I did a wide variety of different runs / zone combos on my way to 100 -- at the end I was averaging between 70-80 mil xp/hr. From my experience, as much as it makes a good thread title and is good marketing, I wouldn't say Ogies run/zone selection would be 20-30% faster than an Alk run. I do agree Rakki's is a nice add that wasn't in Alk and I had that in my late Paragon levels 90-100. I also liked running Skycrown Battlements for a change of pace and put that in my runs on occasion as well.
I will say starting in Core/Tower of the Damned over many, many runs, there is just an inconsistent # of Elite packs. When things go well, and you pick up 2-3 in each zone, those are the highest xp runs I did. However, on an average basis, running Skycrown and getting a consistent 4-5 every time often suited me better. In the end, I just kept alternating things to change it up, stave off boredom, and power through.
One thing I will say about short runs is that on any given individual run, they may give you a false positive in terms of being really, really efficient. If you have an exceptionally good 5 minute run and then just multiply that out by 12, it can seem by extrapolation that you are getting really high xp/hr. However, do 12 of those same 5 minute runs with all of their up and down variation (some being better than others), it starts to average down to match your longer 8-10 minute run zone setups.
Any rate, if you track enough runs, all these zones begin to even out quite a bit - anything that includes Keep Depths II, Arreat Crater 2, Fields, Rakkis will do quite well -- add in the other high-ish density zones in Act III for fun / variation. Honestly, more than zones, the best things you can do for efficiency are:
a ) run with xp gear (max xp gem in helm, two rings on you, and at least one ring on follower - hellfire/leoric's)
b ) run with 24% movement speed
c ) pick a build that focuses on max movement increase skills and uptime
d ) run at a MP that allows you to one-shot most white mobs and kill packs in 3-5 seconds
e ) don't backtrack, don't swing back and waste a cast on less than 4-5 white mobs, don't try to full clear a zone
f ) do keep moving forward always with minimal stops for casts
g ) if you are focusing on xp primarily, then only pickup items that have a chance of rolling for a big sell - legendaries, gloves, wrists, amulets, rings, and certain ilvl 63 1h weaps - or if you are max xp or bust, don't pick up anything. Personally, I always ran MF capped and picked up the above noted items.
Zones and mob density certainly matter (which is why Act III has become the de facto standard for efficiency). But, once I got it parsed down to the 7 or 8 zones worth running, focusing on actual spec, gear, and run mechanics was the thing that had a far larger impact on my efficiency versus any slight changes to which of the high density zones in Act III I ran or in what order I ran them.
All of that said, at this point, I've said screw efficiency (easier for me to do now playing inefficiently isn't a double-whammy on XP and Item find). Right now, I'm just playing the game at higher MPs, full Act runs, and enjoying playing D3 in a way that makes it feel like a game again. If I find something good, great, if not, so be it. At some point, efficiency running just becomes mind-numbing and doesn't feel like a game anymore.
all this thread does is point out a fatal flaw that should have been address with the introduction of MP.
crap mob density for the sake of story telling and mood needs to be turned off when MP is turn on.
let every zone have equal exp per hour, route chosen will be based on play style/personal preference.
i liked when i FIRST started, that act 1 was pretty light while i got into the story and learned my way around. but that needs to change, if not by nightmare, then for sure by inferno...
Edit: they added MP so people could grind anywhere they felt like it, and set their own challange akin to /players8. but they only got it half right. you can grind loot anywhere due to standardized drop tables, but hardcore exp farms are reduced to specific areas in act 3, down to 3 zones...
On my DH I'm still getting the best consistent exp/hour with my own route (in the 90s with some runs over 100m exp/hour rates). I can get as high exp/hour on Alkaizer's route, yet seem to fall short (slightly) running Raoha's route. I think it may be a result of DH having the fastest move speed, so running lower density zones for stacks is not as big of an issue as with other classes.
And reason why i wont use RAOHA RUN name for new run:
Thank you for sharing this route Raoha, BUT i don't feel like naming another run after a Players name since it has been months since 1.04 release.
Alkaizers run was named after him because he was 1st person to reach 100paragon faster than anyone else. Now there are not so much people rushing to paragon 100 since it's very easy to do so now.
Also, i'm Sorry, but RAOHA ROUTE just doesn't sound right.
I've always hated "Alkaizer's" route too. At least he didn't name it, like you said it was the community who opted the name since he made it first. Plenty of people have been fiddling with their route, due to class, or preference.
Any tempest rush monks running this? Im probably going to be getting 3 more copies of diablo just to quad box them and want to see what its like in comparison to the typical run.
I'm more interested in the 5 run average data per area... then people can do whatever run they want and calculate roughly how much exp theyre getting. please post data.
rofl, never seen someone as fake & disgusting as raoha, you found the exact same route from the barb/monk forums which has been out for 2 months and slap your name on it.
Is it not more effecient to farm while having 5 stacks? i can get 60-70 mil and hour by this route.
Skycrown backwards from stonefort WP - 4-5 stacks, easy to follow map, always the same > Keeps level 2 ( with 5 stacks or if less i hit, Tower of the damned, for quick circle and 2-3 elite packs) > Rakkis Crossing-into the fields (either clear or only half moon) to bridge WP > Crater 2 backwards > Core to finish, 1-3 elite mobs, good xp and item drops. > From here you can either finish off azmodan for drops, or hit stonefort for key. Now this may NOT be the best way in your opinion but for item farming and paragon farming in ARCHON mode it is by far the easiest way to clear and stay in archon. I can stay in almost 95% of the time. My runs average from 12-16 mins, so 15 for safety, and i can get 12-16 mil xp a run. 2.5 - 3 blue bars of experience.
From january until now we've had changes to Bonus XP from Monster Power, so I think this could be really outdated info.
Not that the route itself is bad or has changed, but saying it's the most efficient with the changes to experience that we had in the past, and the ones we'll have very shortly with Mob Density and scorpions having their xp reward reduced, I think we shouldn't really label this as the most efficienct route.
Until it is updated, I'll add a disclaimer to the thread title and first post.
I will say starting in Core/Tower of the Damned over many, many runs, there is just an inconsistent # of Elite packs. When things go well, and you pick up 2-3 in each zone, those are the highest xp runs I did. However, on an average basis, running Skycrown and getting a consistent 4-5 every time often suited me better. In the end, I just kept alternating things to change it up, stave off boredom, and power through.
One thing I will say about short runs is that on any given individual run, they may give you a false positive in terms of being really, really efficient. If you have an exceptionally good 5 minute run and then just multiply that out by 12, it can seem by extrapolation that you are getting really high xp/hr. However, do 12 of those same 5 minute runs with all of their up and down variation (some being better than others), it starts to average down to match your longer 8-10 minute run zone setups.
Any rate, if you track enough runs, all these zones begin to even out quite a bit - anything that includes Keep Depths II, Arreat Crater 2, Fields, Rakkis will do quite well -- add in the other high-ish density zones in Act III for fun / variation. Honestly, more than zones, the best things you can do for efficiency are:
a ) run with xp gear (max xp gem in helm, two rings on you, and at least one ring on follower - hellfire/leoric's)
b ) run with 24% movement speed
c ) pick a build that focuses on max movement increase skills and uptime
d ) run at a MP that allows you to one-shot most white mobs and kill packs in 3-5 seconds
e ) don't backtrack, don't swing back and waste a cast on less than 4-5 white mobs, don't try to full clear a zone
f ) do keep moving forward always with minimal stops for casts
g ) if you are focusing on xp primarily, then only pickup items that have a chance of rolling for a big sell - legendaries, gloves, wrists, amulets, rings, and certain ilvl 63 1h weaps - or if you are max xp or bust, don't pick up anything. Personally, I always ran MF capped and picked up the above noted items.
Zones and mob density certainly matter (which is why Act III has become the de facto standard for efficiency). But, once I got it parsed down to the 7 or 8 zones worth running, focusing on actual spec, gear, and run mechanics was the thing that had a far larger impact on my efficiency versus any slight changes to which of the high density zones in Act III I ran or in what order I ran them.
All of that said, at this point, I've said screw efficiency (easier for me to do now playing inefficiently isn't a double-whammy on XP and Item find). Right now, I'm just playing the game at higher MPs, full Act runs, and enjoying playing D3 in a way that makes it feel like a game again. If I find something good, great, if not, so be it. At some point, efficiency running just becomes mind-numbing and doesn't feel like a game anymore.
D3Progress: http://www.diabloprogress.com/hero/emberos-1608/Emberos/51824579
crap mob density for the sake of story telling and mood needs to be turned off when MP is turn on.
let every zone have equal exp per hour, route chosen will be based on play style/personal preference.
i liked when i FIRST started, that act 1 was pretty light while i got into the story and learned my way around. but that needs to change, if not by nightmare, then for sure by inferno...
Edit: they added MP so people could grind anywhere they felt like it, and set their own challange akin to /players8. but they only got it half right. you can grind loot anywhere due to standardized drop tables, but hardcore exp farms are reduced to specific areas in act 3, down to 3 zones...
I've always hated "Alkaizer's" route too. At least he didn't name it, like you said it was the community who opted the name since he made it first. Plenty of people have been fiddling with their route, due to class, or preference.
What a pathetic attempt to gain subscribers.
Skycrown backwards from stonefort WP - 4-5 stacks, easy to follow map, always the same > Keeps level 2 ( with 5 stacks or if less i hit, Tower of the damned, for quick circle and 2-3 elite packs) > Rakkis Crossing-into the fields (either clear or only half moon) to bridge WP > Crater 2 backwards > Core to finish, 1-3 elite mobs, good xp and item drops. > From here you can either finish off azmodan for drops, or hit stonefort for key. Now this may NOT be the best way in your opinion but for item farming and paragon farming in ARCHON mode it is by far the easiest way to clear and stay in archon. I can stay in almost 95% of the time. My runs average from 12-16 mins, so 15 for safety, and i can get 12-16 mil xp a run. 2.5 - 3 blue bars of experience.
Not that the route itself is bad or has changed, but saying it's the most efficient with the changes to experience that we had in the past, and the ones we'll have very shortly with Mob Density and scorpions having their xp reward reduced, I think we shouldn't really label this as the most efficienct route.
Until it is updated, I'll add a disclaimer to the thread title and first post.