When to start Patron's ?

[Kriminaal]

I have the requirements to unlock Mirt but not Vajra (28/30 hero unlocks). My question is if I should use the time gate pieces to unlock Mirt or continue to use the time gate pieces for character unlocks. I have no idea if I have the ability to even complete them with my current favor and characters. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks in advance :)

I have done a bunch of variants, just not all of them (a few that look really difficult, like the one where you end up with 4 guys at board 250 etc).

I can push to about 385 on Torm's and 405 on the 10 man's with softcap and no potions.

My dudes are moderately geared, between 2-4 purples on all core characters and my event characters have at least all blues.

Torm's - 2.34e18
Kelemvor's - 2.96e17
Helm's - 1.93e17
Tiamat's - 1.75e17

1 - Bruenor
2 - Celeste, Korth, Donaar
3 - Nayeli, Gromma
4 - Jarlaxe, Sentry
5 - Calliope, Pwent
6 - Asharra, Krond
7 - Minsc, Farideh, Black Viper
8 - Delina, Hitch, Vlahnya
9 - Makos, Drizzt
10 - Tyril
11 - Jamilah, Strix, Warden, Avren
12 - Arkhan, Nerys, Azaka

(my wife is kinda in the same boat but she has zorbu, stoki and paultin, so she actually pushes further than I can *sadface*).

[Zio]

You should probably start asap. Unless you don't intend to spend some time in patron free plays.
For every area beaten in patron free plays you get 2 patron currency.
There's a weekly cap of 10.000 patron currency (5000 for challenges, 5000 for free plays) and since you keep them and can spend them on patron chests (with equipment possible for every character you have that's enabled with patron restrictions), the sooner the better.

[SevenBlueSeven]

Running patron free-plays will help you earn chests to better gear all of your characters. But, to get the most effect of patron chests, it is best to have all the core characters with all purples so that any gear you get from patron chests boosts event champions only.

So, doing the patron stuff is best to slowly earn influence and use the patron currency to buy time gate pieces and potions, instead of chests. There is a reason the first two potions are strength and clairvoyance.

Once you get into the e18 range, you can start to unlock many of the second feats for your champions. Those two potions you unlock will help you get your other favors up into the e20~ range to have all second feats unlocked and you will be able to make more runs to earn more gems to purchase gold chests to get all your core champions in purples.

Plus, unlocking time gate pieces will allow you to get more bonus favor with the core 4 missions to get them up into the e20 range sooner.

[ptor]

i'm with Zio: the sooner you unlock them and start doing the weekly challenges, the better off you'll be; also, they pay themselves back soon since they each sell a time gate piece per week. Plus: should you succeed with variant missions (hard with your entourage), you can get global bonuses (yay).

[Kriminaal]

Thanks. I went ahead and unlocked Mirt and read up on them a little better and that's good advice. I see I can buy timegate pieces for 2500 (cap at 1 per patron per week it looks like) so I'll make those back + :) It's actually a lot clearer now what I have to do being able to see all the windows for Patrons, I didn't realize I could just run free plays to get 5000 gems per week and attempt some of the variants that I may be able to complete to acquire some influence (or not until I get a better team suitable for specific vairants etc).

Another question, sorry. That potion of polish is a 1 time only EVER item ? It looks like it but figured I'd ask!

[ptor]

polish yes, one ever, one per patron. not game-changing, but welcome :)

[SevenBlueSeven]

Yes, that potion of polish is a one-time only item. But it is the best and most worthwhile patron purchase.

Plan on using patron currency to also unlock those potions to help you push for more favor.