U38 Preview 2: Loot

[Dreppo]

Yeah, and the lone +9 Insightful Wisdom item is a set of Heavy Armor which means it, realistically, will be used by Clerics, Paladins, and possibly Favored Souls. Druids are left out (mostly)

On the contrary, that armor looks specifically tailored to druids. It's made of dragonscale, and the new Nature's Protector tree gives heavy armor proficiency as a tier 2 enhancement.

[Dreppo]

I think the ability bonuses on the helms should be changed to insightful. This would not only fill the current gap of no INS +9 strength items, but importantly it would allow these helms to fit into a gearset more easily given the loot introduced in the expansion. There are many more items that have +19 abilities than there are with INS +9 abilities.

[noinfo]

This isn't a criticism of these specific poisonous items per se. But, I do want to note that there hasn't been a named poisonous short sword added to the game since the MotU expansion in June of 2012. That's roughly six years.

Thematically and when it comes to their class enhancements, assassin rogues and ninja spy monks are the characters that should have appealing named poisonous weapons. The named poisonous items that have been added to the game since 2012 are weapons that monks and rogues either lack proficiency in or they cannot remain centered while using them, or they cannot apply stacks of ninja poisons while using them because they're not bladed weapons.

Every update for the past the six years, I check release notes to see if there's a poisonous named melee weapon that is usable by assassins and ninja spies. And there isn't...

I suspect that this is an oversight in the named item design because it doesn't track with how other named weapons are designed for this game. For instance, bard's occasionally get named weapons added to the game that deal sonic damage and those are weapons that they're proficient in. And artificers occasionally get weapons added to the game that deal electric damage and those are weapons that they're proficient in. Etc. etc.

But ninja spy monks and assassin rogues haven't gotten a single named poisonous melee weapon for six years that they can use. The highest minimum level poisonous named shortsword is ML 20.

That might be the case but the last Named Scimitar was about 4 years ago with TOEE Epic Leopard's Chill (which outside of cosmetic was ordinary) IIRC. With a RAID short sword being released last update a named scimitar is long over due. That being said I would not mind them releasing a SS in addition but not replacing.

[noinfo]

could also provide a darkwood / darkleaf version.... (med/light)

Greenscale should not interfere with oaths etc so could be made into medium and light if they liked.

[Yesenia]

Any pack that does not release for cap is a waste pure and simple. I won't grind for mid level gear as I can wear vendor trash to cap anyway and will only rarely bother crafting anything along the way. There is more than enough content to get me to level 30. I would not have an issue with them revisting the gear on old packs but making packs for mid level is a waste.

Higher level content can be run on lower level toons for challenge and xp without penalty and I do this regularly, lower level quests cannot. What is worse is that high level but not cap quests get ignored as they do not offer significant reaper xp to make them worth running more than once and their loot is outdated as well. RIP Orchard for example.

So what you're saying is, and correct me if i'm wrong, is that making new content for the rest of the friggin game is a waste? I mean ok.. sure.. why not.. Hell, let's just get rid of all the other levels altogether.. Rename the game to Legendary DDO everyone starts off at 29!

Hmm.. Perhaps i'm the only one that actually tries to enjoy the content as i'm leveling and not just try to rush to cap as fast as possible, just so i can play a few quest of the "New" content, you know that content that the rest off DDO doesn't need, and so i can wear the new and shiny gear that makes me feel like a god, you know, because we don't need any new named gear for any of the other levels.

Maybe you are right.. Why the heck am i paying $15/month, supporting a game via in-game purchases, buying expansion packs, DDO Points, etc when they don't give a hoot about the rest of the game that's "A waste of Time" to develop for.. Perhaps you are right...

[Arkat]

if Keen stacks in some way with Improved Critical, than Wiki and the in game descriptions are outdated and need to be updated.

Just out of curiosity, when was the last time you played the game?

Weapon mods like "Keen I," "Keen V," and "Impact V" have been out for a while now.

BTW...Impact V and Keen V ARE in the wiki and they are current. Their in-game descriptions are also current. See for yourself:

http://ddowiki.com/page/Itemuality,_the_Moral_Compass

http://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Spite,_...actured_Shards

[Arkat]

On the contrary, that armor looks specifically tailored to druids. It's made of dragonscale, and the new Nature's Protector tree gives heavy armor proficiency as a tier 2 enhancement.

Ok, so it's made for Bears. What about the Druids that like to play the Wolf form or the Elemental forms? They're probably not gonna wear that armor.

I think the ability bonuses on the helms should be changed to insightful. This would not only fill the current gap of no INS +9 strength items, but importantly it would allow these helms to fit into a gearset more easily given the loot introduced in the expansion. There are many more items that have +19 abilities than there are with INS +9 abilities.

This is a good idea.

[Thilanas]

I think it would be awesome if we could get a named light mace or two to go with scourge. There really aren't many options out there for these and after seeing the heavy warfare set I'm just hoping that isn't it for scourge weapons.

[Nubom70]

Keen and Impact also add +[w] which you don't get from the feat.

The good crossbows, have useful stats (aligned, metalline, etc), which is wasted by putting Keen in that weapon slot. They did some decent stuff with Ravenloft (although no raid repeaters), and now we're having a retro-gear expansion? Noone's going to give up IMP critical even if they put Keen on something, since the preferred weapons don't use it. Huge step backwards..

There's some good reviews of the gear above, and I agree with most of it. Still no decent diety-related weapons for their huge update, melee-only filigree, stats on gear that make no sense (glaciation runearm??). They're getting really shoddy.

But hey, we have a bunch of helms now, so we can... er, wait.... no we can't.

[lyrecono]

What's with all the hate on Keen? Do you guys not realize that it is ADDING BASE WEAPON DIE? It's adding 2[1dx +2] damage to the weapon's damage profile. If the weapon didn't have keen, if it just had some new effect instead that said "Legendary Reinforced Weapon: +2[W]" you guys would be all about it.

2[w] from keen, since most will have impr crit, isn't as hot as say the 9d6 holy from other weapons.
Keen takes up a spot better used for different weapon mods.
Unless you play reaper a lot.
I guess not everyone does.

@devs.
In the past we had a lot of duo packs;
Missing&madness,
Path of inspiration&dreaming dark,
The lordsmach plaza chains,
They shared an upgrade system. Will there be a follow up pack to get an epic upgrade?

Cocerning the gloves, can you change the heal skill into devotion spell power?

[noinfo]

So what you're saying is, and correct me if i'm wrong, is that making new content for the rest of the friggin game is a waste? I mean ok.. sure.. why not.. Hell, let's just get rid of all the other levels altogether.. Rename the game to Legendary DDO everyone starts off at 29!

Hmm.. Perhaps i'm the only one that actually tries to enjoy the content as i'm leveling and not just try to rush to cap as fast as possible, just so i can play a few quest of the "New" content, you know that content that the rest off DDO doesn't need, and so i can wear the new and shiny gear that makes me feel like a god, you know, because we don't need any new named gear for any of the other levels.

Maybe you are right.. Why the heck am i paying $15/month, supporting a game via in-game purchases, buying expansion packs, DDO Points, etc when they don't give a hoot about the rest of the game that's "A waste of Time" to develop for.. Perhaps you are right...

We don't need new named loot for the other levels if they made the old loot work to the same formula as the new loot.

As for experiencing the new quests am not sure what is stopping you from doing that, you don't actually have to be at level to do it and get full exp for it with BB. However if they were to release a quest for level 22 for example you only have a short window of opportunity to make use of it with relevance.

Probably the only quest I have not run in game is Tower of Frost. Why? Because when they released it they released it at level 28 and with how reaper interacts with it it has never been worthwhile to run. I know at some stage I will drop by but they made it in a dead zone. Ravenloft they made legendary. I have run all my above 20 toons through it regardless of level because I can run it with anyone without worrying about BB, reaper or anything else. Sure I can't use the gear until I am 29 but nice to collect before hand or to feed to a sentient on the way.

If you were locked out of a quest based on level you would have a point (Riding the Storm Out I am looking at you) but your not.
Gearwise you sort of have a point but with Cannith Crafting and Random loot its sort of a waste of time though I believe they should go through and revisit all pack loot to make it work to formula.

If they release a pack that is not end game it would have the effect on me as follows:
I might play it once for the experience of the content on one of my accounts, the others particularly on my non VIP ones I would not waste money on buying it.

For others interested in playing at cap I would suggest it would be similar as it would offer them nothing. For those not interested in playing at cap and constantly leveling it would provide a speed bump on the way to leveling, with maybe collecting a couple of weapons (as really the items would be no real benefit over those crafted) along the way. And those who like to play at cap will be without any new content to engage with, this likely to cause more issues with subscriptions than those who can still access the content above their level.

I am sorry you feel the way you do but I believe that SSG has this part right.

[noinfo]

2[w] from keen, since most will have impr crit, isn't as hot as say the 9d6 holy from other weapons.
Keen takes up a spot better used for different weapon mods.
Unless you play reaper a lot.
I guess not everyone does.

Base damage before crits and affected by melee power? I think I would rather have the keen though good damage is always nice.

[QuantumFX]

Could you please make the Wayward Warrior set bonus activate if you’re dual wielding Vulkoor’s Edge? The selection of good named scimitars in DDO is really, really, sad. And, it would be nice to see something fun for dex based tempest rangers every once in a while.

[LevelJ]

All of the items listed below can be found in the Test Dojo on Lamannia. They are sold by a vendor near the back of the Dojo just to the left of the section with the trainers.

Trace of Madness Upgradeable Items:

Each of the items in this section has the enchantment "Trace of Madness" which allows them to be upgraded at the "Altar of Insanity" in the Hall of the Planes in the Tower of the Twelve.

Hands

Hands of House Jorasco Gloves

• Heal +15/+22
• Healing Lore +13%/+29%
• Insightful Heal +7/+11
• Equipped Healing Amplification +15/+40
• Blue Augment Slot

I cannot begin to express how glad I am at the premise of a past upgrade system being reused. My ingredient bags thank you (EDIT: any chance of changing some of the bonuses like the spell DC's to make them stacking?).


I have one important request regarding the above item quoted: Please, please, please, please, PLEASE...add a bonus for dragonmark users, particularly those with the House Jorasco dragonmark. It has been so long since we last got any item to benefit dragonmark users, and this dragonmark is definitely one of the more useful marks. It's a House Jorasco item, so I see no reason to not give it the Chimera's Fang treatment and throw a hidden bonus or two in there for the dragonmark users. Even one bonus for healing marks + a boost to uses of any dragonmark would be greatly appreciated.



-Jayron

[bbqzor]

Lilting Song: This item's meant to have broader appeal beyond just Bards

Right now it doesn't appeal to bards. You can't swash with it, doesn't qualify for pdk use, has no melee proc damage on it, and no crit range mods. A swash or warchanter cant functionally use this and be effective. A fatesinger miiiiiight be able to use it for casting, but that would come at a trade off. It may be comparable to caster sticks... but seeing as there are zero sonic caster builds possible, why. This needs to be a light mace or light hammer or something, at a minimum. Right now its not an item anyone will use, it just doesn't fit any builds. Best candidate might be like fey-pact warlock but warlocks hardly have hands free for anything this minor of a boost for them.

Mighty Stormreach Guardian's Helm

Any chance of getting Trip on here instead of Deadly or something. Deadly is on over 9000 items. Stunning and Sunder are represented but trip is not. We are getting a pack where Druids need Trip DC, and there are zero trip items. Seeing as few builds can really devote to both of these, this may be the best spot to make that accomodation. Especially since Druid also needs Stun, depending on what abilities youre mixing. Don't leave one style out on the hat pass. Other hats are okay more or less, this is the one to tweak.

Heavy Maces: These are mostly for Aasimar Scourges

Instead of making an item set for a single race-class combination (because even Scourges cannot use these as rogues or swashbucklers or anything else but a ranger), why not make them Light Maces so that literally every non-vistani dual wielder class could build for them. Yeah, they wont get to make use of their free "oversized" feat... but in return the entire rest of the game might equip this item. Seems like a good trade.

Curse Necromancer Set

Having a hard time with this one; it needs to be there, PMs need the care. However, using this means you lose 3 CL to Necro from Mistfallen, and double up on +8 necro from Skulled Ring, and still have to use Null to get regular nullification and insightful necro, which means then that the bonuses on Cursed Skull do absolutely nothing but provide healing amp. Then theres the whole, the-only-+20-int-item-is-also-an-Orb thing. If this set is supposed to be about PM survival, which it looks like, then how bout this: Take efficiency off the trinket since its not survival, and add greater boon of undeath or improved demonic shield (or both). Remove necro focus off the orb and add regular Nullification. Now you can go Null with either ravenloft orb (and ring/belt) for dc, or you can go this set (with belt) for survival, and use whatever main-hand (probably scepter and ring for dc). But it gets rid of stuff being redundant and adds both healing and temp hp as procs (I know, reaper etc, but temp hp help there at least, and it prevents losing boon with the new belt). Can use the lower level effects for heroic of course (regular boon and demonic shield). Or something else, just dont leave this as another hodgepodge of having to equip 5 items to get functional self healing and dc, where the same stats wind up on any 2-3 of those 5.

Caster Druids would likely be using two casting implements

No one would do this unless they were forced to by itemization choices, like this one. That being said, there is already a good armor/shield option in this pack for druids. Using both of these sickles will be a tough choice, and they could see use by sorcs too. I would make both of them evo, and have the set add 8 conjure as well. Neither fire or cold is has much conjure support (think its what, just fire seeds? I guess maybe like flame turret and niacs too?). Id rather see freedom of choice on the front end here, while still having the back end support both options for people doubling down on caster sticks, as intended.

Renegade Champion Set

Would really like to see Bastard Sword here. Hammer makes sense for the theme etc, but swf+runearm style is greatly helped by glances. Having only support for Dwarfs is rough, let other races using glances have a choice too. Just cut and paste the axe to a sword if need be, but no sense leaving those builds out (the ravenloft bastard sword was pally centric, so artys need one).

Rune Arm
Quarantine Rune Arm
Natural Armor +7/+8

Hoping those natural armor values are a typo; just don't make much sense otherwise =p.

the Touch of Madness compatibility as a nice bonus

Agreed, leave this here. Its something unique which never really took off the first time, and has a chance to come around now. Hopefully we can get bits from the new chain though =p.

Planar spike

I like the sonic since bards may use this, and gnomes. Given the name it would be nice to see if have *some* planar anything on it though. A DR breaker is one option, banishing is another (on vorpals, crit theme). Or even shattermantle, planar stuff has SR and that would help bards land dance etc... and its weak enough to maybe leave the other mods untouched. Basically, if its named planar spike, it should do something when spiking planar stuff. But I wouldnt want to see it lose appeal with its crit and sonic effects; could just rename it too (Staccato is a good sonic light pick bard name, if you need one).

Thanks for reading.

[bbqzor]

PLEASE...add a bonus for dragonmark users ... It has been so long since we last got any item to benefit dragonmark users ... give it the Chimera's Fang treatment and throw a hidden bonus or two in there for the dragonmark users. Even one bonus for healing marks + a boost to uses of any dragonmark would be greatly appreciated.

Scruffy Seconds.

Even if not this item, or this pack, we need some Chimeras Fang treatments out there. They take a feat, and enhancement points, and are usually outclassed by late heroics (with a tiny minority of options seeing niche use). Items which carry on that legacy and encourage thematic choices would be welcome. This is something Id actually be excited to see showing back up again. High five.

[korgzz_bloodaxe]

I think the ability bonuses on the helms should be changed to insightful. This would not only fill the current gap of no INS +9 strength items, but importantly it would allow these helms to fit into a gearset more easily given the loot introduced in the expansion. There are many more items that have +19 abilities than there are with INS +9 abilities.

Exactly right. Even if you just focus on melee gear from U38 you get the following (duplicated in bold and ignoring the duplicate ravenloft effects like doublestrike...):

Legendary Mantle of Fury (Cloak): Constitution +19, Raging Resilience, Doublestrike 22%, Dodge +19%, Green Augment Slot, Adherent of the Mists Set (Legendary)

Legendary Bracers of the Fallen Hero (Bracers): Strength +19, Insightful Constitution +9, Stunning +22, Quality Physical Sheltering +12, Green Augment Slot, Adherent of the Mists Set (Legendary)

Legendary Ward-Inscribed Pendant (Necklace): Quality Curse Resistance +3, Deadly +16, Constitution +19, Natural Armor +19, Yellow Augment Slot, Crypt Raider Set (Legendary)

Legendary Plateshard Belt (Belt): Fortitude Save +16, Incite +59, Constitution +19, Insightful Incite +27, Yellow Augment Slot, Knight of the Shadows Set (Legendary)

Molten Silver Gauntlets (Gloves) Pierce Silver, Deadly +16, Doublestrike +23, Armor-Piercing +32, Blue Augment Slot, Green Augment Slot, Adherent of the Mists Set (Legendary)

Echo of the Icon (Trinket) Fortification +208, Strength +20, Insightful Constitution +9, Physical Sheltering +52, Blue Augment Slot, Green Augment Slot

[Lokeal_The_Flame]

Stormreach Guardian's Crossbow Repeating Light Crossbow
Damage Dice: 1.5[1d8]/7[1d8+2] (7 is because of Keen)
Critical Profile: 17-20/x2 because of Keen
•Armor Piercing +11/+31
•Keen I/V
•Impactful 3d6/9d6
•Crushing 8d6/20d6 On critical hit
•Red Augment Slot


A light xbow, with the generic X2... and you wasted a slot on KEEN. Really?

Stormreach Guardian's Crossbow = Food for a real crossbow.

I'm not a crossbow user but yeah....... they should consider replacing the keen effect!

I'd say an effect that has a chance to proc when hit by a melee weapon would be a nice replacement, but then again that on it's own would feel inadequate.

I'd say Blinding Splinters(Chance to blind enemies on hit)+Paralysis guard (Chance to paralyse enemies attacking you via melee)

[korgzz_bloodaxe]

I'm not a crossbow user but yeah....... they should consider replacing the keen effect!

Speak for yourself. I much prefer the increased weapon die and I am a crossbow user.

[lyrecono]

Base damage before crits and affected by melee power? I think I would rather have the keen though good damage is always nice.

Dr breaking became a lot more important, especially for low damage/fast attackers.
I hear from some peeps that their dps is zero on some dr/prr mobs in high reaper if they don't use a dr breaker.

Hence the good damage being particular nice.