Discussion - Upgraded The Lord of Blades (Elite/Epic)

[gloopygloop]

original post

Should have made this post before my other post in here, but I'd like to say thanks for taking the time to run this on Llama-land and post the info/analysis here on the forums. Looks like a fun and challenging raid.

[dunklezhan]

Is there any chance that you folks would consider changing the drop rates for Shroud to a similar mechanic?

I'm willing to bet that most people would be happy to see a lower ingredient drop rate on Shroud Normal (maybe 0% chance of a Large on part 4 on Normal with the 50% chance of a large on part 4 only occuring on Hard/Elite) than we have now in exchange for a higher ingredient drop rate on Hard/Elite (always at least 1 Large on part 5, 50% chance of 2 Larges on Hard, 100% chance of 2 Larges on Elite).

With the Hard/Elite bosses being amped up significantly after U11, this might be a nice encouragement to actually run Shroud on Hard/Elite - especially since people will be a lot less enthusiastic about running Shroud in general once LitII is no longer the king of all weapons.

I'd welcome this, so long as it moves to a more predictable drop rate. Even a barter UI that lets you trade in say 5 horns for 1 LDS or whatever. The problem with shroud crafting is the total randomness. You could make your double shard in less than ten runs if you get lucky, or it might take you a year. That's rubbish. I don't mind if they say 'well it should take 6 months running every 3 days on normal to make a double shard weapon, 3 months on hard, 1 month on elite' - I just want to know how long I'm in for.

[LordPiglet]

FoM and Fireshield are more rare/valuable than first two. Though, I guess, more haste clickies are always welcome. That leaves Stoneskin as something most people would probably pass up in this situation.

Haste, displacement are the 2 best clickes

then perhaps divine power, rage, stoneskin, or some other buffs from the same category as haste and displacement (hard to get clickes for short duration buffs).

[The_Brave2]

Haste, displacement are the 2 best clickes

then perhaps divine power, rage, stoneskin, or some other buffs from the same category as haste and displacement (hard to get clickes for short duration buffs).

Yes, but you can get those on a GS or epic gogs of time sensing for haste, I dont believe there are any FoM clickies, and fireshield clicks are hard to find.

[Glenalth]

Haste, displacement are the 2 best clickes

then perhaps divine power, rage, stoneskin, or some other buffs from the same category as haste and displacement (hard to get clickes for short duration buffs).

Good Hope for bardless groups.

[budalic]

Haste, displacement are the 2 best clickes

then perhaps divine power, rage, stoneskin, or some other buffs from the same category as haste and displacement (hard to get clickes for short duration buffs).

Stoneskin is meh. Even you listed it last... Fireshield is rare; and clicked fireshield (ie. unlike Bracers of the Glacier) even rarer (I don't think I know of any, actually). Freedom of Movement is really cool; I know people that made eTimeblade just for it. Again, don't know of any FoM clickies. Haste is good, as always; but that still leaves stoneskin as meh in originaly proposed list.

What could be better, and yet earth-themed, hmm?

[sirgog]

I agree with Tier 3 being a bit lackluster.

What about CL 20 3/3 clickies for tier 3?

Air = Haste
Earth = Stoneskin
Water = FoM
Fire = Fireshield

Tier 3 is a huge upgrade. It lets you break every single important DR in the game (Metallic Edges augment on a Flametouched base), on a weapon that out-DPSs a Lit 2.

Tier 2 versions break at most one of the main DRs (Silver/Good, Cold Iron/Good and Adamantine/Good), and to even do that, you need to take Fire at tier 2 - probably the weakest overall choice.

[Seikojin]

I think they should include hidden effects like GS.

[waterboytkd]

Tier 3 is a huge upgrade. It lets you break every single important DR in the game (Metallic Edges augment on a Flametouched base), on a weapon that out-DPSs a Lit 2.

Tier 2 versions break at most one of the main DRs (Silver/Good, Cold Iron/Good and Adamantine/Good), and to even do that, you need to take Fire at tier 2 - probably the weakest overall choice.

Though I agree that it's powerful that tier 3 allows you to break DRs with crafty slotting, it feels kinda meh that that's where the power is. You don't unlock something cool and shiny. You just unlock customization.

Also, the difference between the different elements on tier 3 weapons is so small (just the energy type on the blast). That's why I'd also like to see some non-dps coolio ability (or at least, non-direct-dps ability; things that could hold/stun/freeze/trip would be fine) added that would be different between each element type. That way, you're not just trying to figure out which blast will be resisted the least, and going with that tier 3 every single time you craft a weapon.

[LeLoric]

Yea I agree the t3 is lackluster.

It's the same as original crystal cove.. All the power is front loaded.

Epic is mega hard.. So leaving t1/t2 and adding something more to T3 would be nice..

Tho it probably shouldn't be DPS related.. I think DPS wise they are ok.. Top top DPS weapons should be lots of work to get like ESoS.

An these are not hard like that.. T1/2 = very easy. T3= very hard raid, but a single lucky run can do it for ya. (you just need the spirit far as I know, the empty esquitis shard is optional because they are craftable)

Non dps stuffs:
Maybe upgrade the stun/seeker stuff to +12.
Or add some non dps stats. say exceptional con +3.
Two slots for 2handers.. That was a pretty common thing we had in the past.
Regeneration stuff:
Regenerating bard songs
regeneration clr turns
Regeneration bbn rages

Since tier 3 makes the item epic I would be for it offering higher base dmg likepretty much all other epic weapons do.

[Jahmin]

Actually, exquisite shards and spirits are Epic-only.

This should include Elite

[patang01]

Is there any chance that you folks would consider changing the drop rates for Shroud to a similar mechanic?

I'm willing to bet that most people would be happy to see a lower ingredient drop rate on Shroud Normal (maybe 0% chance of a Large on part 4 on Normal with the 50% chance of a large on part 4 only occuring on Hard/Elite) than we have now in exchange for a higher ingredient drop rate on Hard/Elite (always at least 1 Large on part 5, 50% chance of 2 Larges on Hard, 100% chance of 2 Larges on Elite).

With the Hard/Elite bosses being amped up significantly after U11, this might be a nice encouragement to actually run Shroud on Hard/Elite - especially since people will be a lot less enthusiastic about running Shroud in general once LitII is no longer the king of all weapons.

Maybe people who run shroud daily and have all the goodies would love low drop rates on normal, but people who have never run or doesn't have a GS item yet won't.

I don't mind the incentive to provide a greater chance for more mats on hard and elite, but less on normal is just to create a even greater divide amongst those that are just starting to run it. Seriously - the raid is a grind as is, to make it even worse is just not fun.

[dTarkanan]

Stoneskin is meh. Even you listed it last... Fireshield is rare; and clicked fireshield (ie. unlike Bracers of the Glacier) even rarer (I don't think I know of any, actually).

Blue fire shield= Cloak of Ice from Ghosts, Red Fire Shield = Epic Helm of the Red dragon from eVON6, Bluefire Necklace from Litany