Quick look at Cauldron of Sora Katra (item combiner for Droaam)

[voodoogroves]

I definitely will be adding Maiming to a set of Rocksplitters pretty quick I think.

[Genasi]

Great feedback, everyone. I've gone through the thread and while I don't have time to comment on everything specifically, it seems many of you are finding ways to make use of this system and have fun with it, which is great. There's also some very valid and useful criticisms here, several of which stand out to me: for one, I acknowledge that I overlooked one-handed finessable weapons with this system. It's true that no loot system can accommodate every single need, but with this one I had wanted to cover as many bases as possible and that's one I missed.

It may not be too late to address that, though - I have heard suggestions to make the Rocksplitter a light pick instead of a heavy one, but that may have an unfortunate effect on those who have farmed it expecting it to remain heavy. I'd like to hear people's thoughts on that possibility though. Adding a whole new weapon (and its appropriate upgraded versions) to the system is probably not possible at this stage. However, it should be possible for me to make recipes that would actually reduce the size of an existing weapon to something finessable. For instance, add an extra mark to any recipe that results in an upgraded Blade of Fury and it will become a mini-Blade-of-Fury, which is in fact a shortsword but is otherwise identical. It needn't be the Blade of Fury though. Thoughts on what the ideal weapon to do this with would be?

I also recognize that the Gnollish War Bow is not necessarily the ideal choice for a ranged specialist, but that's why I made the Wind Howler Bracers as I did. I wanted to create items that would be helpful both for characters who specialize in ranged and those who use it more as a secondary tool - in short, giving options to characters who use ranged combat for any reason, regardless of specialization. That said, because this longbow is more for those who haven't already invested in ranged combat significantly, you can expect a longbow soon that will cater more towards specialists.

A few things about the Stonedust Handwraps: I'm aware the Stunning wasn't working when Update 7 first launched, but a fix went in that should make new versions of it work correctly, including those that have been upgraded via the Cauldron. I'd be interested in whether or not the handwraps you're upgrading via this system are ending up with a working Stunning effect (particularly if the handwraps you put in didn't work initially). I've tested it myself and it appears to be the case, but it'd be good to have confirmation of it.

And no, they won't be getting Stunning +10 - I think +6 is reasonable especially when there's still the 3% chance to stun the foe - but it seems like Stone Prison could at least use a boost to its DC. I've heard various degrees of feedback about it but for the most part it seems it's not petrifying enemies in this level range half the time that it goes off (which is the intention).

[BlackSteel]

I have np with the pick being changed to light. It becomes a much better offhand weapon that way which applies to any TWF, and finessable to boot.

[The_Cataclysm]

I don't think there is a named light pick yet, so Rocksplitter being turned into one would be nice (of course I'm biased towards finesse weapons, so I don't know what a pick user would say).

As for turning a weapon into a mini version, Blade of Fury and Hooked Blade would probably be highest on my list, followed by Rocksplitter. The staff might be interesting as a light mace. I kind of like the whole idea of reducing size to turn it into a finesse weapon. It is a great solution.

[Wurmwood]

Solution: Crazy Orc who is obsessed with shrinking things, will take your items (blade of fury, etc) and make them into light versions. Will do it for 3 marks, either 3 of the same, or 1 of each.

[voodoogroves]

Making it +5 and light would keep the DPS loss level (as opposed to +4/heavy)

[voodoogroves]

One more thing, that would fit the model of "interesting but not uber" would be in the shortsword category.

[The_Cataclysm]

Making it +5 and light would keep the DPS loss level (as opposed to +4/heavy)

But once it becomes combined it would be +5 whether it was heavy or light. The middle crowd I guess would be listed as a light pick but have the damage profile of the heavy.

[Meretrix]

It seems casters were left out

[nivarch]

My opinions :
- Give the option to change to pick to light / heavy (the same way you sugested for finesse). This would make everybody happy. Maybe make it default to light tho.
- A finessable blade of fury would be nice. But imo finessable Bloody cleaver would fit more to the style : human bane, bleed, bodyfeeder ... sounds like rapier-ish to me (and it could be a **** good weapon with maiming on top)

[Nyvn]

@Genasi

Alternate versions are a great idea. Especially for re-itemization of older Areas like Threnal...

[gurgar78]

@Genasi

Alternate versions are a great idea. Especially for re-itemization of older Areas like Threnal...

I don't think the intention is to re-itemize the entire game. I'm pretty sure he's just trying to correct an oversight in the U7/U8 items in which no finesse weapons were included.

[Ciaran]

It may not be too late to address that, though - I have heard suggestions to make the Rocksplitter a light pick instead of a heavy one, but that may have an unfortunate effect on those who have farmed it expecting it to remain heavy. I'd like to hear people's thoughts on that possibility though. Adding a whole new weapon (and its appropriate upgraded versions) to the system is probably not possible at this stage. However, it should be possible for me to make recipes that would actually reduce the size of an existing weapon to something finessable. For instance, add an extra mark to any recipe that results in an upgraded Blade of Fury and it will become a mini-Blade-of-Fury, which is in fact a shortsword but is otherwise identical. It needn't be the Blade of Fury though. Thoughts on what the ideal weapon to do this with would be?

Can it only be one weapon? Couldn’t you add specific marks for specific weapons (mark for Blade of Fury, mark for Rocksplitter) to reduce their size? I would say this would be a better solution than making Rocksplitter a light-pick (I’m in the crowd that farmed it expecting it to remain heavy). It also adds more variety to the weapons. Being able to make a mini blade of fury for a finesse character is pretty darn cool, and same with Rocksplitter. Also, perhaps miniaturizing the falchion into a scimitar would be pretty darn sweet.

If it can only be one weapon, I personally think that Rocksplitter would be the best choice for mini-sizing. That way it benefits finesse characters and though who farmed it expecting it to remain heavy equally. But really, you should look into adding marks that shrink multiple weapons.

[voodoogroves]

But once it becomes combined it would be +5 whether it was heavy or light. The middle crowd I guess would be listed as a light pick but have the damage profile of the heavy.

Ah good point.

[gurgar78]

But once it becomes combined it would be +5 whether it was heavy or light. The middle crowd I guess would be listed as a light pick but have the damage profile of the heavy.

That's not really a "middle crowd" option. It's more of a "best of both worlds" option.

[LookingForABentoBox]

I'm assuming that if rocksplitter was made into a light pick that it would lower the base damage?

[The_Cataclysm]

That's not really a "middle crowd" option. It's more of a "best of both worlds" option.

Unless they go make weapons mini option for Rocksplitter, it is the only way to please both crowds though.

[BlackSteel]

I'm assuming that if rocksplitter was made into a light pick that it would lower the base damage?

very slightly yes, an average of 1 damage loss, but you now have a light offhand weapon. two light picks will save you 2 to hit compared to two heavy ones. I actually prefer this weapon as a light pick for that reason.

[gurgar78]

Unless they go make weapons mini option for Rocksplitter, it is the only way to please both crowds though.

Why bother to have heavy weapons if you're just going to give the same damage to light weapons anyway? The benefits of a light weapon are that it can be used with the Weapon Finesse feat and also that it removes the attack penalty modifier for TWF when used in the off-hand. The trade-off is it does slightly less damage than a corresponding heavy weapon.

A light pick is a light pick. It has a 1d4 damage range, not a 1d6 damage range.

"Pleasing both crowds" should not be the objective here. Fair and balanced gameplay should be the objective. Finesse weapons users are getting left out. I have no problems changing something so that they get a desirable weapon as well. I do have a problem with "upgrading" the light weapon to do as much damage as the heavy weapon.

It really seems like the optimal choice is to create a crafting formula that enables a player to reduce the "size" of a given weapon (with corresponding damage reductions) to make it a light weapon. The worst choice available would be to make it a light weapon while still retaining the heavy weapon damage properties. I'd rather see it go one way or the other before that.

[Nyvn]

I don't think the intention is to re-itemize the entire game. I'm pretty sure he's just trying to correct an oversight in the U7/U8 items in which no finesse weapons were included.

I know this is specific to these items, but some areas are in need of being redone and it's be a waste to not reuse a system this good in those areas.