range actions start from the max range and work back, but can miss mats right at your feet. It happens to me all the time, i can stand up from digging a source, step back and throw a full range prospect only to be told 'no materials were detected..' but then using a range1 brick in the same action the sources pop.

Yep I confirm can confirm this - range in a prospect seems to work on a furthest first basis.

Eg on a 40m prospect it starts looking for mats @ 40m then reduces the range till it reaches your feet.

I have found that using long range - it gives up and tells you it can find mats even when they are under your nose.

Best range for a know spot in range1 (no range is 'too precise' and can cause similar problems)

Conclusion:

Use long range + narrow angle to look ahead in the distance.
Use short range + wide angle to check around you feet.

and use short range + narrow angle to reprospect a new spot.
(Less chance of popping sources in 2 different nodes)

This is a long standing 'problem' that I think the devs have investigated and returned as 'works as intended' as under 'test conditions' with experience it works correctly. However getting the experience to know what angle and range to use at the right time ..... IS PAINFUL!

[caitiff]

here's another suggestion: reduce the range of your prospect action. there is an issue that long range actions start from the max range and work back, but can miss mats right at your feet. It happens to me all the time, i can stand up from digging a source, step back and throw a full range prospect only to be told 'no materials were detected..' but then using a range1 brick in the same action the sources pop.

This is true. I have found that it is more of a problem when going over 20m really. Once you get that close dont use max range if you are. Also, I have found it to help at times to step away a few feet and face the area I stopped at where it said it was 1m away and prospect that way, just gives another angle which has helped at times.

[oldmess]

Deposit tracking can be a bit tricky to get a feel for, but I have found it to be nearly flawless. In your example the first thing I would ask is if you got a weather or season message when you didn't find your choice shell ?

No. Just a simple "not found" message.

Choice etc may only be available during specific periods and it is taking to a site that contains choice shell, but maybe not at this particular time. As bcharles touched on, using the major material specialization will increase your chances of finding what you want and may also provide you the result message that is more descriptive when it is not available.

Haven't been able to afford the major mat specs yet, but I'll put them on my list for the next set of skill points I spend.

here's another suggestion: reduce the range of your prospect action. there is an issue that long range actions start from the max range and work back, but can miss mats right at your feet.

Thanks; I'll give that a try.

Recently in Fount, however, I ran into a situation where I just couldn't seem to make it work right. I was looking for choice seed and amber.

Coincidently, that's where I'm having the problem as well (Fount), but it occurred occasionally in Winds of Muse as well.

What i did notice though is that i had a hard time as a lower lvl forager finding the right deposits then i now have as a 180+ forager; and i mean deposits of any kind: minor group, major group and specialized mats (ofcourse the later two were only available at higher lvls).

I guess I didn't think that level 105 was "lower level". I really hope these various suggestions help because if I have to wait until level 180 for deposit tracking to start working, I might not make it...

One thing you could try is instead of dividing your circle into 4 equal parts with a 90° angle, divide it into 8 equal parts but still use your 90° angle.

Thanks, I'll try that as well if the reduction in range doesn't help.

Thanks to everyone for their advice/ideas. I'll be in the Fount again tonight trying these all out.

[calel]

I guess I didn't think that level 105 was "lower level". I really hope these various suggestions help because if I have to wait until level 180 for deposit tracking to start working, I might not make it...

Hehe, I meant below lvl 50

Well, seems all like sound advice; I hope your problem gets solved now. Good luck