Manuscript blueprint

[Eriond]

I have run nothing but Long Letters since Excelsior came out (on Premium); still no manuscript recipe.

Frustrating.

Takes so long to get crystals, even on Premium, and then so few of them actually turn into letter pieces in the magic Mahogany Wood Generator, then you finally get enough to complete a quest, only to get the bad prize. Every time.

[Artillerist]

Im up to around 20 of the boxes, no recipe yet

[MissKaylee]

I have run nothing but Long Letters since Excelsior came out (on Premium); still no manuscript recipe.

Frustrating.

Takes so long to get crystals, even on Premium, and then so few of them actually turn into letter pieces in the magic Mahogany Wood Generator, then you finally get enough to complete a quest, only to get the bad prize. Every time.

Interesting how we become spoiled here. BB provides yet another feature & we complain that a 50 gem reward (plus xp and other bonuses) is a "bad prize."

I will agree it is frustrating to not get the prize I am seeking, but I can't slam them for the additional content.

[Eriond]

LOL, I just *knew* someone would have to comment on that; I wondered how long it would take.

I am not "slamming" them for the additional content. When compared to the other option, 50 gems is a bad prize - to me. It's my opinion, and yours may vary, but 50 gems (or ~1.7 crystals) is a "bad"/unbalanced prize in comparison to the manuscript recipe, in terms of my personal gameplay, and the way the odds/RNG seeding is setup in this game, I suspect (actually, know) that many others are in the same position and share the same opinion.

That is, in fact, what this thread is about - obtaining (or not) the Manuscript Blueprint.

I like the concept of Excelsior, but parts of it could use some tweaking, and this (in my opinion) is one of them.

[Artemis69]

Got it on try 11

[KingHomer]

Well, when you get the recipe on the first try like me, not even realizing it's hard to get (sorry), then your "surprise box" always has 50 gems, I find that... how shall I say... not "surprising" when I open it.

A small chance at getting 10 crystals would be a wonderful surprise!!!

[VonBizmark]

1st try, but like others I didn't notice the box until about a week later.

[AlliNel]

3rd time from the long letter quests

[Eriond]

I stopped counting, but I am probably close to 20 tries now.

And herein lies the problem ... the RNG seeding for something like this. Unlike, say, rare loot from an adventure (such as an Angel Gate or a follow-up adventure or even a witch tower), the manuscript recipe actually can change one's gameplay to a certain degree. Thus, seemingly random distribution of it seems to be less than ideal, IMO.

And yes, for those lucky enough to get it, the "surprise" box then truly ceases to have any surprise. In my case, it also has no surprise, as my particular RNG seed seems to guarantee that "luck" will always decide on 50 gems.

[Perwyn]

I feel your pain Eriond. It took me 10 tries to finally get it, which as it turns out I can see wasn't so bad, but even 10 was beginning to get frustrating, given what has to be done to get to the surprise box. It seems like it could at least be "random with a cap", that is, after X amount of tries (6 or 8 or 10?) you get the recipe rather than what is causing frustration for you and others.

With barazek buffs I can crank out 10 manuscripts a day and still make enough steaks to cover my usage. Meanwhile my bookbinder is free to make 2 tomes a day. So yes, having the recipe does change gameplay "to a certain degree". Instead of taking over a month to fully upgrade an explorer, it can be done in less than 2 weeks.

I hope you hit it soon man!