The loot cave is dead.

      Well, the whole meaning of my blog has now died. RIP in piece. The hotfixes that have been pushed out changed the game a lot so far. Though, I do agree with all of the changes. I'm sure you will find many that do not agree, but the changes are for the best.

      First, they have changed the loot drops from doing parts of missions over and over.

      Missions

• Reduced drop rate of engrams following a hard wipe [fixed in 1.0.1.4]

• Clarification: This effect only lasts for a short period of time immediately following a hard wipe

      This means that the part of the mission "The Dark Beyond" where all of the hive rush out of the shrine can no longer be exploited for its loot. Granted, you could still do it, but it would take you two times as long and just isn't worth it anymore. Some people found this way of farming better than the loot cave, but personally i'm glad this fix has been implemented. No one should have to do the same part of a mission repeatedly just to get better gear.

Queen's Wrath Event

• Material rewards for dismantling Queen's Wrath gear will no longer provide ascendant materials, but missions will continue to drop Legendary items

Another huge change to the event. This was by far the best way to farm up the Ascendant Shards needed to upgrade that shiny legendary gear you obtained. Now, you're left with doing two public events a day, and praying to the RNG gods for shards off of engrams. Bungie pls.

      And of course, our favorite change of all;

World

Destinations

• The Hive of the holy “Treasure Cave” have realized the futility of their endless assault on Skywatch and have retired to lick their wounds and plan their next attack.

• Respawn timers for monster caves in Skywatch have been normalized to 40 seconds (increased from 6)

• Respawn timers for monster caves in Forgotten Shore have been normalized to 40 seconds (increased from 10)

• Respawn timers for monster caves in Ember Caves have been normalized to 40 seconds (increased from 10)

• Respawn timers for monster caves in the Shattered Coast have been normalized to 40 seconds (increased from 10)

• Respawn timers for monster caves in the Barrens have been normalized to 40 seconds (increased from 20)

      The loot cave is officially dead. This was one of the best ways to farm up materials needed for either upgrading, or getting the weapon parts/class reagents. And engrams as well. Personally, I agree with this. Bungie recognized that this was not the way they wanted the game to turn out. The best way to get gear, and not gamble, is to farm up that reputation with the faction of your choice. When I got level 20, this was the first thing I did. I went to the loot cave during down time specifically for the Ascendant shard drops from the engrams. Once i hit rank 2 with the Vanguard i was able to purchase what i needed and immediately upgrade them with the shards i had collected.

      In closing, the changes are for the better. But it leaves a bad taste in my mouth knowing I have no surefire way to farm up the Ascendant materials I need to upgrade the shiny gear. Bungie truly changed the game by not adding in a way to get these materials regularly. I believe that in the coming patches and hotfixes, they will address this with increased drop rates of the materials from doing strikes or crucible. We'll just have to see. But for now, ill be doing two public events a day and going back to the crucible.