Fastest way to get Vanguard Marks?

[wings]

So which method do people here find the fastest way to get Vanguard Marks? Seen some YT footage and wondered if there are any changes between Beta to the game that might alter opinions. For example, I seem be earning more glimmer in the real game than in the Beta etc.

Edit: looks like Vanguard Mark is actually a rank rather than a currency itself. Old Russia, Vanguard Marks - Cold War.

50 Spirit Bloom for 400 Vanguard thingies. Not sure how many it is for a whole Vanguard Mark though.

[mannon]

Mebbe whore the loot crates. Loot crates in beta did not give spinmetal, but I've been getting tons from chests.

If it's like beta the chests have spawn groups and one chest will spawn for the group at one of the random locations. So you can actually farm them if you learn the groups because once you find the chest for a group you don't have to check the other spawns for that group and can drive to the next. Was possible (if boring) to make a lot of glimmer that way in beta. I suspect resources such as spinmetal may function similarly.

[wings]

Heh, Spinmetal appears to be more scarce than Spirit Bloom so I just went on Patrol and went back and forth while doing some missions as they can sometimes respawn. It looks like 2000 is the Vanguard value for Mark 1. I am like half way through Mark 1 and this is the grind I knew would happen.

[wings]

Looks like I asked too soon since there is a Vanguard play list after completing the game (did that about 3 hours ago), which I will try tomorrow as I am getting some bounties out of the way and whatever collectible shrapnel I am supposed to be collecting.

[wittyscorpion]

I was burning midnight oil last night to catch up on some Destiny gaming, and in the middle of it I got an message saying "Strike Playlists" have just become alive. I took a quick look and am happy to report that Vanguard Marks are the main rewards from these new playlists.

At the time I saw 3 playlist options: level 18 difficulty, level 20 difficulty, and level 22 difficulty. If I understand correctly, there is a weekly earning cap of 100 Vanguard Marks.

[wings]

Actually there are four playlists. The fourth one is Vanguard Tiger and it is level 24 and does not unlock until you have suitable gear. Have tried out the level 18 and it was easier than I thought, unfortunately no Marks are awarded for this.

Also, I appear to be earning Vanguard Marks when I exchange consumables with the Vanguard Quartermaster every time so it appears there are changes made on the fly. It is usually 5 Vanguard Marks I have been getting. Perhaps this is a way of Bungie to help populate the Vanguard Strike playlists because it can be a bit nuts. Suits me fine because I've played enough of Horde in Gears of War 3. May be Vanguard Tiger might be as challenging as Horde is on insane difficulty on Rustlung. That would actually take some doing.

[wings]

Found out today the max limit to VM on each character is 200. One way to promote spending them!

[hebbnh]

Wow, that seems low considering the weapons are 150 marks apiece. I was planning on saving mine up, but oh well, I guess that gives me a reason to buy some shiny new stuff!

[wings]

Yeah I wanted to save up too but I might as well have a collection because I always do the public events every day for the upgrade materials. First public event with any character gives one upgrade material and sometimes I get a bonus award that is given to me immediately after completion as it appears on my screen. I was initially after the scout rifle I mentioned above but I might try and hold out for that exotic one instead.

[tooros]

200 marks is the cap? Oh. Not good.
Because I've joined a faction: currency is crucible marks. Vanguard marks are for the vanguard armoury only I think.
My vanguard ranking is very low because ALL my rank points go toward the faction. I'm getting toward vanguard max cap then and can't see a way to spend them now. That was a mistake. I'm just not earning any vanguard ranking at all until my faction ranking is full. I'm circa lvl 2.6 of 3.
Major miscalculation.

[wings]

And I have noticed you can no longer purchase Vanguard armour with a different character. I have 66 Marks with my Hunter that I could buy gauntlets for my Titan but nope.

[iw5000]

200 is way to low. I have started focusing on that in the last four days, and have gotten up to around 85 or so. From how I am seeing my Level 26 to Level 30 process going....I feel like I want to save my Marks. I have no real reason to spend them now. I have a good Legendary Weapon, and none of the armor items for sale, are better than what I got. So why be forced to spend on stuff you don't want?

The Grind for Vanguard Rep pts is also real. I am only 200pts away from Vanguard 2. But as I said above, ...I am now finding out that my climb to Vanguard 2 is going to be somewhat pointless. I have no need for anything that is being sold. I feel like this has been a waste.

My only need now is materials. Circle jerking maps over and over and over and over, trying to load up Helium and other stuff. Also playing some events to get some Ascendent Shards.

This part feels very grinding.

[TheHawkNY]

There are definitely issues with progression once you reach a certain point. Some of the PS4 clan members have taken to making a second character of the same class as their first, so that they can get the character up to level 20 and move their armor between the two characters to do the daily/weekly events twice for the rewards. Personally, I began as a Warlock, and now have created a Hunter and Titan to just go and patrol and at least do a public event per day to get extra shards and slowly level them up. You shouldn't have to game the system to be able to continue to level at a pace that isn't maddeningly slow.

[iw5000]

Sept 30, 2014 15:57:31 GMT -5 TheHawkNY said:

There are definitely issues with progression once you reach a certain point. Some of the PS4 clan members have taken to making a second character of the same class as their first, so that they can get the character up to level 20 and move their armor between the two characters to do the daily/weekly events twice for the rewards. Personally, I began as a Warlock, and now have created a Hunter and Titan to just go and patrol and at least do a public event per day to get extra shards and slowly level them up. You shouldn't have to game the system to be able to continue to level at a pace that isn't maddeningly slow.

I don't have the stomach right now to even think about leveling up another class. The though of redoing all those story missions again, ...ughhh. It hurts.

But I am also caught in a bind with my present character. I am almost to level 27. I have good enough armor pieces that IF I max them out, I think there's enough light in them to get me to 28, maybe level 29. So as I said, I pretty much grinding for Rep and Marks....and now I have no need for that them. I find myself just copying these silly YouTube circular paths around maps, just chasing materials. That's all I have been doing pretty much for days. It's horrible.

[n1gh7]

I think that if they made things even less grind-y The hardcore people would complain even more that there isn't enough content in the game. As it is now, the hardcore players will still need all the time until more content is released to finish their characters.

[GodMars]

iw, how much time are you playing solo and how much time are you playing with friends?"

[wings]

Sept 30, 2014 16:06:01 GMT -5 iw5000 said:

Sept 30, 2014 15:57:31 GMT -5 TheHawkNY said:

There are definitely issues with progression once you reach a certain point. Some of the PS4 clan members have taken to making a second character of the same class as their first, so that they can get the character up to level 20 and move their armor between the two characters to do the daily/weekly events twice for the rewards. Personally, I began as a Warlock, and now have created a Hunter and Titan to just go and patrol and at least do a public event per day to get extra shards and slowly level them up. You shouldn't have to game the system to be able to continue to level at a pace that isn't maddeningly slow.

I don't have the stomach right now to even think about leveling up another class. The though of redoing all those story missions again, ...ughhh. It hurts.

But I am also caught in a bind with my present character. I am almost to level 27. I have good enough armor pieces that IF I max them out, I think there's enough light in them to get me to 28, maybe level 29. So as I said, I pretty much grinding for Rep and Marks....and now I have no need for that them. I find myself just copying these silly YouTube circular paths around maps, just chasing materials. That's all I have been doing pretty much for days. It's horrible.

I just spend all day doing the side missions, check the bounties and accept the ones I will complete as a result of doing the side missions anyway, and then pkick up consumables on the way. You can trade in 50 Spirit Bloom/Spin Metal leaves to the Vanguard Quartermaster and get Vanguard Marks and Reputation that way. I would not recommend doing that for Helium and Iron because they are less abundant and you will need them to upgrade armour. Each slot for consumables in your inventory can take up to 200 of the stuff you have collected. Then I occasionally do the public events when I am about anyway. I got a legendary weapon as a reward for reaching Vanguard Rank 3 so I hope I get two more for my other two characters.

[iw5000]

But my problem now is not Vanguard Marks. They are pretty much irrelevant. Any armor I might need, I have pretty much got via all the strike missions & queen missions. I have my max Exotic Helmet...and three legendaries for the other equipment (Coat, Gauntlets, and Boots)

As it turns out (I cant' be the only one?), I don't really need Marks/Rep pts. I have three Legendaries right now, plus an exotic helmet. I am capped out in armor pieces I think, as you can only equip one exotic. Getting me to Vanguard Level 2, won't allow me to buy anything better. There is really nothing good to buy. So what good are the V marks & rep?

What I need is need Hadronic Essence, Helium Filaments, Ascendent Shards, & Spin Metal to level up the armor I already have. And lots of that stuff. If I can get all this material crap, my defense points will be almost at 1,400, and I would guestimate my light level at or around 106 to 110. That puts me at level 29, working on 30.

[GodMars]

Oct 1, 2014 8:50:12 GMT -5 iw5000 said:

As it turns out (I cant' be the only one?), I don't really need Marks/Rep pts. I have three Legendaries right now, plus an exotic helmet. I am capped out in armor pieces I think, as you can only equip one exotic. Getting me to Vanguard Level 2, won't allow me to buy anything better. There is really nothing good to buy. So what good are the V marks & rep?

Min-maxing stats and picking up legendary weapons that cover the various damage types that.

[TheHawkNY]

What is the max level that can be achieved without any raid gear or spending any shards? Assume I have one exotic piece of armor, the rest is legendary, and I level everything up as far as it can go without having to spend shards. (I'm trying to figure out if I can get my second character which is a different class up to an acceptable level to do the weekly activities).

[iw5000]

Oct 1, 2014 9:18:05 GMT -5 TheHawkNY said:

Assume I have one exotic piece of armor, the rest is legendary, and I level everything up as far as it can go without having to spend shards. (I'm trying to figure out if I can get my second character which is a different class up to an acceptable level to do the weekly activities).

Maybe around or between 900 to 1,000 Defense points? Light level 24?

[hebbnh]

Oct 1, 2014 9:18:05 GMT -5 TheHawkNY said:

What is the max level that can be achieved without any raid gear or spending any shards? Assume I have one exotic piece of armor, the rest is legendary, and I level everything up as far as it can go without having to spend shards. (I'm trying to figure out if I can get my second character which is a different class up to an acceptable level to do the weekly activities).

Not sure off the top of my head, but I believe that would put you at 27.  26 at minimum.

[iw5000]

Oct 1, 2014 9:30:17 GMT -5 hebbnh said:

Oct 1, 2014 9:18:05 GMT -5 TheHawkNY said:

What is the max level that can be achieved without any raid gear or spending any shards? Assume I have one exotic piece of armor, the rest is legendary, and I level everything up as far as it can go without having to spend shards. (I'm trying to figure out if I can get my second character which is a different class up to an acceptable level to do the weekly activities).

Not sure off the top of my head, but I believe that would put you at 27.  26 at minimum.

I am right at level 26 right now. And I have spent Ascendent Shard points to level up some of my armor (exotic + 3 legendaries) Not much, but some. So my guess would be Level 24/25.

[qupie]

If you have one exotic and 3 legendaries, and level them all the way until you need shards, you will be lvl 27 (no raid gear) then you can spent 28 shards to get to 28 (16 for fully upgraded exotic and 12 for 2 extra upgrades in one legendary)

@ iw, you can always dismantle some armour to get 3 shards! Shure it might seem wierd to buy armour and break it appart immediately, but I assume you already have 3 raid legendaries? Not many people have the "problem" of having 3 legendaries before reaching vanguard rank 2

Also, look up some loot videos on YouTube, it is not really that much of a grind if you do it right

[hebbnh]

Just did some double-checking. You're able to get 22 light per legendary piece without using any shards (23 for exotics). That would give you 88 or 89 light, or just enough for level 27 without using any shards.

EDIT:  And of course, someone else beat me to the punch!

[iw5000]

Maybe I am confusing terminology? What is exactly 'Raid Gear'?

I think I understand what Legendary and Exotic armor is. But I goofed. just checked. I have two Legendary, one exotic and one L-VI thingy, which is only a 204/270 defense piece.

I have this helmet right now. This is an exotic I think. I got it completing the weekly Nightfall mission last week. My current Def on it is 332, and it goes up to 402. Light level is currently 28, and I only have three of my circle upgrades completed. Four are left, and one requires just Glimmer (but it's still locked), and the other three require Gimmer (950), Helium Filaments, Hadrien's Essence, and Ascendent Shards.

[wittyscorpion]

Raid Gears = gears rewarded by playing Raid, either during or after (mostly during if I understand correctly)

The idea here is that only players who have played enough Raid on normal can have a realistic shot at Raid on hard. Without Raid gear, level cap is 28. To play Raid on hard you need to be level 30, to get there you need full set of Raid gear, and to get those you need to play Raid on normal, repeatedly.

Once you get one character to level 30, and beat VoG on hard, you can try to do it again for your other 2 classes. By the time you get there, expansion 1 should be out. This is their genenal player retention strategy.

[qupie]

Raid gear is legendary gear which can get to +30 light a piece once fully upgraded. Other purples will only go to 27. So dont spend to many of your shards on non raid purple gear. I would advice to spend as little as possible to get to 28 (or 27 if you have high level friends, so you don't have to "waste" any shards on non raid legendaries) then get raid gear and spend your shards on that

[iw5000]

Oct 1, 2014 10:22:39 GMT -5 wittyscorpion said:

Raid Gear = gears rewarded by playing Raid, either during or after (mostly during if I understand correctly)

Excuse my ignorance, but isn't that circular? There is only one Raid in the game, so how does one get 'raid gear', without doing a raid? Like how to get the Raid Ready gear, to be able to do the Raid, ....if I have to do the Raid to get that gear.


EDIT...saw the next post. Ok, ty. Makes perfect sense now. Thanks witty & qupe

[wittyscorpion]

Oct 1, 2014 10:28:31 GMT -5 iw5000 said:

Oct 1, 2014 10:22:39 GMT -5 wittyscorpion said:

Raid Gear = gears rewarded by playing Raid, either during or after (mostly during if I understand correctly)

Excuse my ignorance, but isn't that circular? There is only one Raid in the game, so how does one get 'raid gear', without doing a raid?

Level 27/28 can attempt VoG with a resonable chance of success. To get there you don't need Raid gear.