Question on a chocobo digging guide

[Vyuru]

Well, finals are almost over, and with a rather long summer ahead of me, I've been thinking about rewriting my chocobo digging guide. But then I got to thinking about sharing it beyond just my linkshell. However, if I were to write a guide on chocobo digging, I wouldn't want to just write a guide, get a bunch of, "Oh cool! We didn't know that!" and then when I ask someone a question on digging, get, "That's a secret"

Basically, I want a meeting of the minds, a place where, yes, many of the secrets of chocobo digging would hopefully come to light, however we are all exchanging information and hopefully learning new things. I am a little tired of all the high level diggers being so secretive, so this may or may not reduce your profits slightly, it's nothing gardeners can't do already for the most part.

So, if I wear to rewrite my old guide, and post it here, how many chocobo diggers would be willing to share their knowledge as well?

And for a little teaser, the guide would contain:

My thoughts on why zones cannot be dug up
How to dig elemental ores
How to possibly increase the rarity of your digs
If there are a bunch of diggers in the zone, how to increase the amount of items you get
How the moon phase affects digging
Knowing where to dig for a particular item
Skilling up your chocobo digging, how the heck does it work?

And there might be other stuff, can't really remember, it's been awhile since I last looked at my chocobo digging info.

Some of the above has not been verified by myself personally, but I have seen a couple of people mention these, in particular the moon phase portion.

[Murphie]

Re: Question on a chocobo digging guide

Well, I'd certainly be interested in reading it if you decide to go forward with rewriting it. Chocobo digging is a bit of an enigma to a large portion of the playerbase (or so I've noticed), so getting the info out there can only help.

[Neomage]

Re: Question on a chocobo digging guide

I'd love to read you guide. I wish I ncould help out, but my knowledge is limited >.>(still level 1)

[Tirrock]

Re: Question on a chocobo digging guide

I'd say what I know, for what it's worth... Although my knowledge is pretty limited too. I'm only level 2. >_>a

[Neomage]

Re: Question on a chocobo digging guide

Your level 2?!? No fair!

[Suichi]

Re: Question on a chocobo digging guide

I'd totally read it.

I don't even know how to level up Chocobo Digging, or even tell what level I am!

[Akai]

Re: Question on a chocobo digging guide

theres no real way to tell what lvl you are, besides the delay inbetween digs ive heard sauromugue is best to lvl it up

ill gladly donate the little knowledge i have :D

[Vyuru]

Re: Question on a chocobo digging guide

I will be rewriting the old guide, and updating it as well. Once I finish with it, does it get it's own forum for all to behold it like the other crafts?

Also, here is the old guide as it stands since I left it, it was originally written for my LS, but nobody really showed an interest in it so I never finished it. In some parts I don't think it really makes sense, but that is mostly because I was rather sick and slightly delirious when I wrote it.

The old guide:

Ok, this will be edited as I have time to add stuff.

Version updates:


Part 1, In the beggining....

So you have decided to try out chocobo digging, congratulations! This is one of the most fun, relaxing and rewarding ways to make gil that I have found so far. It will take a lot of time and hard work to increase your chocobo digging level, while there are only 10 confirmed levels to digging, raising each level is similar to going 10 levels in any other craft basically. Think raising your fishing skill basically, but slower

A handy guide to chocobo digging levels and what you can dig where that I have found to be accurate so far:

http://mysterytour.web.infoseek.co.j.../us/index.html



Part 2, raising that dig skill!

There are many theorys on how your chocobo digging skill increases. Some people think it takes X digs per level, others think that you have to dig up a certain item, similar to the Limit 1 quest, yet others, (myself included) think that there is a point system similar to the final fantasy 9 chocobo digging minigame, you get X points per dig, and you need XXX points to advance a level. Not digging anything gives you say, 1 point. I say that because I have talked to some people whose dig level has increased after a unsuccessful dig.

Some interesting facts:

I have helped about 4 people now get started into chocobo digging. Sadly they have either quit the game or stopped digging ; ; But an interesting fact is that the item that they all dug up RIGHT before leveling to dig level 2 was a rosewood log in yuhtunga jungle. I myself dug up a rosewood log before I leveled to level 2, but I still believe in a point system, and not a specific item. Why don't I believe in digging up a certain item? I have pretty much dug up all that you can dig up in yuhtunga and yhoarter jungles. The only things in yuhtunga/yhoarter that I haven't dug up yet would be: Puffball, King truffle, Coral fungus, and a Reishi mushroom. I have been digging for awhile now, and in fact I have leveled on items that I have dug up a lot of, like a bone chip for example. If you level up your digging on specific items, then why did I level on a bone chip at lvl 3? That is why I believe in the point system.

There is also some controversy over which level is which concerning lvls 3, 4 and 5. Some People say that the difference between lvl 3 and 4 is that your wait between dig time goes to 0. Others say that your wait between digs goes to 6 seconds, and the wait to dig time after you zone goes down slightly at lvl 5. My dig time HAS decreased, but my wait between digs is still 6 seconds, so I also think that at level 5 your wait to dig after you zone goes down at this level.

Another thing, while going through levels 1-2, and part of level 3, expect to be loosing gil. You will not be getting many successful digs for the most part from my experiance.


Part 3, equipment and general digging tips:

If you are serious about digging, I would recommend that you invest in a set of chocobo digging armor. Wearing the full set gives you +15 minutes to your riding time, and it looks cool anyways ;P The armor IS somewhat hard to come by however, it took me a few weeks of camping the AH before finally obtaining all of it. Armor information for those of you who might be able to synth it or get someone to synth it for you:

all synths are done with earth crystals.

Chocobo Jack Coat lvl1 def2 All Jobs
Chocobo ridetime+5

leather apprentice level required
Cloth level ???

Ram Leather x2
Sheep Leather
Wool Cloth
Wool Thread
Linen Cloth

Chocobo Gloves lvl1 def1 All Jobs
Chocobo ridetime+3

leather initiate level required

Dhalmel Leather
Lizard Skin
Cotton Cloth

Chocobo Hose lvl1 def1 All Jobs
Chocobo ridetime+4

Cloth apprentice level required

Wool Cloth
Linen Cloth
Linen Thread
Sheep Leather

Chocobo Boots lvl1 def1 All Jobs
Chocobo ridetime+3

leather initiate level required

Dhalmel Leather x2
Grass Cloth
Bronze Scales


Part 3, where to dig?

Well, I myself started off in Yuhtunga jungle, everything that you can dig up there is worth a goodly chunk of gil. So while you might not be digging up a lot of stuff early on, at least what you dig up is worthwhile, plus most of the stuff stacks, which is an added bonus^^. Altepa is nice as well, but it's harder, and almost nothing stacks.

Tips of the trade:

Vyuru's #1 secret, is the REAL way that you dig up elemental ores. What is posted online is false according to my source. Now I should say that I have not been able to dig up an elemental ore yet, but when you can is at about lvl 8 or so, and I am only lvl 5. But I have been able to dig up several elemental clusters using this method, so I do believe in it. I will only let this secret out to people who are serious about digging and I ask you that you do not spread this information unless the person you want to tell this to is also a chocobo digging nut. If you are serious about digging and would like to know, then just send me a /tell while I am ingame, or send me a message on this board.


Now then, Vyuru's #2 secret to chocobo digging, that NO ONE has seemed to figure out yet, and I am now tired of holding onto this secret..... Contrary to popular belief, it is impossible to dig up a zone IMO. Many diggerswould be breaking out the pitchforks and torches about now and screaming heresy about now, but I think that I am correct.

When I first started digging, I always dug during japanese prime time. At this time, there also happened to be about 8 other high level diggers in the same zone with me. Many people would tell you that they would dig up the zone, but I disagree. I started digging in places where they hadn't been in the same zone mind you, and I noticed an increase in how much stuff I dug up. So I went and found some remote corner in yuhtunga, and BINGO! I hit the jackpot. I dug up tons of really good stuff in that area, especially when you take my level into account, (lvl 1-2) I dug up 2 petrified logs, 1 rose wood, and a bunch of danceshrooms amoungst other things. After some more testing, this is how I think that a zone in which digging is occuring works.

Digging is similar to mining. There are X dig points in it at all times, where chocobo digging differs from mining, is that there are also X dig points added to it per hour, and another X dig points empty, similar to mining. Take gusgen mines for example. There are what, 16 or so mine points in it all together, however you can only mine from 3-4 of them at a time. Chocobo digging is very similar to that I think.

The reason so many people think that you can dig up a zone, IMO, is simple. Many people dig the same beaten path over and over again that other people commonly dig in, of course dig results will be poor. I'll use gusgen as another example. Let's say that people for the most part only mined on the first floor of gusgen, eventually, the spawn points for mining will move down to the lower levels. Eventually the first floor of gusgen would be mostly empty of mine points since nobody ever ventured further in and mined at different points............


And I had a really good point to make there and I've forgotten it -.- Anyways, that'll do for version 1 for now I think. I'm gonna stop here for now, (tired, sleepy, sleepga II, Yes Please)
This is also the first guide I've written, so any comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. And if I wrote something in a confusing way, let me know and I'll try to fix it.

Double Post Edited:
I'll be adding alot more later, but like I said, this is the old guide before I learned a bunch of stuff.

[Akai]

Re: Question on a chocobo digging guide

great guide :D ill share this with a chocobo digging nut in my linkshell :D

[Vyuru]

Re: Question on a chocobo digging guide

Since I got several PMs on this subject, gonna address it here:

The guide I have posted is an old guide, and it is just something that I cut and pasted to give you all something to look at while I rewrote it and expanded it. More is coming, and the new guide should hopefully be finished by the end of this coming week.

With that out of the way, conditions that must be met to dig elemental ores:

Waxing crescant: elemental ore spawns 7%-24% (must be L5+ to skill from, L7+ to dig up)

Weather must be present in the zone to dig up elemental ores, this could be anything from fog/mist to weather. The elemental ore that you dig up will correspond with the day. Light day for light ores, dark day for dark ores, etc.

You cannot dig up elemental ores in the jungles, or the deserts (the altepa zones) I don't know about any restrictions on any of the other zones.

My dig skill is 2, so I have not been able to verify this yet, however I have had this info confirmed by several other diggers, so I am pretty confidant that it is accurate.


One common myth about Elemental ore digging:

You need to have double weather in the zone.

This is false, I don't know if it gives you a better elemental ore dig rate or what, but I do know that if double weather is present in the zone, you can dig up crystal clusters instead of single crystals.

[tazirai]

Re: Question on a chocobo digging guide

http://www.ffxionline.com/forums/cra...ing.skill.html

Double Post Edited:
it's old but Im level 4 now

[Ayrlie]

Re: Question on a chocobo digging guide

http://www.kharvey.com/ffxi/chocobo/

just posted it yesterday, it should answer some of the questions

The one thing I can't answer is the rarity of your digs: it improves as your skill increases. yesterday i dug in south and north gustaberg during last quarter moon, my dig accuracy went down considerably despite lack of competition and i only pulled in 3 darksteel ores, 5 mythril beastcoins, and 2 grain seeds in 90 stacks of greens.

today, during new moon and early waxing crescent, i pulled in 8 darksteel ore, 1 catctus stems, 2 stacks of mythril beastcoins, and 20 grain seeds in 90 stacks of greens, and i'll still do another 40-50 stacks before i go to bed. One digging session I pulled up 4 darksteel ore in 36 digs before the zone went to pot.

right now i'm a journeyman rank digger, 1050 stacks into level so far, and expect to ding within the next 150-450 stacks.

edit - just dinged craftsman. 1103 stacks of ghysal greens was required to hit this rank, which was much lower than I originally expected as the last rank took more stacks than expected before I dinged.

about stacks of greens, here is an rough estimate of greens i needed to level up

amateur to recruit: 80 stacks
recruit to initiate: 200 stacks
initiate to novice: 447 stacks
novice to apprentice: 498 stacks
apprentice to journeyman: 1007 stacks
journeyman to craftsman: 1103 stacks

[Vyuru]

Re: Question on a chocobo digging guide

Tazirai and Ayrlie, thank you for posting those links, I'm going to take some time to look through them all. There is some interesting info, thanks ^.^

[Akai]

Re: Question on a chocobo digging guide

chocobo digging guide should get its own section! :O great info guys also :D

[Alkai]

Re: Question on a chocobo digging guide

Thank you for all the great info Vyuru! I'm also too low to confirm it atm but I'm working on it