Can we talk about the map drop rate?

I'm sure I'm probably the millionth person to wonder what in the hell is the deal here, but man.. I know that compared to long term players my investment might seem minimal (I've only got 2 map capable characters one is around t2, and the other I can't climb high enough to get an estimate of its ceiling, but most of the gear is BIS for the build), but I went from actually allowing the endless amount of items that one needs to collect for progression to talk me from going from 4 tabs and endless mules to actually buying in - to the point where I'm back on t5 maps after finally managing to get a single t8 drop and seriously thinking about packing up my suitcase for other games.

I realize that perhaps this super low, way unsustainable drop rate (I feel like you have to run 7 maps on average to get an equivalent tier map drop, and 10+ for a higher one) is meant to encourage people to buy from other players, but the reality is that the few people who are selling mid and high tier maps are only selling the crappiest, slowest clearing maps with the hardest bosses at anything remotely affordable for the people actually farming those map tiers, and even those are expensive enough that they really put a drag on either your current or future progression.

I just don't get it. BTW, I am alcing all the 6+ tier maps I get according to GildedCages recommendation, of course the Zana Bench map mods are too expensive, I can't put her in my HO at the moment w/o losing all the XP from another master (for the extremely show grind Dailys), and of course she almost never shows up in the wild, and I have a very small pool of sacrifice shards to the point that I don't want to spend them all for a pittance 5% IIQ and cost myself all my future Aztiri opportunities.

This just isn't right.

^ Well, I am not making any of those mistakes.

I guess the only solution is to lose all the experience I've accumulated on a master to work on getting Zana above level 4. I still feel like she isn't going to provide enough of a pool on a daily basis to keep going, but maybe I'm mistaken.

I guess I'll take the advice on sacrificing my sacrifices too, and see if I can find some crappy t8 stuff that people will sell for a price that won't hurt my progression too much. *sigh* or maybe I should just start on t10 since I know those are just as easy from the one I paid a precious 2 fusings for (still lacking 2 6l, so..)

For me the main problem is constantly wasting currency in rolling maps. And once you find a map you like "oops, sorry, single use only."
I'd rather have a use counter that goes down with increased rarity.
Unique = 1 use only
Rare = 3
Magic = 5
White = 8-10.

This way, simply getting xp won't based on RNG. Drops however is something where you sacrifice opportunity and XP for.

In ggg's thoughts, this should be a valid approach, since it's a choice players have to make.

you can't really do something wrong when you still are at T7 and lower. (other than playing them white ofc)
it's just rng. and thus if you are unlucky you have to play more maps.
just trans them and then try to get a packsize mod. don't invest too much!

i somewhat agree with deadpeng on zana.
since she got restored she sells up to T11 maps at level 8. she once even wanted to sell me 4 T11 maps in one go ;) also she opens up to T10 maps as daily.

i also quite like the new zana-specific map mod. the map has 20 packsize already. you just need to aug/regal it and might get 40+ packsize with only 3 mods.

so zana definitely helps (at least a bit).

Sure :



Vendor the items and you can buy 2-3 +1 maps...not to mention that one already dropped. Imagine how much crap you will have when you alc&chisel your map. :)

Map drops are fine. At least until you reach T12.

"

For me the main problem is constantly wasting currency in rolling maps. And once you find a map you like "oops, sorry, single use only."

using currency to roll map like it was designed is wasting currency lol. ,


OP got BIS gear and cant get to yellow maps when all he need to do is make map magic and run them. WTF I'm reading?

I have no problem sustaining yellow maps. The hard/strange part, is sustaining reds(>12). I have A LOT of 10s and 11s, and I chisel, alch and aim for +pack size and high IIR/IIQ every time. I have enough IIR on my char to sustain chaos for re-rolls each run, but I have never been able to reach a steady income og red maps. Sometimes my level 11 map pool is so big, that I change 3 and 3 of them to reds, but still - no luck. My build CAN run every mod, tho phys reflect is slow.

I'm VERY tired of people trying to guide me, telling me to do the exact thing I am doing. "Get good, be more lucky".

Like the dude above me - he just can't grasp the idea that the things working out for him, doesn't work out for everyone. Welcome to RNG.