The Brainy Alchemist Quest

[popps]

Zosilem in Ter Mur, offers a Quest "The Brainy Alchemist".

upon providing

Obtain 1 Arcane Gem
Obtain 10 Undamaged Undead Gargoyle Horns
Obtain 1 Inspected Keg of Total Refreshment Potions
Obtain 1 Inspected Keg of Greater Poison Potions

One can get as a reward an "Infused Alchemist's Gem"

What does this Gem do ?

The item increases your Alchemy skill by .1 point much like an SoT.

Now, since this Quest requires quite some time to be completed and quite a few resources like 2 FULL kegs of potions (that is 100 Total Refreshment Potions + 100Greater Poison Potions), ain't the reward too low for the effort and the costs involved ??

 

[WildWobble]

the gem acts like a scroll of transendesence 0.1 skill gain in alcamy.
and the reward vs the effort is very off! but hey its a gem you lock down and display not use since few have them.

 

[Sevin0oo0]

so where you gonna get those horns from? I've never even seen one yet

 

[popps]

so where you gonna get those horns from? I've never even seen one yet

They come as loot from the Undead Gargoyle at the spawn during the third level of the Primeval Lich Champion Spawn in the Stygian Abyss Dungeon. Medusa also uses them as guardians.

This Brainy Alchemist Quest is a royal pain to get it done and all the work for what ?

A lousy 0.1 alchemy gain..........

I am speechless.............

 

[Nimuaq]

Stranger has a great guide on this post for Tier quests: http://vboards.stratics.com/uhall/158656-*spoilers*-guide-thepem-zosilem-quests-*spoilers*.html

According to that guide, if you can complete 20 of those Tier 2 quests, you can take the Tier 3 quests of Zosilem. One of the Tier 3 quest rewards is Elixir of Valorite Conversion which can turn 500 bronze ingots to valorite ingots (according to the guide). They're difficult to complete, however, my main motivation is to complete enough of those *difficult* quests to be able to take the Tier 3 ones.

 

[Luc of Legends]

i have done it 3 times and got .1 stone 2x and a .2 once. I am going to guess there are more than just .1 increase in his bag.

 

[PsychoKinetic]

What would be nice is if you could work your way to 105.0 alchemy skill similar to the +5 mining gloves available. Every time you complete the quest it could add .1, .2, or whatever to your stone. It would be quite expensive to get to +5.0 in the stone but some alchemists might feel the additional skill is worth it.

 

[popps]

i have done it 3 times and got .1 stone 2x and a .2 once. I am going to guess there are more than just .1 increase in his bag.

Well, I just don't see this Quest worth the 200 potions (and reagents+kegs...) and the time needed to complete it.

I'd rather get my 0.1 alchemy gain with GGS for much, really MUCH less hassle......

This is a Quest I honestly do not understand the reward for...........

 

[Viper09]

If you don't seem to approve of the path it takes to get complete this quest then don't do it. Others seem to like it and certainly think it's worth it. This game is big enough to where there will always be something someone wont like.

And please don't argue that just because you see something you don't approve of means it must be faulty and thus requires change. You don't speak for everyone in this game...

 

[Cirno]

For me, this begs the question "what, to your mind, would be a suitable reward?"
I would be inclined to agree that the investment (time, effort and resources) may not be in line with the reward, but this would not be the first time such a thing were so.

 

[RavenWinterHawk]

Zosilem in Ter Mur, offers a Quest "The Brainy Alchemist".

upon providing

Obtain 1 Arcane Gem
Obtain 10 Undamaged Undead Gargoyle Horns
Obtain 1 Inspected Keg of Total Refreshment Potions
Obtain 1 Inspected Keg of Greater Poison Potions

One can get as a reward an "Infused Alchemist's Gem"

What does this Gem do ?

The item increases your Alchemy skill by .1 point much like an SoT.

Now, since this Quest requires quite some time to be completed and quite a few resources like 2 FULL kegs of potions (that is 100 Total Refreshment Potions + 100Greater Poison Potions), ain't the reward too low for the effort and the costs involved ??

argh dont do it.

 

[RavenWinterHawk]

For me, this begs the question "what, to your mind, would be a suitable reward?"
I would be inclined to agree that the investment (time, effort and resources) may not be in line with the reward, but this would not be the first time such a thing were so.

It doesnt matter. He likes to ponder.

 

[RavenWinterHawk]

Stranger has a great guide on this post for Tier quests: http://vboards.stratics.com/uhall/158656-*spoilers*-guide-thepem-zosilem-quests-*spoilers*.html

According to that guide, if you can complete 20 of those Tier 2 quests, you can take the Tier 3 quests of Zosilem. One of the Tier 3 quest rewards is Elixir of Valorite Conversion which can turn 500 bronze ingots to valorite ingots (according to the guide). They're difficult to complete, however, my main motivation is to complete enough of those *difficult* quests to be able to take the Tier 3 ones.

Dont you find it unfair that inorder for me to gain a tier 3 quest to get a reward that the casual honest player cant really do it his time playing, is unfair.

I mean why do I need to go through tier 1 and 2 and waste my time to get the reward/quest I want. I can see how this would keep the honest casual player from even playing the game.

It think it would be fair to allow me to select the quest reward I want after signing in on the game.

 

[Cirno]

Raven, I think you are making this personal against Popps, and becoming a little hyperbolic.

Besides, would not the idea of quest rewards not lend itself to your own dreams of procedural content?
As the quests are defined with difficulty and reward being static, things like this will happen. However, if the quests were defined procedurally, and the rewards determined based on factors in the generation of the quest, then the "value" of the reward would relate to the quest.

 

[Sevin0oo0]

why do I need to go through tier 1 and 2 and waste my time to get the reward/quest I want.

Because Devs call it a Quest "System" - I call it anal, just like what they did w/ fishing

we have Sturdy shovels, why not a Sturdy mortar & pestle?

 

[Nimuaq]

Dont you find it unfair (..)

I dont find it unfair to finish some other quests before taking more advanced ones. What I find unfair is the difficulty of those tier 2 quests compared to the tier 3, for zosilem at least.

I have been trying to collect enough undamaged iron beetle scales and undead gargoyle horns (not constantly, but whenever I find the spare time) for the past four to six months. I even offered 75k for the scales and 150k for the horns several times, yet not even one person responded.

Cailleach offered me more scales to complete one quest, but it seems the drop rate of the scales is about 1 in 5. I have organized several Medusa hunts just to get some undead garg medallions but couldnt even get a set to complete a quest. I did not know that undead gargs from the champ spawn also had those medallions, it would be much more easier to collect from the champ if that is correct. Can you verify it popps?

 

[popps]

For me, this begs the question "what, to your mind, would be a suitable reward?"

Well, I am not sure what would be a suitable reward in this case, just did not think about it.

All I know, is that to my opinion getting the same alchemy gain that a GGS gives, a 0.1 gain, does not seem to be appropriate for the cost (both in time and resources...) to make 200 potions and to hunt for 1 Arcane Gem and 10 Undamaged Undead Gargoyle Horns at the medusa spawn. Not to mention the insurance costs involved since the Medusa spawn can be dangerous.....

Just for the record, in the age of soulstones even at high alchemy skill level (say 90+) it is possible to have a 0.1 GGS gain from 4.6 to 5.6 hours, for free (just limit the skills totals on the training character below 350 total points) ........ Guaranteed Gain System - UOGuide, the Ultima Online encyclopedia

I would be inclined to agree that the investment (time, effort and resources) may not be in line with the reward, but this would not be the first time such a thing were so.

The thing is, that at least to my opinion, for this particular Quest the reward seems to be too much offset from the time, effort and costs required to complete it. It just is too much a difference effort vs. reward not to blow into my eyes....

Out of curiosity, does anyone think that the reward fits the costs and efforts involved into completing the Quest ??

 

[Lord Frodo]

If you don't seem to approve of the path it takes to get complete this quest then don't do it. Others seem to like it and certainly think it's worth it. This game is big enough to where there will always be something someone wont like.

And please don't argue that just because you see something you don't approve of means it must be faulty and thus requires change. You don't speak for everyone in this game...

 

[popps]

If you don't seem to approve of the path it takes to get complete this quest then don't do it. Others seem to like it and certainly think it's worth it. This game is big enough to where there will always be something someone wont like.

And please don't argue that just because you see something you don't approve of means it must be faulty and thus requires change. You don't speak for everyone in this game...

I thought I made it clear enough that I was speaking "to my opinion", and not for others'.......

So what about your opinion on this one particular Quest, let's hear it.

Do you think that it would be worth your time, costs and efforts to complete this Quest to get a whopping 0.1 alchemy gain which GGS can give you for free ??

 

[Nexus]

I thought I made it clear enough that I was speaking "to my opinion", and not for others'.......

So what about your opinion on this one particular Quest, let's hear it.

Do you think that it would be worth your time, costs and efforts to complete this Quest to get a whopping 0.1 alchemy gain which GGS can give you for free ??

I'd consider it worth the effort not for the .1 alchemy but for the advancement towards the higher tier quests that yield substantially better rewards. Once you hit the Top tier, the 20 minutes a day invested to do the Pure Valorite quest, for a net reward at the end of the month of 14,400 Valorite Ingots (500 per completion based on 30 days a month - 20 for per day for inspected ingots), on a shard where they are averaging 1k per ingot well worth it. Especially considering the absurd amount of mining needed to yield the same number of ingots, Bronze is readily available to be converted, it's easy to obtain by comparison.

Possibly instead of worrying about the reward you get now, you should look at it as a stepping stone towards a better reward in the future.

 

[popps]

I'd consider it worth the effort not for the .1 alchemy but for the advancement towards the higher tier quests that yield substantially better rewards. Once you hit the Top tier, the 20 minutes a day invested to do the Pure Valorite quest, for a net reward at the end of the month of 14,400 Valorite Ingots (500 per completion based on 30 days a month - 20 for per day for inspected ingots), on a shard where they are averaging 1k per ingot well worth it. Especially considering the absurd amount of mining needed to yield the same number of ingots, Bronze is readily available to be converted, it's easy to obtain by comparison.

Possibly instead of worrying about the reward you get now, you should look at it as a stepping stone towards a better reward in the future.

If that is the concern (advancing to Tier 2...), perhaps other options might be a better expenditure of time ?

According to Tier Quests - UOGuide, the Ultima Online encyclopedia, Zosilem the Alchemist along with the The Brainy Alchemist also offers Dabbling on the Dark Side.

This other Quest to be completed, needs

Obtain 5 Boura Skin
Obtain 10 Fairy Dragon Wings
Obtain 1 Dough

All stuff that I think requires quite less effort and costs than the alternate Quest.
As a reward, it gives 2 Deliciously Tasty Treats which can be used on Bane Dragons as an alternative to Blackrock Stew and also boost pets stuff some.

Since, in order to advance to Tier 2 it is needed to complete 10 Tier 1 Quests, personally I think I could advance to Tier 2 more smoothly and with less investment of time and costs doing 10 Dabbling on the Dark Side Quests rather than 10 Brainy Alchemist quests....

That's at least how I personally see it.

 

[RavenWinterHawk]

Raven, I think you are making this personal against Popps, and becoming a little hyperbolic.

Besides, would not the idea of quest rewards not lend itself to your own dreams of procedural content?
As the quests are defined with difficulty and reward being static, things like this will happen. However, if the quests were defined procedurally, and the rewards determined based on factors in the generation of the quest, then the "value" of the reward would relate to the quest.

The idea of quest reward is my point of popps. It is static. You do it or you don't. You dont ponder or pretend to pontificate pointless pretentious positions...

Popps has every right to ask questions that beg no answer.

The quest it static. It is not dynamic. If it were like you said... rewards based on factors... (which is a good idea)

You know what the next questions would be

Why is it that a random generation of rewards based on the factors of A, B, and C gives a better reward then factors based on A, B, and D? It seems like the rewards are unbalanced. How is the casual honest player suppose to understand which factors give the best rewards?

I mean, I get that certain factor influence the reward but I feel these factors should give a better reward then those factors...

Come on. What is the point?
But there are many here that will answer his questions only to have the answers rebuffed.

Dont take my word for it. Just read the thread.

 

[Lady CaT]

Zosilem in Ter Mur, offers a Quest "The Brainy Alchemist".

upon providing

Obtain 1 Arcane Gem
Obtain 10 Undamaged Undead Gargoyle Horns
Obtain 1 Inspected Keg of Total Refreshment Potions
Obtain 1 Inspected Keg of Greater Poison Potions

One can get as a reward an "Infused Alchemist's Gem"

What does this Gem do ?

The item increases your Alchemy skill by .1 point much like an SoT.

Now, since this Quest requires quite some time to be completed and quite a few resources like 2 FULL kegs of potions (that is 100 Total Refreshment Potions + 100Greater Poison Potions), ain't the reward too low for the effort and the costs involved ??

I dont look at every thing in this game as time vs reward and therefore judge whether a task is worth doing. I look at this quest in particular as being sort of an added benefit to doing the Medusa spawn. Kinda like 1 in 10 times I do Medusa I also have a chance to get a alchemy SoT also.

Now on my shard (Chesapeake) a 0.1 alchemy SoT goes for roughly 100k. To grind out 2 kegs costs me roughly 3700gp in reagents if I even bought the reagents to begin. I often find tons of reagents in my adventures (ie idocs, bags dumped at New Haven/Luna etc). And with the grinding max number feature on a mortar and pestle a keg takes no time at all and I can do it while running, chatting, or even while grabbing a glass of water during my break. Assuming if I chose to even grind the kegs. I often find full kegs just lying around the bank in luna from other people dumping them or again an idoc. Or hell I could just buy a keg of Total Refresh for 5k and a keg of Greater Poison 5k for any number of vendors and its still cheaper then buying a alchemy SoT for 100k. An arcane gem is a joke to obtain 100's of these and are often discarded around luna bank also.

So in conclusion, hell yes I like this quest, it is worth doing! It's just an added benefit to doing Medusa. Would I chain this quest as the sole means to gain alchemy? Hell no....Of course there are easier ways to do it. But like anything there is always other easier things to do in game. Like I said earlier I don't evaluate everything in game as time vs. reward. If I did that in RL, I wouldnt even be playing UO

 

[RavenWinterHawk]

I dont look at every thing in this game as time vs reward and therefore judge whether a task is worth doing. I look at this quest in particular as being sort of an added benefit to doing the Medusa spawn. Kinda like 1 in 10 times I do Medusa I also have a chance to get a alchemy SoT also.

Now on my shard (Chesapeake) a 0.1 alchemy SoT goes for roughly 100k. To grind out 2 kegs costs me roughly 3700gp in reagents if I even bought the reagents to begin. I often find tons of reagents in my adventures (ie idocs, bags dumped at New Haven/Luna etc). And with the grinding max number feature on a mortar and pestle a keg takes no time at all and I can do it while running, chatting, or even while grabbing a glass of water during my break. Assuming if I chose to even grind the kegs. I often find full kegs just lying around the bank in luna from other people dumping them or again an idoc. Or hell I could just buy a keg of Total Refresh for 5k and a keg of Greater Poison 5k for any number of vendors and its still cheaper then buying a alchemy SoT for 100k. An arcane gem is a joke to obtain 100's of these and are often discarded around luna bank also.

So in conclusion, hell yes I like this quest is worth doing! Its just an added benefit to doing Medusa. Would I chain this quest as the sole means to gain alchemy? Hell no....Of course there are easier ways to do it. But like anything there is always other easier things to do in game. Like I said earlier I don't evaluate evverything in game as time vs. reward. If I did that in RL I wouldnt even be playing UO

I like you. Well said. Sound like you have fun playing a game.

 

[Nexus]

If that is the concern (advancing to Tier 2...), perhaps other options might be a better expenditure of time ?

According to Tier Quests - UOGuide, the Ultima Online encyclopedia, Zosilem the Alchemist along with the The Brainy Alchemist also offers Dabbling on the Dark Side.

This other Quest to be completed, needs

Obtain 5 Boura Skin
Obtain 10 Fairy Dragon Wings
Obtain 1 Dough

All stuff that I think requires quite less effort and costs than the alternate Quest.
As a reward, it gives 2 Deliciously Tasty Treats which can be used on Bane Dragons as an alternative to Blackrock Stew and also boost pets stuff some.

Since, in order to advance to Tier 2 it is needed to complete 10 Tier 1 Quests, personally I think I could advance to Tier 2 more smoothly and with less investment of time and costs doing 10 Dabbling on the Dark Side Quests rather than 10 Brainy Alchemist quests....

That's at least how I personally see it.

That's totally true but that opinion is true only based on your position in the game, but say if I was actually working the alchemy skill, I'd have those potion kegs already at hand. The Total Refresh pots you could always sell, but the Greater Poison kegs have no real marketability anymore outside the handful of people training poisoners. This quest for them would be ideal as it A) Recompenses even if in a minor way what would be otherwise wasted resources and B) It helps no matter how small a fraction those players continue to advance in skill without adding additional cost in materials. Previous materials now get additional skill gains.

It's a totally subjective situation, different players in different positions may or may not consider the investment in time and resources worth it. Depending on circumstance a player could be faced with the choice of tossing out Greater Poison kegs as worthless, or using them to get freebie skill gains. In that situation I know what I'd do....

The other items the quest requires are easily gathered as well, including the Gargoyle horns, the rewards yielded while obtaining them are often worth the effort without the horns for consideration.

Still people do have the option, they can do 10 of Quest A or 10 of Quest B, or any mix of the two they like. There are alternatives, making arguing against it completely pointless.

 

[Sevin0oo0]

Once you hit the Top tier

you don't have to keep repeating the lower quests to get more tier3?
it doesn't reset?

 

[Nimuaq]

you don't have to keep repeating the lower quests to get more tier3?
it doesn't reset?

No it doesnt reset, you can take all Tier quests after you've completed 20 of Tier 2. However, there is a 24 hour cooldown time for Tier 3, 2 hour for Tier 2 and 30 minutes for Tier 1 (according to Stranger's guide).

 

[Lord Frodo]

The idea of quest reward is my point of popps. It is static. You do it or you don't. You dont ponder or pretend to pontificate pointless pretentious positions...

Popps has every right to ask questions that beg no answer.

The quest it static. It is not dynamic. If it were like you said... rewards based on factors... (which is a good idea)

You know what the next questions would be

Why is it that a random generation of rewards based on the factors of A, B, and C gives a better reward then factors based on A, B, and D? It seems like the rewards are unbalanced. How is the casual honest player suppose to understand which factors give the best rewards?

I mean, I get that certain factor influence the reward but I feel these factors should give a better reward then those factors...

Come on. What is the point?
But there are many here that will answer his questions only to have the answers rebuffed.

Dont take my word for it. Just read the thread.

You get for this answer.

 

[Viper09]

I thought I made it clear enough that I was speaking "to my opinion", and not for others'.......

So what about your opinion on this one particular Quest, let's hear it.

Do you think that it would be worth your time, costs and efforts to complete this Quest to get a whopping 0.1 alchemy gain which GGS can give you for free ??

Actually. Nexus's opinion = pretty much the same as mine. So there it is, his next to posts after your reply to mine are my opinions. It's not about the gain but the top rewards. Plus, if I was training alchemy I would already have the pots and that bonus gain is just a nice treat in addition to the other gains you're getting as you make them. Basically it's a nice place to get rid of all the pots you make while training. Then there is that final reward for the top quest which is even nicer. So that's my opinion in addition to what nexus said which is pretty darn similar. So if you don't think it's worth it, don't do it. Leave them for others to do.