non cultural armor

[Gruupi]

I am a level 58 bard on tarew marr and am agnostic so I cannot wear cultural armor. I know from these boards that there is other smithed items out there and even some better. The POP stuff looks really intersting but have not seen any for sale yet. What is out there and a basic price range that would be an upgrade from singing steel. I am not all that impressed with resonant stuff but take it when I get it. If some one could give a synopsis it would help me decide what to save for.

[Eumerin]

What race are you? There's probably a cultural armor available. You just need to make sure that its not imbued. For example, the most common form of Steelweave armor available in the bazaar on my server is Rigid, which is useable by any plate class Erudite, regardless of deity, because the armor is not imbued, and thus has no deity requirement (nevermind the fact that everyone that can wear Steelweave is required to worship a deity).

Tae Ew Plate is an option, but the scales needed are so exceedingly rare that it would be very expensive to buy a whole set, provided of course that you could actually find a whole set for sale. People have described going entire levels without getting enough scales to make one bp.

What type of PoP plate did you look for? If you looked for the smithed plate, you may not see much, and its usually fairly expensive (standard Hurricane bp price on my server is 55k). The ornate molds, on the other hand, are starting to circulate, and you may be able to purchase one of these and use it to fashion some no drop armor for yourself (no smithing required).

[Celdil]

Aye...race is key.

Human Smiths make a non imbued version of the Heraldic armor, simply called Fine Heraldic. Wearable by any plate class, and restricted to Human, Barbarian, Half Elf and Froglok. Right now prices for the items in the bazaar appear to be around 20k for three ring items (BP, Greaves, Cloak), 10 - 15k for two ring items (Gauntlets, Helm, Epaulets, Boots) and 7 - 10k for single ring items (Bracer, Visor, Gorget). I'm missing a few items in there, but you get the idea. Rings refer to the number of Infused High Quality Rings needed to make the item.

If you are willing to gather up the components yourself, some smiths will work a deal on the combines. Others will not, so it takes some perserverance.

[Gruupi]

this is a good board- quick answers

I am half elf (agnostic) I do a search almost every day in the bazaar and have yet to see a smithed bp that is equal to the cultural or better. Even at high prices i would like to get something nice, I doubt i will ever get a good no drop bp or legs. The sets that become fully usable at level 63 seem nice and I will probably reach that in a month or 2. I am not familiar yet with what it takes to do the ornate mold route, don't you have to be flagged or something. Since this is my first character to this level I just don't know much of what is out there from first hand experience. Thanks for the advice so far and any further knowledge is apreciated.

[Cavel]

I agree with what has been said up to this point. I am tossing my 2pp in here now.

The best bang for the buck for a bard would be to either get the Non-imbued cultural armor (If it is any good... HIE stuff for a Wood elf bard is not too bad). Or look to the Planer armors Nightmare is not horrible but the hurricane is better. Tae Ew would be great, but as stated above it will be difficult to find.

My best suggestion to you is that you look for major upgrades, BP for example, the type that will buy you the best stats and AC that you can afford. This also will not come cheap, unless you find someone who is willing to do the combines for you and you gather all the items.

[Fenadin]

Full Mithril

I have made a lot of stuff for Half-Elf, agnostic bards. It's the HIE cultural. Look for Full Mithril. The blessed stuf is the stuff that requires a diety.