I just tested it out (as a 89 ranger) and I don't think it is a good spot, and I think it would be worse without rain. I didn't check my exp rates as I wasn't there for long nor would it be useful considering my level.
The zone I circled as 1(basically the area around the stairs, kind of covered by my character but you should be able to see it) is about the spot where you can usually hit all three platforms(A, B, and C), as shown below, when arrow bombing from the railing.
Railing:
Conclusion: If you don't have rain, don't bother and go to DS/strafe spots. If you have rain, don't bother and go to Den 2.
Edit: One thing I forgot to mention, the pirates need to be positioned well, kind of aligned, if you want to hit all three platforms.
Spoiler
![[Image: maple0003wo7.jpg]](http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/5917/maple0003wo7.jpg)
The zone I circled as 1(basically the area around the stairs, kind of covered by my character but you should be able to see it) is about the spot where you can usually hit all three platforms(A, B, and C), as shown below, when arrow bombing from the railing.
Railing:
Spoiler
![[Image: maple0004ep0.jpg]](http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/8493/maple0004ep0.jpg)
- You need to be near the middle of the railing, as too high will hit only the top two platforms, and too low will hit only the bottom two, lead to bow whacks, and occasionally get absorbed by the stairs.
- You can only hit 3 platforms if there is a pirate near area 1 on the middle platform. In addition if it's too far to the left, it tends to get absorbed, and if it's too far to the right, you might MB/bow whack.
- You cannot hit the bottom platform from that spot on the railing with AB. This bad since the bottom has the best spawn. I had to use rain to clear them out, but ABing from the left side works as well, if ineffective.
- As you can see from the minmap, there is another half of the bottom platform to the right of the ship. While it is flat, it's rather wide, so ABing will not hit them all unless you group them together ( rain does well, but PKB still doesn't work often enough and is ineffective given the size of the pirates). Bottom platform pirates like to gather up over there..so you have to clean them out often to revive the spawn.
- The very top platform, which I did not give a letter to, can only be reached by climbing up there.
- The pot cost didn't seem to be lower than Pirates Den 2, and you don't seem to be able to kill nearly as many pirates.
Conclusion: If you don't have rain, don't bother and go to DS/strafe spots. If you have rain, don't bother and go to Den 2.
Edit: One thing I forgot to mention, the pirates need to be positioned well, kind of aligned, if you want to hit all three platforms.