Just as a tip to people who maybe like tilting the scale more to their favor, if you do all of the remembering the dead quests where you have to bring the lady outside of Arvantville pieces of armor and equipment, she will give you the Ring of Solomon. This ring specifically increases the drop rate of enemy shards. It really cut the grind down. Noticeably. If you're okay waiting until closer to end game to get this. it saves a lot of time in the long run.