Cut Throat Feel: Looting Tips & Tricks

I've decided to quit complaining and embrace the vision. In this thread I'd like to see tips and tricks on how to be more effective in creating and maintaining the 'cut throat' feel by becoming a better ninja griefer in public parties.

Newcomers to Path of Exile should be aware that this play style is fully supported by the devs, indeed according to various posts and interviews, this is what they intended from the start and what they want. So, how to be better at it?

I'll start off with a few things I've heard about or observed and throw in a few ideas of my own. I'd appreciate any tips from others to make this a better guide, but this is NOT a thread for complaining about, or suggesting changes to, the loot system.

First off, party loot drops in PoE are free for all. The names are just there on the timers to confuse the victims. The key to being more effective at grabbing all the loot is to quickly identify the best and grab it before the other party members.

One way to do this is to separate yourself from the party and get to high value mobs and chests a screen or more away long before they do. This way the timers run out before anyone else even knows the loot has dropped. Very stealthy ninja technique.

Before getting into more confrontational and 'in your face' techniques, I suggest deciding upon your overall strategy. Do you want to simply grab everything and count on the anonymity of the large population to keep everyone from identifying you as a ninja? Or do you wish to be a stealth ninja and keep everyone else in the dark about your nature until some piece of very valuable loot drops? Personally I suggest the stealthy approach, no use getting a bad rep among the sheep for crap loot - unless you just like to hear the "Baa baaa baaa" sounds which, admittedly, can be quite amusing.

So the nice goodie drops, that 6S or 5L chest, that high market value unique, a mirror of Kalandra, whatever; how do you get it when it has Bob's name on it? Well, first off, you need to be watching loot more than fighting mobs, just do enough fighting to keep the sheep unaware of your wolfish nature. Secondly, position, position, position. Try to stay clear of obstacles so that you can quickly move to the loot. Third, use the terrain, mobs, other players, your own character, even ice wall, to keep Bob from getting to the goodie. If you do it right, Bob's your uncle and you'll probably have to put him on your ignore list.

Building a ninja. You need the right build to be a good ninja. First you need to be survivable, ranged might be a good option - just so you can seemingly be fighting and no one suspects your movements to actually be for the purpose of getting ready to jump on loot. It also makes it easier and safer to drag mobs into blocking positions. You also need to be fast, and probably want a swap out second weapon setup that lets you use leap slam and or whirling blades so you can maintain high mobility.

Tools of the trade. A number of skills, spells, and items can assist you in being a more effective ninja. Ice wall, Leap Slam, Whirling Blades, anything that adds movement speed, Enduring Cry and Chance To Flee might also be put to good use. Take a look at every spell, skill, and item available to you and ask yourself, how can I use this to better control the loot?

Well, that's my first take on tips and tricks, I look forward to hearing more from others, especially those of you who are accomplished professionals at this trade. Screenies are welcome as well but please put them inside spoiler tags.

Thanks and happy ninja'ing!

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Omnivore61 wrote:

I'll start off with a few things I've heard about or observed and throw in a few ideas of my own. I'd appreciate any tips from others to make this a better guide, but this is NOT a thread for complaining about, or suggesting changes to, the loot system.

"Ninja griefer" kinda contradicts you wanting to make this thread not about complaints. ;P

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Pizzarugi wrote:

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Omnivore61 wrote:

I'll start off with a few things I've heard about or observed and throw in a few ideas of my own. I'd appreciate any tips from others to make this a better guide, but this is NOT a thread for complaining about, or suggesting changes to, the loot system.

"Ninja griefer" kinda contradicts you wanting to make this thread not about complaints. ;P

I mean it as a badge of honor! After all, we are exiles, criminals and low lifers in the eyes of our parent society.

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Pizzarugi wrote:

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Omnivore61 wrote:

I'll start off with a few things I've heard about or observed and throw in a few ideas of my own. I'd appreciate any tips from others to make this a better guide, but this is NOT a thread for complaining about, or suggesting changes to, the loot system.

"Ninja griefer" kinda contradicts you wanting to make this thread not about complaints. ;P

You obviously don't understand this thread at all.

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Ikagawa wrote:

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Pizzarugi wrote:

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Omnivore61 wrote:

I'll start off with a few things I've heard about or observed and throw in a few ideas of my own. I'd appreciate any tips from others to make this a better guide, but this is NOT a thread for complaining about, or suggesting changes to, the loot system.

"Ninja griefer" kinda contradicts you wanting to make this thread not about complaints. ;P

You obviously don't understand this thread at all.

If you're gonna make a troll thread, don't make it so obvious. Its funnier that way.

I'm with Pizza on this one. The moment I read the words 'ninja griefer' I just saw the rest of the post as purely passive-aggressive.

Took all the fun out of it.

OMG I love it. I've heard of looting builds. Maybe its time to get on with it. Dump it all into life. I saw a dude doing that the other day. He would leap slam to the cheesy poof goodies. Guy was all over the place.




+1


Edit.

So wait I dont get it, they dont want me to play it my way. Now they dont want met play it their way

Try using ice wall to block off the drop. Pisses people off but works rather well.

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Charan wrote:

I'm with Pizza on this one. The moment I read the words 'ninja griefer' I just saw the rest of the post as purely passive-aggressive.

Took all the fun out of it.

Probably a bad word choice on my part, but you are mistaken if you think this is a troll post. I am 100% serious, and I truly do use the word ninja especially as a badge of honor. I always did like ninja movies, and really they were a criminal society so perfect fit.

They were criminal in a society where corruption and nepotism were pretty much the norm. I will concede that they were often self-serving but to paint the ninja as nothing more than a thief is a gross misrepresentation.

Sorry, is this too much history? I'm a huge fan of ninja movies too. Especially that one with the turtles and the pizza...

I was actually more concerned with 'griefer'. If you're going to enjoy this style of play, it should be less about causing others 'grief' and more about, again, 'self-serving'.

Let the grief be a sad but necessary byproduct of your self-serving actions. :)