Impact of new drops on tradeskills

[Shadrok]

Put stats on the cultural base or symbol.

As shown on the screenshots above, the Intricate Defiant is wearable at lower level than the Intricate Cultural, has much better stats, and also has focus effects.

To keep cultural viable, it's stats should be competitive with the equivalent Defiant armor. As the rest of the discussion above notes, a groupable type 12 aug with focus effects would adjust that balance.

Sadly, I think I will be making no more Magnetic or Bazu armor. I think that market just dried up. <pout>

Oh... and groupable by 8-10 CoA geared mobs? Uh, I thought groups were still restricted to 6 people. And if we are talking about Ornate and Intricate levels of armor (even Elaborate), I'm sure that those players can't kill raid mobs in DoDh.

[EloMist]

One more thing I have realized, that makes group slot 12 with any stats including mods not doable is that the level 80 armor and symbol ARE at the correct power level. Any stats or mods that would bring the lower level armors to "parity" would blow the level 80 out of proportion as I have no way to keep people from putting these in the level 80 armor. (note I said stats and mods... I am OK with doing focus and such on a "slot 12" group type stuff.

I think even just slot 12 level appropriate foci for cultural would be a great boon. Focus effects are the main reason I've moved away from cultural armor. I think 80/80 armor with foci (hopefully flavors as broad as current group content) and choice of slot 7 would be very sweet for almost any true grouping character.

I'd prefer to be able to TS the slot 12 augs rather than be forced into this camp for this aug and that camp for that aug, but... any form would be an improvement.

Oh, and another prop for the return of Elven Chainmail... the reason I started tradeskilling!

Elo

[Mitsune Foxfire]

Ok, I understand that people are worried that the new drops make the cultural below 60 pretty much useless. But at the same time the drops blow the last bit of possible market for Sunshard made armor out of the water. The lvl 55 sunshard armor was despite the moderate hp/mana (each 80) somewhat useful due to the different foci and the low creation price. Well, farewell sunshard.

[Kross]

i think doing slot 12 group augs are the only way to compete with the new defiant gear. i know ngreth is not hot about the idea of adding stats, just a foci but i don't think thats enough to make it worth while still. the ease of getting this global dropped defiant or going to the bazaar (which is already dropping in price to super cheap) is the way to go.

i don't think the symbols/elegant or elaborate are out of whack currently, and by changing them it would be a huge ordeal amongst the player base. if the armor and symbol got buffed in the 70+ cultural and then nerfed the raid portion, that'd be world war 3. i think the armor/symbol portion 70+ is good as it is, making it any better will turn it into a casual item only as raiders won't bother with the slot 12s like they do now. raiders need a edge, but i do think you can get away with some easy slot 12's that are very very minor. 20hp/mana 5ac and a foci to give it a little more life.

as i understand it cultural is discontinued for future expansions. can either make the older stuff worth something or wait until next expansion and see if the gear from that will make all of this stuff out dated enough to rework the entire cultural line.

[Zopharr]

One more thing I have realized, that makes group slot 12 with any stats including mods not doable is that the level 80 armor and symbol ARE at the correct power level. Any stats or mods that would bring the lower level armors to "parity" would blow the level 80 out of proportion as I have no way to keep people from putting these in the level 80 armor. (note I said stats and mods... I am OK with doing focus and such on a "slot 12" group type stuff.

Ngreth,

I agree that the level 80 armor and symbol are balanced when compared to warped steel, et al....

What about when warped steel , etc. is upgraded with cores and essences? Then the cultural starts falling behind, especially when looking at the focii on the armors.

Perhaps a way to balance groupable slot-12 type augs is to have them drop from the same folks that drop the steam cores, etc. Or perhaps even allow cores to be converted into augments (just like core types can be converted now) so nothing is added to the drop tables.

Players can get the cores and convert them to a (groupable) slot-12 'Last Blood' type component, which could then be made (via AAAs, etc.) uinto the groupable slot-12 augment. Steam cores would convert to an item to make a slot 12 with primarily HP and focus, essences convertable to an item that would makes augments with some additional AC as well.

Reasons for the above approach would be:

- allowing conversion of existing items to the groupable 'last blood' equivalents ensures they come from the same difficulty mobs as for the SoF armor upgrades

- allowing conversion of existing items to the groupable 'last blood' equivalent means no changes to drop tables

- allowing conversion of existing items maximizes flexibility for players - players can loot and decide whether they want to upgrade SoF armor or make a cultural slot 12 aug (I'm all for giving players more options)

- using the same approach as for last bloods should allow a lot of code to be reused, simply modifying values. Not saying this would be easy, but hopfeully easier...

Granted, this addresses the level 80- armors and doesn't do bupkiss for the lower level armors. No idea what to do for those other than add a 'max level' (is there such a thing?) or add some augs with 20-50 hps and low (level 55/65/whatever is appropriate) focii.

[Aldier]

Did players ever find the supposed group type 12 augs that came from Crystallos or were these removed?

I know I have not seen anything on them and remember when SoF came out that they supposedly existed to help bring cultural group armor up a little to compare with crystallos drops.

[Ngreth Thergn]

Ngreth,

I agree that the level 80 armor and symbol are balanced when compared to warped steel, et al....

What about when warped steel , etc. is upgraded with cores and essences? Then the cultural starts falling behind, especially when looking at the focii on the armors.

that is when you start getting into real no-trade T3 (no-trade is better than atunable) and T4 armor. (and this is balanced against T3 not T4)

yes of course it is missing foci, which is why I might at some time be willing to do the statless "group" 12's to help it be closer.

But we still expect no-drop equipment to be better.

[Ngreth Thergn]

Did players ever find the supposed group type 12 augs that came from Crystallos or were these removed?

I know I have not seen anything on them and remember when SoF came out that they supposedly existed to help bring cultural group armor up a little to compare with crystallos drops.

Heh. I forgot about those!

sot here is even something to get you close to T4... as long as you can hunt in T4 to get it.

[Aldier]

Heh. I forgot about those!

sot here is even something to get you close to T4... as long as you can hunt in T4 to get it.

But I do not think anything has been found about them since SoF release.

Does anyone have any hints as to where I could look for info on these mysterious type 12 group augs?

I have yet to see anything when hunting in Crystallos that would appear to be for these augs.

Also, with the revamps that have been done to Crystallos since SoF released, do we even know if the parts/items/drops/NPCs for this still exist?

[Ngreth Thergn]

But I do not think anything has been found about them since SoF release.

Does anyone have any hints as to where I could look for info on these mysterious type 12 group augs?

I have yet to see anything when hunting in Crystallos that would appear to be for these augs.

Also, with the revamps that have been done to Crystallos since SoF released, do we even know if the parts/items/drops/NPCs for this still exist?

You need ally Crystallos faction, then the vendor that sells the other Crystallos stuff sells the book that explains what needs to be done.

[Aldier]

You need ally Crystallos faction, then the vendor that sells the other Crystallos stuff sells the book that explains what needs to be done.

I have ally faction.

I ran around DSH today and found "Seals of the Elementals" on each of the 4 Suppliers.

Same book, cost little over 1k plat.

I opened it up and it was blank. Gave me a scroll look, not the book so there are no pages to turn.

I cast Identify on the item and got "This item appears to be written in Common Tongue." and "Item Lore: Seals of the Elementals"

[Ngreth Thergn]

I have ally faction.

I ran around DSH today and found "Seals of the Elementals" on each of the 4 Suppliers.

Same book, cost little over 1k plat.

I opened it up and it was blank. Gave me a scroll look, not the book so there are no pages to turn.

I cast Identify on the item and got "This item appears to be written in Common Tongue." and "Item Lore: Seals of the Elementals"

ok.... that is odd...

will have to poke about on that.

[Gorse]

I opened it up and it was blank. Gave me a scroll look, not the book so there are no pages to turn.

Are you using a custom user interface (UI)?



Gorse

[Aldier]

Yes, but I spoke with the creator of my UI and he said that it should not be a problem. I can try to load the default and recheck it.

EDIT* Just switched back to default and got the same blank scroll appearance.

[Ngreth Thergn]

Nah it's broke

Not sure when I can fix it though