[b]update[/b] BNG released images of [u]Skolas[/u]: Several brief glimpses, but a name appears in yellow at (1:41): https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=101&v=mHwwUSIemm8 [u][b]House of Wolves - Prep Guide[/b][/u] Info is intended for those setting up their toons to be moving toward the new level cap and max gear with efficiency and speed. If you want to get to playing the new end game content, you probably already know most / all of this. However, for me it helps to see it all down in a list, and after researching it, found a few items I was unaware of - like the exp dump from packages at the post master. Better utilizing those can potentially help level up new gear more efficiently and get you into the level 34 / 35 PoE content quicker. Hope it helps. Note - most of the credit here goes to those Youtuber's noted at the end: [u][b]HoW Day 1+ efficiency approach following launch (assumes prep)[/b][/u] 1. Reef > Petrovenge > Unlock Missions 2. Variks > Check Justice-chance Engram & armor for sale 3. Story rewards > unlock PoE (if you get Etheric light in story, makes the below simple… if not… well…) 4. Q1: Complete story on all toons 2 & 3 or off to PoE lv 32 quickly with toon 1? [i]- if story rewards are Etheric Light, armor cores, or something significant - may be worth while.[/i] 5. Q2: <contingency> Can a person who unlocks PoE, bring 2 players in who have not completed story? [i]- if you can 'carry' other toons who have not completed story missions, then each player only needs to complete the story with 1 toon. All three players could 'carry' 2 unplayed toons from the other players in a round-robin fashion, minimizing story time - if story is not beneficial - see point 4.[/i] 6. Complete PoE Lv 32 for "Armor Core" guaranteed end game armor & level it 7. Q3: Ascend exotic armor piece & level to hit lev 33, now? [i]When you start ascending gear, you will commit to which pieces you expect to use for legendary, plan accordingly.[/i] 8. Q4: Rinse and repeat for toon 2 and 3 now, or off to PoE lev 34 with toon 1? [i]May need drops from toons 2 and 3 to get toon 1 gear where you want it, or may need to do so to simply get all toons to level 34 playthroughs so you can obtain etheric light.[/i] 9. It takes armor core plus Exotic ascend (and exp level or prep exp) to get to 33.5, now off to lev34 PoE. 11. Play all three toons through Lev 34 Prison of Elders, now you have 3 Etheric Lights. 12. Q5: Can you transfer Etheric Lights to vault? 13. If you can - transfer your "Etheric light" (1 per toon) to your vault (reguardless of class differences). Pick your class of choice. Upgrade as see fit? 14: Is that a path for hitting lev 34 in day 1-2 with at least 1 toon? 15. Could do NF with a ‘chance’ to get more Etheric Light as well, luck dependent. 16. Once you hit level 34 with a group, ready for lv 35 Skolas PoE. [u][b]Guide - Cliff Notes[/b][/u] [b]1. Exp storage [/b] - 10x 5K bounties - Store daily pub events at post master, 5K per pub event item - Store commendations - Saved packages from factions earned BEFORE HoW drop WILL give you EXP on open, items WON’T include new HoW gear [b]2. Glimmer [/b] - Farm cap as needed (gate keeper atheon, exclusion zone, earth hive) - Farming Cap, less important if you have shard / energy build up - exchanging Ascendent shards, etc now 250 ea. at Speaker post drop - Glimmer item storage (don’t cash them in and build up reserves as necessary) [b]3. Motes of Light[/b] - Exchanging 2 Ascendent / Radiant Materials 2:1 for MOTES OF LIGHT after HoW drop - Thus, any activities that give you Shards / Energy now, could be quite useful later (daily PvE story, public event, Raids) [b]4. Edging Faction Reputation[/b] - Loot is decided when you get engram or faction package (not when you open it, stored engrams don’t turn into new expansion) - ALMOST level up your faction before HoW expansion… (~ 100 exp away) - Same with cryptarch and crucible, if possible… not as important… [b]5. Marks (Time vs. Value)[/b] - Ideally, max out your marks – crucible and vanguard, if possible - Vanguard marks more important / easier to max out *if* time is of primary concern - Time comment - Crucible may only worth it if you have 5+ 5K crucible bounties to do, (otherwise gauge accordingly) - Crucible Marks - if you can, max them out, multiple faction vendors to consider post drop to fill gaps in aresenol - Don’t burn marks on materials before launch, farm materials if necessary - Marks still may be best spent on mats after launch, but be wise, reserve and spend as needed to fill gaps - If this can be trusted, it has an interesting potential impact on Crucible Marks value / generation: [i]"...faction items will also start following the [u]new policy of using Crucible or Vanguard marks[/u] to purchase these items since commendations are being phased out entirely.... Bungie is also doubling Crucible mark gains for simply completing a match..."[/i] - source, fella claims to have went to Seattle to play HoW early & posted the Hunter Faction Gear preview: http://gamerant.com/destiny-house-wolves-new-faction-armor/ [b]6. Ascending Weapons post HoW (300 > 365)[/b] - Legendaries will need ETHERIC LIGHT (new mat) - drops in ToO, IB (PvP), PoE & NF (PvE) - Exotics will still need EXOTIC SHARDS (existing mat) - * Prioritize * [b]7. Gunsmith will sell Telemetries in HoW[/b] - May still be worth stocking up Telemetries from Xur, but GS may solve this issue - He will allow you to reroll HoW gear, so will need mats [b]8. Daily Order if you have Limited time[/b] - Do NF first every week for 20% bonus and exotic drop - Do Weekly next each week, strange Coins for Xur - Public Events each day for 5K bonus to store - Edge Factions - 5K bounties to store up [b]9. Prioritize Essential Good Guns in Raids over Generic Legendaries[/b] - Example, Crota End NORMAL guns are better than HM guns, Black Hammer (best) - Example 2, Atheon, Fatebringer best [b]10. Make sure you stock up on Heavy Ammo Synths from Xur - having at least 5 stacks per toon would be comfortable[/b] [b]11. Per 'Diamond D Nice' down below in this thread:[/b] - "33 blue engrams with NF buff to rank Cryptarch, so if you get right before you get to the next level, and then hoard engrams you can get two cryptarch packages post HoW drop. All the engrams will likely be junk, but scrap them and minimize farming. Filling all your slots so you can't pickup items will throw spares to the postmaster. It will save vault space if you're getting full." More Details below. [b]12. Wondering what the new VENDOR faction item gear is going to require, check this vid out:[/b] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6uDgO6YDEw New HoW, Faction Armor (Hunter Only): - it all still needs ascended... that means lots of Etheric Light, Glimmer and Materials if you will PURCHASE any [u][b]Credit for much of original motivation to Strat points goes to YouTubers:[/b][/u] HM05 Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5bH4QIi_Vk Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eYH9-c9nqY Arrekkz Gaming https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vH2ctX684M Easynow1337 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMtipGq8r8I Mesa Sean https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp8gsfVDL9Y