1

Vana'diel Bestiary: Goblin Digger  

Family:Goblin
Found in:Batallia Downs
Buburimu Peninsula
East Ronfaure
East Sarutabaruta
Jugner Forest
Konschtat Highlands
La Theine Plateau
Meriphataud Mountains
North Gustaberg
Pashhow Marshlands
Rolanberry Fields
Sauromugue Champaign
South Gustaberg
Tahrongi Canyon
Valkurm Dunes
West Ronfaure
West Sarutabaruta
Western Altepa Desert
Yhoator Jungle
Yuhtunga Jungle
Job:Thief
Level:5 - 55
Flags:
  • Aggro
  • Linking
  • Detects by Sight
  • Weak against Light
Drops:
Stolen Items:
Updated: Fri Dec 28 16:26:12 2007

Goblin Digger Picture

Their livelihood mostly consists of mining and gathering ore. They have a habit of burying things that they find, but almost all of it is useless junk.

Some/all of the information in this article has been culled from various FFXI guides, and translated by Elmer the Pointy.

This page last modified 2007-09-27 08:31:00.

Send a correction

Post Comment
A bit of research
# Mar 30 2006 at 6:18 PM Rating: Good
23 posts
After spending several hours in East Sarutabaruta following one of these guys around, I've got a bit of data which may answer some questions. Basically, I was curious about how these creatures worked, what their purpose was, and which suggestions and information regarding them in other posts were accurate.

Note that I did have to warp back and get a new chocobo every once in awhile, so it is possible that I might not have been following the same digger each time. I've followed diggers around in other areas too (but not as extensively as I did in East Sarutabaruta), and they do seem to act the same.

I don’t consider this complete by any means, and it is my hope that this info can be used as a starting point for any other players who feel like doing a bit of research.

1. The digging does not always happen in the same place. I found at least six very different spots in East Sarutabaruta where the goblin dug a hole. I saw more digging occur than this, with some of the holes close to where others were, but I wasn't sure whether they were in "exactly" the same place, so I only counted the six distinct places.

2. There does not seem to be a set amount of time between digs. I have seen the goblin dig a new hole after 10 minutes, and I've had to wait as much as 24 minutes. The time generally seems to be within that range, although admittedly I have not researched this nearly enough to know if new holes might occasionally take less (or more!) time to be dug. I only counted the time waited when I was there to watch the digger every moment, in case it buried another item while I wasn't around, and to be sure another player didn't kill it, possibly changing the timer. And yes, it was very boring staring at the same mob for 24 minutes straight >.>

3. The distance from the goblin digger does not seem to affect the digging. I've seen the digging happen when the digger was just out of radar range (I had Ranger subbed), with me standing right in front of the digger, and a whole range in between.

4. The same digger can bury more than one item (although not at the same time, or in the same spot). So you do not need to kill the digger to get it to “reset”.

5. There seems to only ever be one digger in an area at a time, and it stays within a set wandering zone. Once it hits the boundaries of that zone, it will start heading back in. However, that zone can sometimes be very large.

6. The digger will occasionally bury an item in a place where you cannot dig. If you move slightly away from the where the hole was dug, you may then be able to dig, but you will only get the "You sense something nearby" message.

7. The area for where you can dig something up is very tight. Some people have suggested auto-following, and I have seen that to work very well. My favorite method, though, is to run right up to the digger just as it is digging, and let the game stop me from running through it. Every time I've done this, I have been able to dig up an item. Again, if you are close to, but not on, the spot where the item was buried, you will get the "You sense something is nearby" message. This just means that you misjudged where the goblin dug the hole, but may still be able to get lucky and find the spot again.

8. I have only been able to get an item through digging on a chocobo. I tried to "scavenge" (with a Ranger sub-job) a few times, but only found the normal items you find when scavenging. I took several picks with me too, but could not find a mining point to target, so was not able to use the picks. I also tried stealing from, and killing, several goblin diggers, but have never found the items they bury this way. It would surprise me if the items can be found through methods other than chocobo digging.

9. On exactly one occasion (so take it for what it's worth), I lost my chocobo a few minutes before the goblin dug a hole, but the hole was in a very easy place to find again (between a bridge, a rock, and a tree, with a few landmarks lining up in the distance). I warped back to Windurst, jumped on a fresh chocobo, and ran back to that spot within just a few minutes. When I tried to dig, I did not even get the "You sense something nearby" message. Again this only happened once, but there are a few possibilities I can think of: a.) I did not find the correct spot, b.) I took too long to get back, and the item vanished, c.) another player was lucky and found the item, d.) you can only find the item if you have not zoned after you see the digger bury it, e.) the digger buried another item, and there can only be one buried item at a time, or f.) someone killed the digger, which caused items it buried to vanish. I am leaning towards "b" myself, but this will need better research to know for sure.

10. The items I have found in East Sarutabaruta so far are: Fingernail Sacks, Goblin Cups, and Goblin Dice. I've gotten a few of each so far, and no other item types, all from this one zone. This could have just been luck, or perhaps each zone has only a few types, or perhaps a percentage chance for each item type. It might be nice to have a chart of which item types can be found in each zone, or to have evidence that all item types can be found in all zones.

11. The items themselves seem to be pretty much worthless, except for in the Orlando’s Antiques quest. I haven’t tried to desynth them, but merchants would not buy them, even though they are not Rare or Ex. Also, the items I found in East Sarutabaruta are NOT stackable.

12. Finally, I was not able to dig up more than one item at a time from a single spot. Trying to dig after finding an item will be just like digging anywhere else in the zone.


By the way, “rfolkker” suggests in the Orlando’s Antiques thread to sub Ranger (to track to the digger), and to take extra greens to practice Chocobo digging while following the diggers around (there is considerable evidence that there is a “hidden” Chocobo digging skill). Both excellent ideas in my opinion.
A bit of research
# Nov 16 2006 at 2:50 PM Rating: Decent
***
1,197 posts
Diggers follow a predictable route. They will have stoped at the same points in their path each time they have completed their route. I have yet to actually find a spot that was "undiggable".

They also don't bury items as frequently as anecdotal evidence led me to believe. In an unbroken two hour period of following a digger on foot, I only witnessed him dig once.

Two chocobos-timing-out later, I got this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F8XbgwwHQw

That's two instances of digging/burying an item in a three hour period. I did not go dig the first dig/bury spot, as the plains part of Buburimu is quite devoid of landmarks, and it didn't occur to me to place a marker at the time, so it would have been quite impossible to locate, methinks.

If you are trying to complete the Orlando's Antiques quest, I'd suggest buying the items off the AH, or mining for them.
digger
# Sep 28 2005 at 12:27 AM Rating: Decent
**
495 posts
I followed one around to see if I could dig up something interesting on my chocobo. Eventually he did bury something, and I dug all around the area at least 15 times but I always go the message "You feel something is near" (or something like that anyways). Why couldn't I actually dig anything up, and what type of things do diggers bury?
For your Info.
# Aug 12 2004 at 6:49 AM Rating: Decent
When gob diggers "Dig" so to speak, you see them jump occassionally, when they do that they plant an item in the ground. so bust out scavenge or dig on a choco or somethin cuz thats whats that is all about...hope that enlightens your day alittle ^_^
RE: For your Info.
# Nov 23 2004 at 7:58 PM Rating: Excellent
**
303 posts
LMAO it's so funny
RE: For your Info.
# Nov 23 2004 at 7:58 PM Rating: Good
**
303 posts
LMAO it's so funny
RE: For your Info.
# Nov 23 2004 at 7:58 PM Rating: Good
**
303 posts
LMAO it's so funny
lol
# Jul 16 2004 at 11:05 PM Rating: Decent
*
51 posts
i was in east saruta waiting on a friend who was campign spipi and i was messing around and a gob digger comes up. i was like hey those dig holes. i stood there for a whal and he didnt do anything. so i turn around and i am talkin to somebody on tell and all of a sudden i hear a pickaxe. i turn aroudn and a gob is hoppin on the ground like hes packing something in lol. so yes they do dig. oh there was another time my friend was on a chocobo and the gob started digging and i jumped on it lol.
RE: lol
# Oct 26 2004 at 9:33 PM Rating: Excellent
***
1,100 posts
yep they do dig, i was laughing when i first saw one dig. I took all kinds of screenshots when it was jumping
matbee.......
# Jun 27 2004 at 11:24 PM Rating: Default
maybe... cuz he notices ur there tats y he didnt dig maybe u need to hide or sumttin
voke
# Jun 25 2004 at 8:23 PM Rating: Default
also if u provoke them right before they toss them bomb, they will drop it on themselves. Its hillarious!!
RE: voke
# Aug 06 2004 at 4:40 PM Rating: Decent
if u r alnoe and he riede bom toss run behind himand he will throw it at his feet adn do no damage to u and a lot to him
RE: voke
# May 20 2005 at 10:52 AM Rating: Decent
*
60 posts
School? {do you need it?}
RE: voke
# Jan 28 2006 at 9:53 AM Rating: Decent
42 posts
cruel? yes. funny as mess? yeah, that too!
RE: voke
# Jun 26 2004 at 9:35 AM Rating: Decent
There is also and second way to make them drop it on there self and belive me if u want. You if not in a pt have no chance unless u voke it. If u in a pt just make everyone get close so he can drop it un himself. Try it if u want.

http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/profile.xml?26678
RE: voke
# Jul 02 2004 at 7:33 PM Rating: Default
Sorry Mr. IDIOT SPEAK, but there is no guarranteed way to make them drop a bomb.
Ive never seen them dig anything
# May 22 2004 at 10:42 PM Rating: Decent
once i stood next to one (it was too weak to be worth the while) and it never dug anything. i was there for like 20 mins then gave up.
RE: Ive never seen them dig anything
# Jun 26 2004 at 9:36 AM Rating: Excellent
........... Thats just the name lol is not like it's gonna happen.




http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/profile.xml?26678
RE: Ive never seen them dig anything
# Jun 30 2004 at 9:02 AM Rating: Decent
28 posts
They do actually dig and burry items. I've seen them do it several times and everytime I was running up to one from a distance when he was doing his animation, never been up close and when they start. For me it's always been from a distance as I'm running closer. I've seen it a handful of times, while some people, who like me have played since October, have never seen it.
RE: Ive never seen them dig anything
# Jun 30 2004 at 9:02 AM Rating: Decent
28 posts


Edited, Wed Jun 30 10:03:03 2004
RE: Ive never seen them dig anything
# Jun 30 2004 at 9:02 AM Rating: Default
28 posts


Edited, Wed Jun 30 10:03:28 2004
RE: Ive never seen them dig anything
# Jun 26 2004 at 12:06 PM Rating: Excellent
Stupid Strategy guide saying that a goblin digger's job is burrying items! GRRR
RE: Ive never seen them dig anything
# Jun 28 2004 at 8:35 PM Rating: Decent
They do occasionally bury items, follow one around on a Chocobo with some Gyshal Greens.
.
# Apr 26 2004 at 8:04 PM Rating: Decent
Scholar
***
2,506 posts
I saw a digger bury something once, then he stomped on the ground to make sure it was buried enough. lol
____________________________
                                     ↓His opinion is ****.↓
RE: .
# Jun 26 2004 at 12:15 PM Rating: Decent
21 posts
Heh I saw it happen too he looks extremely funny when he hops up and down on top of it.
ForBeginers
# Feb 22 2004 at 1:10 PM Rating: Decent
Well goblins are pretty tough little buggers when you first come too them, you might want too try teaming them once your team can beat everything in the region.
Diggers don'T kill em
# Dec 12 2003 at 9:40 PM Rating: Default
Don't kill goblin diggers, they put items in the ground that can be picked up by chocobos, if your riding a chocobo and have greens you ca dig up items that the digger buries^^
RE: Diggers don'T kill em
# Jun 26 2004 at 9:38 AM Rating: Decent
Yea that is through ^^ but is just random like once i dugged up a rusty bucket 0.o



http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/profile.xml?26678
Thief
# Dec 02 2003 at 9:07 PM Rating: Decent
Stealing yields 'pickaxe', about 50% of the time, 'beastcoin' most other times.

Trix
RE: Thief
# Jun 26 2004 at 9:41 AM Rating: Decent
Yea instead of buying the picks axe i take my thf and start hunt diggers so i just steal from them....... I try to find other diggers (with the digger i stold is still behiend me) If i don't find no more and it been 5mins i steal from the same one..... I don't wanna waste 4ks on a stack ^^


http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/profile.xml?26678
RE: Thief
# Jun 26 2004 at 11:31 PM Rating: Decent
*
237 posts
you mean you steal from the same place holder. You can't steal from the same mob more than once, it has to be killed and then respawned.
Same goes for Mug.
RE: Thief
# May 07 2004 at 2:41 AM Rating: Decent
44 posts
Yeah I stole a pickaxe from this little guy. Got a cool FPV of him tossing the bomb.
Post Comment

Free account required to post

You must log in or create an account to post messages.