Csaszar's Guide to find the famous ICON set

[Csaszar 2]

Csaszar's Guide to find the famous ICON set

 

 

In Sacred Underworld the famous ICON set - the one that gives you burning feet - became a very very rare find. Its much harder now to have a full set in your possession than in earlier versions of the game (I.e; Sacred PLUS - where most players had at least one full set)

 

To make it more difficult to find was a good idea IMHO. Back in the old days we didn't have sets like Fad or Orla and ICONS was used either to split the enemies or for pure cosmetic effects.

Now we need to face big changes:

 

#A, Servers are much much more unstable now and their performance is far more worse than in older days.

 

#B, With the already mentioned "new" sets (Fad & Orla) the purpose of the ICON set changed greatly.

 

Its important to understand that I am not writing this guide to further the use of ICONs. My goal is simply to help those people who never had a chance try it. ICONs is and could be a source of a lot of FUN. And if its used with care others wont suffer that much because of its use.

 

Overall these ideas could help you get burning feet if you are willing to pay its price: long boring hours.

 

I will try to split this guide into 3 main section: #1,How to find it? and #2, Some ideas for general set hunting around the starter lvls and #3,How to use ICONS relatively safely

 

 

#1, How to find ICONs

 

 

The process is based on the observation of the SETs level: its ALWAYS lvl1!

 

 

 

So its not hard to figure that a lower level char would find it easier than a max level niob toon. Of course this isn't that easy. Icons are very rare - and the chance to find them is low. So to increase the chance to find them we need a low level char with a considerable amount of MF.

 

Before we go into details I need to remind you of a few things:

 

#a, Like any other Magic find (or trade) the only thing we can do is to increase the chance. There are no guarantees that it will work for you.

(but it worked for me more than once)

 

#b, It could take a lot of time. Not necessarily but possibly.

Trying it wont harm you but generally only the really patient and determined souls will see its fruits.

 

The Char

 

Basically every char could do it. But if we would like to optimize it further I wont propose Wood Elf (simply because she cant use jump or fly to get around obstacles more easily) and the Seraphim (because of her lack of available sockets.)

 

Two chars are IMHO exceptionally suited to the job:

 

Dwarf*:built in MF - GREED - pros: increased MF / cons: GREED needs rune investment and if you stick to the idea keeping him low level and restarting your char often the runes would go to waste)

Vampiress: She is one of the toughest starter char (IMHO) and can jump across obstacles.

 

My ICON finder was (is) a Vampiress. (well more of nostalgia than everything else)

 

The Gear

 

Sockets sockets and more sockets - we are after a lot of sockets. Put max level dwarven MF forge in thoose sockets and your you MF will be increased DRASTICALLY.

The setup will be the following (vampiress):

• Item Number of sockets
  
• Helm 2
  
• Shoulder Guards 2
  
• Armor 4
  
• Boots 1
  
• Gloves 1
  
• Belt 2
  
• Bracer 2
  
• Greaves 2
  
• Sword** 4
  
• Shield 3
  

So you will have total 23 sockets available. That is +460 MF for a level 2 char. Amazing isn't it? (Another nice feature of this forged bonus that your char will be almost invulnerable - each forge will give you 30% to all resistances - total 690% bonus to all resists)

 

#1,Where and how to play

 

We see that staying low level is important to reach our goal. So we need to stick to the starting territory and wander only a little bit around it.

 

You can do it 2 ways:

 

First you use your level 2 vamp and you avoid getting any XP. That means you need to repeat quests where little or no fightings are involved. Best would be to repeatedly do the "Pay Book"*** quest. This quest has a chance to reward you with a set item and it is pretty easy to complete (and fast. Relogging to start again is longer - at least for me - to finish the quest itself) and you don't need to fight at all.

Of course doing this way means that you need to get into a pretty boring cycle: log in - do the quest - log off - log in again - start doing the quest again - etc...

 

The second way is to make the a low level hunter gear then pass it from char to char. I mean you start a new Vampiress (or Dwarf) play her till she reaches level 8-9-10 then start her over. Alternatively you can level her till 10-15 (maybe even 20). This way you will have increased chance to find some of the lower level sets. You can find them here.

 

If you choose this way the Goblin Lawn and the Porto Vallum area is an ideal place to hunt.

 

#2, Some ideas for general set hunting around the starter lvls

 

Basically this is the above detailed way just you are not after the ICONs and do not restart your char until you feel it became too hard in your lvl1 MF gear. With minimal rune investment a Vampiress can get to and over level 20 in such a gear without any problems.

 

Ideal to find rares and the minimum level sets also mentioned above.

 

Remember: you need to spam the MF socket into your gear. Don't start exchange them into anything else. The sole purpose of this char is to have the highest MF possible at low level.

 

#3,How to use the ICON set relatively safely

 

ICONs set will generate LAG. Its not a big deal if only 1 player are using it but the situation could become dire really quickly if more players log in with full ICON set.

 

As previous experiments and research proved it the main source of LAG considering the ICON set comes not from the graphical side (the burning effect) but the splitting effect. ICONs will cover a relatively large area really quickly with a damaging trail of fire which dissipates after a while but if your char is moving around you chance to split the enemies around you will be increased dramatically. Even with very low split (1-5%) a lot more enemies will be doubled. If your split is higher (10-20%) its almost guaranteed that every enemy who aren't killed really quickly will be split. Any more split over 20% would mean you are making an army of enemies in a few seconds. Now this is what the Sacred engine cant really handle.

 

So when using ICONs try to reduce the split you are using to a real low amount - it will still work better than a much greater value without burning feet.

 

Secondly: if you plan to use Fad (or Orla - don't do it) with ICONs avoid populated servers. It could be ok with 1 or 2 ppl (even together with 3 ppl) but if any more players are joining and/or the others use LAG creating CAs or they are using also ICONs too flee from that server! Lag will build up pretty quickly and it will threaten you and the others. In our HC way of playing that threat can turn easily to the end of your (or someone else) char. Its also a good idea of ask or warn the others (if there are other players around).

 

 

Last words about ICONs and LAG and such things

 

ICON could create lag - thats true. Fad and Orla could create LAG as well. And there are a lot of things who could cause LAG (sometimes much worser LAG). But never forget: the main cause of LAG isn't your actions but crappy coding and programming.

So as long as you try to avoid threaten other ppl too much you can and you should try every strategy that suits you.

 

 

* Dwarf could be an interesting experiment. I am not sure how Greed influences Quest rewards. If it does Dwarf would be definitely the number 1 choice for us. This thing would need some future experiments.

 

** It is possible (not easy but possible) to find a 4 socketed one handed sword. My level 1 dwarven trader uses such a blade. If you are not able to find that one a simple 3 socketed weapon will do.

 

*** the "Pay book" quest is much easier to do if your char is able to jump or fly. If you know the quest you will understand what I mean

 

I would like to thank Erialc (again) for her invaluable help! (converting my babbling into something that resembles written english language)

Edited October 8, 2007 by erialc

[~Night.Wolfe~ 16]

Great guide!! I have a small suggestion for an addition to it though..... I personally have gotten more icons from opening chests and barrels then from quest rewards or drops. The rest of what you said still applies of course... you need to do it at a low level in the Bellevue and Silver Creek areas and all the rest that you said. But for a few examples I have gotten an icon maybe four different times from the chest next to the Wolf Eyes wolf and I got one just the other day from the chest next to the farmer's house that gives you the Forest Ranger quest.

[myles 2]

I agree that some chests seem to be more "magical" than the others, I found the chest south of the bookstand island south of the Bellevue abbey quite lucky too.

 

Btw, I think Waterform build might be the ideal build for this hunting.

 

1) The two "magical" tombs in the UW section. Of course getting there with a low level character would be quite hard for normal builds other than Waterform.

 

2) Mass tomb digging in varies giant underground/connecting caves.

 

Edit: Forgot to say, excellent guide.

[erialc 3]

Great Guide Csaszar

[Guest FrostElfTwin]

Someone else told me once that he speculated that a high charisma helped with Quest rewards.

His Glad who had charisma pumped seemed to get more set items as Quest rewards (could well have been pure luck).

He suggested using a Vamp or WE (as they have the highest starting charismas) and doing an endless loop of quests in Bellevue with a +X charisma rings--since the min level of char is 8 that could handle it... that is the char he suggested.

 

He followed this course and bagged his Icon Set.

 

Now, it could just be that the charisma had nothing to do with the result... or... maybe it sped up the process?

 

Too small a sample set to tell.

 

For myself, I prefer the MF suggestion, since I have observed that quest rewards can also be normal items as well as sets.

But then, I'm a quest-a-holic... even when I'm trying to level.

[gogoblender 3,304]

A great guide for anyone who wants to get their hands on the icon set. As noted, so many different ways of getting them, but Csaszar, you (lol, as usual) did the abc's of getting them very quickly with little fuss.

 

Good job

 

 

gogo

[FrostElfGuard 9]

A few years ago I tried this method (young vampiress full of MF) and did quests and quests and quests in Bellevue area.

When the vampiress reached about 10, I would consider sepaku (suicide) and start a new one.

 

I believe after a few days (~16 hours) of play I had 2 icon set pieces.

 

Ouch!

 

Is this the dedication required to get this set?

 

I've resurrected my Sacred1 (UW) install on XP, and am considering another run at the icon set. Any suggestions anyone?

[essjayehm 58]

I played about 7 or 10 hours with "new" (ie level 1-10) toons so far but I never found a single piece of this set.

 

BUT, I had nothing going for me... 0 MF, NOT doing quests, slow kills, etc.

 

Happy hunting!

[Stormwing 40]

remember getting them every now and then as quest prices. Wasn't really tryring to get 'em. Never obtained the full set, truth to be told.. Well, all's vain, as hd breakdown some time ago wiped away all my saves.

Oh, woe be me...

[FrostElfGuard 9]

I'm thinking the way of quest rewards involves a random factor.

That is: do a quest, and a random number is generated. If that number is > threshold, then boom! You get an item drop.

Then, what level of item are you going to get? (8 / 1000 chance of a set item if normal rules are used, that is= 0 MF).

 

Tooltips in Sacred 2 say that more quests increase your chance of a set item drop. Now, is that because more quests is more chances for 8/1000? Or, does it keep track of how many quests you've done and give you a bump for every, say, 8 quests completed? (Just picked the number 8 out of my head) If so, on your 8th, 16th, 24th quest you'll have a better chance.

 

I vaguely recall chatting in-game (with Obsession IIRC) and he said that he tried the Vampiress thing... and just kept going at it. He would've been doing it online.

IIRC online, I was often very pleased when new people joined the server... because it seemed (and this is emotional memory here, so very subjective!) that new players=higher chances of sets and uniques! (for a short while).

Obsession was/is a focused player--with his eye on the prize--and someone who could limit his wandering eye and "Get 'er done!". By that, I mean he could stay focused on the icon set hunt until finished.

 

My focus isn't so good... so, after 16 hours or so I stopped. I seem to recall that he took a week to find the icon set.

 

My only other known source of success for this method is Rotluchs. His online seraphim got killed in hc, and he needed an icon set to create his super fast leveling Magic seraphim, and I gave him 2 or 3 pieces. He hunted online for the rest and met his goal of making a super leveling seraphim while the servers were still up...

 

====

 

I just did a hunt through my archives. Found that imertoh (Remi from France) also suggested Csazar's method. He recommended keeping char level under 10. imertoh built a Trade Dwarf, shopped with him for charisma rings, gave the rings to a Wood Elf (highest start charisma) (socketing). {The WE's charisma was about 100 at char level 20. Which is confusing, since he mentioned keeping the char level under 10.} His character ran the non-combat quests in Bellevue, Porto Vallum, Mascarell and Braverock. 5 times through all those quests yielded a full set.

 

=====

 

k.

 

I used Prism's Guide to SP starts as a basis, combined with my exported accounts from the servers (when Sacred1 was still hosted online by some company paid by Ascaron)... I cobbled together a WE with level 1 armor, and 178 speed. At that 'walking' speed in Bellevue you can avoid most combats by out running your pursuers.

 

I started with the Seraphim Statue.

 

I did a series of escort quests (mostly in Bellevue to keep the xp gain down) in LAN Hack 'n Slash games.

 

Pay Book,

Sheepless in Bellevue,

Arogarn the Forest Ranger,

Angling without Bait,

Missing Son,

The Absent-Minded Sister

 

I found the Dark Elf Statue after about and hour of questing.

 

Then I remembered I had more Icons from the online accounts, and discovered 2 more: Shell and Royal Statue. Just need the Grail now.

 

Escort Quests with 0 MF, a WE (highest start charisma). One Icon found in the evening, 1 to go. I'm on my way!

Edited June 9, 2011 by FrostElfGuard

[masteff 68]

I always figured that at level 10 or so, the player reaches the point on the drop table to start getting their first set items. So below that level, icons are about all the player can get from the "unique/set" table.

 

If you get desperate (and/or want to try out some other S1 sets and uni's), here's the SIF thread w/ links to downloadable toon files. I'm 98% sure one of them has the icon set (probably the misc uniques files). http://forum.sacred2.com/showthread.php?t=41841&highlight=downloadable

[essjayehm 58]

Ahhhhh... brilliant, Masteff! Much appreciated tracking those linkies down.

 

I think I just cracked my monitor trying to kill that ant that was running around on it...

[FrostElfGuard 9]

I decided to log quest reward items for my Icon search... and so far just doing these quests I've gotten 3 or 4 set items... which surprised me. I thought set items (regular) wouldn't drop at the outset. But they do.

 

Thanks masteff for the linky. I'd forgotten about where those German downloads were. (And, yes, I was looking at GSF earlier in the week). Thanks masteff, you've resolved my frustration at finding the DL links.

[DaveO 88]

I recently completed the Icon set for Single Player. One of my exported toons is holding on to it. If I start an Amarri Battle Mage, I'd probably give it to him.

[gogoblender 3,304]

I always figured that at level 10 or so, the player reaches the point on the drop table to start getting their first set items. So below that level, icons are about all the player can get from the "unique/set" table.

 

If you get desperate (and/or want to try out some other S1 sets and uni's), here's the SIF thread w/ links to downloadable toon files. I'm 98% sure one of them has the icon set (probably the misc uniques files). http://forum.sacred2.com/showthread.php?t=41841&highlight=downloadable

 

Ah ha! Good post Masteff! Maybe someone can upload these links to the Sacred Downloads section here, this would be a nice resource for players. It won't be as broken into item by item as Sacred 2's is now, but at least the stuff will be here for players.

 

 

gogo

[FrostElfGuard 9]

I had a look at the posted stuff on the GSF, and haven't found the icon set.

 

Game50.pak doesn't open for me, the rest all works...

 

 

Spent some of yesterday and some of today hunting more icons... and got another Seraphim statue! Oh holy Grail, wherefor art thou:)

[Zhurong 2]

So I guess I was lucky to get em at level 40-45 ? 

Great Guide Thanky you

[Zhurong 2]

1 minute ago, Zhurong said:

So I guess I was lucky to get em at level 40-45 ? 

Great Guide Thank

 you

 

[gogoblender 3,304]

5 minutes ago, Zhurong said:

 

Delighted you liked his guide, Zhurong... Csaszar LOVED Sacred and published a number of guides here... he was also lots of fun to play with in HC servers with this game came out.

Enjoy the forums, and welcome to DarkMatters!

 

gogo

[Zettt 12]

On 10/8/2007 at 9:38 PM, ~Night.Wolfe~ said:

Great guide!! I have a small suggestion for an addition to it though..... I personally have gotten more icons from opening chests and barrels then from quest rewards or drops. The rest of what you said still applies of course... you need to do it at a low level in the Bellevue and Silver Creek areas and all the rest that you said. But for a few examples I have gotten an icon maybe four different times from the chest next to the Wolf Eyes wolf and I got one just the other day from the chest next to the farmer's house that gives you the Forest Ranger quest.

I've noticed that the starting area for the Seraphim seems to have this aspect. That very first crate has given me a musical instrument I think 3 times and my Seraphim has only been there probably 6 or 7 times, including games that I discarded or died. Hardcore I guess is not a thing anymore, I play SP anyway, but survival bonus *is* a thing. I think it was 2 flutes and 1 harp.

[Zettt 12]

On 4/1/2020 at 3:30 AM, gogoblender said:

Delighted you liked his guide, Zhurong... Csaszar LOVED Sacred and published a number of guides here... he was also lots of fun to play with in HC servers with this game came out.

Enjoy the forums, and welcome to DarkMatters!

 

gogo

I based my GoW Battlemage on Csaszar's guide. I happened upon Orla and then crazy things happened. It's way overpowered at level 60-70 in Gold and kills dragons with one shot (if you stand really close). It even kills different types of dragons with one shot... I'm running Gold now to see what happens in Plat...

[Zettt 12]

PS. I've only found the Dark Elf with 3 chars above level 60. And I recall it was early on in the game.