pjc
Preposterously Jovial and Cool
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2.0 - THE GUIDE
 2.0.1 - Introducing: the Quest Log
The Quest Log or Traveller's Journal will be your friend over the course of your gold farming endeavour. If you've never used it before, then now is the time to start! Almost all quests in the game, once unlocked, can be accessed through the Quest Log. To use it, go to Serenity's Inn in Falconreach or your nearest town shop. The quest log can be found by clicking the small treasure chest button next to the Dragon Amulet icon in your interface. It can only be used outside of quests. It provides you instant access to your farming location of choice without having to run there, returning you to your original place every time. This makes selling drops, for example in The Inn Shop, extremely quick. All directions to locations are given in terms of the Quest Log unless stated otherwise.
Outrageously, four of the quests in this guide are not included in the Quest Log. These are:- The Fire Cave
- The Well
- The Frozen Cave
- Gorgok Returns.
There are several different places in which you can farm for gold effectively. It is recommended that you try farming all those that you can for a while before choosing one, as different people have different preferences for different reasons. For an alternative perspective, try the Farming Guide by Amboo, which includes both gold and EXP farming, and EXP Farming - How To Do It and Where To Go by SlyCooperFan1, which is focused solely around EXP farming.
The quests are as follows:
This is one of the most famous spots, but not necessarily the best.
Location
Before attempting this quest, you must travel to Surewood Forest and accept a bounty hunting list from Robina. If you don't, then this quest is useless. Go to Towns then Robina's Zone. Walk right two frames until you see Robina Hood. Talk to her, choose Bounty Hunting and accept the official Most Wanted List. Return to your Home Town shop, go to Quests, Robina's Zone Quests, right, right, then choose Bandit Camp.
Description
This quest gets most of its money from bounty hunting, which is a special way for lots of money to drop from the boss. No other quest does this. The monsters here have no elemental weaknesses, so just equip the best weapon you have. The possible bounty values are 50, 75, 100, 180, 300 and 600. The chances for all bounties are not equal, and appear to be roughly as follows: Darcar (50), Hyest (75) and Stounn (100) all have a 25% chance to appear, Stradar (180) has a 15% chance, and Awper Harty (300) and Vaz Striker (600) appear only 5% of the time. If these figures are accurate, this makes the average bounty per run around 128.
Average Gold Per Hour: 9,000 - 12,000
Average Gold Per Run: 100 - 300
Average Completion Time: 01:00 - 01:30
Advantages
It always gives at least 50 gold.
On occasions it will give Vaz Striker, giving 600 gold worth of bounty.
It gives a few junk items, which sell for 500 gold. So potentially, you can get over 1,100 gold from this quest in one run.
For low level rogues, it gives plenty of weapons.
The quest is easy and not scaled. Low levels can accomplish it, and high levels can zoom through it; the Multi skill is especially useful.
Disadvantages
Gameplay can be slow.
There are often three opponents to fight.
Can be quite long.
The layout of the quest is random, so you may often fight unnecessarily.
Bandits have no elemental weaknesses.
The bounty chances are not equal.
This is another of the most famous farming spots, claimed by many to be the best place around.
Location
Go to Quests, Amityvale Quests, then choose Crystal Clear Lake. Click here for a map of the quest.
Description
This quest drops six silver weapons, one level 17 and one level 20 for each class. All are non-DA. It also drops the Snugglebear Helm, but this isn't of much use. But although these are not too good for fighting with at a low level, they are very good for selling. Better than either the Well or the Fire Cave.
Average Gold Per Hour: 7,000 - 10,000
Average Gold Per Run: 200 - 300
Average Completion Time: 01:20 - 01:35
Advantages
Only two sellbacks: 179 and 230. To get 28,000 gold for a doom weapon, it takes 137 runs on average, starting from zero.
Only six monsters.
Gives Silver weapons for non-DA holders.
Disadvantages
There is a healing pad in the quest, but it requires you to take a longer route with more monsters, which is not good for farming.
Slow gameplay.
Scaled quest, the monsters will always be moderately difficult.
The boss, Lon, is potentially quite hard. He cannot be stunned, for example (although some have claimed that he is indeed possible to immobilise, he is not meant to be as far as we know, and so in any event is very difficult to and not worth trying). Also, he is weak to silver, and nothing else. Without silver, he can be troublesome, but otherwise he can normally be defeated with little problem.
This is favoured by some for its good drops and smooth, fast gameplay. Suitable for low to medium levels.
Location
This quest cannot be found in the Quest Log. Click 'Travel' on the Falconreach noticeboard, go to the Gryphon, then click 'Warlic's Zone'. Then go right, up past Warlic, up, right, and you can see the cave/mountain. Click here for directions in image form.
Description
To heal, there is a fountain at the beginning and in the middle of the quest, also you can go back to Warlic for an automatic heal. Since money comes from selling weapons here, and the nearest shop is the Xan Reward Shop from Warlic (Other Quests >> Save Lymcrest), plenty of inventory space is good. The monsters here are weak to ice and very weak to water. Equip the best you can of one of those, preferably water.
Average Gold Per Hour: 4,000 - 5,000
Average Gold Per Run: 130 - 150
Average Completion Time: 01:30 - 01:40
Advantages
Gives medium EXP as well: 720 per run if you skip the left path.
Has lots of good low-level drops:
------------ Nalmir's Final Gift, Fire weapon for non-DA warriors.
------------ Mahogany Crunch, Nature staff for Non-DA holders.
------------ The Tong, Silver staff. DA.
------------ Chargore, Darkness staff. DA.
------------ Master CorDemi Codex, a useful weapon for the Ruins of Kordana quest, and for future usage as well. Very rare, though.
------------ Ace of Spades, Metal weapon for Rogues. DA.
Has extremely smooth and fast gameplay.
Only three groups of monsters pose any difficulty at all at lower levels.
Non scaled. Starting from level 9 with a Battlespire Novice Weapon ( Battlespire Novice Sword, Battlespire Novice Dagger, Battlespire Novice Staff ), this quest is easy. By level 18, monsters die in one hit.
Has two healing fountains.
Warlic can insta-heal you.
Disadvantages
The highest selling weapon is 200 gold (Nalmir's Final Gift). The lowest is 25. (The Burning Curse)
Easy monsters, but lots of them.
A lot of walking is involved.
This quest has little use at higher levels.
It cannot be found in the Quest Log so all travelling must be done on foot.
This quest is not great for gold, but is OK around the medium levels.
Location
This quest cannot be found in the Quest Log. Click 'Travel' in Falconreach, and choose Amityvale. Then, talk to Thursday, choose 'The path?' and then choose 'Well'. Click here for directions in image form.
Description
In the intro, you will find yourself talking to the dog Daimyo. He leads you down a well where you 'save' Artix. This quest is quite difficult, and even though lower levels can complete it, it takes much too long for farming purposes unless you are a high level. The sellbacks are quite good, and there are a few decent drops, but apart from that it's not a very good quest.
Average Gold Per Hour: 6,000 - 8,000
Average Gold Per Run: 160 - 190
Average Completion Time: 01:00 - 01:20
Advantages
Gives better selling weapons than the Fire Cave or Bandit Camp.
Good low-level drops:
------------ Permafrost, Ice weapon for DA warriors.
------------ Staff of Sleet, Ice staff for DA mages.
------------ Ice Reign, Ice staff for non-DA holders.
------------ Ice Pick, Ice dagger for DA holders.
------------ Ice Edge, Ice sword for non-DA holders.
------------ Twin Crescent Blade, Energy warrior weapon, good for DA holders and non-DA holders alike.
------------ Toxic Cutlass, Poison weapon for Warriors.
------------ Enamelled Forest Edge, non-DA Nature dagger.
------------ Red Hot Poker, non-DA Fire dagger.
------------ Curved Crystal, non-DA Ice dagger, similar in power to Ice Pick.
Only 6 monsters.
Nearby healing from the Inn of Amityvale.
Nearby drop-selling in Lugosi's Shop.
Disadvantages
Slow gameplay.
Difficult non-scaled monsters if a low level.
Low elemental weakness.
It cannot be found in the Quest Log.
The only form of healing within the quest (which you may need if you are a lower level) is a potion box, which is guarded by two monsters and will slow farming down greatly.
Small note: Originally, this quest was disadvantaged because Artix joined you towards the end of it, which slows farming down quite a bit. But now, after a revolutionary discovery, you no longer have to have that problem! Simply click on the right end of your EXP bar to keep on walking forward, and Artix will not end up joining you. You can also use this to shorten the intro with Daimyo, the dog.
Another note: With the more recent introduction of the Paladin Class Armour, the quest can be made quite a bit easier. Most of the armour's attacks are light-based, and so great against the Darkness-orientated monsters. You can unlock the armour in The Necropolis, by approaching Artix, and choosing "Become a Paladin!". You will need one Undead Slayer Badge to unlock the armour, and fourteen more to train all the skills. Using this armour can bring the quest's completion speed up, and make it a better spot for farming than it otherwise would be. Thanks to Orc Leader for suggesting this!
Another good quest from Thursday.
Location
Go to Quests, Amityvale Quests, then choose Yaga Stone Circle.
Description
The weapons here sell for even better than in Crystal Clear Lake, and are very good Nature weapons anyway even if you don't want to sell them. The only issue is how long it takes if you don't have the Necromancer Armour unlocked. In this case, the boss can be very difficult, especially if you are a higher level. The DF Ultimate Strategy Guide has a section on Guffer in it so it may be worth your while having a look in there if you're struggling.
Average Gold Per Hour: 6,000 - 12,000
Average Gold Per Run: 250 - 350
Average Completion Time: 02:00 - 02:40
Advantages
Two sellbacks: 200 and 225. This one takes 132 runs on average. Note: Both calculations, this one and the one above, are not accurate as they do not include gold dropped by monsters. Less runs are needed in both cases, but the amount is scaled.
For DA holders, this drops a few good Nature weapons for mid-range levels. Since there are only six drops in the quest, it won't take long to find the one you need here. If you're a higher level and looking for some better Nature weapons, the Too Many Cooks quest in The Necropolis should have what you need.
For non-DA holders, it's slightly different. Some decent fire weapons drop here.
------------ Flamestone Blade, Fire weapon for Warriors.
------------ Flamestone Shiv, Fire weapon for Rogues.
------------ Flamestone Staff, Fire weapon for Mages.
Healing within the quest, in the form of a glowing pumpkin.
The Necromancer Armour can be used to drastically reduce the time and effort taken to kill Guffer. (see endnote)
Disadvantages
Lots of annoying talking.
Can be quite a difficult boss, but poses bigger problems for higher levels.
Like a healing pad, the pumpkin heals gradually, which can take time.
Tip: The Necromancer Armour can be a highly useful tool in this quest if used correctly. If you have all the skills up to Dominate unlocked, you can skip all Yaga Sisters and use the following strategy: Dominate -> Shield (if Dominate was successful, if not use Turn) -> Final -> Turn (optional - if you haven't already used it) -> Dominate. A bit of modification will be required to get what you want out of the armour, but this is a general format to follow. The "Dominate" skill is very useful and can help cut the time taken to complete the quest by well over a minute - potentially doubling your gold earnings.
Another tip: An alternative suggestion is to use the ChickenCow Armour (or Evolved) in combination with a good Silver weapon such as Pillartrope. Skip all Yagas, use Chickensive Stance to block his initial attacks and Mad ChickenCow Attack when available to inflict large damage. A good Silver weapon is a must, or the quest will take longer than is needed - but again, you can easily half the quest's completion time this way.
Additional note: If you're fighting Guffer in your base class armour, then this is important. The level of the boss, Guffer, is your level + the number of Yaga sisters alive. Therefore, if you try to walk past the Yaga sisters without killing them first, you will find that Guffer is 5 levels too strong and very difficult to kill with only your base class. At the same time, killing all five witches will make the quest longer. Instead, you need to experiment with this quest for some time, and try to find out how many Yaga sisters you can avoid killing, and then still kill Guffer. If you can do without killing two or three, this may well be a good compromise for you. Also note: because he is scaled, higher levels will actually find the boss more difficult than lower levels.
A favourite of many, due to its good gold and EXP rewards and short completion time.
Location
Go to Quests, Falconreach Quests, right, right, then choose Challenge.
Description
This quest contains only one mid-to-high-HP monster (either a Junkyard Driller or Doom Cola Machine), that can be defeated easily in under a minute and potentially much quicker if all the correct equipment and technique is used - see the note below for strategy and setup suggestions. Lower levels should find this quest very useful, and since the rewards are scaled, it is good for higher levels too. The quest also drops Scrap Metals, and has a chance to drop the Battle Core and the Filament, which allow you to create some very powerful pets in Voltabolt's shops. Pressing the "DON'T EVER PUSH" button will increase the difficulty and rewards of the quest, however it may take a little longer to complete. At level 40, you can expect around 11 to 12,000 gold per hour if you put your mind to it.
Average Gold Per Hour: 7,500 - 12,000
Average Gold Per Run: 100 - 125
Average Completion Time: 00:30 - 00:50
Advantages
Only one monster, and a relatively quick quest to complete.
One of the best EXP farming quests around.
The Doom Cola Machine has less HP than the standard Junkyard Driller, and is much quicker to kill. Appears around 50% of the time.
Combine the Filament with 15 Scrap Metal to make a 20-Watt Brightbulb which sells for 450 gold.
Combine the Battle Core with 10 Scrap Metal to make a Clockwork Tog which sells for 1000 gold!
Scaled, so decent rewards for all levels.
The monster has good resistances; -50 Water and -100 Energy. A good Energy weapon really helps here.
Disadvantages
The Junkyard Driller can be quite difficult for lower levels if you are unprepared, especially on Extreme.
The chance to get the Doom Cola Machine is only 50%, so you may not be able to complete the quest quickly all the time.
Running to the button and house can take up time.
The Filament and Battle Core have a very low drop rate.
Tips: Players level 20 and above with Dragon Coins can use the Kathool Adept Armour, which has the ability to complete this quest (and many quests) very quickly. An energy weapon is still a must, and high-crit items will be beneficial. Below are strategies suggested by a player:
Mega Doom Cola Machine
1st attack: Fear - Stuns the target for 3 turns
2nd attack: Mad Fury - Powerboost increased by 25% for 3 turns + attack
3rd attack: Red Tide - Attack (water element) + 100% crit chance
4th attack: Attack (until defeated)
Mega Junkyard Driller
1st attack: Fear - Stuns the target for 3 turns
2nd attack: Mad Fury - Powerboost increased by 25% for 3 turns + attack
3rd attack: Red Tide - Attack (water element) + 100% crit chance
4th attack: Shadow - 4-hit attack (darkness element) + unlocks Kathool's Wrath
5th attack: Kathool's Wrath - Attack dealing very high Evil damage (reportedly over 850 with Mad Fury activated)
6th attack: Attack (if needed, until defeated)
See the Bonuses and Resistances Guide for all Crit-giving items organised by strength. A big thanks to MastersofBankai for this suggestion and the strategies!
Additional note: For players with Dragon Coins who wouldn't mind spending a few, an Enchanted Battlecore can be purchased at Cysero's Store in Falconreach for 25 DCs. It can be combined with 10 Scrap Metals to make a Steam Tog, which sells for 1,000 gold. This can be a very helpful addition when gold farming, but be aware that DC expenditure may quickly add up using this method, so keep an eye how much you're using. A regular Filament also drops from the quest and can be used to make a Clockwork Tog that sells for 1,000 gold, but the drop rate is low, so don't count on it.
Tip: See the Dr. Voltabolt farming guide for a more in-depth analysis.
This quest gives decent gold both by dropping from monsters and from selling weapons. Suitable for low to medium levels.
Location
This quest cannot be found in the Quest Log. To get to this quest, go to Warlic's portal in Falconreach, and choose 'Frozen Cave'. No more than that. Click here for a map of directions.
Description
This quest is not scaled - the monsters are level 17 and 19. Obviously, the monsters here are all ice, and that makes them weak to fire. This is the only quest other than the Bandit Camp that has a random layout, so time taken varies. The weapons here sell reasonably well, and at the same time the monsters drop decent gold, making a good combo for low to medium level players.
Average Gold Per Hour: 6,000 - 7,000
Average Gold Per Run: 175 - 200
Average Completion Time: 01:30 - 01:45
Advantages
Gives decent amounts of gold. You can expect an average of around 103.5 gold per run dropped from monsters. The average sellbacks of weapons is 140 gold. This makes a grand total of 240 gold per run on average, so you would need to complete 117 runs on average to get 28000 gold for a doom weapon, starting from 0.
Gives a decent amount of experience as well. The average exp is 1,612 per run, which is not bad.
Has many good low-level drops. Notice that this list is different from previous ones: this quest is DA only, so no weapons are included that are good for non-DA's but not for DA's. For similar reasons, DA requirement is not shown.
------------ Chargore, Darkness staff.
------------ Chartreuse Drop, Poison staff.
------------ Kage Katana, Darkness weapon for Warriors.
------------ Lapis Lazuli, Ice staff.
------------ Runed Broadsword, Light weapon for Warriors.
------------ Toxic Cutlass, Poison weapon for Warriors.
Quite smooth gameplay.
Has a very, very small chance of dropping REALLY Special Dragon Chow, which gives your baby dragon 5 training points.
Disadvantages
Non-scaled for lower levels - all monsters are 17 and 19.
Random layout, making it unpredictable. Sometimes this can mean it being nice and short, other times it means not so nice and long. Number of monsters varies between 8 and 24. There is nearly always a fork, and sometimes even two. Since people often choose the wrong side, I suggest always checking both sides before advancing.
Needs a Dragon Amulet to enter.
It cannot be found in the Quest Log.
Note: This quest is suited for lower to medium levelled gold farming (below 30). Higher levels will benefit far more from other quests. A special thanks goes to Mr. Irish for much of the information in this section!
This is a very short quest with easy monsters that give a good amount of gold. It's also very well known for EXP farming.
Location
Go to Quests, Oaklore Quests, right, right, then choose Explore Ruins.
Description
This quest is useful for most levels and types of characters, but is mainly recommended for those at higher levels (30+), as that's when it really begins to show its benefits. It's short (can usually be completed in under a minute), and the decent amount of gold dropped from monsters means as well as some of the best EXP farming around, you're looking at a pretty solid cash total at the end of it all. Dedicated higher level farmers can be looking at over 9,000 gold per hour.
Average Gold Per Hour: 8,000 - 9,000
Average Gold Per Run: 90 - 150
Average Completion Time: 00:50 - 01:00
Advantages
Some of the best EXP farming for mid-to-high levels available.
A very quick quest to complete and easily farmable as you respawn straight by the catapult.
Easy one-hit-kill monsters through use of the "Final" skill.
Drops items which can be exchanged for accessories, which are alright if you are a lower level.
Disadvantages
Random layout, meaning the wrong fork at a junction can sometimes be taken. This takes up valuable farming time.
A drop is pretty much guaranteed at the end of the quest, and at mid-to-high levels, these are next to useless. Can become annoying.
The VurrMen take a while to attack, so if you miss a shot, it can waste time and become frustrating.
The boss usually takes two hits to kill.
Note: Whilst the quest is mainly centred around higher levels, lower levels can attempt this too. To work out your average gold per run, multiply your level by three (3). Multiply this by sixty (60) to get an estimate of your gold per hour. It increases exponentially, so whilst it may not seem like a lot below level 10, levelling up will allow the quest to show its true colours.
Another note: I recently found I can one-hit kill the boss with Warrior's Final - but only just. This may have come about as a result of the stat changes with Engine 9.0.0. It doesn't work all of the time, but it certainly removes an element of frustration with knowing you will have to take two hits, and eating away at your mana using the 17 MP Stun. This has only been tried with a level 54 Warrior, so I am unsure how other classes will fare. Any feedback is welcome.
A fun memory-testing quest that drops high-selling junk items. This quest can be very rewarding if used to its full potential.
Location
Go to Storyline, Nythera's Saga, then choose Potion Mastery. Note that you must have completed all previous quests in her chain to be able to play this.
Description
This is quite a different quest from the usual, and decent memory skills are required to get the most out of it. There are no battles at all - instead, various ingredients up to a maximum of six must be memorised and mixed in the correct order. Once this is completed, you will receive one of a selection of junk items that each sell for 300-500 gold. Those with good memory skills will probably fly through the quest in under a minute, making it probably hands-down the best around - whereas those who struggle can take up to 3 minutes or more to complete it. Either way, this is still generally a very rewarding quest.
Average Gold Per Hour: 10,000 - 22,000
Average Gold Per Run: 300 - 500
Average Completion Time: 01:00 - 03:00
Advantages
There are no battles.
Lower levels will find this just as beneficial as higher levels.
You will always get at least 300 gold from selling rewards.
It can be a very short quest for those with good memory.
Disadvantages
It can be far longer if you make a mistake, or you do not have good memory.
Difficulty increases as you progress.
Junk items take up room in your inventory.
There is a small chance to receive no reward.
If you complete a run very quickly, you may hit the game's minimum quest time-limit and be logged out (about 50 seconds).
Tip: Develop a technique to memorise the items - it becomes very useful when you have to recall 5 or 6 in a row. I find it helpful to give each ingredient a simple or otherwise easily memorable name based on its appearance (e.g. "red" for the bright red flowers, or "rock" for the small rock). I follow the order and then recite the string of words as I click on the items. This works for me without fail unless I lose my concentration - I can easily get under 60 seconds completion time with this method. If you're more a numbers person, you may wish to number each ingredient, or perhaps you are comfortable memorising the images. Find a system that works for you.
Wars are temporary quests that come and go, so few pieces of information are fixed about them.
Location
Whenever a war is on, there will be a button in whichever town it occurs in (most of the time Falconreach) which takes you to the event. You can find the button on the noticeboard in town.
Description
This is a war found in your vacation from questing. Although the gold isn't great, it is OK, so you may want to try this out eventually if you're searching for the best places that suit you. They are good places to level up, however, so at least if you find the gold rewards disappointing then the EXP should make up for it.
Average Gold Per Hour: Variable
Average Gold Per Run: Variable
Average Completion Time: Variable
Advantages
Wars are nearly always the best places to level up.
They give Defender's Medals. These give the best necklaces and rings in the game, amongst other things.
Sometimes, wars give war rares, weapons which occasionally drop from waves. Once the war ends, these weapons will become unobtainable. Of course, the last time it was Friday 13th, there were some weapons that were assumed 'rare' even though they did indeed come back.
You barely have to run anywhere at all.
Only sometimes is there a boss, and it is not too difficult.
Usually has smooth gameplay.
Instant full healing. Just go back to the notice where information about the war is shown, and you will find your HP and MP refilled.
Disadvantages
The gold is relatively small. High levels may get about 50 gold per wave, but lower levels get less, because the gold is scaled.
All wars disappear after a while.
Wars are scaled, so they are never too easy. However, the elemental weaknesses of the monsters you fight usually makes up for that.
 -- 2.11 - Ballyhoo --  If made a habit, this can be a useful supplement to any casual farmer's game.
Location
Access Ballyhoo from Falconreach or Oaklore by clicking "Ballyhoo" on the noticeboard. Choose "View Ad". You will sit through a short ad before being given the option to return and claim your gold reward.
Description
Ballyhoo is not actually farmable, and so should not be considered as a 'farming quest'. However, non-serious farmers may find it a very useful addition to their game. You receive 24 + (your level * 8) gold per ad, and the maximum gold you can receive from any ad is 200. On average, including loading and clicking times, each ad will take you about 30 seconds to view. Times vary for each ad. You can view a maximum of 8 per day - the view count resets at midnight server time (EST). The only thing that lets this down as a 'farming' spot is the daily cap. Ballyhoo-viewing should become a daily habit to make the most use of it.
Advantages
The quest gives its maximum reward at level 22 - a relatively low level.
The ad can be left to play in the background while doing other activities. It requires little effort.
1600 gold can be attained in 4 minutes, a better rate than almost all quests above.
There is a very small chance to receive 5 DragonCoins.
Disadvantages
Ad viewing is capped at 8 per day.
It can be extremely boring, as it is not an 'active' method of farming.
Ad playing times vary from 20 seconds (AQWorlds) to over 30 (DragonCoins).
It cannot be depended upon as a sole method of gaining gold. Starting from zero, it would take exactly three weeks to have enough money for a doom weapon plus 'Dark' upgrade. Combine it with a farming quest to reap the full benefits.
< Message edited by pjc -- 8/11/2010 6:35:27 >
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