How do you run your maps?

Currently not playing (at all) regularly but...

Three general questions that have been bugging me for a while...

1. Given your level, what level/tier map do YOU run? Example: As a level 72, what level map would you be running? As a 75? Etc. (currently, I am trying to run low level maps for as long as I can stomach them to use them up and maybe get higher tiers...I then sell 3x like-maps for a higher tier...)

2. At what point do YOU begin alching your maps for the rare qualities that come with it? And do you ever chaos your maps? Or do you save the chaos for items?

3. At what point do YOU begin ID'ing and rerolling magic/rare mods on strongboxes/etc ?

Thanks!

1. Very hard question. I only just recently switched to mid-tier maps, I fear you have to figure this one out yourself. Also some low tier maps have divination cards that might make them worth running.

2. I start using alcs usually at tier 5. From my experience that's the point where you start to gain more than you spend. Also whenever I'm looking for a certain card I use alcs. I rarely used chaos orbs though. And the times I did it was to get rid of reflect/blood magic/ele weakness.

3. I always identify, you don't want a detonate corpses, lightning dtorm or ice nova strongbox without knowing. I only reroll blue ones, or try to chance white ones. I never reroll rare strongboxes though. The amount you would spend would be likely much more than what you get from the box.

I hope that was at least of some help :D

As a level 72, I would be running Daresso's dream. Why waste time running maps when you can just run regular areas?

Unless I hadn't unlocked Zana yet I guess.

1. I run maps where the XP penalty is very low. With the old formula of 3+(player level/16) a "safe zone" where no penalty occurs can be calculated. The initial penalty beyond that is very low as well, so as a level 80, for example, you can run level 70 maps with no significant penalty.
With the new formula I don't know, but it seems to affect very high level chars much more than those in the range of 80-90.
With my current lvl 86 char I run tier 8/9 maps for 5-10% per map.

2. I alch all mid-tier maps, starting with tier 7. It's more interesting, and the alch shards and other currency coming in usually more than make up for the investment.

3. I ID rare strongboxes to know what I'm dealing with. Magic ones I leave as they are. I chance white ones in the hope for a unique one, and to spice things up a little.

generally I start alching maps around T7
I almost never reroll a map unless it has blood magic or reflect
strong boxs I start leaving alone in the 80s except for alchemist boxs as the payout is rarely worth the risk

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cesmode wrote:

1. Given your level, what level/tier map do YOU run? Example: As a level 72, what level map would you be running? As a 75? Etc. (currently, I am trying to run low level maps for as long as I can stomach them to use them up and maybe get higher tiers...I then sell 3x like-maps for a higher tier...)

Always try to be within 1-2 levels of the map you're doing, it's simply the most effective way to level. When you go past level 80, it's basically 'run the highest tier map you have' if you want to level. Especially with the new XP penalty which makes leveling past 90 an even worse grind than before.

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2. At what point do YOU begin alching your maps for the rare qualities that come with it? And do you ever chaos your maps? Or do you save the chaos for items?

Depends on what your goals are.

1. If you want a better chance of getting map drops and improving your map pool, you only want pack size. The expensive way to do this is to alch-scour or chaos roll double pack size or more. You can't do this on a budget. The cheaper way is to alteration-augment roll at least one packsize mod per map and run them blue. It's also safer.

2. Same thing applies if you want XP from maps. Packsize is everything. Avoiding dangerous map mods becomes more important which makes alteration-augment crafting and running them blue an even more enticing option unless your build is extremely strong and you don't really care about map mods. Map layout is extremely important, you want to be clearing fast. However, after the XP penalty changes, map level is also quite important. Gorge/plateau rotations were best until recently, now even plateau gives pitiful XP at levels 90+. I'd say gorge/plateau rotations are best before level 90, then you should probably just run the highest-tier maps you have.

3. If you want to farm items and currency, alch and go is best. You want item quantity and rarity and you want to avoid spending currency for rerolling map mods. The map's tier becomes less important than its layout. Only run maps with a good layout which can be speed cleared. A few notable exceptions - Arena and Museum are worth running since the triple bosses drop a ton of loot with some item rarity. They are also good for corrupting with vaal orbs. Corrupted maps have a ton of quantity and rarity and the bosses often drop multiple atziri fragments.

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cesmode wrote:

3. At what point do YOU begin ID'ing and rerolling magic/rare mods on strongboxes/etc ?

I don't. I find it to be too much time, currency and hassle. However, I don't really care about leveling past 90, so what do I know. The one thing I know is it takes a lot of currency. Rolling rare is IMO a waste, the XP gain is insignificant, rolling magic takes a ton of alterations.

1- Depends on how strong your build is. If you're 72 and your gear is not sorted, you're probably farming Dried Lake. If you're 72 and have everything sorted already, you got the gear, you have leveled gems you need, and low level maps feel easy then just push up the map tiers as fast as you can.

2- Depends on how wealthy you are and what are you trying to achieve. You're trying to beat Havoc/Steel and their bitchboys? Start alching earlier, be prepared to invest a fortune into maps. You don't give a shit about competing? Probably want to start alching at around T10-T11 or so.

3- Almost never. Waste of time. I only roll arcanist boxes, transmute them and alt for good roll of +additional items or %increased quantity of items. Carto boxes only roll in higher maps, transmute them, alt for +levels, augment, regal, vaal.

It depends on the character.

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dudiobugtron wrote:

As a level 72, I would be running Daresso's dream. Why waste time running maps when you can just run regular areas?

Unless I hadn't unlocked Zana yet I guess.

You mean Dried Lake, right? :P Daresso's Dream was only optimal during the Awakening closed beta when you could force ridiculous quantities of magic packs to spawn. Dried Lake is by far the most optimal thing to do before maps, despite the slightly lower zone level.