Update Dragontouched

[ProdigalGuru]

With all the changes since the release of Reaver's Reach, I feel it is time for an update of Dragontouched Crafting.

I am sure, at the time, it made sense to have "less than optimal" choices on some runes, but that time has passed.

My suggestion is to swap some runes for more useful ones:

Sovereign Runes-
Crippling: change to Shock (Sup. Magnetism VII)
Arcane Sigil: change to Acid (Sup. Corrosion VII)
Flame: change to Force (Sup. Impact VII)
Chill: change to Light (Sup. Brilliance VII)
Sound: change to Repair (Sup. ? VII)

Tempest-
Lesser Arcane Sigil: change to Efficient Metamagic- Maximize I or II
Spell Resistance 22: change to SR 28 or 30

Eldritch-
Lionheart: change to Fear Immunity
Improved False Life: change to Underwater Action
Striding: change to Freedom of Movement


There needs to be equivalent bonuses in the Sovereign tier for every Elemental type.
The usefulness of Arcane Sigils is limited, at best.
Enemies die too quickly for Crippling to be really useful.
SR 22 is outclassed by Drow and Monk SR 30.
Fear Immunity is much more useful than a Remove Fear proc.
Striding 20% and Imp. False Life are outclassed by other runes in the same tier.

[soulaeon]

You also forgot to mention that the new crafting potentially can make Dragontouched irrelivant.
Does Dragonscale armor also have similar properties as DT? Both could be updated.

[ProdigalGuru]

I really doubt that the new crafting will make DT armor irrelevant.

Dragon SCALE armor is completely different and NOT customizable.

I do not feel Dragon Scale Armor needs an update, as the items are level-appropriate.

[Cardtrick]

Striding 20% and Imp. False Life are outclassed by other runes in the same tier.

This is the key. It was clearly intended right from the beginning that some runes would be more useful than others. That's especially obvious in these cases, where straightforwardly better, rather than different, options are available in the same tier.\

There's no need to remove less useful runes like you're suggesting -- we already have methods to break down and combine runes, and the turn-in system makes obtaining the desired eldritch rune especially easy.

Dragontouched Armor is actually very low-grind, as long as you're just looking for "good" rather than "ideal." There's no need to reduce the grind further. Most characters can make a useful set of Dragontouched after their first one or two SoS runs, and then gradually upgrade it over time. I've done dozens of SoS runs looking for a Radiance rune, but my armor is still very useful with one of the less ideal Sov runes in its place, and I don't find the Dragontouched armor process frustrating, the way epic item grinds can be.

That said, it could use a bit of a low-priority update at some point. If nothing else, the "Smiting" rune should be updated to either provide the same effect as the new version of smiting, or else have its name and description changed. And now that Toughness is more easily available on multiple items, it might make an interesting option to add to the Tempest or Sovereign rune lists. Some of your other suggestions are worth implementing, too -- there's no need to completely balance the options, and a bit of grind is quite healthy for an MMO, but you're right that some of the runes are simply useless and could do with minor updates.

[QuantumFX]

Striding: change to Freedom of Movement

I’d settle for Striding +30%. At the very least it would give melees some other options for boots.

[Bargol]

They recently updated the dragon touched so we could see what runes would apply before crafting. Did you craft armor before this update? If you did you would be very happy with the way dragon touched currently works, instead of the slot machine version it used to be.

Are there some of the runes that aren't very useful, yes, but they should be in there as part of the grind. At least now you can crunch them into other runes.

[ProdigalGuru]

There's no need to remove less useful runes like you're suggesting -- we already have methods to break down and combine runes, and the turn-in system makes obtaining the desired eldritch rune especially easy.

Dragontouched Armor is actually very low-grind, as long as you're just looking for "good" rather than "ideal." There's no need to reduce the grind further. Most characters can make a useful set of Dragontouched after their first one or two SoS runs, and then gradually upgrade it over time. I've done dozens of SoS runs looking for a Radiance rune, but my armor is still very useful with one of the less ideal Sov runes in its place, and I don't find the Dragontouched armor process frustrating, the way epic item grinds can be.

That said, it could use a bit of a low-priority update at some point. If nothing else, the "Smiting" rune should be updated to either provide the same effect as the new version of smiting, or else have its name and description changed. And now that Toughness is more easily available on multiple items, it might make an interesting option to add to the Tempest or Sovereign rune lists. Some of your other suggestions are worth implementing, too -- there's no need to completely balance the options, and a bit of grind is quite healthy for an MMO, but you're right that some of the runes are simply useless and could do with minor updates.

I suggested swapping runes as opposed to just adding runes, because I believe it would be hard to convince the majority that a longer grind is a good idea. As you said, the effort to reward ratio seems about right as is. I agree that it is fairly easy to get a useful, if not ideal, set within your first 3 runs.

The lack of Sovereign runes to enhance each element seems like an oversight.

Fixing the Smiting to work with the new system also seems like an oversight.

Toughness is already represented in the Sovereign tier with the Health rune.

[ProdigalGuru]

They recently updated the Dragontouched so we could see what runes would apply before crafting. Did you craft armor before this update? If you did you would be very happy with the way Dragontouched currently works, instead of the slot machine version it used to be.

Are there some of the runes that aren't very useful, yes, but they should be in there as part of the grind. At least now you can crunch them into other runes.

Yes, I crafted before the change, and agree that naming the runes was a large improvement, but still feel that more work is required.

Why do sub-optimal runes need to be a part of the grind? Wouldn't making the rune you choose a more difficult choice be a better way to go?

As for the Striding 30%, it should be a simple change from the 25% currently in place. I still feel there is no need for the lesser Striding rune, but 30% is far from OP.

[Cardtrick]

Toughness is already represented in the Sovereign tier with the Health rune.

No -- that's Greater Elemental Energy (the Green Steel tier 3 HP effect) rather than Toughness (the Minos/Tharaak bracers/Quorforged Docent/epic slots/etc. effect). The two effects stack. I see no reason not to have both available on Dragontouched, now that the devs seem to have decided that making the Minos virtually indispensable was a bad idea.

[ProdigalGuru]

No -- that's Greater Elemental Energy (the Green Steel tier 3 HP effect) rather than Toughness (the Minos/Tharaak bracers/Quorforged Docent/epic slots/etc. effect). The two effects stack. I see no reason not to have both available on Dragontouched, now that the devs seem to have decided that making the Minos virtually indispensable was a bad idea.

Yes, I realize they are not identical, but they are similar enough that I didn't think it necessary to add Toughness.

[voodoogroves]

I'd also love to see the ability to slot a lower-tier rune in a higher slot (like an Eldritch in a Tempest slot, etc.)

[Yokido]

Or better yet, they could add a new tier of rune altogether.
?????-Eldritch-Tempest-Sovereign
I also think that the ML should be altered according to whether or not the armor has a sovereign and tempest slot taken up, but not according to what it is..

I'd like to be able to wear eldritch and tempest runed armor at atleast level 12, considering it'd be level appropriate.

[Matuse]

Yes, I realize they are not identical, but they are similar enough that I didn't think it necessary to add Toughness.

They aren't similar enough. They stack. That makes them for all intents and purposes completely dissimilar.

Far easier to get the elemental HP on a greensteel item. There's no lottery involved at all. Then you stick the Toughness on your DT. The opposite possibility does not exist. You cannot stick Toughness on your GS. Granted there are more options now, but the Minos is still the king of the roost. Personally I'd like it if there was something else to wear on your head once you hit level 11, and prior to 20 when -MAYBE- there's an epic helm which is better (maybe...but not damned likely, since it takes 2 epic items with blue/green slots to duplicate the minos' bonuses).

[Rdonaccount]

I like the thoughts, but I disagree on a few points:

Arcane Sigil: already useful to arcanes who want cast with shields or armor on. Fairly small group of people, sure, but so is the group of people who want insight AC +4 on armor without using greensteel, or numerous other examples.

Striding: Dunno, Freedom of Movement on an Eldritch rune just seems overpowered, considering there is only 1 other item (afaik) that has permanent FoM on it. Then again, resistance +5 is a bit OP, considering even epic slotted resistance is only +4. I could see FoM if they moved it to a sovereign slot though.

Sovereign Damage Runes: The problem with all of those are that they are inferior to level 6 clickies. None of those would be better than simply getting a corresponding clicky, don't really feel like going case by case atm though.

Spell resistance: increase it, but I don't think it should outclass drow/monk SR. Those should be some racial/class perks. 28 SR would be useful for mid level stuff, but generally as useless for epic content as 30 is anyway.

[Kriogen]

I agree with Stride 20 (when you can have stride 25), Imp FL (when you can have Greater). But not that much with other replacements. Maybe I wanted Arcane Sigil?

I'd also love to see the ability to slot a lower-tier rune in a higher slot (like an Eldritch in a Tempest slot, etc.)

So would I.

Call it 'colorless', 'yellow', 'green', 'purple', 'pink' slots or something in that direction.

[Templarion]

If one thing gets buffed, does that also mean that everything else should be buffed? I don't know. I am just saying that.

Buffing everything does make the game easier. How easy it should be?

On the other hand, there should not be a single useless named/special item. They should be either buffed or removed - or everything else should be nerfed at their level.

Not an easy subject at all.

[ProdigalGuru]

I like the thoughts, but I disagree on a few points:

Arcane Sigil: already useful to arcanes who want cast with shields or armor on. Fairly small group of people, sure, but so is the group of people who want insight AC +4 on armor without using greensteel, or numerous other examples.

Striding: Dunno, Freedom of Movement on an Eldritch rune just seems overpowered, considering there is only 1 other item (afaik) that has permanent FoM on it. Then again, resistance +5 is a bit OP, considering even epic slotted resistance is only +4. I could see FoM if they moved it to a sovereign slot though.

Sovereign Damage Runes: The problem with all of those are that they are inferior to level 6 clickies. None of those would be better than simply getting a corresponding clicky, don't really feel like going case by case atm though.

Spell resistance: increase it, but I don't think it should outclass drow/monk SR. Those should be some racial/class perks. 28 SR would be useful for mid level stuff, but generally as useless for epic content as 30 is anyway.

Arcane Sigil: I was writing a long rebuttal, but I think we are going to have to just disagree on this one. I see it as nearly useless. Neat-O value is high, I suppose, if you really MUST have a full plate wearing mage, but seriously, who does that? There are many, many more people looking for insight 4. Most Mithral shields have no ASF. Please also remember that not everyone owns the Vale.

FoM: Having to choose between FoM, Resist 5, Heal Amp 10%, and Striding 30% would actually be a difficult choice for most. Currently, most go Resist 5 or Heal Amp.

Superior "X" VII- Clickies run out, take time to activate, and time to swap out. I personally prefer not to have to mess with all that. Clickies are also still able to be used with this. I do not see the two as having to be mutually exclusive, especially when there are ALREADY Sov. runes for SOME elementals. Just want a level playing field.

SR: Both Monk and Drow get SR 30, so a 30 SR rune hardly "outclasses" them. Seems pretty appropriate that all characters should have access to this, if you ask me.

[ProdigalGuru]

They aren't similar enough. They stack. That makes them for all intents and purposes completely dissimilar.

Far easier to get the elemental HP on a greensteel item. There's no lottery involved at all. Then you stick the Toughness on your DT. The opposite possibility does not exist. You cannot stick Toughness on your GS. Granted there are more options now, but the Minos is still the king of the roost. Personally I'd like it if there was something else to wear on your head once you hit level 11, and prior to 20 when -MAYBE- there's an epic helm which is better (maybe...but not damned likely, since it takes 2 epic items with blue/green slots to duplicate the minos' bonuses).

Fine, you won me over.

Improved False Life can have your imaginary Toughness instead of my imaginary Underwater Action.

Happy?

[ProdigalGuru]

If one thing gets buffed, does that also mean that everything else should be buffed? I don't know. I am just saying that.

Buffing everything does make the game easier. How easy it should be?

On the other hand, there should not be a single useless named/special item. They should be either buffed or removed - or everything else should be nerfed at their level.

Not an easy subject at all.

I am not asking for a "buff" to this item. Please read again. I want a "Fix", or an "Update". This stuff is widely regarded as end-game gear, but it's very dated. It needs a facelift. Nothing I am suggesting adding to the runes is unavailable elsewhere, except for SR 30, and IMO that should be more readily available to begin with.

The point of this armor is versatility with other gear, and it has lost much of this in the last year.

[Rdonaccount]

Arcane Sigil: I was writing a long rebuttal, but I think we are going to have to just disagree on this one. I see it as nearly useless. Neat-O value is high, I suppose, if you really MUST have a full plate wearing mage, but seriously, who does that? There are many, many more people looking for insight 4. Most Mithral shields have no ASF. Please also remember that not everyone owns the Vale.

FoM: Having to choose between FoM, Resist 5, Heal Amp 10%, and Striding 30% would actually be a difficult choice for most. Currently, most go Resist 5 or Heal Amp.

Superior "X" VII- Clickies run out, take time to activate, and time to swap out. I personally prefer not to have to mess with all that. Clickies are also still able to be used with this. I do not see the two as having to be mutually exclusive, especially when there are ALREADY Sov. runes for SOME elementals. Just want a level playing field.

SR: Both Monk and Drow get SR 30, so a 30 SR rune hardly "outclasses" them. Seems pretty appropriate that all characters should have access to this, if you ask me.

I disagree on FoM. I don't think that it would be a tough choice at all for any class that can't cast it themselves (but I also solo/shortman a lot, so a divine is not always present). Resistance can be gotten at slightly lower benefits elsewhere, immunity to numerous potentially fatal effects can't.

I just don't think that the VIIs are as helpful as you think. Superior potency VI covers basically all of that for most of the elements. Prismatic Spray and DBF are really the only spells that would be enhanced under the changes you proposed (please correct me if I missed on, not bothering to check the list). And both of those are impacted by superior inferno 9 clickies or superior combustion 7 items already.