Ultimate Harvesting Guide (Part 1 - Starting Out) by DoubleTap

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vguerin
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Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2004 6:13 pm

Ultimate Harvesting Guide (Part 1 - Starting Out) by DoubleTap

Post by vguerin »

I have been a harvester with every build I have made from SoR Open Beta 1, and continued during the Focus Beta Test and Open Beta 2 prior to release to learn more on this career path. Wylkroe, has aided me in many tests and provided me with additional information both to test and add to this guide as needed.

Highest Experience Levels in FBT
DoubleTap
Level 150 Forest
Level 83 Desert
Level 71 Jungle
Level 57 Lake
Level 91 Prime Roots


Part 1 - Starting Out As A Harvester

Starter Packs:

Starting with 3 harvest packs:
One of the starting action packs you may choose when creating a character in SoR is the Big Forage Pack.

This is a good way to get started if you plan to be a harvester or a melee harvester. This starter pack gives you 4 additional skills (3-6 on graphic) equivalent to 70 SP (7 levels of harvesting). Other than "Accelerated Prospecting" they are all primary choices for you, I am currently level 94 and still dont have AP1. It costs 20 SP and until I have all the other skills I want I prefer to be skilled over fast.


I personally do not choose to start with the "Big Forage Pack", as I already stated it wastes 20 SP for accelerated prospecting that I could use better elsewhere. I would prefer they replace "accelerated prospecting" with "50m deposit tracking" (20 SP) or "prospection for fine materials" to make it more valuable.

Starting with 2 harvest packs:

Another good way to get started, you can use your crafting XP to buy your focus and HP boosts instead of harvest SP. You may even end up with a pair of light boots :lol: Again, "Accelerated Prospecting" a skill I wouldn't use SP to buy for a LONG time is included, reducing the value of this pack greatly to me.

Starting with 1 harvest pack:

Basic extraction is what you get with action pack 1, this will give you a "Pick" and the ability to harvest raw material sources (green bubbles spawned in newbieland and various other locations). YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE YOUR OWN SOURCES ! You will however be able to harvest sources from other players, but it's not recommended unless you have their permission. Harvesting teammates sources will often result in a better harvest if the teammates prospecting skills are high enough to give you extended time on the source.

You will have to get to level 3 (2 levels or 20 SP) for "Basic Prospecting" to have the ability to make your own sources.


This is my typical method of starting, this gives the most versatility for me to get started on my career as a harvester. Of course I dont much like having "heal 1" which is passive, I would prefer "acid 1" but you find a teammate or guildmate that will let you heal them for 5 levels and then you can get acid 1 :roll:

Oddly, your titles as a harvester are tied to the "Accelerated Prospecting" stanza... apparently the Dev Team places much more value on this then I do or you should...

First Skill Choices:

My Most FAQ !!! :
I am constantly getting /tell messages in the game about harvesting, the most FAQ's are concerning either how to start out best or what skill should be purchased next. As you begin harvesting and gaining precious SP, you now have to plan your harvesting build carefully to get MAX XP/SP for your efforts.

The very first thing a harvester should get is the ability to make their own sources. Choose "Basic Prospecting" to get you started. Secondly I recommend "Prospecting with a source time of 30 seconds". After that you watch your skill trees closely for all skills that will give your more materials (speed/rate/source time), make materials easier to find (range/angle/better materials/tracking) or pick up improvements for your focus or health. Hit town only when you know you can get your next brick and start building your skills wisely and effectively.

This guide is an updated version of the original guide located in the Ryzom forums:
http://atys.ryzom.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=11521

The rest of the updated guide will only be available on our guild website in the future so I can keep additional threads seperate from the guide to make it easier to read.

Click here to join Melinoe
Last edited by vguerin on Wed Sep 29, 2004 3:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
rivkah
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2004 2:47 pm

Re: Ultimate Harvesting Guide (Part 1 - Starting Out) by DoubleTap

Post by rivkah »

Fantastic guide, thank you. :)
reignor
Posts: 27
Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2004 6:36 pm

Re: Ultimate Harvesting Guide (Part 1 - Starting Out) by DoubleTap

Post by reignor »

very nice guide m8 well done helped in few diff things i wondered
kierstad
Posts: 65
Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 11:17 pm

Re: Ultimate Harvesting Guide (Part 1 - Starting Out) by DoubleTap

Post by kierstad »

reignor wrote:very nice guide m8 well done helped in few diff things i wondered
Good guide :)

I made the mistake of working on my crafting before harvesting (DOH!).
My take on harvesting is at lower levels get harmful extraction before gentle, because harmful extraction = higher ql = more experience. Even more experience with prospecting your own source.

My biggest uncertainty is exactly how sources are located both in the newby areas and on the mainland. I'm really, really hoping that it isn't like SWG where the sources shift unexpectedly or have ludicrous lifespans..please tell me that isn't so? :) So far I seem to have more luck prospecting right inside and right outside of the starting towns than I do out in the "wilds" of the starting areas. Some suggested looking at places that "make sense", however I have had approximately 0% success doing so. Looking by trees does not yield me wood sources or bark sources (with 20deg angle, 5m prospecting combined with basic/fine/choice). Looking by logs and rocks does not provide resin sources, etc.

Would I be better off using 50m tracking this early on in the starting areas, or wait until the mainland to get it?
legynd
Posts: 18
Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2004 11:07 pm

Re: Ultimate Harvesting Guide (Part 1 - Starting Out) by DoubleTap

Post by legynd »

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.....Great Guide!!!

Kudu
vamphyri
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Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2004 3:27 pm

Post by vamphyri »

Hey,

How can I harvest if I dont have any harvest skills or tools? only got magic and crafting. I need 50 skills for Basic Harvesting?

Thnx
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vguerin
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Re: Ultimate Harvesting Guide (Part 1 - Starting Out) by DoubleTap

Post by vguerin »

vamphyri wrote:Hey,

How can I harvest if I dont have any harvest skills or tools? only got magic and crafting. I need 50 skills for Basic Harvesting?

Thnx
For 50 SP you can pick up Basic Harvesting, after that you have to purchase a pick. When you done this your are now ready to be a harvester and provide additional materials to your guild or for yourself.

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Ultimate Harvesting Guide
lyrah68
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Joined: Thu Sep 23, 2004 11:45 pm

Re: Ultimate Harvesting Guide (Part 1 - Starting Out) by DoubleTap

Post by lyrah68 »

Major thing I disagree on is the harmful only approach...with that approach...you will HAVE to watch node modes and NEVER touch a two, three, or four. OR you leave a trail of destroyed areas behind you.

Harmful only is like fishing with TNT or c4...it works...but it lacks finess.

I can get the FULL number of units in a "node", which SOME are calling the temporary thing you pop to the surface...I call a NODE the potential that is there, popped up or NOT, there are more than one NODE to an area. Sometimes as many as 10 to 12 in a 10 meter area. So you destroy "an area" you KILLED 12 nodes...for a POSSIBLE 300+ materials. With as many materials as it takes to level a craft skill post 50...Harmful only is like the days of bleeding for medical reasons. Hard to justify when the harm is worse than the good it does.


I have my extraction set up for Aggressive speed, Agressive rate (and up those ASAP everytime) and GENTLE Quality. And I can sit at even the TOUCHIEST nodes of BIG shell and AMBER and scoop up twice what I could using harmful ONLY...I tested the number of units I got with Gentle Quality and those I got with Harmful only.....TWICE as many with Gentle.
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vguerin
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Re: Ultimate Harvesting Guide (Part 1 - Starting Out) by DoubleTap

Post by vguerin »

As you well know there are some fairly large balance issues with harvesting now. Your required to get harmful, even if you dont use it. Gentle still explodes after around 4 mats pulled. I use only gentle, but have seen many harmful folks deplete a site quickly. Hopefully after the overhaul talked about we can update this with happy news :)

DoubleTap
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Ultimate Harvesting Guide
Melinoe - Atys Harvesters
http://ryzom.twazz.net/
Last edited by vguerin on Sun Nov 14, 2004 8:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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