I posted this at the EQLive forums in response to a query there, but I also wanted to get some feedback here on the ideas.
I had some brief discussions with the developers about the disparity between chain and plate armor ingredients at the Fan Faire tradeskill panels. Since then, I've been doing a bit of thinking, and here's what I've come up with.
I originally thought you could get a lot closer to balance by just adjusting tempers, but then I realized that you also have to take bricks into account. So, the solution has to be in two parts.
Since these boards won't let me post HTML tables, I posted the full write up here. It includes details on why the changes I suggest are necessary and how they balance with chain armors.
Combined Proposals
If we combine a reduction in tempers needed with a reduction in bricks consumed, we get much closer to achieving parity between plate and chain armor, without upsetting the balance against leather (which also uses these tempers). Here are the new recipes that would need to be added or changed.
Chain Jointing:
Current recipe: one ring, one temper, one file, one Tanaan hammer -- yield one chain jointing (leave this recipe as-is)
Add recipe: two rings, one temper, one file, one Tanaan hammer -- yield two chain jointings
Sheet of Metal:
Current recipe (remove this recipe): two bricks, one temper, one Tanaan hammer -- yield one sheet
Add recipe (proposal one): one brick, one temper, one Tanaan hammer -- yield one sheet
Add recipe (proposal one): two bricks, one temper, one Tanaan hammer -- yield two sheets
OR
Add recipe (proposal two): one brick, one temper, one Tanaan hammer -- yield two sheets
Summary
The fixes to planar armors can be done by removing one recipe and adding two or three new ones for each of the planar armor types. The number added depends on the proposal adopted. I'm strongly in favor of proposal two, as it brings plate much closer to parity with chain, while still ensuring that plate needs more components. Since there are six known armor types (Nightmare, Hurricane, and the four elementals), this amounts to six removed recipes and 12 or 18 new ones. This would bring planar plate armor requirements much more in line with the corresponding chain and even leather armors.
I had some brief discussions with the developers about the disparity between chain and plate armor ingredients at the Fan Faire tradeskill panels. Since then, I've been doing a bit of thinking, and here's what I've come up with.
I originally thought you could get a lot closer to balance by just adjusting tempers, but then I realized that you also have to take bricks into account. So, the solution has to be in two parts.
Since these boards won't let me post HTML tables, I posted the full write up here. It includes details on why the changes I suggest are necessary and how they balance with chain armors.
Combined Proposals
If we combine a reduction in tempers needed with a reduction in bricks consumed, we get much closer to achieving parity between plate and chain armor, without upsetting the balance against leather (which also uses these tempers). Here are the new recipes that would need to be added or changed.
Chain Jointing:
Current recipe: one ring, one temper, one file, one Tanaan hammer -- yield one chain jointing (leave this recipe as-is)
Add recipe: two rings, one temper, one file, one Tanaan hammer -- yield two chain jointings
Sheet of Metal:
Current recipe (remove this recipe): two bricks, one temper, one Tanaan hammer -- yield one sheet
Add recipe (proposal one): one brick, one temper, one Tanaan hammer -- yield one sheet
Add recipe (proposal one): two bricks, one temper, one Tanaan hammer -- yield two sheets
OR
Add recipe (proposal two): one brick, one temper, one Tanaan hammer -- yield two sheets
Summary
The fixes to planar armors can be done by removing one recipe and adding two or three new ones for each of the planar armor types. The number added depends on the proposal adopted. I'm strongly in favor of proposal two, as it brings plate much closer to parity with chain, while still ensuring that plate needs more components. Since there are six known armor types (Nightmare, Hurricane, and the four elementals), this amounts to six removed recipes and 12 or 18 new ones. This would bring planar plate armor requirements much more in line with the corresponding chain and even leather armors.
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