Update 40 Preview 1: Raid Loot Feedback Thread

[Grace_ana]

The Staff of Shadows Quarterstaff
Damage Dice: 5[1d6+6]
+1 Base Multiplier

• Material: Adamantine
• Red Augment Slot
• Orange Augment Slot

Um, is this missing info? Because it appears to be missing effects. A lot of effects.

[Fivetigers33]

Elyd Charm Necklace
•Anthem
•Charisma +20
•Insightful Devotion +104
•When you have 3 or more sources of Anthem, this grants exceptional 30 sonic spell power and 15% sonic spell lore
•Green Augment Slot
•Yellow Augment Slot



Please consider changing Insightful Devotion to Insightful Charisma.

While Devotion is useful to Bards, it's not nearly as useful as Charisma. The item looked pretty cool until I saw that. If you want bards to replace their Bells of Warding, the current version isn't going to do it.

[Krell]

Gauntlets of the Stormreaver Gloves
Big huge Lightning Strike on Vorpal hits to your target
Protection +16
Insightful Sheltering +26
Lightning Absorption +76
Green Augment Slot
Yellow Augment Slot

Is that Lightning Resist +76? Or Lightning Absorption 76%

[janave]

This almost made me cry, after seeing all the cool effects on other items..

Chaosbow Longbow
Damage Dice: 5[1d8+3]
9d6 Chaotic Damage (Lawful characters will take a neg level) //ninja hate
Improved Destruction //augmentable or available as enhancements
Elasticity (+1 Mult on 19-20) // mmhmok.. i guess, altho same as on heroic level 14 after how many years?
Ranged Alacrity 25% // +3% over permahaste feat
Red Augment Slot
Orange Augment Slot

But then again, i will probably wont try to play more bow builds for a while...

PS: so this whole discussion didnt flip a single bit.

[Thar]

Chaosbow Longbow
Damage Dice: 5[1d8+3]
9d6 Chaotic Damage (Lawful characters will take a neg level)
Improved Destruction
Elasticity (+1 Mult on 19-20)
Ranged Alacrity 25%
Red Augment Slot
Orange Augment Slot

This is markedly worse than the age of rage (non raid) bow. same chaotic damage. swap keen for improved destruction = 2w loss, ranged alacrity for heartseaker where most would have the permahaste feat by this level. it wouldn't even be a swap weapon with the age of rage bow since it's same damage type.

[barecm]

Chaosbow Longbow
Damage Dice: 5[1d8+3]
9d6 Chaotic Damage (Lawful characters will take a neg level)
Improved Destruction
Elasticity (+1 Mult on 19-20)
Ranged Alacrity 25%
Red Augment Slot
Orange Augment Slot

This is markedly worse than the age of rage (non raid) bow. same chaotic damage. swap keen for improved destruction = 2w loss, ranged alacrity for heartseaker where most would have the permahaste feat by this level. it wouldn't even be a swap weapon with the age of rage bow since it's same damage type.

I agree for this bow. I am reading a lot of folks saying how awesome it will be, and others not so much. I am on the not so much side. 3% speed increase (yes, proper archers have haste feat) is not worth the effort. Make it a 5% insightful bonus or something that stacks. Elasticity is fine. Imp destruction is nice but no wow factor either. Chaotic damage is pedestrian. Standard damage for a lvl 29 item; raid or non raid.

What will fix this is turning 25% ranged alacrity into a 5% insightful bonus. If you are going to add 2 augments, please make some lvl 29 worthy augments to put in there! Augments seem to have fallen off a long time ago... we need some new imaginative choices here. I am not advocating an increased crit range (as I think that idea made things out of control for a while), but there needs to be something with more flash or creativity.

As is, this is a poorly thought out, rather bland addition that does not really give you anything new or exciting. I get the feeling that whomever was working on this kind of mailed it in.... not much effort on this one.

[Arriene]

I want to start this with a huge thankyou, and a well done on the loot so far - there are a whole bunch of interesting items, the general theme is cool, and overall this preview has me really excited for the loot to hit live. It's great to see how Lynnabel implemented some of the things that people asked for (and especially great to see Staff of Shadows, since a staff with a different crit profile was something I asked for).

Which means it's time to add another voice to the masses - this staff has some cool ideas going on (I can't describe how happy an indestructible quarterstaff makes me) but also looks really bare compared with all the fancy, shiny effects on other loot from this raid. With that in mind...

Will the indestructible-ness be made an obvious bonus on the item, or more of a hidden effect? Making it the first one would go a long way towards filling out the items box so that it looks less bland.

Critical stats. There are a lot of people calling for an increased threat range as well as the multiplier, which seems like something you're wary about implementing (for good reason, looking at the misbalance some old weapons with expanded crit profiles caused in their times). I was originally going to ask for the same, but there have been good points made against this - quarterstaffs as a weapon feel like they're in a weak place, and overtuning this to match other weapons will definitely cause problems should that change. As an option half-way between, thoughts on adding impact V? This would give it a stronger profile, without causing the same potential balance issues as an overtuned base profile, as well as giving it a solid bump in raw damage, to bring it more in line with other popular two handed weapons (Tail of the Scorpion and Tremor, I'm looking at you two)

As a side note, a couple of other people have already mentioned this, but with the different critical profiles of Elemental Bloom and Staff of Shadows, they scale differently with flat damage bonuses. Assuming a character with tier 5s in thief acrobat or henshin for the critical range and multiplier, improved critical, and pulverizer from legendary dreadnought, you're looking at Elemental Bloom having a 15-20/x4 profile, compared with the staff of shadows 17-20/x4. Going from this assumption, and sticking with the earlier ones of missing on a 1, and automatically confirming crits, your 20 average hits gives something more like:

Elemental Bloom misses once, hits normally 13 times, and crits 6 times. So you're doing ((1x0)+(13x1)+(6x4)) times base damage - 37
Staff of Shadows misses once, hits normally 15 times, and crits 4 times. You do ((1x0)+(15x1)+(4x4)) times base damage - 31

Following on from these numbers, and taking Y as flat damage boosts:
Elemental bloom does 37(Y+17.5) damage
Staff of Shadows does 31(Y+47.5) damage

This means they'll do equal damage when 37(Y+17.5)=31(Y+47.5). Solving for Y, we get:
37Y + 647.5 = 31Y + 1472.5
6Y = 825
Y = 137.5
In other words, once you have a damage bonus of 138 or higher, Elemental Bloom will start doing more damage. Seeker will push this number lower, since they favour the Elemental Bloom's higher profile, but +[W] effects will push it higher, with Staff of Shadows having higher base dice. Either way, Elemental Bloom will eventually overtake the Staff of Shadows in damage, it's just a case of when, and if that threshold is too high to be realistically achievable. So in Lynnabel's case of ignoring other damage effects, Staff of Shadows is unquestionably better, but it won't always be. (Also, someone please feel free to correct me if my maths is off, it's been a long day)

[Thar]

I agree for this bow. I am reading a lot of folks saying how awesome it will be, and others not so much. I am on the not so much side. 3% speed increase (yes, proper archers have haste feat) is not worth the effort. Make it a 5% insightful bonus or something that stacks. Elasticity is fine. Imp destruction is nice but no wow factor either. Chaotic damage is pedestrian. Standard damage for a lvl 29 item; raid or non raid.

What will fix this is turning 25% ranged alacrity into a 5% insightful bonus. If you are going to add 2 augments, please make some lvl 29 worthy augments to put in there! Augments seem to have fallen off a long time ago... we need some new imaginative choices here. I am not advocating an increased crit range (as I think that idea made things out of control for a while), but there needs to be something with more flash or creativity.

As is, this is a poorly thought out, rather bland addition that does not really give you anything new or exciting. I get the feeling that whomever was working on this kind of mailed it in.... not much effort on this one.

i'd change the destruction to 9d6 good damage helping break dr at the same time and alaracty to a legendary vorpal or legendary paralyzing or shiradi colors effect some like effect that's different. it should be better than hunter of the wilds because a) it's a longbow and b) it's a raid weapon. The ravenloft bow is meh even compared to the other ravenloft bows. Need something to compete with the shuriken builds although one weapon isn't going to fix that.

[barecm]

i'd change the destruction to 9d6 good damage helping break dr at the same time and alaracty to a legendary vorpal or legendary paralyzing or shiradi colors effect some like effect that's different. it should be better than hunter of the wilds because a) it's a longbow and b) it's a raid weapon. The ravenloft bow is meh even compared to the other ravenloft bows. Need something to compete with the shuriken builds although one weapon isn't going to fix that.

I agree. However, as has been said, this is a chaos driven set of loot, so I would say keep that in there. The damage is in line for lvl 29. Where I do agree is that this bow does not offer much above the shortbow that has similar stats. The Chaosbow as is is simply not a raid quality item as compared to what can be obtained in normal quests. INHO I would go with 5% insight bonus to speed and add some sort of chaos damage vulnerability (if possible) instead of the improved destruction.

Lastly, I was down on Void until I built towards what it does, that is cold damage. You can actually boost it fairly well with spell power and cold based boosting items, stay frosty, etc... and then the cold vulnerability. Plus, with the arrow clickie, it winds up being rather useful and my primary weapon now for my ranger. Maybe that is a sign for me to be onboard until we can figure a build around it, but I just don't see the same ability to boost chaos damage as I can with elemental damage. I plan to test out on Lam tonight.

[Lokeal_The_Flame]

Any chance of offering a Bastard Sword version Of Reflection Of Blackrazor by time next preview?

The longsword version looks puny and wouldn't make that great of a cosmetic, people will want a cosmetic in that style for single handed weapons....... just not that shrunken down looking........

Also, you went two sizes down from greatsword to longsword skipping right over Bastard Sword, any reason for this?

Reflection Of Blackrazor's effects would be perfect for my artificer build usage, exceptional even and I really would like it if only for that!

[Captain_Wizbang]

Is the nullcloth armor the only heavy armor for U40?

[Krelar]

I don't suppose we'll be able to upgrade the heroic WPM weapons? I was disappointed when I realized I was doing more damage with a Ravenloft falchion (w/ improved critical) than Blackrazor. They really should be good for more than 1 level.

[marciodoc]

I really liked that ring, as my end game main is an assassin, but I second someone who said the ring needs some kind of special power.
Most times when we wait for raid loot we imagine there will be some new thing, not just a gathering of good specs.
Maybe add "while stealth you gain 15% running speed" or "while stealth your dex/int based skills increase 5 points for every second, up to 5 times". Something new and unusual.
But please, don't mess with the assassinate/ insightful assassinate

[Selvera]

Yay; finally a quarterstaff and longbow which look like they should be about to outperform ToEE on paper. Even though the ToEE ones still critical better; base damage dice are a thing; and the math would have to be run to see when ToEE becomes better then these options. (Better base critical profiles will always be better weapons at some number of bonus damage; the question is if it is reasonable or even possible to achieve that in game).

The handaxe also has me considering replacing the legendary forgotten axe in a couple of builds that I'm theorycrafting as viable melees; although it's lacking the critical profile and critical damage of the forgotten axe; the base die and weapon procs might just make up for it.

The heavy mace and sickle I doubt are good enough to make those weapon types worth using.

It's nice to finally get an insightful wisdom item that's not restricting your armor type; although unfortunately it's in the same slot as the hands of the dawn healer; so clerics and wisdom fvs are still sad.

I'm glad you're making a raid-level blackrazor, although the longsword looks like it would under perform. (Longswords are pretty much second-class khopeshes after all).

I can see sphere of wave being pretty powerful on some types of casters.
I know someone who's probably unimpressed that it's not a melee orb

Seems to be a lot of items that penalize characters for being lawful; I might be forced into some chaotic tendancies soon.

I can see the reflection of frostblade become the new fotm in some higher reaper circles.

[WiseFreelancer]

Elyd Charm Necklace

Please consider changing Insightful Devotion to Insightful Charisma.

While Devotion is useful to Bards, it's not nearly as useful as Charisma. The item looked pretty cool until I saw that. If you want bards to replace their Bells of Warding, the current version isn't going to do it.

Please *do not* do this. Insightful Devotion is a hard stat to slot while insightful charisma comes in several places now. Plus if a bard is looking to get the Anthem effect they'll probably want to wear Softsoul Slippers that already have Insight Charisma 9 on them. I think this item has a nice mix of stats for a bard-focused item.

[Fivetigers33]

Please *do not* do this. Insightful Devotion is a hard stat to slot while insightful charisma comes in several places now. Plus if a bard is looking to get the Anthem effect they'll probably want to wear Softsoul Slippers that already have Insight Charisma 9 on them. I think this item has a nice mix of stats for a bard-focused item.

Thank you for making my point for me. There's currently 1 decent item in the game with insightful charisma, the Softsole Slippers. Sure there's Lenses of the Orator, but it's a trash item for pretty much any Charisma build.

For insightful devotion, you can stick with Null, the Darkness Without or the Legendary Many-Pouched Belt of the Healer. Heck, even a Morninglord's Scepter or Pansophic Circlet are still decent items. Nobody needs that much devotion.

[PsychoBlonde]

Thank you for making my point for me. There's currently 1 decent item in the game with insightful charisma, the Softsole Slippers. Sure there's Lenses of the Orator, but it's a trash item for pretty much any Charisma build.

You mean "with insightful Charisma 9". You can put insightful charisma in GENERAL on a stupid number of items. You can even craft it. It's just not +9. And most of the other insightful +9 stats are only available on ONE item currently, too.

[PsychoBlonde]

Elyd Charm Necklace
•Anthem
•Charisma +20
•Insightful Devotion +104
•When you have 3 or more sources of Anthem, this grants exceptional 30 sonic spell power and 15% sonic spell lore
•Green Augment Slot
•Yellow Augment Slot



Please consider changing Insightful Devotion to Insightful Charisma.

While Devotion is useful to Bards, it's not nearly as useful as Charisma. The item looked pretty cool until I saw that. If you want bards to replace their Bells of Warding, the current version isn't going to do it.

I'd rather have insightful Resonance. Items with insightful Resonance currently in the game: BIG FAT ZERO. It's crafted or nothing.

[Arkat]

The Staff of Shadows Quarterstaff
Damage Dice: 5[1d6+6]
+1 Base Multiplier

• Material: Adamantine
• Red Augment Slot
• Orange Augment Slot

Um, is this missing info? Because it appears to be missing effects. A lot of effects.

Indeed.

[Grace_ana]

Indeed.

Oh man, and I thought it was perhaps lost in just the post. So it's really just...that? Everything else has the same number of augment slots and similar dice AND several cool effects. Please tell me this isn't correct. Throw us staff wielders a bone.