Q: ML & BtA Random Rewards

[EyeRekon]

I know that a Race Restricted item will reduce the Minimum Level (ML) by 2.

I have noticed that rewards from Red Fens & Sharn Syndicate & Waterworks are Bound but seem to have ML reduced by 1 or 2 over the expected ML.

Is it possible, or has anyone ever been offered a bound reward that is also race restricted for a nice item that is a net -3 or -4 below ML?

[Zeruell]

Pretty sure BtA and race-required minimum level reductions are possible.

The current champion of minimum level reductions, though, is the chain-reward from the Attack on Stormreach quest line -- no-min-level rings of +4 ability score, heavy fortification, and 5-haste clickies have been observed to pop on that list.

It looks like the new quest line currently on Lammania will even one-up AoS -- someone pulled a BtA no-min-level +5 stat ring the other day.

[Kinerd]

Items should never be -1 Minimum Level, only some integer multiple of -2. In older chains (such as Tangleroot, Sharn), BtA items are -2 Minimum Level. This can stack with RR.

Starting with Red Fens, these rules go out the window. Items from the Red Fens can be assigned the value of ML: 5, even though randomly generated weapons and armor never have an odd ML elsewhere in the game. Additionally, this value can be a bonus or a penalty - it could be on a Ring of Moderate Fortification (ordinarily ML 7) or on a Helm of Diplomacy +3 (ordinarily no minimum level). As mentioned by Zeruell, in the newer chains the ML designations are even more nonsensical. In this case, how the "system" interacts with RR is anyone's guess.

[PopeJual]

I had a RR: Halfling BtA Ring that is 4 ML levels lower than it "should" be as a chain end reward. I don't remember what the exact details were on it because it was just a vendor trash item, but I do remember checking with guildies to confirm what the ML "should" be on the item because I was surprised at having both BtA and RR on the same item.