Have Strike Zones been randomized? or am I just having issues.

As we all may know, mining can be very predictable, the energy bar has several stages, and depending on which sweet spot you are at, you can predict where to strike and what you will get. That theory was working just fine for me up until I moved up to the grade 5 nodes at iron lake.

For example according to most, If the energy bar is at stage 3(second from the lowest) assuming you are at the depth range of -4, Cobalt ore SHOULD be at 100-90% Striking power. But I have been getting it from 10-20% striking power, and at times neither 10% nor 100% yield any results. Pic for proof
http://i.imgur.com/o3pke.jpg
Disregard my lolattire.


So what my question is, have strike zones been ninja patched and have become randomized? or have I been looking over something that may factor in to the strike zone?

If you don't have a high enough level (more specifically VIT), the zone is random. If you want reliable Cobalt at the moment you'll probably have to stay in G4 Cedarwood I think.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SeraviEdalborez

If you don't have a high enough level (more specifically VIT), the zone is random. If you want reliable Cobalt at the moment you'll probably have to stay in G4 Cedarwood I think.

---

Has it always been randomized based on rank? I have people telling me they were at the grade 5 nodes at a lower rank than me and were having guaranteed strike spots. Also I'm not necessarily after cobalt ore, just ranking. I'm finding grade 5 nodes yield more exp than grade 4 leve'ed ones.

I could be wrong; I didn't really hit grade 5 until 38 when I could track the nodes.

From 1.17 patch notes:

Quote:

---

[dev1039] When the three below conditions are met in regards to the grade and difficulty of a gathering attempt, the "sweet spot" of the approach phase will be in a fixed location.

1. Class rank
2. Values of VIT for miners, STR for botanists, and DEX for fishers
3. Bait and lures (for fishing only)

ex.) At a certain grade and difficulty, having the appropriate rank, DEX value, and bait/lure will ensure that jigging the rod precisely in the middle will result in a black eel hit.

---

Ah thanks, I have not touched a gathering class for a LONG time, just started up recently. I guess I'll be playing the guessing game for quite a few ranks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SeraviEdalborez

I could be wrong; I didn't really hit grade 5 until 38 when I could track the nodes.

From 1.17 patch notes:

---

I can't tell from your screenshot, but did you have Earthen Favor activate on you? For some reason this ability seems to invert the successful strike area. I noticed the exact same thing happening every time this ability fired off for me, with cobalt switching from 80% to 20% and other shinies shuffling around as well. I've had EF unequipped since realizing this, and haven't had it happen again.

Considering the ability is supposed to "increase your chance of locating rare items", I don't think it's working like its supposed to.

Edit: I just noticed your level too. If they're all over the place, then its your level. I thought they were consistently showing up at 20% for you out of nowhere. :P This is the problem I had when Earthen Favor activated.

being 31 I would say you are too low, as I am a bitter old man stuck in the old ways getting miner up before you could do that.

However yes the strike spot is based on your Vit stat.

Level 31 in Iron Lake is probably asking for trouble. Give it until about Level 36 before heading to grade five. Level 34 if you are feeling adventurous.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chione

I can't tell from your screenshot, but did you have Earthen Favor activate on you? For some reason this ability seems to invert the successful strike area. I noticed the exact same thing happening every time this ability fired off for me, with cobalt switching from 80% to 20% and other shinies shuffling around as well. I've had EF unequipped since realizing this, and haven't had it happen again.

Considering the ability is supposed to "increase your chance of locating rare items", I don't think it's working like its supposed to.

---

I've had the same thing happen with Iron Ore in Leves. With Earthen Favor active it would suddenly be in a completely different position. Other items were fine though, and it only seemed to be an issue in Leves.

@31 you would be MUCH better off finishing up at Nophica's Wells. I think I moved on to Iron Lake at level 33 and it wasn't so bad.

You can hit Iron Lake as early as 30 just make sure you go for -2 for iron ore so you get more successful hits. Although, it might be a better idea to stick around Cedarwood till about 33 or so unless you have a friend willing to share leves in iron lake. At 34 I started getting better success on Cobalt Ore in Ironlake (90-100% strike range), before then I was getting cobalt in random strike zones just like you, along with spinal and turquoise. I also noticed no matter what gear you put on you can't get more then 4 strikes in Iron Lake bellow level 35.

Thanks for the post and info. I hit the same problem just a few minutes ago and this post helped a lot :)!

Mining above grade too early will randomize the strike zones. Ideally you go to Grade 5 (Iron Lake, Halatali, that place in Grid) when you are around 35, or at least close to lvl 35.