Home Gaming Destiny’s infamous loot cave is gone

Destiny’s infamous loot cave is gone

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AliBaba

We told you previously about Destiny’s wondrous loot cave; a simple exploit of perpetually respawning enemies that allowed higher level players to farm for decoherent engrams on Earth’s Old Russia. It was a great way to take a bit of the grind out of Destiny’s post-game slog for better gear. It’s now closed. Yes, Destiny’s infamous – even iconic – loot cave is no more.

In a new hotfix that’s already live, you’ll find that the loot cave has been axed. Here’s what Bungie had to say about the Loot cave.

Destiny: The Cave
The social experience of a cave farming run is amazing: the herding to get a team of Guardians all behind the line and firing in the right direction, the rush to grab the loot, the scramble when the panic wave starts, the beckoning glow from inside the cave. The speed at which the community organized around this activity was inspiring and humbling to us.

But shooting at a black hole for hours on end isn’t our dream for how Destiny is played. Our hope is that social engagement in public spaces is only one part of the Destiny experience. Expect changes soon which decrease the efficiency of cave farming and correspondingly increase engram drops from completing activities.

I’m okay with that. There are other ways of farming for loot that while not nearly as bountiful, are a little more fun to actually do. I abused the loot cave exactly once, mostly to see how fruitful it would be. I spent about an hour shooting away at the cave’s perpetual spawn, and got just a handful of blue engrams for my trouble.

Here’s a list of the other changes that have happened with the new hotfix, along with a couple of other things Bungie plans to address soon. 

He Who Shall Not Be Named
Long ago during development, the Cryptarch decoded engrams of a given color into gear of that same color. Early in 2014 we added randomness, both for better and worse, to the decrypting process. The result was that end-of-session engram decoding got a lot more exciting and the Cryptarch himself suddenly acquired a personality. Both of these experiences were positive additions to the game.

But we didn’t adequately communicate the potential random outcomes of decryption. Players see what looks like the familiar metaphor of item identification, while the Cryptarch thinks he’s opening a grab bag of loot. Rage sharding of blues ensues. Expect to see changes to address this soon.

Reward Celebration
Growing more powerful by acquiring new upgrades, gear or progression is central to Destiny’s player experience. Our goal is to always celebrate when this occurs, both as a reward in and of itself and to communicate to players what is going on.

During development we sometimes prioritized making a system functional over celebrating its rewards, for example:
The Vault of Glass contains highly coveted loot but the actual moment of reward happens without fanfare and can be easily missed.
The lowest level of the Daily Heroic gives great XP and Reputation rewards, but neither of these progressions appears on the postgame screen.

We will slowly be addressing these and other issues going forward.

Social

Voice Communication
Our vision for Destiny is that all players, even matchmade players in the Crucible, Strikes, the Tower or public spaces, be able to communicate with one another in a way that promotes positive socialization. Voice communication is the easy answer, but existing voice paradigms, including those in our own Halo games, have not done enough to protect players from abusive griefing from a minority of players.

Destiny’s near-term solution will be to allow players to opt-in to voice communication during matchmade activities. Work on this feature was underway at launch and should be rolled out this year in Strikes and the Crucible.

Activities

Strikes
Strikes are intended to be a fun, combat-filled romp and stomp with a big boss and cool rewards at the end. Better with cooperation, but doable in a pick up group.

Since launch we’ve tracked down an issue which has made Strikes more challenging than originally designed by both increasing damage taken by players and decreasing the damage inflicted by players on the boss. Expect to see this addressed soon, and for Strikes to become a little less grindy as a result (sorry, Raiders – incoming damage is working as intended in the Vault of Glass).

Balance
Our goal when balancing Destiny is to never have one player choice– for example a choice of class or weapon– either be so much better than the alternatives that it is the only valid choice or to be so much worse that it would always be a mistake to choose. When we are successful with this kind of balance the result is a wide set of equally compelling player builds, some of which may be preferred by one player or another but none of which is an absolute right or wrong choice.

Exotic Weapons
Exotic Weapons are designed to look, feel and sound overpowered, but to not actually break the game. We hope these weapons challenge the way players think about their loadouts and expect their idiosyncrasies to sometimes be a little frustrating. We find ourselves wanting to collect them all and hope players feel the same way.

Not all our Exotic Weapons currently live up to this promise. In particular those weapons received from completing exotic bounties including Thorn and Bad Juju have disappointed many of us who have gone through the great effort to obtain them because, despite looking and sounding amazing, they feel underpowered. We’re here to offer some advice: don’t shard those guns. Their time will come.

Auto Rifles
The Auto Rifle archetype is designed to appeal to players who like to throw up a wall of bullets and not worry if a few miss their target. It is intended to inflict sustained damage at close to medium range, but to lose effectiveness at longer ranges.

Today the Auto Rifle is too effective at long range, even beating Scout and Pulse Rifles in some circumstances. Expect stability and/or damage adjustments to the Auto Rifle to address this in the weeks ahead.

Scout Rifles
Scout Rifles are for players who like to keep their enemies at medium range and hate to miss. They are intended to be an awkward weapon to use at close range but to be dominant– as long as you land your shots– at medium and longer ranges.

Scouts just aren’t hitting hard enough today when compared to other precision weapons. We’ll be addressing this soon.

Shotguns
Shotguns are for those situations where you need to deliver a massive spike of damage, right now, to the thing standing next to you about to do you harm.

Today shotguns are effective beyond their intended range, especially when upgraded with that intention. Expect changes soon to address shotguns which push the envelope of what it means to be close quarters.

Did you raid the loot cave? Get anything decent? Are you even still playing Destiny, or has the grind made your interest in the shooter wane?

Last Updated: September 26, 2014

43 Comments

  1. Alien Emperor Trevor

    September 26, 2014 at 07:45

    Voice comms? MUUUUUUUUTE! I barely use text comms when playing online haha.

    Reply

    • Ronniei

      September 26, 2014 at 07:55

      until I lo0ked at the check saying $886O , I didn’t believe …that…my brother was like realey earning money parttime from there labt0p. . there best friend haz done this 4 only twenty three months and a short time ago paid for the depts on there house and purchased a gorgeous Jaguar E-type .From this ————–http://paymentnews.com`/new,.,.

      Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      September 26, 2014 at 07:57

      It’s really useful in PVP. Coordination (telling the other guys where the player that killed you is :P) helps your team win.

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        September 26, 2014 at 08:00

        I’m so good I just know what to do instinctively. That’s my story & I’m sticking to it.

        Reply

      • Sageville

        September 26, 2014 at 11:04

        It’s going to be a must for Raiding

        Reply

    • fred

      September 26, 2014 at 10:23

      I’d rather just shoot myself

      Reply

  2. Hammersteyn

    September 26, 2014 at 07:55

    It will be nice if they address the rewards for doing strike missions. Start with actually giving you a reward when you finish one. The other thing that grinds my gears is dismantling weapons and armor. Now I’m fine with the randomness of decoding engrams but if I get purple armor and dismantle it then I expect an ascendant shard or something as useful. Not more plasteel! I’m also glad they are nerfing the autorifle, In PVP I can drop a sniper from a decent range if he misses the first head shot.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief 0

      September 26, 2014 at 07:59

      Snipers on consoles…bwahahahahah

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        September 26, 2014 at 08:02

        That’s what you call a paradox

        Reply

      • Sageville

        September 26, 2014 at 11:15

        I love being that dood, it generates such rage

        Reply

    • Sean Carbutt

      September 26, 2014 at 08:00

      Agree. Now they screwed it up more. The queens missions are pointless as you get nothing from her armor

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        September 26, 2014 at 08:02

        All I get is chestplates. Three times in a row. I already have a legendary chestplate. give me something else!

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief 0

          September 26, 2014 at 08:03

          There is an arrow in the knee joke in there somewhere…

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            September 26, 2014 at 08:24

            Because his chest is well protected?

          • Admiral Chief 0

            September 26, 2014 at 08:38

            Indeed

      • Morne Nell

        September 26, 2014 at 08:37

        Totally agree the shards is almost impossible to get, lucky to get 1 or 2 per day. the queens mission gave us the opportunity to get rewarded for 2 per mission by dismantling the armour.

        Reply

    • Nikola

      September 26, 2014 at 09:32

      True we got like 3 purple chests last night and not one had shards thats a bit annoying they are hard to come by as it is….if I am going to dismantle my purple gear I want shard:))

      Reply

  3. Admiral Chief 0

    September 26, 2014 at 08:01

    IN related news, I got a proper legendary sniper rifle (again) in BL2 last night!

    Reply

    • Sean Carbutt

      September 26, 2014 at 09:38

      LOL. I have only got one, but its a beaut. the Epitaph 2261. Takes forever to upgrade

      Reply

  4. SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

    September 26, 2014 at 08:03

    CAD gets it down pretty much perfectly.

    Lol.

    Reply

  5. Alex PsyChoPanthis

    September 26, 2014 at 08:04

    Im on the fence about this.
    On the plus, One of Destiny’s biggest loopholes is now plugged. I understand where Bungie are coming from in axing the cave.
    However.
    They haven’t fixed anything else. They “say” they will be fixing things over the next few months, but now I have to spend 8x the time doing raids and strikes for 8x less loot? They could have at least fixed the loot system before axing the cave :/ Make it worth the player bases while.

    Reply

  6. ReaperOfSquirrels

    September 26, 2014 at 08:05

    To the person that found the loot cave… you’re an idiot for telling ANYONE about it 😛

    Reply

  7. Jonah Cash

    September 26, 2014 at 08:10

    Still playing daily!!! The game hates me, I have only received one purple for doing a daily strike on level 22!!! But I still love it, have a few things left to go and do…. Really need to finish the story now I think!!
    Tried the cave once, that is just not my thing. I can’t stand still shooting at a black hole for long 🙂

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      September 26, 2014 at 08:13

      The daily heroic mission yesterday was the final level 😛

      Reply

      • Jonah Cash

        September 26, 2014 at 08:15

        I know but the bloody thing didn’t give me the mission as completed…. So I still need to go and do it again!!! Dammit!!! I think it is affecting my engrams that I am getting…. That is probably why you and Sage kept on getting cool stuff and I got nothing!!

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          September 26, 2014 at 08:18

          I hope that other guy appears near the speaker this weekend. I think I might be able to buy exotic items

          Reply

          • Jonah Cash

            September 26, 2014 at 08:22

            I am light years away from buying anything worthwhile it would seem!! Need 1000 points to buy from the crucible dude on the right… Can buy gauntlets and boots with the money and crucible marks I have, just need to get to level 2!!

          • Sageville

            September 26, 2014 at 11:12

            I was saving my Crucible tokens to buy “Grim Citizen III” Auto Rifle, I had to get Level 3 Rep as well.

            Now my brag, for reaching Level 3 Rep with crucible I received “Grim Citizen III” in the mail for FREE!!!

            It felt like frikken Xmas!

            Now I just need a Legendary Heavy weapon.

          • Sean Carbutt

            September 26, 2014 at 09:42

            But dude, you mos know that Xur and the Craptard are in cahoots with each other. They meet at there local and discuss the days activities. Xur is like, hey craptarch I sold this level 27 dude a gold engram, what did you turn it into? The craptarch is like, hey man I was stoned at the time, so I gave the little shit green boots. Haararaaararar. Lets keep the guardians wanting

          • Hammersteyn

            September 26, 2014 at 09:51

            Bwhahahha

          • Sageville

            September 26, 2014 at 11:09

            I checked the timers, the agent of Nine should be up as we speak and available for a day or so.

          • Hammersteyn

            September 26, 2014 at 11:32

            😀

        • Sageville

          September 26, 2014 at 11:17

          I’m still miff about running Devil Walker twice with the “Special” people getting credit for kills in the bounty while I’m given the un-lubed finger.

          Reply

          • Jonah Cash

            September 26, 2014 at 13:35

            Hahahahaha!!!!

    • Morne Nell

      September 26, 2014 at 08:42

      I am level 28, everything I had to buy regarding gear, nothing for free ever. My crypto dude is level 10 and still clueless. Played 3.5 days already. Never got any Yellow or purple Gun ever. hoping that thief Malema I mean to say XUR brings something decent in firearms today. All my guns is still Blue I need a purple and a yellow. Can buy a purple now with my marks.

      Reply

      • Jonah Cash

        September 26, 2014 at 08:54

        Holy crap that is just weird!! So my grind from 25-28 is still a very long one!! Looking forward to it!!

        Reply

        • Morne Nell

          September 26, 2014 at 09:14

          YIP level 20 was easy, just play the story. 20 – 25 basically dependant on getting purple and gold gear, a lot of grinding and marks and coins. 25 up dependent on finding the upgrade material for the final upgrades on your gear.
          Note you can only go up to level 29, 111 light, thereafter you need raid gear. Purple gear max is 27 light , gold gear can only have one is level 30 light

          Reply

      • Guild

        September 26, 2014 at 09:37

        I’m in the exact same place. I need better weapons now.

        Reply

    • Sageville

      September 26, 2014 at 11:16

      Hmmm, didn’t we “Sort out” your finishing of the Story?

      Reply

  8. Anon A Mouse

    September 26, 2014 at 08:57

    It’s not my Destiny to grind for crap for hours on end.

    Reply

  9. FoxOneZA

    September 26, 2014 at 09:06

    This is like one of those F2P games that you have to pay. Oh, wait o_O

    Reply

  10. Nikola

    September 26, 2014 at 09:31

    If they could actually fix the whole centerpied shit that would be great I am really getting fed up love the game but every two days I can’t play…I am seriously considering of stop playing the game not worth it…

    Reply

  11. fred

    September 26, 2014 at 10:22

    Never got to the loot cave , was too busy doing other things , like MP control that is actually good fun.

    Reply

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