U42 Preview 1: Loot

[Tilomere]

Heavy Crossbow: Hallowed Splinters - fire damage, holy damage, when you cast prayer you get ranged power - Upgrade: Sovereign Disrupting

This is almost identical to the Morninglord Heavy Crossbow of Undead Bane 9d10, Holy 9d6, Fiery 9d6, Silver, Empty Red Augment Slot

Between Morninglord, Nightmothers, and now Nightshade we already have 3 on-hit proc effect level 29 crossbows. Can we make the 4th Crit-based, such as:

Heavy Crossbow: Hallowed Splinters - Good Aligned, Crit Range, Crit Multiplier, Armor Piercing, Upgrade: when you cast prayer you get ranged power.


We don't need four level 29 crossbows that all only support a single LD on-hit build type.

[Alcides]

Tank items suggested changes

Set 1 (Tank Focused) - Guardian of the Gates:

Set Bonus: +10% Armor Class, +15/30 PRR, +15/30 MRR, 75% Threat Generation, +2/+4 Artifact Bonus to Constitution

Watch Captain's Platemail Heavy Armor
Minimum Level: 15/29

• Fortification +94%/+214%
• Physical Sheltering +19/+54
• Healing Amplification +30/+85
• False Life +29/+81

Ironheart Docent
Minimum Level: 15/29

• Fortification +94%/+214%
• Physical Sheltering +19/+54
• Healing Amplification +30/+85
• Repair Amplification +30/+85
• False Life +29/+81

Standard Issue Faceplate Helmet
Minimum Level: 15/29

• Melee Threat +25%/+62%
• Intimidate +16/+22
• Insightful Physical Sheltering +9/+27
• Insightful Fortification +53%/+107%

Citadel's Gaze Raid Helmet
Minimum Level:29

• Melee Threat +64%
• Intimidate +25
• Higher Caliber Command Morale to Cha Skills, hide penalty
• Quality Sheltering +15

Standard Issue Wristguards Bracers
Minimum Level: 15/29

• Magical Sheltering +19/+54
• Fortification Saves +6/+17
• Spell Saves
• Parrying

Reasoning behind these changes
A) Adding a "Taint of Good" mechanic makes this feel more like a good-aligned Divine class item.
B) Protection from Evil is not very useful so I've changed it to beef up Aura of Good when a shield is equipped or Smite when a two handed weapon is equipped.
C) Adding Nearly finished like I have allows the item to be used by most of the various Cleric, Favored Soul and Paladin melee builds out there.
D) Divines are multiple-attribute-dependent so the multiple quality stat bonus would help a lot with itemization choice.

Crusader's Cloak Cloak
Minimum Level: 15/29

• Exalted Good: An item with the Exalted Good property gives one negative level to non good-aligned characters wearing it.
• Extra Smites per Rest +1/+2
• Hallowed Aura: Increase the AC and Saving Throw bonus of your Aura of Good by +1/+2 if a shield is equipped.
• Just Cause: Increase the damage of Smite +1/+2 [W] if a two handed weapon is equipped.
• (INSIGHT CON, WIS, CHA +3/10)
• Quality Constitution, Wisdom, and Charisma +1/+5

Please don't nerf monks

Platinum Knuckles Handwraps
Minimum Level: 15/29

• Please stop nerfing my fellow monks from across the aisle
• Impact I/V
• Spiked (breaks piercing DR)
• Enchanted Platinum Crowd Control (Make this a % chance or DC based if needed)
• Doublestrike +9/+23

[Pilgrim1]

Set 7 (Spell DPS) - Esoteric Influence:

Set Bonus: +2/4 Artifact to Spell Focus Mastery, +20/50 Universal Spell Power, +2/3 to INT/WIS/CHA, +10/20 MRR Cap

Order's Garb Outfit
Minimum Level: 15/29

• Fortification +94%/+214%
• Physical Sheltering +19/+54
• Exceptional Spell Power +10/+30
• Exceptional Spell Lore +3%/+10%

Enigma Core Docent
Minimum Level: 15/29

• Fortification +94%/+214%
• Physical Sheltering +19/+54
• Exceptional Spell Power +10/+20
• Exceptional Spell Lore +3%/+10%

Aetherband Bracers
Minimum Level: 15/29

• Insightful Spell Focus Mastery +2/+4
• Spell Cost Reduction +5%/+10%
• Reduced Spell Threat +25%/+62%
• Shield Bonus to Armor Class +8/+21

Dusk Lenses Goggles
Minimum Level: 15/29

• Potency +60/+154
• Insightful Potency +30/+77
• Enhanced Metamagic - Empower
• Enhanced Metamagic - Maximize

Attunement's Gaze Raid Goggles
Minimum Level: 29

• Spell Focus Mastery +7
• Insightful Spell Focus Mastery +4
• Enhanced Metamagic - Empower
• Enhanced Metamagic - Maximize

The bracers are required for this set. That means that the raid goggles are undervalued as they have a redundant effect (insightful spell focus mastery). Considering how enhanced metamagics are not very strong (reduction of spell points -unless its changed) this item will not be well sought after.

This set gives +3 to stat bonuses while the others give +4. Misstype?

[Lynnabel]

The bracers are required for this set. That means that the raid goggles are undervalued as they have a redundant effect (insightful spell focus mastery). Considering how enhanced metamagics are not very strong (reduction of spell points -unless its changed) this item will not be well sought after.

Make sure to check the Lamannia Dev Tracker! Posts in this subforum are tracked separately, so you can't see them via the main Dev Tracker. This has already been changed - the Bracers were swapped to Insightful Spell Penetration as per this post: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...=1#post6198003

[apocaladle]

Watch Captain's Platemail Heavy Armor
Minimum Level: 15/29
Fortification +94%/+214%
Physical Sheltering +19/+54
Healing Amplification +30/+85
False Life +29/+81

Any chance this can be a non metal to help out bear druids?

We have the https://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Legend...s_of_the_Exile but the set bonus doesn't come close to ravenloft or the sharn set for tanks.

[Don1966]

Conduit of the Soul Necklace

Minimum Level: 15/29

• Healing Augmentation IX
• Wizardry +154/+440
• Quality Healing Spell Lore +3%/+7%
• Quality Healing Spell Power+23/+53

The Zarash'ak Ward Neck Minor Artifact
Minimum Level:29
Maximum Filigree Slots: 3

• Wisdom +22
• Quality Spell Focus Mastery +2
• Armor Bonus +22
• Negative Absorption +31%

any chance one of these could be changed to a different slot? the conduit is clearly a divine item and the artifact is a wisdom caster item. difficult for a cleric/fvs/druid to wear both at the same time. making one a helm would be a nice slot. in addition could the armor bonus on the artifact be changed to a natural armor bonus of the appropriate value? as has been mentioned the armor bonus wouldn't stack with any armor bonus from whatever the character is wearing and is a wasted effect.

[Lynnabel]

B) Protection from Evil is not very useful

This is a new scaling version - you can compare it to how the classic Turn Undead enchantment took a notable jump from +4 to +16 when we brought it up to speed in White Plume. I imagine the new values that actually go beyond +2 AC will be a little more useful than its nonscaling counterpart.

Please don't nerf monks

There are a lot of Handwraps - including a super spicy pair of Raid Wraps that will get a pretty significant facelife from their appearance in the notes in this Preview - in Sharn. These are a pretty tight niche, I admit it, but the idea is too good to lose. If these aren't worth it, I'll make em worth it! :P

[Paisheng]

Monks are getting a Syranian Handwrap set from the generic suite, Platinum Handwraps, and a pair of Raid handwraps that I predict will be very popular. Make sure you're reading the full posts!

my apologies. And while i still don't see the other wraps, i'll take your word for it!

[Alcides]

This is a new scaling version - you can compare it to how the classic Turn Undead enchantment took a notable jump from +4 to +16 when we brought it up to speed in White Plume. I imagine the new values that actually go beyond +2 AC will be a little more useful than its nonscaling counterpart.

Could you elaborate on how this scaling version works while you have a Deflection Bonus to AC item and a Resistance Bonus to Saves item already would this stack with those or take the higher bonus vs an evil source?

[cru121]

Wouldn't it be better to create 5 generic armor types and then allow Nearly Finished to awaken any set bonus? (Or 10 to include 5 types of esoteric armor)

Rather than having zillion armors with the same enchantments - and yet people are looking for other combinations. No heavier armor support for ranged set (Cleric Inquisitive in Heavy Armor?), no heavier armor for caster sets, etc.

Also, maybe the nearly finished thing could be used to customize what type of healing amplification you want. Maybe by default drop with usual positive amplification and allow replacement of the enchantment via crafting to Repair or Negative amp.

[Yamani]

my apologies. And while i still don't see the other wraps, i'll take your word for it!

They are listed under the weapons section.

Also, under the weapons section is a distinct lack of rapiers beyond the basic syranian

[Lynnabel]

Wouldn't it be better to create 5 generic armor types and then allow Nearly Finished to awaken any set bonus? (Or 10 to include 5 types of esoteric armor)

No, because then we can't enforce specific armor types to specific sets, AND it also means we can't set custom appearances for each of them! That would be the true loss above all else

[Pilgrim1]

5 points in regard to loot:

(1) In response to the loot in general: I don't think you need this much power creep to get people excited about sharn. It seam's rather lack-luster.

(2) If you are concerned about getting people into sharn via loot try more item consolidation. Bring back sheltering instead of splitting them up, try lumping stuff together like skill types, or accuracy and deadly. You could also add uncommon effects to items, like ranged/melee power. Or weapon imbue clickies.

(3) You allow customization of items, this is great. My suggestion would be to not restrict each section into 3 different stats. If someone has a strange build that requires str on a caster item let them do it. By restricting stats on crafted items you limit build diversity and hamper those interesting non-standard builds. Even if people almost never use them the fact that there there allows the build diversity, which is something that makes DDO stand out compared to other MMO's.

(4) You have built many many near-identical chest items which only are different due to set bonuses. If you allowed people to apply the set bonus to the item (like the evening star commendation turn-in items) you would have a much cleaner loot table. In addition it would allow for more item flexibility and thus encourage more build diversity options.

(5) Lastly by making set bonuses so powerful your forcing people into get sets based on set's. Additionally since sets are so slot restricted this deceases itemization options. The end result is that people will construct near identical item sets. This is unfortunate.

---thanks for reading.

[DrawingGuy]

I was going to quote each item and cover it, but that would create a mile long post, so I'll just keep it as my comments:

Set 1 (Tank Focused) - Guardian of the Gates:
I feel that the Celestial Emerald Ring could be part of this set as it is all important parts of tanking. This would also allow for non-heavy armors to seek out this set bonus.

I do think the tank gear doesn't need a fragmented resist. Would be nice to see the Fortification 17 simply be a Resists 16/17 on the bracers.


Set 2 (Melee DPS) - Part of the Family:
I'm glad to see that light/unarmored wasn't shut out based on the comments in the live stream. Simply including the other armor types into the fold of DPS is best.

Platinum Knuckles I'm trying to wrap my head around. Giving up gloves is a heavy price, and the current listing doesn't come remotely close to making up for it. I know you made a comment to look for preview 2, so I will do so before making further comment.

My other concern is Threat Reduction on the gloves. By placing this on the ONLY option of a 3 piece set, you are forcing away the option of DPS melee tanking (or at least making it much harder). If this was available on an alternate piece of gear, then there is the choice (on top of filigrees, enhancements, and bluff people can already build for). I'd suggest possibly swapping the Insightful Armor Piercing of the Assassinate Helm and the reduced threat of the gloves. Or possibly adding Molten Adamantine Gauntlets to this set to give an alternative. Whatever the case, please don't lock melees that actually want the aggro from this set.


Set 3 (Primal Casting) - Hruit's Influence:
I personally would like to see Positive from the set bonus changed out to Acid and have a necklace for Acid and Air savants added. This would increase the variety a bit compared to the other set options and cover Sorcerer better. This may be a step away from the Druid's healing portion, but they still have acid spells that would benefit, and I don't see a problem with the slight separation. Though the greedy side of me wouldn't mind having BOTH acid and positive for a total of 5 spell powers...

The spell absorption of the raid gloves lists no recovery option on Lam. I did not test this yet, but this makes me worry that you won't be able to get charges back.


Set 4 (Tanky Spell DPS) - Arcsteel Battlemage:
As others have suggested, adding CHA to the INT bonus will cover Sorcerer EK builds along with Wizard.

I also feel that hitting two random spell types of their imbues feels incomplete. Electric makes sense for the Arcsteel, but I'd swap the Fire out for Negative. This would be especially helpful to EK Wizzes that fold in Necromancy, not to mention negative damage being a constant component of bread and butter Wiz/Sorc spells. I would also like to see Force counterparts for the gloves, and would be really cool if you could have them boost your eldritch moves in some manner. Possibly replace the Blurry with a Force imbue that only works while Spellsword is active?


Set 5 (Divine Casting) - Flamecleansed Fury:
Divine gear, no real complaints here!


Set 6 (Ranged DPS) - Sharn Wallwatch:
Currently all of the armors are broken on Lam and give the melee set bonus instead of the ranged. Wore every piece of armor and confirmed none gave me the ranged set bonus. This needs to be fixed!

Unlike melee, a ranged definitely doesn't want the monster in their face (as that would defeat the purpose of being ranged), so this is where I consider distance diversion a good thing. Glad the insane doubleshot numbers were not real, but as the only source of insightful doubleshot, I expect that raid helm to be highly sought after by ranged builds.


Set 7 (Spell DPS) - Esoteric Influence:
This universal caster gear is pretty nice, though there is a change I would like to see: Change the Insightful Spell Mastery on the bracers to Spell Penetration or Insightful Spell Penetration. This will stop the overlap with the Raid item and help break away from the Nightmother's Scepter. Replacing Shield Bonus so that it can have both would be even juicier, though would be keeping the sheer power DC casting currently has.


Non-Set Items
Rune Arms:
These are currently missing a lot of their abilities, imbues, and copy a bit from the Mabar runearms, which they should not.

Belts:
Perform makes more sense on the Glittering Waistwrap.

The Cornerstone Champion should have Superior Reinforced Fists to reflect the end game Raid level (though I'm still sour that a core monk feature was deleted rather than removing this item tax on unarmed DPS to achieve the nerf. But as that argument was lost/ignored, more options is appreciated).


For the remaining gear I currently don't see any inherent problems. I would have to sit and do some gear tetris to see if they actually create new solutions, or are just noise that would be ignored, but considering that these are where you're landing most of your Insightful and Qaulity stats, I suspect they'd fit somewhere.

[Vish]

Yay, feedback! We'll try to jazz up the ring a bit to help make sure it's more fun. Thanks for chiming in!

What aboooooooooooooooout...

Celestial Amethyst Ring Ring
Minimum Level: 15/29

• (INT, DEX, CON +8/21)
• Improved Deception
• Dodge (or Insightful Dodge if you guys would like that more)
• Profane Attributes +1/+2

It kind of fits, right? Let me know

This is fine pls
In my new gear set,
I'm using this for con, dodge, and profane
Please keep the base dodge

[cru121]

Here are the characters that I play most in recent weeks:
* Caster bard - sonic evoker + charms as needed
* Acid Warlock Enlightened Spirit mule parked at 15
* Acid Warlock Enlightened Spirit mule parked at 30
* Swashbuckler (various splits, always swashbuckling)
* Inquisitive in heavy armor
* Main (whatever, EK atm)

The only set potentially useful for caster bard (in medium armor) and goo ES warlock (in medium armor) is Set 5 (Divine Casting) - Flamecleansed Fury.

Consider adding an Acid bracer and an Enhanced Resonance cloak (or allow Nearly Finished to modify existing items to these elements).


Heavy Armor Inquisitive has no useful set options in Sharn


Swashbuckler will be happy with Part of the Family set, or keep Silent Avenger; anyway happy to have more options here.

My EK uses Medium Armor in heroics and Light Armor in epics (Shadowdancer - evasion). I will have to be happy with Part of the Family set, even though I'd prefer to use some more caster-focused set. But at least there's an option to use a DPS set along with Ravenloft belt.


Generally I was hoping for more options for Bards. Considering Scoundrel... Yeah, I saw that new non-raid option for +1 to Inspire Courage, somehow that fails to keep me excited.

[Assassination]

Goggles:

Ethereal Gaze Goggles
Minimum Level: 29
Blurry +35%
Ethereality
Hide +23
Move Silently +23


This seems like a pretty weak raid item to me. I'd like to see hide and move silently combined or treated as one ability, then add insightful assassinate +5. Blurry +35 is nice, will help miss chances in reaper...
Ethereality is weak sauce too, how about ghostly, or Parry!! I like parry +10!! Help a rogue make his saves, ty..

[Kebtid]

Piston boots is a necklace and the buff doesnt work.
ALso, depending on duration this could be a really good swap in item, make it 30 seconds at least please and at least 15 melee power, it is not as powerfull as most wont remember to swap in jump swap out

https://ibb.co/x8Q70cW


Picture that says its a necklace.

Can eclipse be changed to a 1 hander?
I see it as a potential ok item, but by adding charisma on the orb you make this item unusable by anyone to give up on the best in slot char stat item.
Or add ins charisma somewheere else for sorc players, a staff must be really powerfull to provide us a reason to use it as casters.
First of all, we need to use 1 handers for the purpose of debuffs, 2nd by adding charisma warlock orb you make all char users prompt into that item which totaly negates our possibly usage of 2 handers.

[tanuki013]

Please Add Material type for Druid Oath.

[majikpaul]

1. when trying to buy The Wide Open Sky from the vendor I get a "Inventory Error. Cannot split!" message

2. why do you devs hate throwing daggers and any possible throwing dagger build?

I know I'm not the first one to point this out, but why have you passed up ANOTHER opportunity to give us another thrower build option that is competitive with a shruriken thrower? The fix is very simple and that is to provide us with a throwing dagger that has a high enough base damage to compensate for the multiple shurikens that a monk thrower can toss. YOU EVEN CREATED A WHOLE TREE for dagger throwers and it is total garbage without a throwing dagger to go along with it. Like I said in #1 I can't even buy the thing on Lama to check it out after upgrades and the pre-upgrade stats are even worse than the existing raid throwing dagger (Fate, the Knower of All). I really don't understand why you (devs) do things like this. It's just like Gnome... let's make a race that specializes in a spell school that has only 7 spells and 1, ONE, UNO combat spell. Why even bother?