From what I've read here and elsewhere, it sounds like most people begin a gathering attempt by hitting in the middle. I do it a little differently, but I didn't figure there was any useful reason why. Below I quoted a post from Truvy out of
this thread for reference. The conversation was about guessing where the items would be based on information from the remainder bar, but using this standard way doesn't really make that so useful.
Anyway, I realized that I make those guesses a lot, though in a small way, and my method of gathering makes it work.
I split up the bar/circle into 1/6 pieces, where the middle point sits in the middle of one, leaving a 1/12 on each side. In percents, it looks like this: [-8--25--42--58--75--92-].
My first two hits are at 42 and 58. These spots are easy to estimate. On botany, it's just across from the top and bottom of the bubble on the left side of the wedge. On mining, it's just inside and just outside of the middle line. On fishing, it's each side of the word "jig".
After that, I do it the same as everyone else. The reason I feel this way works better for me is the fact that I'm starting off to one side or the other. For example, when I'm hunting for silver, I always start with the spot just inside the circle. More often than I would if hitting right in the center, I either make it in one hit, or get the "close enough, hit it once more" message.
I also find that nearly everything lands close enough to the center that I seldom need to resort to the two extremes (8% and 92%). Because my hits are a little closer together, I think I also get more direct successes and fewer prompts to hit the same spot a second time. I couldn't say this for certain without documenting it vigorously, but it seems to make numerical sense.
Assuming the item is at one of the absolute extremes (far enough extreme that I have to hit 8/92 twice), I end up with one more hit to make. However, discounting the two hit fails such as raw gems, I haven't had any problem with beating the remainder bar.
Speaking of gems, those are almost always very close to the center, so I go straight for 15-25% when the remainder bar comes up very short. Documenting preferred locations for two hit fail items would probably be a worthwhile endeavor.
Truvy wrote:This has been seen in my various data collections as well. Its close to an 80% reliability of a given fish having a 'prefered' jig location followed by a 'reel in' location.
It doesn't seem to be affected by quality or quantity though, just a randomizer on occasion to thorw it off.
While it's tempting to fish in a mannor to guess what fish will be on the line and try to jig at their reel in location, i tend to find that approach leads to more losses.
Typically I follow this:
[0--10---35--50--70---90]
1) 1st Jig : @ [50%]
2) 2nd Jig:
A) if message was "The fish has tired, but you still cannot reel it in."
then: Hit at exact same spot [50%]
B) If the above message doesn't happen, then there is just the normal "You have hooked soemthing but can't reel it in". Jig @ [35%]
3) 3rd Jig
A) if message was "The fish has tired, but you still cannot reel it in."
then: Hit at exact same spot [35%]
B) if message was "You take in some line" {GOING THE RIGHT WAY}
then: goto Step 4
C) if message was "The fish is taking line" {GOING THE WRONG WAY}
then: goto Step 5
4) 4th Jig (Right way)
Jig @ [10%] one of 2 things will happen:
A) You will reel in the fish
B) You will get the message The fish has tired, but you still cannot reel it in."
then: Hit at exact same spot [10%] (You WILL reel in the fish this time)
5) 4th Jig (Wrong way)
Jig @ [70%] one of 3 things will happen:
A) You will reel in the fish
B) You will get the message The fish has tired, but you still cannot reel it in."
then: Hit at exact same spot [10%] (You WILL reel in the fish this time)
C) You will get the message "You take in some line"
then: goto Step 6
6) 5th jig (Last Jig)
Jig @ [90%] one of 3 things will happen:
A) You will reel in the fish
B) You will get the message The fish has tired, but you still cannot reel it in."
then: Hit at exact same spot [10%] (You WILL reel in the fish this time IF you have enough remainder for another jig)
C) You will lose the fish (Not enough remainder left. If you can't make this 5th jig, then you need to:
* Increase your Fishing Level
* Increase your Dex
* Wear maximum "Gathering"
* Repair your gear
* Eat "Gathering" food (Cooked Vegie Dishes)
* Change to a lower Grade of water
* Target a Lower Rank fish
Edited by user Tuesday, March 29, 2011 3:59:15 PM(UTC)
| Reason: Add a bit about gems