Duke Blacke Rumors

Juggernaut - Harshlands · October 2009

I dunno how many of you talk Duke Blacke on a regular basis, but there is something I have always wondered...

Occasionally, after tons of seemingly useless messages, he will say something like: "If you want to +7 your gear, you should go talk to -insert town- elder"

Is it true that if you go to that town and try to refine something without Dragon Orbs after getting that message, you have a much higher chance of success?

Also, he sometimes speaks of something called "The Principles of Refining" which seem to be rules that will help you be successful in refining without Orbs.

My question is, do these actually have any effect on your ability to refine, or are they just as they are called: Rumors?

Skybelle - Sanctuary · October 2009

I actually tried that once and it worked. Duke told me to refine something +3 somewhere and I did it with my weapon and it just...worked. (Btw, he asked me to refine it in Plume, so it was all good to avoid any confusion.)

I don't know if it's a coincidence but I think it does increases your refining chance. But then it's just a rumor, right? b:surrender

Ikurei - Dreamweaver · October 2009

I can't verify whether refining at certain officers increases the chance to refine since they only let you refine if your faction holds the territory they're in.

I can, however, say that the principles of refining are probably BS. One of them says to shout to the god of refining/PW/whatever. It can't hurt to try some of them though.

Kerrigan_ - Lost City · October 2009

Skybelle - Sanctuary wrote: »

I actually tried that once and it worked. Duke told me to refine something +3 somewhere and I did it with my weapon and it just...worked. (Btw, he asked me to refine it in Plume, so it was all good to avoid any confusion.)

I don't know if it's a coincidence but I think it does increases your refining chance. But then it's just a rumor, right? b:surrender

was your wep at +2 or did it go from nothing to +3?

Elyiawatson - Sanctuary · October 2009

Refining can't skip, so it's +2 to +3. If it could I'd stand in a place for +12 with 100k mirages =P

Kerrigan_ - Lost City · October 2009

K, i didnt think so.... just checking

AlbireoTwo - Lost City · October 2009

Cholla - Harshlands wrote: »

Most of his principles of refining give you hints about how refining works.

(But I have never figured out anything useful from his "shout" hint.)

Try yelling in world chat,and then really quickly try refining something?

wtvdie · October 2009

Use search. there are numerous threads about this already.

Delia - Harshlands · November 2009

Hey Juggernaut!

I used to take quite an interest in this sort of stuff, so I'll post what I know:

These are my own personal notes regarding Duke Blacke's "Rumors": Newly added notes to explain things are in brackets.

Duke Blacke's Rumors

[These are the officers you should refine at for specific +ing destinations - i.e at Dragon's End Officer for +11 to +12. The formatting's been changed a little to make it more clear what I think I meant. Parentheses mean I haven't confirmed him saying this myself, but found it on the forums.]
Refine here for specific #s
+3 - (Avalanche Canyon) / (Thousand Wood Ridge)
+5 - (Misfortune City)
+6 - Black Mountain / Valley of the Hidden Orchid
+7 - Ridge of Dreaming Cloud
+8 - (Ancient Peak)
+10 - (Mount Lantern) / King's Feast
+11 - Swamp of Wraiths / Dribbling Spring
+12 - Dragon's End

[Ah, the principles of refining, as written down by yours truly]
Refining Principles:
4. Restart the game before you refine your gear. Me? I would reset my computer instead.
5. Close refining window every time you finish refining
7. Go on if you were successful in the second refining of the day, otherwise you'd better wait for tomorrow.
8. If you fail a refining attempt, wait a minute before you try again. Test with anything lower then [sic] level 5 until you are successful, then refine your important gear.
9. Each time before you do refining, lift your head up and shout "Praise be to the Heavens! Praise to the Earth! Praise to technology! Praise to the Internet! Praise to the game industry!", then kneel down with your head to the ground. This will get you in the mood for refining.

[Here are some more condensed rules of refining, not written down as accurately as the ones I recorded myself, but taken from forum posts]
Better chances when...:
A. Between 0400-0900 (military time)
B. Less people around you.
C. Some wait time in between refines.

Bad [These are people who I've been told by Duke Blacke had a misfortune and should not be crafted at. These probably vary by day however]
Apothecary Tang
Blacksmith Tang

Good [Supposed to be lucky. Probably varies by day]
Apothecary Liu

I personally avoided ever refining past +1 without orbs. However, principle B *seemed* to improve my refining rate, although I did not conduct enough tests to statistically say it was nearly significant. But I always refined to +1 at Tusk Town's Elder when no one else was on my mini map. When someone was on my minimap, I tended to fail, while alone I tended to succeed.

I personally placed some faith (no harm in it) in principles 4,5,8,A,B, and C, although I never acted on A or C. 7 might have some value, but the chances of success past +1 never really seemed worth it to me. With the price of gold I assume you have today, it might be. 9 sounds made up though >.>

Nobody actually knows whether Duke Blacke has any influence outside of our minds, however. But nobody has shown that he doesn't. So have fun and good luck Jugg

. That's all I know anyways, from lots of money given to the Duke and just as much forum stalking.

wtvdie · November 2009

btw, im pretty sure the specific officer is different for everyone, as well as it resets if u log off.

Duke Blacke Rumors

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