ZOS- fix Maelstrom Arena's loot tables... it's ridiculous to try to farm for a set!

Savos_Saren · March 2019

Currently, Maelstrom Arena drops:

-Winterborn
-Succession
-Para bellum
-Glorious Defender
-Hunt Leader
-Permafrost

At best- you get 1-2 items of an individual set per run. That doesn't include the fact that the same two items might drop on a consecutive run. That's 1-2 items that *might* complete a set that you're looking for. The odds of getting a full set of, say, Winterborn is damn near improbable. Could you please, for the love of all that is holy, fix the damn loot tables to Maelstrom???

@ZOS_GinaBruno pretty please? Seriously... the RNG is disgusting. Maelstrom is NOT FUN to try to farm for a set. It's not like a dungeon that you can run a few times and get a couple of set pieces that you can transmute to be a nice, complete set. The chances of completing a WHOLE SET would take you about 30 runs. That's 30 ARENA runs... not normal dungeon stuff. Arena stuff.

code65536 · March 2019

I thought everyone already had multiple sets of Winterborn as a byproduct of farming for vMA weapons?

That having been said, the set gear should be BoE. DSA's non-weapon drops are BoE. BRP's non-weapon drops are BoE. Why are Maelstrom's sets BoP? Esp. since 5 of those 6 sets are decon trash that nobody wants...

UntilValhalla13 · March 2019

Probably because maelstrom is the only solo trial in the game. I guess they want to keep it bound to the person who ran it. *shrug*

Savos_Saren · March 2019

code65536 wrote: »

I thought everyone already had multiple sets of Winterborn as a byproduct of farming for vMA weapons?

That having been said, the set gear should be BoE. DSA's non-weapon drops are BoE. BRP's non-weapon drops are BoE. Why are Maelstrom's sets BoP? Esp. since 5 of those 6 sets are decon trash that nobody wants...

@ZOS_GinaBruno
You see this? It makes sense. It's on par with other arenas and it gives people a chance to get gear that is way too tedious to farm. Seriously, look at your ZOS loot tables and tell me what the chances are to acquire a Winterborn Ice Staff...

Savos_Saren · March 2019

Seriously, though- I thought ZOS had decided to start making "smart drops" where you wouldn't get stamina gear on magic-based weapons. After 13 rounds of Malestrom Arena tonight, I'm getting garbage like this:

A Lightning Staff of Glory?!?! (Stamina-based gear on a lightning staff?) The chances of me actually completing a Winterborn gear set of jewelry/SnB is abysmal. But I'm getting trash gear like this?!?!

Feanor · March 2019

@Savos_Saren

Smart Loot isn’t what you think it is. Gear does only not drop if the 5 pc has no chance of being used at all. ZOS thinks that drops don’t have to make sense because there is always someone who might want to run off-meta or just because he likes the effects of a particular set. If the set is more suited for stamina or magicka isn’t part of the equation.

Vildebill · March 2019

Savos_Saren wrote: »

Seriously, though- I thought ZOS had decided to start making "smart drops" where you wouldn't get stamina gear on magic-based weapons. After 13 rounds of Malestrom Arena tonight, I'm getting garbage like this:

A Lightning Staff of Glory?!?! (Stamina-based gear on a lightning staff?) The chances of me actually completing a Winterborn gear set of jewelry/SnB is abysmal. But I'm getting trash gear like this?!?!

Tell that to like most tanks in the game who wants Alkosh staves

Ermiq · March 2019

code65536 wrote: »

That having been said, the set gear should be BoE. DSA's non-weapon drops are BoE. BRP's non-weapon drops are BoE. Why are Maelstrom's sets BoP? Esp. since 5 of those 6 sets are decon trash that nobody wants...

2 reasons:
- because when they made Orsinium, they had to make sure that there are some additional reasons to buy it (or subscribe) for those who are not interested in its story but would like to get some new gear sets.
- because it's intended as an individual trial where players can't rely on other players help and when they get Maelstrom sets it's their own achievement.

Kadoin · March 2019

Savos_Saren wrote: »

Seriously, though- I thought ZOS had decided to start making "smart drops" where you wouldn't get stamina gear on magic-based weapons. After 13 rounds of Malestrom Arena tonight, I'm getting garbage like this:

A Lightning Staff of Glory?!?! (Stamina-based gear on a lightning staff?) The chances of me actually completing a Winterborn gear set of jewelry/SnB is abysmal. But I'm getting trash gear like this?!?!

I wish I had that staff

Ash_In_My_Sujamma · March 2019

Yeah but normal maelstrom is a matter of 20-25 minutes. It's not a big deal

idk · March 2019

Ermiq wrote: »

code65536 wrote: »

That having been said, the set gear should be BoE. DSA's non-weapon drops are BoE. BRP's non-weapon drops are BoE. Why are Maelstrom's sets BoP? Esp. since 5 of those 6 sets are decon trash that nobody wants...

2 reasons:
- because when they made Orsinium, they had to make sure that there are some additional reasons to buy it (or subscribe) for those who are not interested in its story but would like to get some new gear sets.
- because it's intended as an individual trial where players can't rely on other players help and when they get Maelstrom sets it's their own achievement.

To your first point, overland orsinium is BoE, iirc.

To your second point, Code's thoughts are correct. It would be consistent to have MA gear BoE since DSA gear is BoE. Only the skill altering weapons are BoP.

Savos_Saren · March 2019

Ash_In_My_Sujamma wrote: »

Yeah but normal maelstrom is a matter of 20-25 minutes. It's not a big deal

That's 20-25 minutes of running for *maybe* a single piece of Winterborn. There are how many pieces for a suit of armor and weapons?

Head, shoulders, chest, hands, waist, legs, feet, neck, ring 1, ring 2, 1h, shield, staff (ice, fire, lightning, or resto). That's if you don't get repeats... which you do. Mostly of shoes. What's more frustrating is if you just want the jewelry, sash, ice staff, and 1h/shield. The drop rates for any of that stuff is super low.

It's not like I'm farming for the damn Maelstrom weapon. This is just normal gear with ridiculously hard to obtain drop rates. It's [snip]ing stupid, man.

code65536 · March 2019

Savos_Saren wrote: »

It's not like I'm farming for the damn Maelstrom weapon. This is just normal gear with ridiculously hard to obtain drop rates. It's [snip]ing stupid, man.

Well there's your problem. See, if the game senses that you want a vMA weapon, then it will shovel lots of Winterborn at you while denying you the weapon.

Savos_Saren · March 2019

code65536 wrote: »

Savos_Saren wrote: »

It's not like I'm farming for the damn Maelstrom weapon. This is just normal gear with ridiculously hard to obtain drop rates. It's [snip]ing stupid, man.

Well there's your problem. See, if the game senses that you want a vMA weapon, then it will shovel lots of Winterborn at you while denying you the weapon.

Yeah... and again... this RNG is complete garbage. I've been running it over and over and over... just trying to get some jewelry, an ice staff, and a 1h. This is the garbage I get:

...but hey- at least I have thirty pairs of boots and shoes of 5 other armor sets that drop here.

ZOS- change this to a token system, please. Or, you can just send me the 1H, neck, sash, and Ice Staff. Seriously, though. How many times do you think someone should have to run a dungeon to where they've "put in the effort" just to obtain normal gear??? People shouldn't have to grind and grind and grind for normal gear like this. It's not rewarding and it's not enjoyable. Your customers would probably enjoy the game (and keep paying for subscriptions) if you made it less of a chore to play core content.

Trinity_Is_My_Name · March 2019

Can't remember how much of these awful set pieces I have deconned or sold.

code65536 · March 2019

The RNG problem isn't limited to just Maelstrom. After all these years, I still don't have a BSW fire staff.

Savos_Saren · March 2019

code65536 wrote: »

The RNG problem isn't limited to just Maelstrom. After all these years, I still don't have a BSW fire staff.

I completely understand. I soloed the normal mode over and over to get that staff as well. My wife finally joined me and we managed to get two in one run. I think one of the staves actually dropped from a mob NPC.

...but here's the thing: there's only three sets in that dungeon. There's two chests and six bosses that also have a chance to drop the gear (and a small chance from a normal enemy). Also, your chances increase because you can run with a group of four people... who can trade the loot.

In Maelstrom Arena- you only get a chance to loot items at the end of 5 rounds in each stage. On top of that, you're competing with SIX item sets. Mostly which apparently drop #%$&ing shoes... No chance to trade anybody. No chance in it dropping off a random NPC. @ZOS_GinaBruno do you see my point?

I've now lost count how many times I've run this dungeon. And I'm still getting garbage drops.

StytchFingal · March 2019

Have you considered farming on vet instead? Running it for fun and to solidify spawn point knowledge 4 or 5 times a week for about a month on vet has given me a complete body and jewelry set of each. Weapons of those are more scarce, but existent. As a bonus, there is a steady supply of purple jewelry to decon and some transmute crystals.

Dubhliam · March 2019

Savos_Saren wrote: »

Currently, Maelstrom Arena drops:

-Winterborn
-Succession
-Para bellum
-Glorious Defender
-Hunt Leader
-Permafrost

At best- you get 1-2 items of an individual set per run. That doesn't include the fact that the same two items might drop on a consecutive run. That's 1-2 items that *might* complete a set that you're looking for. The odds of getting a full set of, say, Winterborn is damn near improbable. Could you please, for the love of all that is holy, fix the damn loot tables to Maelstrom???

@ZOS_GinaBruno pretty please? Seriously... the RNG is disgusting. Maelstrom is NOT FUN to try to farm for a set. It's not like a dungeon that you can run a few times and get a couple of set pieces that you can transmute to be a nice, complete set. The chances of completing a WHOLE SET would take you about 30 runs. That's 30 ARENA runs... not normal dungeon stuff. Arena stuff.

farm on normal

Dagoth_Rac · March 2019

idk wrote: »

To your first point, overland orsinium is BoE, iirc.

I believe all Orsinium gear was BoP when it first came out. Even overland stuff like Briarheart. I think it became BoE when One Tamriel made all overland sets BoE and all Dungeon/Trial sets BoP. It may have been an oversight to not update VMA sets to act like VDSA sets as part of One Tamriel. I think they should make the Maelstrom 5-piece sets BoE. All possible pieces drop on Normal, so it is not hard content. It is just time-consuming, especially since you do not have 3 or 11 other players to trade with, like you do with 4-man and 12-man content. Time is money, so spending gold to bypass running Normal Maelstrom 100 times seems fine to me.

Sergykid · March 2019

drop pieces are not a problem, u can get set pieces, even jewelry, from the chests that spawn at arena end. Trait on jewelry is another problem, for some reason there can robust be dropped for winterborn which is a magicka set.

RNG indeed sucks here, i had 200 rewards (100 runs, 100 mail reward) and i got only 3 winterborn rings. ALL THREE in ROBUST

Oreyn_Bearclaw · March 2019

Farm on normal, takes less than 30 minutues. That is a chest every 3-4 minutes. Sorry you are frustrated, but most people I know are absolutely swimming in this stuff. Admittedly, this is the first time I am hearing people complain about VMA rng not related to the weapons.

Shantu · March 2019

Like a lot of first time clears, I've been banging my head against the keyboard for 2 weeks trying to take down the last boss in the final round of vMA. Other than momentary bragging rights, discussions like this make me wonder WTF I think I'm doing. I seem to be running vet content just fine without the headache and frustration, let alone the baleful RGN that awaits my success.

troomar · August 2019

This is ridiculous, really.

I've been farming vMA every day during the event. I made 6-8 runs every day. And even with double drop, all I got was:
- 4 Hunt leader weapons (2x 1H, Ice Staff and a shield)
- 1! Elemental Succession weapon (2H Mace, haha)
- 3 Winterborn Weapons (2H Sword, 2H Mace, Restoration Staff)

I got zillion weapons of Glorious Defender and Para Bellum. I got few pieces of Permafrost too (mostly shields).

Tomorrow is the final day of the event.

But honestly, vMA set pieces is the hardest grind in this game.

SidraWillowsky · August 2019

troomar wrote: »

This is ridiculous, really.

I've been farming vMA every day during the event. I made 6-8 runs every day. And even with double drop, all I got was:
- 4 Hunt leader weapons (2x 1H, Ice Staff and a shield)
- 1! Elemental Succession weapon (2H Mace, haha)
- 3 Winterborn Weapons (2H Sword, 2H Mace, Restoration Staff)

I got zillion weapons of Glorious Defender and Para Bellum. I got few pieces of Permafrost too (mostly shields).

Tomorrow is the final day of the event.

But honestly, vMA set pieces is the hardest grind in this game.

Just run it on normal- super quick

troomar · August 2019

SidraWillowsky wrote: »

troomar wrote: »

This is ridiculous, really.

I've been farming vMA every day during the event. I made 6-8 runs every day. And even with double drop, all I got was:
- 4 Hunt leader weapons (2x 1H, Ice Staff and a shield)
- 1! Elemental Succession weapon (2H Mace, haha)
- 3 Winterborn Weapons (2H Sword, 2H Mace, Restoration Staff)

I got zillion weapons of Glorious Defender and Para Bellum. I got few pieces of Permafrost too (mostly shields).

Tomorrow is the final day of the event.

But honestly, vMA set pieces is the hardest grind in this game.

Just run it on normal- super quick

Normal is only 10 minutes faster - and you get no transmute crystals, no motif, blue jewelry etc. That's not the point.

MLGProPlayer · August 2019

Ermiq wrote: »

code65536 wrote: »

That having been said, the set gear should be BoE. DSA's non-weapon drops are BoE. BRP's non-weapon drops are BoE. Why are Maelstrom's sets BoP? Esp. since 5 of those 6 sets are decon trash that nobody wants...

2 reasons:
- because when they made Orsinium, they had to make sure that there are some additional reasons to buy it (or subscribe) for those who are not interested in its story but would like to get some new gear sets.
- because it's intended as an individual trial where players can't rely on other players help and when they get Maelstrom sets it's their own achievement.

The weapon is the prize for completing the arena, not the trash sets. There is no reason why they shouldn't be BoE. You get them for just completing each round, not for completing the arena. Someone could literally just farm the first round if all they wanted is one of the gear sets.

UrbanMonk · August 2019

Surprisingly i never expected to See this, but i got lucky with 2 winterborn Ice Staves in 2 consecutive runs, while I was looking for Ele Succession inferno.

troomar · August 2019

I still need to get Hunt Leader Bow (for my bow/bow warden), second Hunt Leader Shield (for my sorc tank) and Elemental Succession Inferno Staff.

Taleof2Cities · August 2019

MLGProPlayer wrote: »

Someone could literally just farm the first round if all they wanted is one of the gear sets.

When was the last time you were in Maelstrom, @MLGProPlayer?

Because only specific set pieces drop in Round 1 ... such as belts.

Time for you to brush up on your in-game trivia.

ToxicPAWS wrote: »

Surprisingly i never expected to See this, but i got lucky with 2 winterborn Ice Staves in 2 consecutive runs, while I was looking for Ele Succession inferno.

I'm the opposite. I have the Elemental Succession Staff in all three variants ... but no Winterborn Ice Staff.

MLGProPlayer · August 2019

Taleof2Cities wrote: »

MLGProPlayer wrote: »

Someone could literally just farm the first round if all they wanted is one of the gear sets.

When was the last time you were in Maelstrom, @MLGProPlayer?

Because only specific set pieces drop in Round 1 ... such as belts.

Time for you to brush up on your in-game trivia.

ToxicPAWS wrote: »

Surprisingly i never expected to See this, but i got lucky with 2 winterborn Ice Staves in 2 consecutive runs, while I was looking for Ele Succession inferno.

I'm the opposite. I have the Elemental Succession Staff in all three variants ... but no Winterborn Ice Staff.

I actually ran it like 20-25 times this event lol. I guess I should have paid closer attention to the gear drops. I just assumed they were all the same (they all got deconned at the end).