Terror Trove Training

[NeopetsMom]

For many players, the cheapest way to train level is through using
Terror Trove Scratchcards. I have often seen statements that it is a
matter of luck whether you will get a level up and I have seen people
give up on Terror Trove Scratchcards because they scratched 10 and
didn't get a level up. Training with Terror Trove Scratchcards is not so much a matter of luck as a matter of statistics. The issue must be looked at from the long-term point of view. By long-term, I mean the scratching of at least several hundred Terror Trove scratchcards.

I will use my results from scratching 4068 Terror Trove Scratchcards.

Number of Cards scratched - 4068

Average cost per Card - 850 (range 0 to 940) (currently prices are
inflated beyond this and you should consider that in determining when
scratching will be profitable for you)

Total cost spent on Cards - 3,456,728 NP

Results -

Level ups - 159

Level ups as percentage of total - 3.91%

Winning 10,000 NP - 166

10,000 as a percentage of total - 4.08%

Winning 5,000 NP - 150

5,000 as a percentage of total - 3.69%

Winning Snowballs - 164

Snowballs as a percentage of total - 4.03%

Winning Plushies - 194

Plushies as a percentage of total - 4.77%

Cost per level up received - 6547 NP (This will be somewhat somewhat
higher, of course, given current costs of scratchcards on the Shop
Wizard -- current cost is about 9500 per level up)

Therefore, if you have only 1 Pet and it costs you two Codestones or
two Dubloons to train, then it is usually cheaper to train with Terror Trove
Scratchcards. If you have more than 1 Pet, it depends. For someone,
like me, who needs 8 Codestones to train, even with four pets it would
be cheaper to use Terror Trove Scratchcards.

If you have multiple Pets, the level ups over time will be evenly
distributed between your pets. It does not matter which pet is active.
For most of the time I was using Terror Trove Scratchcards, I had 2
pets. One received 72 level ups and the other received 76 level ups.

Over a short period of time (defined as scratching less than 200
cards), you can have a run of bad luck when you get less than 4%
levels or you can have a run a good luck where you get a much higher
percentage of levels. You can also have a run where one pet gets all
the levels. But, over time, all of that variability goes away and
works out to the above percentages.

Is Terror Trove training good to do if it costs as much or more than
using the Academy or School? Maybe. Using the Training School or
Academy requires the least effort from you. Terror Trove Scratchcard
scratching can get very tedious. However, you can also gain levels
much faster by using Terror Trove training plus using the School or
Academy.

[P_N_G]

Good poll. 5/5

[Qanda]

Quote:Originally posted by P_N_G@Dec 6 2004, 02:34 AM
Good poll. 5/5

Lol, we're rating the article here, not the poll. :rofl:

Good article though, the test results are displayed clearly and analysed thoroughly. I agree with the results, even by just using 50 each time I always earn more than I lose. 5/5.

[1d31l]

p_n_g dont you mean good article?

Well using 10 terror troves isnt really going to help. Alot of people usually do about 50 for levels. Out over 4068 150 levels is not much. Especially for 3mil. There are timing has well when its lucky time to scratch. Just cant remember.
Great article too :)

[P_N_G]

Whatever XD I call it poll :P *Slaps self* I've really always wanted to know the percentage... thank you :)

[dynamiteexpert]

5/5! I did 155 scratchcards and got 4 levels. I know mine isnt accurate enough but i agree with the part where it is worth using ;)

[P_N_G]

Dynamite- Wow, not the best luck, huh? :P Well, I think this article is what many we're waiting for...

[dynamiteexpert]

Quote:Originally posted by P_N_G@Dec 6 2004, 03:49 AM
Dynamite- Wow, not the best luck, huh? :P Well, I think this article is what many we're waiting for...

It is the best luck. 4 levels would cost me ALOT of money. And i only spent like 30k getting these 4 levels, after getting back on the money and selling the items gained from those scratchcards.

[P_N_G]

Ahh :) I'm level 50 for my n00b1n4t1ng pet, so i don't need terror troves yet :)

[NeopetsMom]

You just have to take the long view on scratchcard training. I once scratched over 200 cards without getting one level up. But, I was patient and waiting and later I had a run where I received 4 level ups out of 20. However, I have kept records of these for a year and a half and it always averages out to around 4%.

[sirclucky]

Wow! Thanks! Once the price drops I think i'll try my hand at SC training, seeing how I can only train levels.

Is there any theroy behind which spots to scratch, or is just luck?

Also you can scratch ten cards per day, right? Or is there no limit?