No More Greater False Life For End Game Monks?

[TheKeeper1981]

After viewing the release notes and the thread detailing the new augment system, I must say that I'm fairly frustrated by the fact that Greater False Life has been moved to the blue augment slot. I primarily play monks, because I enjoy them more than any other class. As such, I've come to learn that there are precious few items that are useful to my class that have blue augment slots: I use the Sun Soul set, which means I don't have the armor slot available. If I want to remain centered, I can't use a shield or non-monk weapon. All this leaves me are accessories to plan out my gear, the majority of which only have yellow augment slots. Those few items that have green aren't of much use to me, which means that my monks can no longer have access to Greater False Life. This... is very frustrating.

Anyhow, I know nothing I say will get Turbine to magically change things. What I AM hoping for is that some clever players might be able to enlighten me as to any workarounds for this?

--EDIT--

So after getting some wonderfully helpful responses from the wonderful DDO player community, I've discovered that my initial reaction is erroneous. With Update 17, there are apparently quite a few named and randomly generated items, out there, that have either blue or green slots. In addition, I was handily reminded that the fully upgraded Epic Spare Hand also comes with a blue augment slot, and in many cases, it's more useful than the belt from the Sun Soul set. And with Crystal Cove back, I can craft a pirate hat with Superior False Life on it. (In fact, I was told that, if I purchased the DDOStore version of the hat, it binds to account and stays bound to account, when upgraded, so I can have a head item with Superior False Life available for any of my toons. Very handy tip!) Finally, Cannith crafting will also allow for the creation of items (rings, at least) with GFL. So there are plenty of options, and I'm glad! Thanks to everyone who took the time to answer my questions! I really do appreciate it!

[Karavek]

Well not to be rude but we all new this change was coming. Most who felt they couldnt handle it prepared by getting a item from house c crafted and slotted prior to the update. Now you like many will have to accept that older vets with grandfathered gear you cant make anymore will have advantages over you and your play time is now meaningless because you cant ever do what they got to.

[DelverRootnose]

Well not to be rude but we all new this change was coming. Most who felt they couldnt handle it prepared by getting a item from house c crafted and slotted prior to the update. Now you like many will have to accept that older vets with grandfathered gear you cant make anymore will have advantages over you and your play time is now meaningless because you cant ever do what they got to.

...I have played since just after beta and these forums are so crappy that unless you actually sit on them all day everyday information like this is hare to find.

[TheKeeper1981]

Well not to be rude but we all new this change was coming. Most who felt they couldnt handle it prepared by getting a item from house c crafted and slotted prior to the update. Now you like many will have to accept that older vets with grandfathered gear you cant make anymore will have advantages over you and your play time is now meaningless because you cant ever do what they got to.

No, actually, I didn't. I don't frequent the forums, much, as I spend most of my time actually playing the game or tending to RL responsibilities.

But that's neither here nor there. I am asking more experienced players if they may have some ideas to help work around the current situation.

[Munkenmo]

No, actually, I didn't. I don't frequent the forums, much, as I spend most of my time actually playing the game or tending to RL responsibilities.

But that's neither here nor there. I am asking more experienced players if they may have some ideas to help work around the current situation.

You could give up the sunsoul set, get a white or black epic dragon robes combo.

pick up a claw set and get a belt with a blue slot (spare hand)

You've just gained 2 blue slots.

[sirgog]

Pretty much all Epic Hard and Epic Elite Gianthold items have at least one blue slot on them. (Most are yellow/colorless on EN, green/colorless on EH and green/yellow on EE).

One for 14 PRR, the other for false life. Plus as a bonus you get the other slot with the item too for a stat or an elemental resist or some utility effect.

[TheKeeper1981]

Thank you, both! I really appreciate your help!

EDIT:

Now that I'm not running the new epic GH wildy area with my husband and best friend, I'd like to extend a proper thank you to both ftdomen and sirgog for your advice. I had actually been near tears when I read about the changes, as they completely threw me off guard when planning my clonk's gear, and I couldn't figure out what to do. I was hoping someone would understand the distraught state of mind I was in, and show me that there are more options than I think there are, if I could think past my initial shock! Thank you, so much!

[Uska]

Pretty much all Epic Hard and Epic Elite Gianthold items have at least one blue slot on them. (Most are yellow/colorless on EN, green/colorless on EH and green/yellow on EE).

One for 14 PRR, the other for false life. Plus as a bonus you get the other slot with the item too for a stat or an elemental resist or some utility effect.

+1 for being helpful instead of snarky like some others

[Uska]

You could give up the sunsoul set, get a white or black epic dragon robes combo.

pick up a claw set and get a belt with a blue slot (spare hand)

You've just gained 2 blue slots.

samething I said to sirgog

[TheKeeper1981]

You could give up the sunsoul set, get a white or black epic dragon robes combo.

pick up a claw set and get a belt with a blue slot (spare hand)

You've just gained 2 blue slots.

I'd actually forgotten about Spare Hand, especially since my main monk actually wears it, the majority of the time, switching over to the belt from the Sun Soul set when fighting bosses. My other monks thank you, greatly, for the reminder!

[Karavek]

+1 for being helpful instead of snarky like some others

call me snarky if you like, I was just trying to paint the harsh reality for all to read, due to these changes some who prepared will now have advantages forever denied new comers or long time casuals who didnt.

The fact I barely bother to play anymore sure does give me time to waste on the forums to be more aware, had I been more like this during eras of various exploits and had the chance to enjoy them maybe id not be so bitter and look at it as incredibly poor foresight and planning on the part of our devs.

gawd knows Im not ever going to regret having some grandfathered items no one else can ever ever reproduce now either, just pointing out how BS it is to make a change that increases the gulf between new and old.

[Karavek]

Thank you, both! I really appreciate your help!

EDIT:

Now that I'm not running the new epic GH wildy area with my husband and best friend, I'd like to extend a proper thank you to both ftdomen and sirgog for your advice. I had actually been near tears when I read about the changes, as they completely threw me off guard when planning my clonk's gear, and I couldn't figure out what to do. I was hoping someone would understand the distraught state of mind I was in, and show me that there are more options than I think there are, if I could think past my initial shock! Thank you, so much!

and frankly no i cant even fathom nor empathize with someone being close to tears over this games item changes.

Close to tears for this? really! I mean hell what would you do if you where being car jacked, curl up and weep like an infant? How about mugged with a gun held to your head and told if you move your dead? I mean people trip out on me for comparing in game social abuse metaphorically with things like slavery, yet people dont think getting close to tears over a game changing something with much forwarning that even in game in a handful of pugs ive joined the last month people where talking about this upcoming change.

In my mind it would be like crying for finding out your county has decided to put flouride in the water or that your favorite diner wont carry real sugar anymore.

[SHOCK_and_AWE]

Pretty much all Epic Hard and Epic Elite Gianthold items have at least one blue slot on them. (Most are yellow/colorless on EN, green/colorless on EH and green/yellow on EE).

One for 14 PRR, the other for false life. Plus as a bonus you get the other slot with the item too for a stat or an elemental resist or some utility effect.

Your post was good and you should feel good.

Also, that loot is Bound to Character on Equip if I recall correctly. That means that, eventually, green slot items from Epic Gianthold will be showing up on the auction house.

[Matuse]

Blue and (especially) Green slots are popping up all over the place now.

Go here: http://ddowiki.com/page/Update_17_named_items

That's a list of not only the actually new Gianthold drops, but also all (or most) of the old items that got revamped.

Anything with an augment slot lists it.

[TheKeeper1981]

Blue and (especially) Green slots are popping up all over the place now.

Go here: http://ddowiki.com/page/Update_17_named_items

That's a list of not only the actually new Gianthold drops, but also all (or most) of the old items that got revamped.

Anything with an augment slot lists it.

Thanks for the link! I tried looking for it, last night, but couldn't find it. Probably wasn't written, yet?

[LordPiglet]

You can also do cannith crafting for gfl on rings. I thought about putting gfl in a yellow slot for my druid, but went with a lga ring with gfl.

[Tobril]

and frankly no i cant even fathom nor empathize with someone being close to tears over this games item changes.

Close to tears for this? really! I mean hell what would you do if you where being car jacked, curl up and weep like an infant? How about mugged with a gun held to your head and told if you move your dead? I mean people trip out on me for comparing in game social abuse metaphorically with things like slavery, yet people dont think getting close to tears over a game changing something with much forwarning that even in game in a handful of pugs ive joined the last month people where talking about this upcoming change.

In my mind it would be like crying for finding out your county has decided to put flouride in the water or that your favorite diner wont carry real sugar anymore.

Kicking people when they're down is good times I hear.

[Darkrok]

This is a tangential issue but honestly the Sun Soul Set feels a bit like a trap to me. The set bonus is really nice (especially if you're running earth or fire stance) but there are so many items you could be slotting in Robe/Belt/Bracers that I'm finding it hard to justify fitting it in.

A fully slotted out Epic Spare Hand gives you the following:
Doublestrike 3%
Use Magical Device +3
Riposte
Exceptional Combat Mastery +5
Staggering Blow
Disable Device +15
Open Lock +15
Blue Augment Slot (Say GFL here)
Colorless Augment Slot (Say +6 Con here)

So basically you can toss this on in place of a GFL/Con+6 belt and add all those other benefits. Not all of those will necessarily apply to every monk but even if you just get the doublestrike, exc. combat mastery, and riposte benefits that's a huge amount added to an already good item slot. Just looking at the belt slot, you could lose all the other benefits but get 1 extra con, +15 concentration, and +2 insightful wisdom. Just that one slot - belt - is a huge downgrade to use the Sun Soul set. And if I made a set specifically for level 20 I could slot +7 con instead of +6 con and slot that +2 insightful wisdom in another colorless slot.

The bracer I'm using right now is the Tier 1 challenge bracer which for a monk gives Blurry, Dodge Bonus +3, and Air Guard. If I upgraded it I'd also have a Yellow and Colorless augment slot. That could be +6 to another stat (+7 at 24), +1 exceptional/+2 at 24 (both of those could be done twice), or I could grab a 30 or 35 elemental resist or 30% striding (I actually like the striding there from a thematic standpoint on bracers of wind). I'm already wearing the PDK gloves because I'm a healing amp junky and can't fit in 30% amp anywhere else so the +2 exc. con on the sun soul bracers would be wasted. Basically I'd be getting 1 more point of wisdom (none if I slotted +7 somewhere at level 24) and the admittedly nice superior parrying.

Robes...I can see using the spider spun made as part of the set but I could use that either way.

So unless I'm missing something the Sun Soul set is underwhelming at level 20 and vastly underpowered at 24 when you start to be able to slot the +7 stats and +2 exceptional stats that the set offers. I could see swapping to it if you needed to proc a regen in fire stance repeatedly but it just seems like a lot of slots to dedicate to not a lot of benefit.

[Darkrok]

You can also do cannith crafting for gfl on rings. I thought about putting gfl in a yellow slot for my druid, but went with a lga ring with gfl.

This actually isn't possible anymore unless you already have the gem to slot. GFL is now a blue augment instead of yellow.

[TheKeeper1981]

This is a tangential issue but honestly the Sun Soul Set feels a bit like a trap to me. The set bonus is really nice (especially if you're running earth or fire stance) but there are so many items you could be slotting in Robe/Belt/Bracers that I'm finding it hard to justify fitting it in.

A fully slotted out Epic Spare Hand gives you the following:
Doublestrike 3%
Use Magical Device +3
Riposte
Exceptional Combat Mastery +5
Staggering Blow
Disable Device +15
Open Lock +15
Blue Augment Slot (Say GFL here)
Colorless Augment Slot (Say +6 Con here)

So basically you can toss this on in place of a GFL/Con+6 belt and add all those other benefits. Not all of those will necessarily apply to every monk but even if you just get the doublestrike, exc. combat mastery, and riposte benefits that's a huge amount added to an already good item slot. Just looking at the belt slot, you could lose all the other benefits but get 1 extra con, +15 concentration, and +2 insightful wisdom. Just that one slot - belt - is a huge downgrade to use the Sun Soul set. And if I made a set specifically for level 20 I could slot +7 con instead of +6 con and slot that +2 insightful wisdom in another colorless slot.

The bracer I'm using right now is the Tier 1 challenge bracer which for a monk gives Blurry, Dodge Bonus +3, and Air Guard. If I upgraded it I'd also have a Yellow and Colorless augment slot. That could be +6 to another stat (+7 at 24), +1 exceptional/+2 at 24 (both of those could be done twice), or I could grab a 30 or 35 elemental resist or 30% striding (I actually like the striding there from a thematic standpoint on bracers of wind). I'm already wearing the PDK gloves because I'm a healing amp junky and can't fit in 30% amp anywhere else so the +2 exc. con on the sun soul bracers would be wasted. Basically I'd be getting 1 more point of wisdom (none if I slotted +7 somewhere at level 24) and the admittedly nice superior parrying.

Robes...I can see using the spider spun made as part of the set but I could use that either way.

So unless I'm missing something the Sun Soul set is underwhelming at level 20 and vastly underpowered at 24 when you start to be able to slot the +7 stats and +2 exceptional stats that the set offers. I could see swapping to it if you needed to proc a regen in fire stance repeatedly but it just seems like a lot of slots to dedicate to not a lot of benefit.

After taking a look at my main monk, I've come to that conclusion, myself. I actually wear my Epic Spare Hand on a regular basis, switching over to the Sun Soul belt for the extra to-hit bonus when facing a boss that's a little hard to hit.

This being said, that white dragonscale set is looking really nice for my clonk. I've been going nuts trying to figure out her gear configuration. I thought I'd finally found the right one, shortly before the change--hence, my earlier frustration. But after calming down, asking for and receiving the wonderful advice from more experienced--and clearheaded--players, I'm taking a look at the new dragonscale items and thinking this might solve a LOT of issues I've been having with the clonk, rather than making things worse. As others pointed out, the extra augment slots available from these would give me what I need, and then some.

U17 isn't as bad of a change, as I initially thought. In fact, I'm torn between seeing how the new gear works with my main monk, or keeping my pretty ninja outfit. I really, really like my ninja outfit. Plus, the Spider Spun Caparison and the bracers give me things I really, really like. I'll probably get the dragonscale and other things for my clonk and, if I like it, transition my main monk over to that gear, as well.