U42 Preview 3: Loot

[Ladywolf]

Just food for thought talking strictly about caster dc and not talking about filigrees.

We had +20 cha, +9 insight cha and +4 insight cha. Now we go up to 22, 10 and 5. Sounds great (4 cha benefit = 2 dc), but in reality it isn't. Slavers set gives 4 cha and FOUR dc. The various sharn dc sets give 4 cha 3 dc, (or 3 cha 4 dc). So really we could just keep all our slavers gear and simply swap to the +22 cha artifact necklace and end up with pretty much the same dc as regearing completely. That's anti climactic with all this new gear.

You have raised dc's in sharn by a lot.

My suggestion is that you increase ALL 4 of the caster set bonuses to +4 stat (cha/int/wis or whatever you have now) and +4 dc to at least match the slavers set , which is now 2 expansions old.

[Noircere]

The Curse Maelstrom does... a lot. Honestly, too much. I don't want to fully spoil it, but it does exactly what you need, plus a little extra.

Just tested it on Lamannia. I agree. I think it has too many effects on it. Bosses are immune to a lot of them, but it may be OP against trash mobs. Lots of random CC with pretty high duration.

I think it might be too much against trash, but it seems about right against bosses.

[Don1966]

Necklaces:

Conduit of the Soul Necklace
Minimum Level: 15/29

• Divine Augmentation IX This item increases your caster level when casting first through ninth level Divine spells by one/two
• Wizardry +154/+440
• Healing Lore +14%/+31%
• Quality Devotion +23/+53

by the way, the Divine Augmentation IX on this does not work, neither the heroic or epic version, my clonk in divine crusader casts healing spells at level 26 with and without this on.Buffs have the same duration with and without it on though i'm not sure if those should be affected. damage spells with a caster level part seem to do the same amount of damage with and without it. in addition, based off of items with arcane augmentation, heroic should boost by at least +2 and epic by +3, though with Twilight, Element of Magic being level 23 and boosting by +3, i'd say that Epic Conduit of the Soul ought to be +4.

[mikarddo]

In regards to light armor for U42
Lynnabel said 'no'
https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...20#post6203720


a straight up FU to light armor casters that have been ignored or otherwise passed over since update 30.. or the last 12 updates over the course of 2 years.
https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...=1#post6203993


Light armor questions after this statement were ignored. leaving us to assume that any further dialogue for that option has had the door slammed shut in our faces.
Maybe light armor dc casters will get some luv in some possible future updates, but for now we are screwed, unless there is some avengers endgame type pushback...

Sadness, but so be it. That you for the link.

No armor set for me then in Sharn. I guess that means a minor artifact then for me.

Overall, a pretty boring system with the sets using armor slot and completely pigeon holing builds into very specific gear - which all other builds (hardly niches) being left out to dry.
What makes DDO great gearwise is the flexibility and gear tetris that comes from having to mix and match to find the almost but not quite perfect setup. Making sets that fit well for some guilds and not at all for many other builds is poor and boring design though.

[Epicstorms]

Just food for thought talking strictly about caster dc and not talking about filigrees.

We had +20 cha, +9 insight cha and +4 insight cha. Now we go up to 22, 10 and 5. Sounds great (4 cha benefit = 2 dc), but in reality it isn't. Slavers set gives 4 cha and FOUR dc. The various sharn dc sets give 4 cha 3 dc, (or 3 cha 4 dc). So really we could just keep all our slavers gear and simply swap to the +22 cha artifact necklace and end up with pretty much the same dc as regearing completely. That's anti climactic with all this new gear.

You have raised dc's in sharn by a lot.

My suggestion is that you increase ALL 4 of the caster set bonuses to +4 stat (cha/int/wis or whatever you have now) and +4 dc to at least match the slavers set , which is now 2 expansions old.

This.

Also still hoping for a medium armor arcane set (that works for CHA based)

[Ulfo]

Spice up Raid Goggles

How about non-raid Goggles, specifically ML15 version?

[J-mann]

Since I'm not actually in the office and haven't had a chance to respond individually when things are done, I figured I'd give you guys a quick summary. Here's my Monday Morning to-do list for loot so far:

1. Replace quell with vorpal on graetaxe again
2. Spice up Raid Repeater
3. Spice up Raid Goggles
4. Insightful doublestrike in Part of the Family set somewhere
5. Int Cloak to Quality Int again
6. Put Ghostly on Ruby Ring instead of sheltering
7. Make proc effect on stone boots, drop anchoring

Thanks for providing feedback! As a quick reminder, your feedback is infinitely more likely to be acted upon if they're posted as concrete, constructive suggestions. "This is bad" is way less easily worked with than "replace X with Y"

How about replacing the stat damage on items with something actually useful? Or make stat damage actually useful by removing the dumb stat restore every second epic mobs get and making stat damage round to at least 1? Replace the stat damage on the light xbow with just about anything else to not waste a slot. Heck swim on it would be more useful than the stat damage in epics.

[GramercyRiff]

I can change the raid one to something else if you have a concrete suggestion for what should replace it

Why would you change the raid one when people that solo don't raid and don't care about Distant Diversion?

[HastyPudding]

Sadness, but so be it. That you for the link.

No armor set for me then in Sharn. I guess that means a minor artifact then for me.

Overall, a pretty boring system with the sets using armor slot and completely pigeon holing builds into very specific gear - which all other builds (hardly niches) being left out to dry.
What makes DDO great gearwise is the flexibility and gear tetris that comes from having to mix and match to find the almost but not quite perfect setup. Making sets that fit well for some guilds and not at all for many other builds is poor and boring design though.

Yeah, a dozen people have already railed against this stupidity in the previous loot thread. Welcome to the world of armored casters (warlocks and bards) where your default status is denied you and you're forced to lose a massive amount of magic defenses to keep the status quo (in an expansion that looks to be pretty heavy on the magic damage department). Then, you're either supposed to spend an ungodly amount of AP on things that aren't going to help you to get medium armor proficiency to use other sets (taking away from your DC focus, making the entire enterprise moot) or use up your precious filigree slots to make up for the loss in defenses in using the Nystul's set (also taking away from your DC focus).

Yeah, it's really dumb. I don't get why the devs don't understand this. They call it 'balance' I call it nerfing sorcs/wizards that spend a few AP to get light armor proficiency and unfortunately bards/warlocks got caught in the crossfire and ended taking the nerf right to the face. They got screwed over in Ravenloft with the beacon of magic set, they'll get screwed over in Sharn with the esoteric set.

Funny how NOBODY else gets such a slap to the face in this expansion but DC-focused warlocks and bards. Everyone else gets their default armor choices but warlocks and bards (druids even get an upgrade to heavy armor, because it's just 11 AP they're going to spend, anyway, for heavy armor proficiency since most already use the scales of the exile).

[blerkington]

Yeah, a dozen people have already railed against this stupidity in the previous loot thread. .

You're exactly right about this. As is the poster above complaining about stat damage effects on weapons. The people designing this gear seem to have some huge blind spots when it comes to making it useful and desirable. Right now I'd say gearing characters at cap is significantly more problematic than it's ever been before, at least for as long as I've been playing. For some builds we are well beyond tough choices into nonsense territory.

One thing that also bothers me about these discussion threads is there's superficial willingness to make changes to loot, but some of the more serious problems just remain ignored or brushed off with some very weak justifications. For that reason I've largely given up on providing feedback. I'm also at the point where instead of being excited about getting new loot, I'm having to wait several updates to make worthwhile changes to my gear. Regearing produces a long-term headache now rather than a sense of pleasure from making progress.

Thanks.

[thunir]

Molten Adamantine Gauntlets Raid Gloves
Minimum Level: 29
Pierce Adamantine
Insightful Accuracy +16
Doublestrike +24%
Action Boost Enhancement This will increase the total number of Action Boosts you can use by 3. However, these additional Action Boosts will only take effect after the wielder rests.


Why are these not in the "Part of the Family" set. Great item, but not for the new content. I can use it in the old sets, just not the new one. Doesn't make sense.

[Noircere]

Piston Boots are currently not granting their Melee Power bonus when jumping.

[noinfo]

Since I'm not actually in the office and haven't had a chance to respond individually when things are done, I figured I'd give you guys a quick summary. Here's my Monday Morning to-do list for loot so far:

1. Int Cloak to Quality Int again
   

Thanks for providing feedback! As a quick reminder, your feedback is infinitely more likely to be acted upon if they're posted as concrete, constructive suggestions. "This is bad" is way less easily worked with than "replace X with Y"

So there go insight on a wearable item for a dc wizard? Only spot left is orb so just as well the staff is not where it needs to be.

Insightful int sources
Non caster set goggles?
Orb-forget your staff?

Changing back was not good, at the very least make the belt insight stat or give the nearly finished the option of insight or quality.

I am really trying to find a use for the new gear on my wizard, so far the optimal changes seem to be

add an orb for +1 int
add one of the 2 quality int items for 1 more probably now the cloak
add artifact for 2 more int.
done- not one raid item to be chased. Slavers set and shadow scale still number 1.

The raid goggles would be an ideal place for insight int and quality int instead of the 2 trash effects on them, the staffs should have +3 quality dc on them

[noinfo]

Just food for thought talking strictly about caster dc and not talking about filigrees.

We had +20 cha, +9 insight cha and +4 insight cha. Now we go up to 22, 10 and 5. Sounds great (4 cha benefit = 2 dc), but in reality it isn't. Slavers set gives 4 cha and FOUR dc. The various sharn dc sets give 4 cha 3 dc, (or 3 cha 4 dc). So really we could just keep all our slavers gear and simply swap to the +22 cha artifact necklace and end up with pretty much the same dc as regearing completely. That's anti climactic with all this new gear.

You have raised dc's in sharn by a lot.

My suggestion is that you increase ALL 4 of the caster set bonuses to +4 stat (cha/int/wis or whatever you have now) and +4 dc to at least match the slavers set , which is now 2 expansions old.

Its not just char casters, It is exactly the same on int based ones too

My gear changes will now be orb to replace strahd tome
Artifact necklace (now it is losing its negative absorb!)
quality int item somewhere belt or cloak

Forget the raid goggles, forget the new armour or caster set

Shadow scale armour
Slavers set

Done!

Would really have liked the staff to be good.
Would really have like the goggles to be good.
that combined with a weaker overall bonus means same old same old.

[IBCrabin]

Spell caster especially nukers are going to need better access to spell focus item in each set. Evocation and conjuration DC are the equivalent of accuracy on a melee and or range build.

[Tchtutax]

Since I'm not actually in the office and haven't had a chance to respond individually when things are done, I figured I'd give you guys a quick summary. Here's my Monday Morning to-do list for loot so far:

1. Replace quell with vorpal on graetaxe again
2. Spice up Raid Repeater
3. Spice up Raid Goggles
4. Insightful doublestrike in Part of the Family set somewhere
5. Int Cloak to Quality Int again
6. Put Ghostly on Ruby Ring instead of sheltering
7. Make proc effect on stone boots, drop anchoring

Thanks for providing feedback! As a quick reminder, your feedback is infinitely more likely to be acted upon if they're posted as concrete, constructive suggestions. "This is bad" is way less easily worked with than "replace X with Y"

Divine Augmentation appears to not be working on the "Conduit of the Soul Necklace". Neither for druids, nor more traditional "divine" types.

[Duhboy]

Yeah, a dozen people have already railed against this stupidity in the previous loot thread. Welcome to the world of armored casters (warlocks and bards) where your default status is denied you and you're forced to lose a massive amount of magic defenses to keep the status quo (in an expansion that looks to be pretty heavy on the magic damage department). Then, you're either supposed to spend an ungodly amount of AP on things that aren't going to help you to get medium armor proficiency to use other sets (taking away from your DC focus, making the entire enterprise moot) or use up your precious filigree slots to make up for the loss in defenses in using the Nystul's set (also taking away from your DC focus).

Yeah, it's really dumb. I don't get why the devs don't understand this. They call it 'balance' I call it nerfing sorcs/wizards that spend a few AP to get light armor proficiency and unfortunately bards/warlocks got caught in the crossfire and ended taking the nerf right to the face. They got screwed over in Ravenloft with the beacon of magic set, they'll get screwed over in Sharn with the esoteric set.

Funny how NOBODY else gets such a slap to the face in this expansion but DC-focused warlocks and bards. Everyone else gets their default armor choices but warlocks and bards (druids even get an upgrade to heavy armor, because it's just 11 AP they're going to spend, anyway, for heavy armor proficiency since most already use the scales of the exile).

Preaching to the choir my friend. Preaching to the choir.

[evaldor]

I notice that only warforged monks can use the tank set. I know niche builds aren't a super high priority, but it would be amazing if there were an outfit that counted for the Guardian of the Gates set. Heck, the existing Part of the Family outfit has appropriate stats for it. Could it be given both set bonuses, or failing that a nearly-finished crafting option to switch which set it belongs to? Part of the Family is Armor-Gloves-Neck, and Guardian of the Gates is Armor-Helmet-Neck, so there's still no risk of someone completing both set bonuses at the same time. This would be very nice for the Orien legendary reaper pugging scene; I routinely tank for those groups on my monk.

I agree with this; as a returning player from pre-reaper/ Ravenloft, I was quite disappointed to learn that there are no longer tank options for monks. I essentially went from my main toon being a tank and having decent dps, to not being able to tank and having my dps nerfed. It would be great to see some options, even if the gear/bonuses end up being less than the heavy tank sets (as it should be).

I especially like the idea of making the 'set bonus' a craftable addition, rather than a standard feature. I feel this would fit very well with the 'nearly finished' feel that so many items have in the upcoming release, while also being a throwback to DDO's first expansion- Menace of the underdark (looking at you, spiderspun caparison)!

Thank you for your hard work!

[Noircere]

It is difficult to tell unlit red signal crystals from lit red signal crystals. Please change the starting unlit state to black.

Edit: wrong thread, do not know how to delete.

[Strambotica]

About Black Satin Waist Belt:
Since now the wizards can have their Quality Intelligence on a cloak (Black Velvet Cloak) and Spell Penetration from their set(Aetherband).
So they dont need the Black Satin Waist Belt at all. Can you put back the Spell Focus Mastery? instead of the Quality? plz.
There are plenty Quality Spell Focus Mastery on the artifacts and the quarterstaffs, other classes need DC too, like bards, cleric, fvs, warlocks.
Edit: And is the only source for Quality Charisma and Wisdom +5 for the other type casters.


About the caster's wisdom artifact:
You swap it to a Bracers because had compatibility issues with Druid Set, but now have the same problem with the Divine Set.
can we get to a middle point and swap it for a ring? Or make a 'duplicate' one bracer and one necklace? Or like slavelord items... that can be use it on both?

Just thought about this with an open mind...