Showing up to camp anything with a defeatist attitude like this hampers your progress more than lacking tools other players have.

Everytime I've camped the Emperor I've been the one killing the placeholders. Because I was the one killing the PHs, I was the one that got the claim because I knew what rotation I was killing the placeholders in. VE popped right in front of me, others only knew after the pop when it turned up on Widescan and showed up in time to watch me kill it (or vice versa).

The first time I was level 29 rdm/ 14 whm. I popped it for kicks n grins just to see if I could kill it. It killed me. The second time I was 35 rdm/17 thf (for TH, I never used flee) out for revenge. I put up a Hell of a fight, but ultimately the Emperor won this fight too. There was another person camping against me, when I saw things looking bleak I dragged it the Emperor over to them and did what damage I could before the fly took me out. I the next 2 or 3 attempts I won the fight, never got out claimed, but also never got the drop. I figured at this point I had put more time into camping it than it would've taken me to farm for the pin, so I cut my losses and farmed the gil for it rather than driving myself crazy over 3 dex and 3 agility. Besides, I've killed the fly more times than it killed me so...I can let it go now that dominance has been established.

It's up to him to motivate himself lol.... I'm not trying to have more people out in the dunes hahah

I agree with Mello, especially after I've been there with top level thieves and watching them. There are people who spend entire days here and work in shifts with other thieves. They have it tracked down to a science. If you appreciate your time, it's easier just farming 50k an hour, fish, or whatever, and just buy it. There is a difference between having a defeatist and being realistic.

That is the reality of a free server - people can create multiple accounts (1 THF/BST, 1 bard, 1 ranger with Widescan, etc.) and take over a NM camp.

Don't need ranger, reason for having BST20 is it'll get the same widescan that ranger gets at lvl1 which can cover all spawn points, while also having Charm for a fast ranged claim.

But yes, it's down to a science down to a certain level of specificity that you'll only claim it if it spawns in your face.

I agree with Mello, especially after I've been there with top level thieves and watching them. There are people who spend entire days here and work in shifts with other thieves. They have it tracked down to a science. If you appreciate your time, it's easier just farming 50k an hour, fish, or whatever, and just buy it. There is a difference between having a defeatist and being realistic.

That is the reality of a free server - people can create multiple accounts (1 THF/BST, 1 bard, 1 ranger with Widescan, etc.) and take over a NM camp.

From my experience several of the VE Campers will actually help you or even let you grab a couple of spawns if you talk nicely with them and actually want the hairpin to use.