_NPCScan or SilverDragon?

[Joshatdot]

I've been using SilverDragon for quite a while now .. but sometimes it doesn't detect unless I happen to mouse over a Rare or target it.

I've used _NPCScan before .. but the default list doesn't have all Rares .. and is a pain to add them in.

What do you guys use?

[Neverforever]

NPC Scan is just an easier pick for me. As long as you get in /tar range, it picks them up. Plus, the list of rares is all the BC, Wrath, and Cata ones. You just have to add in any vanilla babies that you're looking for. Adding them in is easy, just get the NPC code off of WoWhead.

[CrystalKitten]

I... don't use any. I have a macro I just fly around spamming, that yells at me when the /target hits No false positives or cache clearing needed, either.

[Rikaku]

I... don't use any. I have a macro I just fly around spamming, that yells at me when the /target hits No false positives or cache clearing needed, either.

Same.

[Foru21dr]

I actually use Both... NPCScan to find the rares.. Silver dragon to announce in gchat in case a guildie wants it.

It is troublesome to have to add the old world rares, but it's not that hard. Just have to be careful you put in the right numbers.

[Worba]

I... don't use any. I have a macro I just fly around spamming, that yells at me when the /target hits No false positives or cache clearing needed, either.

I used to do that for the longest time. I got virtually every rare in the game that way.

Then very recently I started camping for the TLPD and got a whole new perspective on the matter...

[TygerDarkstorm]

Personally I recommend using both; _NPCScan for its larger range and SilverDragon for announcing rares and being able to find them when you don't feel like clearing your cache. Also, SilverDragon does most of its hunting based off of your nameplates, so if you don't have nameplates showing then it waits for you to mouseover the rare.

[Joshatdot]

I found out why SilverDragon was not 'finding' everything .. I wasn't deleting my creaturecache.wdb.

Well for months (before 4.2 patch) I had the file empty & set to read only .. so I didn't have to delete it everytime. But you have to delete it or unset it from read only for Patches to update. In this case I forgot to delete it & set it to read only after 4.2 patch .. or I think I set read only to the wrong file! (npccache.wdb) .. oops!

I found out all these Rares were in cache when I loaded NPCScan and it gave me a huge list of stuff in Cache.

[Worba]

That's one thing I should add - I actually use a .bat file to both clear my cache and start wow, so I never have to worry about doing that manually.

[Kalliope]

Why not both? They both have slightly different functions. If I really need a pop-up, I deal with NPCscan. Otherwise, SilverDragon is generally enough to help me find the occasional rare that I wouldn't've seen otherwise.

[Aeladrine]

I usually use both as well. Sometimes one or the other won't work for whatever reason. Then the other one picks it up!(:

[Wassa]

I use just _NPCScan, with every rare added into it. Took forever to make, and to correct my mistakes, but it's amazing.

[Monica Gems]

NPCScan caches things. See Skarr in Org? lollogoutdelete. Someone trolls you with their Terrorpene? lollogoutdelete. SilverDragon announces it just fine for me; perhaps the range is a bit smaller but I don't have to constantly delete my cache.

That said, I use both, just in case. I delete my cache MAYBE once a month, though.

[Joshatdot]

I'll give both a try!

For those who DO NOT like deleting the creaturecache.wdb ..

1. Goto the Cache folder where creaturecache.wdb is located
2. Delete creaturecache.wdb
3. Right Click an empty space in that Folder
4. Goto New > Text Document
*5. Rename 'New Text Document.txt' to 'creaturecache.wdb'
6. Right Click on 'creaturecache.wdb' and select Properties
7. At the bottom left-ish checkbox [x] Read-only
8. Click OK

*NOTE: Make sure the file name is 'creaturecache.wdb' and NOT 'creaturecache.wdb.txt'

From now on you will not have to delete that file any longer .. or run a batch file to delete it and launch WoW.

But you do need to delete it or uncheck [ ] Read-only when it is time to Patch Update.

[Joshatdot]

Also for those who want a complete list of Rares (Vanilla Rares I guess) this guy on youtube has a download link & instructions of how to use his _NPCScan.lua file:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PUDlmzb-h4

[Davarra]

I use both. Not a performance hit that I could tell, and they fill in each other's gaps and weak spots nicely.

[Congafury]

Using both too^_^ do recommend

[EmmaJuliee]

Only used NPC scan and found it annoying having to delete cache.


How's SilverDragon work?

[Kalliope]

SilverDragon picks up rares, regardless of whether they are cached and it won't trigger for hunter pets. The catch is that it's not as sensitive as NPCscan, so it doesn't always pop up when there's a rare around.

[TygerDarkstorm]

SilverDragon picks up rares, regardless of whether they are cached and it won't trigger for hunter pets. The catch is that it's not as sensitive as NPCscan, so it doesn't always pop up when there's a rare around.

To add to this, you either need your nameplates showing and to be close enough for them to be visible (which works well if you're sitting in one spot camping), or you need to mouseover the rare. It will also blare if your party member has a rare targeted.