Opinions on void shard armor?

[SpineDoc]

<p>Just seeing what other templars are thinking.  I'm hearing I should just switch out all my gear for TSO gear straight out.  I'll never be a raider, just don't have the guild or the real life time, so the best I can hope for is TSO gear and void shard gear.  The only thing is that void shard stuff doesn't look much better than ROK legendary stuff, and not better to the occasional TSO instance drop, but I've heard other players swear by the stuff overall.</p><p>Thoughts from those who have fully switched to void shard?</p>

[Vanderlay]

<p><cite>SpineDoc wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Just seeing what other templars are thinking.  I'm hearing I should just switch out all my gear for TSO gear straight out.  I'll never be a raider, just don't have the guild or the real life time, so the best I can hope for is TSO gear and void shard gear.  The only thing is that void shard stuff doesn't look much better than ROK legendary stuff, and not better to the occasional TSO instance drop, but I've heard other players swear by the stuff overall.</p><p>Thoughts from those who have fully switched to void shard?</p></blockquote><p>I have 3 of the 6 Heroic Steel plate armor pieces for a zerker, and some are less defense than what I had on previously, but I did notice an increase in mitigation and avoidance.  I will be switching out all of my gear to TSO void stuff.  Unless I decide to raid or something.</p>

[Skyana]

<p>I and some friends/guildmates are working our way to becoming fully eqipped in the Void Shard gear.   We are finding a great improvement in our damage, mitigation, ect ect.   I was equipped with the ROK legendary drops and this is even better.   The gear itself has improved me, and the set bounus have made me even tougher.   For non-raiders, the t2 Shard gear is going to be some of the best stuff you will ever be able to get your hands on in my opinion.   I've got the full set of t1, working on full set of the infused jewelery and then the t2 armor.   We're all Master Crafters so have been doing the Tradeskill group missions to get all the reciepie books.   Believe me its worth it to get them, because the shard savings in the long run really add up.   As well as the potential to get cool drops/tokens to buy faction stuff from the Far Seas Suppliers.   I'm a provie RP'er so having the Deadly Mixing Spoon just tickles me. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Giliad]

<p>I don't think they added crit to existing mobs and so if fighting ROK might be best to ROK gear it, but TSO yoou are gonna need the crit mit.  For me it depends, some of the VP gear is good but can be replaced by Void armor.  I.e Hands from vp give +7 melee crit.  Really??  could change that and still keep ROK set bonus.  I am prolly gonna mix and match.  Appearance slots will be the best looking of the sets</p>

[Tenchisama]

<p>I am enjoying the Tier2 armor for the most part - I could not bring myself to get the boots yet since I have my sights set on the PR boots but the rest of the set is done.</p><p>Overall it is great armor that is attainable without raiding - for high end raiders even with the latest boost the fabled TSO armor is still not quite on par with the fabled VP armor for templars - but it is much closer than it was.</p><p>I do have to say that I am disappointed with the 5 piece bonus on tier2 - self buffed I am at 72 heal crit so a proc for 15 more when with ench/dirge I am at 95 is fairly useless......</p><p>beyond that - no complaints =P</p>

[SpineDoc]

<p>I've finally got a full suit of T1 and can think on what to shoot for next.  Is the shard jewelery worth getting at all?  Or should I just work on the T2 armor?</p>

[Tenchisama]

<p>depends on your config</p><p>if you are a Shield Ally type templar - then yes some of the shard jewelry is worthwhile</p><p>the pocket holy symbol is a nice upgrade to the frosthealers brooch</p><p>but honestly</p><p>UPGRADE your arms to T2 - best upgrade ever</p><p>Neck slot for non SA type templars Vyx Cryst from PR is better</p><p>Ears/Rings/Wrists - there is much better to be had as drops from instances and raids - instances alone you should be farming in places like Veksar the Invasion, Maidens, TSO for new charms</p><p>Cloak - the new TSO cloak has better resists more +heal than the RE2 cloak only missing overloaded which got nerfed to oblivion anyhow - nice and easier to get</p><p>I think upgrading from T1 - T2 and getting the pocket holy symbol is the best start - at least imho</p>

[PRALL]

<p>I just obtained my 6th and final piece of (T1) Pious Plate.  I don't have any shard jewelry or charms yet. With current gear and 129 AA points, I have 52% heal crit (+10% 2 times a minute while healing thanks to Burst of Healing... the effect on having 5 pieces of Pious.) My heal bonus is 540, and I have 14% spell haste for beneficial spells. My beneficial spells cost me 5% less mana, and my reuse is improved by like 5%. So I would say that the shard armor is the way to go for a non-raider.</p><p>Looking at the jewelry, it looks like I'm actually better off with what I have than to spend shards on the TSO stuff. The best examples are Gift of the Queen (Maiden's) and Symbol of Marr, but nearly all my jewelry has + to healing, all pieces have heal crit bonuses, and some have power regen. There is one charm that I can see myself getting, however, and I will most likely get that and then proceed on to the T2 armor upgrades.</p>

[Graywindnz]

The TSO armour is missing strength!!! How is a plate wearer ment to carry it all? I have a Templar who has 78 STR sell buffed. My coercer has better than that atm.

[Filroden]

<p><cite>Graywindnz wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>The TSO armour is missing strength!!! How is a plate wearer ment to carry it all? I have a Templar who has 78 STR sell buffed. My coercer has better than that atm.</blockquote><p>Err, that must be a very low level templar since our T8 single target strength buff gives more than 78 on its own. If you want strength get the more generic void armour set (granite?) which is better suited to melee.</p>

[Tenchisama]

<p>depending on your config I personally have no use for str beyond carrying capacity - if you need it then you can search for items that have more of it but</p><p>T2 shard armor brings back the power lost upgrading from previous divine rhapsody set</p><p>only thing I hated about going from T1 to T2 shard was losing the 5 percent power saving on the BP - honestly that to me is better than the T2 BP proc but /shrug game devs go figure</p><p>Pocket Holy Symbol has been serving me very well</p><p>old instances absolutely have good gear  upgrades Maidens Chamber for the Gift is one of the BEST two slot jewelry items that is easily attainable (ok fine its the rare drop but you can farm the zone once per day)</p><p>Veksar v1.0 has great jewelry and one of the best regular instance shields we can get  (Buckler of the Douser)</p><p>if you look at my current config I am wearing full T2 both charms cloak belt about half my jewelry is all TSO stuff - there is a TON of upgrades in the new expansion</p>