The problem with raids, clerics, and loot

[Nerate_Mireth]

Which item does make you go wow then? It's not like you can't use the sword of shadows with the right bard build, and aside from that there is nothing absurdly incredible out there. The Delving suit, torc, and gloves are all top tier items, as good as, if not better than any other items in the game with the possible exception of the SoS.

With the right bard build? Well I'm no powergamer and I'm not a member of the Build of the Month Club. To me a TRUE roleplayer works around the mistakes they made in creating a character and still does better than most everyone else. It makes the character unique. Instead of the millions of "Batman Builds" people were making months ago.

As for cleric loot and cleric builds.....MOST clerics I've seen and the ones I play are healers. Toss in a couple of offensive spells to draw aggro off of a caster while the tanks are shredding things on the front lines. I want something that's gonna help ME keep YOU alive longer. A staff with some good but not great mods? PLEASE! I have a Healing Scepter in one hand and scrolls/wands in the other ready to trade out to a shield if needed.

And don't get me started on ranged gear. I get better stuff OUTSIDE of the raids (Shards of Light from Shadow Crypt End) or the TLB from the Black Dragon, or just my +2 GT Comp Lbow of Disruption. Screaming Amethyst Arrows...big deal....Silver Longbow...BORING...Hobble's Crossbow (Irestone)...big deal...Poison Tipped Xbow or Scorpion Tail(Redwillows)...Yawn...Bow of the Elements (Air)...make the +2 dex stack with others and now you're on the right track.....Collapsible Shortbow....make these stats stack as well and great else ok....Thornlord...again BORING...Giant's Roar....garbage...Storm (DQ) good if you use crossbows...Guidance (Catacombs)....no comment.....Serpent Branch....good for lowbies...Ratcatcher (Threnal)....Let's see...vermin in the game would be....scorps...spiders....so a waste of time really.....Guardkiller Bow....good for the level but becomes useless quick...Swift Demise...does Crippling even work yet?

So show me something a primarily RANGED Ranger would get excited over in that list other than the Shards and maybe the Screaming Amethyst Arrows.

And I don't know about other clerics but mine gets even the worst end rewards/chest loot from quests....People pulling tomes and vorpals and I get rocks and scrolls. Don't tell me it's my luck as my tank and caster pull good stuff and I watch the clerics pull garbage all the time.

And someone commented about clerics getting money all the time for doing their "job"....WHEN!? I like to think I do one heckuva job keeping my parties healed up and buffed and most of the time I'm lucky to get a "Thanks" from anyone in the party. I rarely play my cleric now except for guild needs. And yes, I regularly give clerics in PUGs I join plat or loot based on how well I feel they did.

[Morgoth_the_Enemy]

With the right bard build? Well I'm no powergamer and I'm not a member of the Build of the Month Club. To me a TRUE roleplayer works around the mistakes they made in creating a character and still does better than most everyone else. It makes the character unique. Instead of the millions of "Batman Builds" people were making months ago.

Right bard build meant a build that would be right for the Sword of Shadows, not a perfect bard build or one that would be right for everyone. My bard is weapon finesse after all, and has nothing to do with something as big and clunky as a SoS :P