When did Graff Gem Mines get harder?

I'm use to the two guys in the entrance, and various NPCs throughout the mine, but it use to be persistent with regard to NPCs. e.g. Once you killed them, you could work your way through the mine. Now it appears that Kobald Warriors and Hardened Skeleton are respawning?

The archers also seem to be able to shoot through some of the rock walls...

Suffice it to say that my progress has been quite limited, despite full copper augmented armor, level 30ish heavy armor skills, level 60 polearm combat, and mid-30s earth innates.

 

Kolbold and Satyr warriors were always in Graff Mines. Maybe you are thinking of the Red bandits in the Owl's Next mine?

 

Those are what I referenced as "Various NPCs throughout the mine". The big change since I last played this areas (probably R26) is the addition of hardened skeleton archers and the fact that some of the NPCs appear to respawn now.

Oh, and getting shot through walls... that is fun.

 

The mines have changed quite a bit this release. They changed spawners for mobs, etc. New mobs were added and now they redrawn If you hang around to long in one area. And they'll be there when you come back through.

 

I think I had 4 archers on me at one point - I didn't last long. When I retreated, I came across the re-spawns that finished me off.

I don't mind the adds, but the respawns just made this area unplayable for me at my current level. Unfortunately, the next equipment upgrade for me requires gems and jewels, so I rather need this mine. That said, my main need are rubies - are they available in any mine that is now easier than this one?

 

My notes say:
outdoor red crystals brisach maple forest R28

But I too would like an answer to your question, if possible, with respect to mines.
In R28, I saw the following, personally:

red, ruby, fire, sorcery - ?
blue, sapphire, water, tempestry - elysium(very few),
green, emerald, earth, gaiaism - graff
yellow, citrine, air, theurgy - ?
orange, garnet, sun, atenism - graff
purple, amethyst, moon, lunaism - graff
white, diamond, life, thaumaturgy - elysium, graff
black, onyx, death, necromancy - ?

and my list of mines is currently: elysium SW, etceter SW, graff NE, serpent spine M, spectral SE, verdantis NW, owl's nest HV.

 

Thanks, I was about to put the game away for awhile, now I need to go check out that maple forest!

(minor problem, patch 409 is uploading!)

Confirmed: There by Ruby crystals here! (... and a lot of Large Brown Spiders to keep the hordes away)

 

Also, I've just checked, and as per the "new gem locations" post R28, and in R29, Verdantis is the mine that is the primary source of rubies. Secondary source there are Sapphires (blue), and tertiary garnets (orange). The ore in verdantis is copper, although there was a single silver vein on the top level. kobolds/undead, basically a copy of graff. In the first geothermal spring room, it's primarily rubies. In the second lower geothermal spring room it's a mix of rubies and sapphires.

Spoiler: Pic!

 

Thanks!

 

Ok - probably a stupid question, but how do you get into the Verdantis mine? I assume its in the Verdantis Foothills area, and someplace close to the flooded strip mine?

 

As you enter Verdantis Foothills, the pit mine is on your left. If you go to it, then bear right, the path crosses a river, then goes into a prisoner area filled with cages, out in the open. Adjacent to that caged area is a track stop & mining track that leads into the Mine scene. There is an arched rock exit/entrance near that point, back to the Novia overworld. So if you find that near the cages, you're close.

 

WelL, that is odd. I went left down a path away from the pit mine, found a couple of side paths that led to collapsed entrances, then finally on open one. It claims its the Verdantis Mine, but so far, its identical to the Graff Mine - less the NPCs. Just found it a few minutes ago though, so just getting started.

 

As of R28, citrine could be found in the tunnels at the bottom of The Rise. Expect to die a lot, but there are ankhs aplenty Don't know if it has changed for R29 - I really really want some but couldn't even think of going there right now.

 

The cave in Highvale always had 2 or three ruby nodes, so it's worth taking a look if you happen to be in the scene.

 

HOW are we suppose to do these mines IN SPO?

 

Level up for a few days, at least, that's what I'd do.

 

Should not have to do that for single play online.... I don't mind being 2 or 3 lvl's above to be able to survive, but i find as an Archer I need to be much higher....

 

I'm curious as to why you think this? I'm not trying to sound rude or anything, but this is a progression based rpg, not the sims.

 

I know that, but SINGLE player to me means..... I don't need a group to do ANYTHING.... it all should be SOLOABLE, and not have me to be multiple lvl's above what I need to kill with same lvl critters to do it.... A lot of the dungeons ARE really hard to do solo .... just saying ....

 

I know.. and I'm just saying I'm a solo player, I rarely group, and it's not to get to resources I want/need. I think there's going to be a lot of old areas that will get MORE difficult as the game progresses in development.. I'd get used to leveling some skills I guess?