Diablo3: Staff of Herding Guide

Hey guys, decided I would build a guide on how to get each piece required for the staff since there isn't much direct info out there yet.

For those who don't know the staff leads to the new version of the The Secret Cow Level, And is crafted using 5 rare items and a rare recipe, you need 150,000 gold total for the normal version of this staff.

Leroic's Shinbone Act: 1 - Found Inside of the fireplace in Leroic's Manor (Click on the burnt logs) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eIbYgfoBSs

The Black Mushroom Act: 1 - Found in the cathedral, most commonly floor 1 (Click mushroom pile) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-RLeehzfYA

Liquid Rainbow Act: 2 - Inside of a mysterious cave in act 2 (Dahlgur Oasis) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2irGFmldec0

Wirt's Bell Act: 2 - Bought for 100,000 gold from Squirts in the Act 2 Bazaar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FspdRzxIg_k

Gibbering Gemstone Act: 3 - Drops from Chiltara in the Caves of Frost(Found after Bridge of Korsikk) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxUh63yx4oU

Plans: Staff of Herding Act: 4 The recipe to craft the staff is a drop from Izual (Act 4 Boss) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geoODfSVs3U
Once all 6 items are obtained, open the window of your blacksmith and right click the pattern to learn it, you can now craft it under the weapon section.

Now that it is crafted, you must visit The Ghost of the Cow king on Old Tristram Road in Act 1, he will have a brief dialog with you and then open the path to Whimsyshire, the magical land of rainbows and ponies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDpaS_hVqjw
Good luck on the farming and enjoy slaying the over friendly beasts!!!

Lots of questions for this one, here is a quick FAQ.

Q: How long does it take to build the staff?
A: About 1-2 hours to completely build the staff, including research time. However, there are many reports of farming for 2-3 hours for a single piece of the staff, so the total time seems to vary greatly with luck.

Q: How much does it cost to build the staff?
A: To obtain the most basic form of the staff (normal version) it costs 150,000g. It then costs an additional 200,000g to build the nightmare version of the staff, 500,000g for the hell version of the staff. Currently the inferno version price is unknown.

Q: How to you obtain the pattern for nightmare/hell/inferno versions?
A: They seem to spawn randomly on the quartermaster in the main town of Act III

Q: Is the staff destroyed on use?
A: No, you can use the staff as many times as you wish.

Q: Does the nightmare/hell/inferno version of the staff work on lesser difficulties?
A: Yes, the staff can be used on any difficulty up to and including the difficulty stated in the prefix of the staff. (Note: normal version of the staff does not have a prefix, it is just the Staff of Herding)

Q: Does the staff gain any stats?
A: No, it is only used to gain access to the secret level.

Q: How difficult is the secret level?
A: The secret level is just as difficult as Act IV of the current difficulty. It scales as more players join just like any other level.

Q: Do I have to refarm the materials to build the nightmare/hell/inferno version of the staff?
A: No, after the first form of the staff is made you need only the previous version of the staff and a sum of gold to upgrade it.