Item Refresh

The rare crumbling poll inspired some further thoughts on items and rare availability...

Would it be possible to undertake a refresh of some of the items that currently exist but no one ever uses? Not in the sense of making them identical to top tier rares, but more with the aim of increasing the mid range.

I think an overall challenge we face right now is that as new areas and items get introduced, old items lose their value. Granted, some things (e.g. EQ from Gear, Desolation, Factions) might never lose their value. But I think the mid-range items suffer, so you're typically either stuck at the bottom or you're on top.

Examples of items that could be cool (and are difficult to get) but are seldom used:

The Lich King's items (minus the sceptre)

Most of Xanthak and the Wights' items

Mistress of Magic's items

Gasteride's earrings

Firidon's items + Crunch's helm

These are just basic examples of stuff that is always in, because it either doesn't compare to current items or people forget about it because it would just be a stop gap to a better item. We have a lot of really cool stuff in game - it would be easy to just improve on it a little, to make it desirable.

What if.. it was all toned down? No one can get insane hit/dam, saves, hp, -ac... PKs would last a LOT longer and it would be more skill based..

As it is now, you stack whatever your combo needs and you go to work. Certain classes can survive just by stacking hit/dam to ridiculous levels. Some classes just get 1300 hp and spam high damage spells. 

Make it all the "end-game" rares, worse.. That'd even it out a whole lot more.

Maybe?  (or not..)

Or...maybe add a hard cap to hit/dam/saves/-ac/hp per class? So even if you DID manage to accumulate a "god-suit" it would only give you a moderate edge against those that don't.

I'm completely down with refurbishing some of the old school gear that is near worthless now.  And a lot of it isn't worthless because of high end stuff, it's worthless compared so some vendor gear.

Xanthak's items truly suck compared to how strong to mob is.

As for lowering the strength of high end gear.... we are already there. There are some VERY good non rare items out there.

For example, a well built and smartly dressed Gladiator fire giant can achieve exactly:

69 hitroll

68 damroll

19 svs

Without using a single rare (not even the weapons).

And that's with ALL items obtainable at rank 30.

Then why doesn't it matter? If that's possible then how come my Adeptus trumps your commons?

Numbers are getting too high. That is the problem in my opinion.

Time to pull a WoW expansion and raise the level cap?

The rare crumbling poll inspired some further thoughts on items and rare availability...

 

Would it be possible to undertake a refresh of some of the items that currently exist but no one ever uses? Not in the sense of making them identical to top tier rares, but more with the aim of increasing the mid range.

 

I think an overall challenge we face right now is that as new areas and items get introduced, old items lose their value. Granted, some things (e.g. EQ from Gear, Desolation, Factions) might never lose their value. But I think the mid-range items suffer, so you're typically either stuck at the bottom or you're on top.

 

Examples of items that could be cool (and are difficult to get) but are seldom used:

 

The Lich King's items (minus the sceptre)

Most of Xanthak and the Wights' items

Mistress of Magic's items

Gasteride's earrings

Firidon's items + Crunch's helm

 

These are just basic examples of stuff that is always in, because it either doesn't compare to current items or people forget about it because it would just be a stop gap to a better item. We have a lot of really cool stuff in game - it would be easy to just improve on it a little, to make it desirable.

I completely agree, these are solid mobs that 'used to be' equipment mobs but are now rarely ever bothered with anymore. It might not even be about making their equipment better but perhaps just cutting off the negative effects that are making people shy away and maybe just make them socketable as well?

UC

We are already doing this, as the items catch our eyes. We do not want to make a copy of already existing high level gear however, so we change things mostly to allow other venues of dressing.

If you have items and recommendations how to change them, please post in the following format on prayer:

Item change suggestion

item: current id

proposed change:

Thank you.

The willow palm changes were awesome, kudos.

We are already doing this, as the items catch our eyes. We do not want to make a copy of already existing high level gear however, so we change things mostly to allow other venues of dressing.

If you have items and recommendations how to change them, please post in the following format on prayer:

 

Item change suggestion

 

item: current id

proposed change:

 

Thank you.

 

 

Could you give an example of what kind of changes you are doing to items? Are you changing frequently used items as well?

We're mostly looking at stuff nobody uses.

E.g. the bracelet of eternal hatred was changed quite some time ago, some items nobody ever used in Willow Palm were adjusted.

We try not to make copies of already existing gear but rather give different possibilities how to dress, e.g. + regen or + defense combos.