Someone Explain the Black Ora Hearts

[Maerit]

I've only been to last year's EG. I got the heart. I did nothing else to it then, since I really didn't know much about them, and they're still super "mysterious" as to what is going on with these things.

1. You can unlock the heart to have an extra charge of your chosen spell and with an Essence
2. You can uncurse the heart with an Ether that can only be purchased from the SimuCoin store

Now, I was reading what Wyrom said saying that you have to uncurse your heart for the final transformation.

Is it still possible to that now?
Will I be able to do the final transformation if I don't have a maxed out number of charges?

I'm confused...

[mgoddess]

From the sounds of it, the only thing the hearts need for the final transformation is to be uncursed. It sounds like the ether, the thing to uncurse them, will be available in the SimuCoin store, once EG starts.

I'm planning on hopefully getting through the Necropolis early enough in the event to get the heart, buy the ether (assuming I haven't found one by then) to uncurse it, then go through and get the final transformation done. The fact that it'll probably only have 3 charges (the base amount, since I probably won't have found any of the charge-upgrading essences by then) doesn't matter to me.

Of course, this is coming from someone who doesn't have any heart(s) currently, and will be getting in from the scratch this year.

[Mogonis]

You can't get a heart and go back through and unlock it. The object that dispenses hearts is what also unlocks hearts you already have. You can't interact with it once you've either taken a heart or unlocked one you have.

Or I may just not be following your post or have any idea what "final transfornation" means.

[Maerit]

Mogonis is probably right that using the mechanism to create your initial heart will likely prevent you from unlocking it further. If you don't have a heart currently (haha), then you may not be able to progress beyond 1 essence + 1 ether for an uncursed 4x a day <spell of your choice> heart.

Thanks for clearing up the transformation. Hopefully it will function that way, and I can use an essense to make it 4x a day (since I just have the base) and an ether to uncurse it, then run through and get the final transformation....?

[Mogonis]

There's no probably. You can get a heart or unlock a heart. You can't do both at the same EG.

[Allereli]

I'd sell you mine if I could

[Gizmo]

I still don't have a heart, nor have any clue as to how to get one...or If I even should at this point.

[Palcron]

It's worth it. Even if you only get one this year, it's still a 3x per day dauntless, cloak of shadows, prayer or bravery item that has a chance to curse you, but if you toss in an extra $20 for the ether or find one in the games, it removes the chance to curse. And unless I'm mistaken, the only difference between that and a fully unlocked version is 3x per day vs 5x per day.

[Gizmo]

It's worth it. Even if you only get one this year, it's still a 3x per day dauntless, cloak of shadows, prayer or bravery item that has a chance to curse you, but if you toss in an extra $20 for the ether or find one in the games, it removes the chance to curse.

Hmm interesting...May have to find out how easy they are to get in the Necro then

[Palcron]

It's a breeze if you tag along with a group who is running it already. Ten or fifteen minutes.

[Gizmo]

It's a breeze if you tag along with a group who is running it already. Ten or fifteen minutes.

Sounds good, guess it doesn't hurt to do it then, may drop the 20 bucks to uncurse it too and I think do the finale too?

[Palcron]

The finale remains to be seen, but Wyrom is great, so I suspect it will be worthwhile. And the only prereq for the finale is that you have an uncursed heart, so you're getting two bonuses for the $20 ether.

[Allereli]

Sounds good, guess it doesn't hurt to do it then, may drop the 20 bucks to uncurse it too and I think do the finale too?

I don't think you can both get the heart and do the finale in one EG. I looked through the posts again, but it's really unclear, here's the best I could find:

http://forums.play.net/forums/GemStone%20IV/Events,%20Quests,%20and%20SimuCoins/Ebon%20Gate%20Festival/view/10811


>>As someone who hasn't made the last few EG's, and who doesn't have a heart.... can I get a heart this year, but the ether to uncurse it, and still get the finale thingy for this year (even with just 3-4 charges)? Basically, can someone who doesn't have one of these hearts yet, get a heart with any number of charges, get it uncursed with an ether, and get whatever the final aspect is coming up this year done?

Yes, you can get one at 3 charges for sure.

re-reading it looks like you can, I don't get it. I thought you get one complete run through the necropolis to do one thing to your heart (or get a different heart) and that's all, and you needed a heart that was uncursed before you went in this year, so no fucking clue.

[Palcron]

I don't think you can both get the heart and do the finale in one EG. I looked through the posts again, but it's really unclear, here's the best I could find:

http://forums.play.net/forums/GemStone%20IV/Events,%20Quests,%20and%20SimuCoins/Ebon%20Gate%20Festival/view/10811



re-reading it looks like you can, I don't get it. I thought you get one complete run through the necropolis to do one thing to your heart (or get a different heart) and that's all, and you needed a heart that was uncursed before you went in this year, so no fucking clue.

You seem to be confusing getting multiple things done to the heart with the ether. Getting the heart and upgrading it can only be done once per EG. Getting the ether is completely separate, and I'm pretty sure ethers even went out during duskruin, so it isn't an EG specific item. In order to do the finale, I'm almost positive that all you need is a heart and to buy/find an ether to uncurse it.

That's how I always understood it, at least. But I could be wrong.

[Gizmo]

I don't think you can both get the heart and do the finale in one EG. I looked through the posts again, but it's really unclear, here's the best I could find:

http://forums.play.net/forums/GemStone%20IV/Events,%20Quests,%20and%20SimuCoins/Ebon%20Gate%20Festival/view/10811



re-reading it looks like you can, I don't get it. I thought you get one complete run through the necropolis to do one thing to your heart (or get a different heart) and that's all, and you needed a heart that was uncursed before you went in this year, so no fucking clue.

Yea it confused me too, I was following what Wyrom's been saying about them in response to questions. Still not sure

[Allereli]

You seem to be confusing getting multiple things done to the heart with the ether. Getting the heart and upgrading it can only be done once per EG. Getting the ether is completely separate, and I'm pretty sure ethers even went out during duskruin, so it isn't an EG specific item. In order to do the finale, I'm almost positive that all you need is a heart and to buy/find an ether to uncurse it.

That's how I always understood it, at least. But I could be wrong.

Yeah, getting the ether is separate, but the "storyline" this year is the heart and you need an uncursed heart (i.e. pay $20 for the ether) to "finish" the heart (it does something else now on top of the x/day spell)

[Allereli]

Okay, more complete answer:

http://forums.play.net/forums/GemStone%20IV/Events,%20Quests,%20and%20SimuCoins/Ebon%20Gate%20Festival/view/10946


>>Thanks for the info, there's still some massive confusion on the PC over whether you can get this done without having gone to EG and thus not already having a heart from before (see Maerit's thread). This won't be done at the end of a Necropolis run where you get a new heart or charges added?

If you've never gone, you can still get a new heart this year and use a 3-charge one. Or get lucky and find some prismatic essence. The area where this will be done is at the end of the Necropolis in a new room. It is independent of the heart upgrade stuff.

[Whirlin]

I'm a huge advocate of the ether... at least for 1606... While there have been 1x/day 1606 self-charger introduced with Duskruin, it was discontinued, and cost 7.5k Bloodscrip. During those early runs, that'd have run about 7.5m. At $8/mil, that's $60. Getting the heart + ether runs $70 for a 3x/day. Now, arguably, the pins from DR are transferable, but on the flip side, you also get to experience EG, do the shopping and a tiny chance at lots of silvers through the super rare nonsense.

As far as the other options available, none are quite as strong as 1606... While 211 is always amazing, they've historically offered tomes (altered scrolls) with 211x5 on them that you can always stockpile. 712 offers amazing DS and TD, and 313 offers DS and CMAN defense.

... All of that is without considering whatever the heck the 'finale' is.

[Gizmo]

I'm a huge advocate of the ether... at least for 1606... While there have been 1x/day 1606 self-charger introduced with Duskruin, it was discontinued, and cost 7.5k Bloodscrip. During those early runs, that'd have run about 7.5m. At $8/mil, that's $60. Getting the heart + ether runs $70 for a 3x/day. Now, arguably, the pins from DR are transferable, but on the flip side, you also get to experience EG, do the shopping and a tiny chance at lots of silvers through the super rare nonsense.

As far as the other options available, none are quite as strong as 1606... While 211 is always amazing, they've historically offered tomes (altered scrolls) with 211x5 on them that you can always stockpile. 712 offers amazing DS and TD, and 313 offers DS and CMAN defense.

... All of that is without considering whatever the heck the 'finale' is.

Yeah, next is debating which heart to get for the warrior

[Mogonis]

Dauntless isn't available on scrolls, so that was recommended to me.

[Archigeek]

Dauntless also gives you a boost vs sheer fear I believe. Cause you know, you daunt less, are less daunted, daunt care, etc.

[SashaFierce]

Not sure if anyone has seen yet, but the finale will turn an uncursed heart into a spirit orb. IE. infuse spirit, rub later to return spirit.

[Mogonis]

Not sure if anyone has seen yet, but the finale will turn an uncursed heart into a spirit orb. IE. infuse spirit, rub later to return spirit.
I assume it still maintains the self-charging spell? So we need to head into the finale with an uncursed heart?

[Viekn]

Oh god dammit, I didn't realize what the finale entailed and I just realized I signed up my character to go this year that doesn't have a heart, it's my wizard that already has one

*edit: nevermind, it's the first character to "go gate", not necessarily who I indicated on the play.net ticket page

[SashaFierce]

I assume it still maintains the self-charging spell? So we need to head into the finale with an uncursed heart?

Yes. The spirit orb and the x per day are separate.

And yes, you need an uncursed heart to complete it.

[Tylec]

Along those notes. I already have a dauntless heart, and taking it from 3-4x seems kind of a waste since I dont tend to hunt huge stretches at one time. Whats my best bang for buck as a warrior? Im thinking Cloak of Shadows for the TD benefit, just not sure if Im missing anything.

[SashaFierce]

I chose Dauntless and Cloak of Shadows so I had a variety.

I think it's best to get a new heart instead of upgrade. Because 2 hearts at 3 each is better than 1 heart at 4.

[Carsyn]

They way Wyron replied to my message on the officials, I was under the assumption if you went with a DIFFERENT heart, you couldn't get the "upgrade" (spirit battery) on your current heart. I'm not sure though. There's alot of confusion about it.

[Carsyn]

I'm also not sure if you need to do the finale first, or the Necropolis first, or if it even matters.

[SashaFierce]

I think you can still do the Finale, but your orb will only store/give 3 spirit instead of 5.

But if you finale several of them, which I believe is possible...

[Luxelle]

Thank you, this was a better explanation of the hearts ... but the entire thing is still so confusing to me that I'm not going to deal with it.

I don't say this often, but at least in DR there were no secrets and puzzles for your special festival gift...

[Fleurs]

I really suggest you do this regardless, even if you need help, as it's one of the big prizes for EG. I know it seems confusing, but maybe this will explain things a bit better.

1) You can only get the Necropolis's prize offering once per EG opening. That means this year you can use the Necropolis prize chamber to EITHER get a new heart with a different spell OR upgrade an existing heart with an extra charge.

Otherwise, the only way to get an extra charge on a heart is to acquire a prismatic essence from someone/get lucky in the feeders, and use that separately. If you get so lucky, this prismatic essence option to add a charge can be done to any and all hearts you own up to 5x per day. This is done outside of the Necropolis prize chamber, in the same location where you uncurse the heart.

2) The prismatic ether, to uncurse the heart, is a SimuCoin item that needs to be purchased separately or won in the feeders and applied to your heart outside the Necropolis. This is separate from the Necropolis prize chamber offering. You can get this uncurse feature done for any and all hearts you own. You can uncurse before you do any additional charge upgrades via either the essence or the Necropolis prize chamber, so that order doesn't matter.

3) The finale upgrade is applied to any and all hearts you own that have been uncursed with the prismatic ether. This is separate from the Necropolis prize chamber and the uncurse location.

[Wyrom]

Thank you, this was a better explanation of the hearts ... but the entire thing is still so confusing to me that I'm not going to deal with it.

I don't say this often, but at least in DR there were no secrets and puzzles for your special festival gift...

The Necropolis is not a special festival gift. It's specific to the Necropolis. EG has plenty of other things to offer, as well as souvenirs in many of the past times. The Necropolis has grown pretty large over the years, but at the end of the day, it's a dungeon crawl with puzzles that can be repeated during the duration of the festival (once open). There is a desirable prize at the end of the whole ordeal, and it can be upgraded for those that repeat the event year after year. If solving puzzles and killing undead aren't your thing, or exploration and discovery aren't enjoyed by you, the Necropolis can be skipped.

[Viekn]

Thank you, this was a better explanation of the hearts ... but the entire thing is still so confusing to me that I'm not going to deal with it.

I don't say this often, but at least in DR there were no secrets and puzzles for your special festival gift...

Just go with a group. There will be tons of groups coordinating via Lnet. Chances are good that someone in that group has done it before and more or less knows what to do. Just go with the flow of the group and you'll make it to the end and get a heart. I've never really known what I was doing in the Necropolis but grouped it every time and had a blast every time.

[Methais]

I consulted with Wrathbringer on this issue, and he said that this could be an indication of internal bleeding and/or other severe health problems and you should see a doctor immediately.


EDIT: Ohhh...you said heart. My bad!

[Pebbles]

The Necropolis is not a special festival gift. It's specific to the Necropolis. EG has plenty of other things to offer, as well as souvenirs in many of the past times. The Necropolis has grown pretty large over the years, but at the end of the day, it's a dungeon crawl with puzzles that can be repeated during the duration of the festival (once open). There is a desirable prize at the end of the whole ordeal, and it can be upgraded for those that repeat the event year after year. If solving puzzles and killing undead aren't your thing, or exploration and discovery aren't enjoyed by you, the Necropolis can be skipped.

So what then, is this year's equivalent of the fragment from '14 and the paper pets of '15? They were the storyline gifts from those years, and it seems that this year's storyline is tied to the necropolis and hearts instead. I think that's where a lot of confusion is coming from.

[mgoddess]

I really suggest you do this regardless, even if you need help, as it's one of the big prizes for EG. I know it seems confusing, but maybe this will explain things a bit better.

1) You can only get the Necropolis's prize offering once per EG opening. That means this year you can use the Necropolis prize chamber to EITHER get a new heart with a different spell OR upgrade an existing heart with an extra charge.

Otherwise, the only way to get an extra charge on a heart is to acquire a prismatic essence from someone/get lucky in the feeders, and use that separately. If you get so lucky, this prismatic essence option to add a charge can be done to any and all hearts you own up to 5x per day. This is done outside of the Necropolis prize chamber, in the same location where you uncurse the heart.

2) The prismatic ether, to uncurse the heart, is a SimuCoin item that needs to be purchased separately or won in the feeders and applied to your heart outside the Necropolis. This is separate from the Necropolis prize chamber offering. You can get this uncurse feature done for any and all hearts you own. You can uncurse before you do any additional charge upgrades via either the essence or the Necropolis prize chamber, so that order doesn't matter.

3) The finale upgrade is applied to any and all hearts you own that have been uncursed with the prismatic ether. This is separate from the Necropolis prize chamber and the uncurse location.

This is pretty much the substance of explanation that I've been looking for, ever since I decided to go to EG this year. Thanks for this, Fleurs.

[Wyrom]

So what then, is this year's equivalent of the fragment from '14 and the paper pets of '15? They were the storyline gifts from those years, and it seems that this year's storyline is tied to the necropolis and hearts instead. I think that's where a lot of confusion is coming from.

I think the misunderstanding comes from the idea that there is a storyline each year and a souvenir item tied to the storyline. That's not the case.

[beldannon5]

Last year was my first year in 10-15 years so the storyline was nice and I was hoping for another but it was a mess efven if fun

[Viekn]

Last year was my first year in 10-15 years so the storyline was nice and I was hoping for another but it was a mess efven if fun

The sad thing is I haven't even played with my storyline egg from last year enough to have it hatch yet!

[rolfard]

Ok so i have an ether (5 charges, and uncursed) PRIOR to EG'16. I just ran the necropolis and tried to put my ether into the mote and it says, "The ball of ether is already empowered as much as it can be."

Now i'm confused. Do I take another heart? Was I supposed to get my ether finalized prior to entering the necropolis? Someone please help me i'm standing at the sepulcher!

[Viekn]

Ok so i have an ether (5 charges, and uncursed) PRIOR to EG'16. I just ran the necropolis and tried to put my ether into the mote and it says, "The ball of ether is already empowered as much as it can be."

Now i'm confused. Do I take another heart? Was I supposed to get my ether finalized prior to entering the necropolis? Someone please help me i'm standing at the sepulcher!

5 charges is max upgrade.

[Roblar]

You don't put the ether in the mote. You use the ether on the heart (not there).

Get a new heart/spell and leave if you are maxed at 5 charges.

There is another spot in the graveyard to use the ether on the first (or second if you prefer) heart.

[rolfard]

Confirmed, if you have an ether (uncursed heart) already at 5 charges, you *should* take another heart. You can activate the FINALE (storyline for uncursed heart) as many times as you have uncursed hearts.

In my case that means I have a T5 ether (5 charges, uncursed) that worked for the finale. Then i picked a 2nd heart. I will probably look into getting it uncursed and then getting to run the FINALE a 2nd time (already confirmed by Wyrom).

THANKS FOR THE AMAZEBALLS!

[Wyrom]

How'd you like it, Rolfard?

[rolfard]

AMAZEBALLZ!

[Velfi]

http://i.imgur.com/xwjYbzn.gif

[rolfard]

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/fe/73/42/fe73424327a4453dcfa1a61b736bc0b3.jpg

[Sylvan Dreams]

The prismatic ether, to uncurse the heart, is a SimuCoin item that needs to be purchased separately or won in the feeders and applied to your heart outside the Necropolis. This is separate from the Necropolis prize chamber offering. You can get this uncurse feature done for any and all hearts you own. You can uncurse before you do any additional charge upgrades via either the essence or the Necropolis prize chamber, so that order doesn't matter.

Once you buy the Simucoin holy essence, you end up with the prismatic ball of ether, right? I'm just trying to be sure I understand this correctly.

[dmac188]

What is the difference between a 5 spirit final ether and a lesser spirit? Just the spirit points? Or something else?

[Wyrom]

What is the difference between a 5 spirit final ether and a lesser spirit? Just the spirit points? Or something else?

Less points.

[Sylvan Dreams]

Another question: Are you able to upgrade your heart AND get a second heart (through multiple runs of course), or can you only get one regardless of runs?

[SashaFierce]

You get 1 choice per EG. The choice being to upgrade, or get a new heart.

[Fallen]

You get 1 choice per EG. The choice being to upgrade, or get a new heart.

If this has been mentioned elsewhere my apologies. If you were to have 1 uncursed heart already, then choose another heart this year and uncurse it, could you turn both into the spirit item at the same EG? I still haven't seen a solid explanation of the finale.

[rolfard]

I *really* *really* *really* am conflicted because

a) best story-ending ever
b) don't microtran, it's the devil!

I think EVERY person at EG *NEEDS* to uncurse to see this ending (and of course will obviously be posted but not as cool as being there). I see it as a final 'tax' on my heart after 4 EG's and it's worth the cost persay but... (yes I believe microtrans are the devil so I had to garner a middle-man and buy it with silver)

Perhaps i'm being overdramatic in both cases but I will say that since no story has been reported, the areas and the monsters of EG past when it all crashed should be opened as an added incentive to uncurse a heart for splinter hunting in a temporary area for the last week of EG at this location. It was already built, QC'd and I did pay for it when it didn't work....can we get some sort of leveled instances Reim-Style so we can enjoy something that was built for us to play in but we didn't get all that playtime at?

Pretty please with wyromsauce all over?

[Maerit]

I don't micro-trans. I pay other players in-game silvers for items in the simucoin store.