High-level stat-boosting gear

CrazyJ · Post by **CrazyJ** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:23 am

Is it just me, or does anyone think that gloves that give +8 STR are excessively powerful? This totally removes any reason for high-level characters to use barbarian rages (especially the higher ones), or for using Empowered/Greater Bull Str as opposed to just the basic Bull Str buff. This also slants things towards melee characters, as they become even more effective damage-dealers, while an extra point or so of DC for INT/CHA (*if* there's a helm that gives Int +8, the golden mith wizard's crown I found gives slots but not Int!) doesn't help too much since epic saves are disproportionately high already.

It also puts monks at a slight disadvantage vs. weapon-wielders since the monk glove STR bonus doesn't keep up (on the up side, monk gloves are the only +7 weapon on the server).

Stuff that boosts stats more than +6 really seems excessive given the low/medium magic nature of NS4.

Post by **Binkyuk** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:10 pm

I do sort of agree, though I'm not sure what to do about it.
It's not great that gear is now outstripping build abilities, and in some cases negating them. Several previously very important spells are now useless at epic:
GMW
Magic Vestment
Shield of Faith
Barkskin (previously a signature advantage of being a druid)
Greater Stoneskin
Premonition

Of these i consider GSS and Premonition to be a major loss to Druids and Mages (and normal SS for some clerics) (well, mages get Epic Warding I guess, but it's short duration).

Post by **Flailer** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:34 pm

Possibly see some of those spells being extended for pure casters.

CrazyJ · Post by **CrazyJ** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:04 pm

Something for Barbs to help with them losing the hit/dmg bonus of raging due to the +12 magical cap would be nice. Maybe make the higher-level rages give +2 hit/+2 damage/+temp hp like bard song/prayer/etc do instead of an additional +4 str?

MLoki · Post by **MLoki** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:16 pm

Actually the +7 gloves that monks get aren't +7 weapons they are just +7 to hit. Which means unless you have 30 Monk levels you still can't bypass Stoneskin or Premonition DR. Those gloves are also only a +4 to STR. I do have an Epic Barbarian and I always Max out my STR and CON when I Rage. I tend to just deal with it but it would be nice to have some compensation instead of seeing bigger and better belts and gloves that I simply don't benifit from.

MLoki

watchwood · Post by **watchwood** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:18 pm

Then would it be possible to give monks a way to get their fists enhancement level up to stat with other weapons (+6)? Perhaps as a pure class bonus?

kingfatzo · Post by **kingfatzo** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:21 pm

i think we will all have a better idea once the pure-class bonuses come rolling off the assembly line

watchwood · Post by **watchwood** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:50 pm

I know, though it's fun to guess.

Post by **Sparky** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:29 pm

Gloves with +AB on them of 5 and over should bypass most Damage Reduction spells unless something has changed in the last week.

Celorn · Post by **Celorn** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:47 pm

Yep.. both the +6 firefists and +7 posideon gloves seem to bypass DR just fine.

Also, the +8 strength gloves don't have any AC, so you need a cloak or helm with +5 or else the crafted gloves are better... But you're right, even the greater stat buffs you can use from staff aren't as powerful as before since it's a lot easier to hit +12, and premonition/GSS is a joke now with everyone running around with +5 and +6 weapons.

Could Premo/GSS be modified to be higher resist? or yet another hardwired bioware thing?

In some ways, the mod is starting to balance out a bit, clerics and mages don't have the uber edge they used to, they're still on the high end, but the new gear drops are starting to level out the field.

BUT in other ways, it's getting a bit silly... you have to invest many, many more hours even after attaining a level 40 toon to gather XP and +4 manuals so you can max out your stats, AND you need a full set of the best +5 -> +8 gear depending on what will benefit your build the most. I just hope we never see any +7 (other than the p.gloves) or +8 weapons or armor or I bet a lot of people will quit playing...

watchwood · Post by **watchwood** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 4:12 pm

Agreed. I can see giving monks their gloves, but you have to draw the line somewhere.

IcemanXV · Post by **IcemanXV** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 5:30 pm

Maybe every 5 epic caster levels, let premonition gain an additional +1 to DR. So at 25 its +6/30, at 30 its +7/30, at 35 its +8/30, and at 40 +9/30.

If mobs don't even have +9 weapons, the lvl 40 variant could be +8/50 or something.

I've seen other servers that dont require haks able to implement epic spell progression to make them useful.

-BannyD- · Post by **-BannyD-** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 5:50 pm

i suggested a cap of +6 for 1handed weapons, +7 for 2handed..giving 2handed a little needed boost in offensive power for the lack of a shield.

i would also like to keep the AC cap at +6, maybe +7 for armors and armors only.

$chase$ · Post by **$chase$** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:43 pm

dont worry im sure with our DEVS it will be all good

mgrjebbo · Post by **mgrjebbo** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:44 pm

ok here we go again on a way uber ns 3.5 topic. we shouldnt even have to discuss this. i know there is a need for new stuff and bigger is better but i am hoping that the uber stops soon other wise we will soon all be running around with triton weapons.

make the max weapon bonus +5 for 1 handed weapons +6 for gloves and 2 handed weapons and call it good. dont make anything better than is whats out there now.

Now i am not saying stop making new things but just cause something is new doesnt mean it has to have a higher bonus than the items before it.

Like a hammer for instance. you have ice lord and dwarf crafted. if you want to add another keep same bonus as dwarf +5 and give it acid damage or something.

alittle varience goes along way.