Belt of the Desolate One

[Hecula]

<p>Change it to a choker with the same stats? Why?</p><p>Is this supposed to be a change for the better? Most people either have choker from Fear or Avatar choker with base damage. Sooo, take the best mage belt in the game and put it on a slot that already has 2 base damage options. Awesome.</p><p>Old belt on test now has +125 spell and heal instead of Base.</p>

[Hecula]

<p>If this is being done to put it in line with the Torque of Peacock Feathers (neck vs neck), we better see a nice new mage belt from Ykesha to compensate. Fair is fair and every other archetype (I think) has a drop from Ykesha except mages.</p>

[Morghus]

<p><cite>Hecula wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>If this is being done to put it in line with the Torque of Peacock Feathers (neck vs neck), we better see a nice new mage belt from Ykesha to compensate. Fair is fair and every other archetype (I think) has a drop from Ykesha except mages.</p></blockquote><p>Even if they do add a mage drop to Ykesha I don't see it being that good. I mean look at the Zarrakon mage wrist compared to the melee wrist, its pretty dang awful and barely better than the wrist from the first named of tombs. Sucks that they are changing the belt so soon, I thought I would at least wear it for more than a month....that leaves moldered flesh wrap and froglok skin belt as raid mage belts and we all know how "great" those are. What a joke.</p>

[Seduce]

<p>Pull your heads out of your @sses SOE and realize this is a horrible idea and all it's going to do is [Removed for Content] a bunch of people off, myself included.  Don't go through with this.</p>

[Khurghan]

<p><cite>Morghus wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Hecula wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>If this is being done to put it in line with the Torque of Peacock Feathers (neck vs neck), we better see a nice new mage belt from Ykesha to compensate. Fair is fair and every other archetype (I think) has a drop from Ykesha except mages.</p></blockquote><p>Even if they do add a mage drop to Ykesha I don't see it being that good. I mean look at the Zarrakon mage wrist compared to the melee wrist, its pretty dang awful and barely better than the wrist from the first named of tombs. Sucks that they are changing the belt so soon, I thought I would at least wear it for more than a month....that leaves moldered flesh wrap and froglok skin belt as raid mage belts and we all know how "great" those are. What a joke.</p></blockquote><p>You are missing the belt from Trakanon from that list.</p><p>The devs stated a while back that when they have non-level increasing expansions that some of the gear from the previous expansion (in this case RoK) should be as good or better than anything you could obtain in the current one, that way people would still want to go back and do old content and not spend all their time in the "current" expansion.</p>

[UNTILitSLEEPS]

<p><cite>Khurghan wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Morghus wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Hecula wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>If this is being done to put it in line with the Torque of Peacock Feathers (neck vs neck), we better see a nice new mage belt from Ykesha to compensate. Fair is fair and every other archetype (I think) has a drop from Ykesha except mages.</p></blockquote><p>Even if they do add a mage drop to Ykesha I don't see it being that good. I mean look at the Zarrakon mage wrist compared to the melee wrist, its pretty dang awful and barely better than the wrist from the first named of tombs. Sucks that they are changing the belt so soon, I thought I would at least wear it for more than a month....that leaves moldered flesh wrap and froglok skin belt as raid mage belts and we all know how "great" those are. What a joke.</p></blockquote><p>You are missing the belt from Trakanon from that list.</p><p>The devs stated a while back that when they have non-level increasing expansions that some of the gear from the previous expansion (in this case RoK) should be as good or better than anything you could obtain in the current one, that way people would still want to go back and do old content and not spend all their time in the "current" expansion.</p></blockquote><p>if you would take the time to just look at how tso itemisation is overall so much better than rok items were you would realize in a split of a second that this statement is outdated</p><p>the belt from (tso) veksar heroic zone will probably be the best magebelt now... great job soewith that cange and the avatar loot nerfes the new neck will better than the avatar neck for casters, (and the melee neck for melees since they do not profit from spellbase anymore) leaving the avatar neck for bards only because crusaders cannot wear it</p>

[Lizst]

<p>Why the hell mess around with items like this so late in the expansion is beyond me.</p><p>Spending a ton of time and dkp to aquire the belt and avatar neck just to get shot</p><p>down like this is just...</p>

[Wytie]

<p>WOW</p><p>That sucks.</p><p>/sarcasim on</p><p>Thanks for another WONDERFUL thing to look forward too.......</p><p>Your doing a GREAT job at keeping people MOTIVATED to play your game.....</p><p>/sarcasim off</p>

[slippery]

I'm so glad I have to go farm a heroic zone for my raid loot now. Thank you very much. Time to spam the channels for WTB veksar belt. If this goes through Ykesha ABSOLUTELY needs a mage belt. There are very good Fighter and Scout belts from Ykesha, and there should be a good Mage belt dropping. An even better solution? Leave the changed belt on Anashti's table, add a good damage proc to it, add a spell hit rate buff to it. Then put the neck on Ykesha's loot table. The best solution? Leave well enough alone.

[Tehom]

<p>I guess we shouldn't have given the upgraded version of the veksar belt from kurns x2 to an alt. I didn't expect them to make it the best mage belt in the game by default. Hooray.</p><p>Hey, I have a wacky notion. Instead of making the best mage items in the game come from heroic zones or x2, maybe they should come from the hardest mobs. Like, if you're risking greater danger, maybe you should get more rewards. Something like that. Like a risk versus a reward scenario of some kind, some sort of comparison type deal.</p>

[pubear]

<p>I dont understand why they would take away the base damage?  Its definitely not worth getting.  So great, they took an awesome piece of gear off a end game mob and made it meh? I am only sorry i got one, i would not get it now.</p>

[Xalmat]

<p><img src="http://www.mattcrews.com/images/eq2/anashti-n-avatar.jpg" /></p><p>The new Anashti Choker is now the best mage neck in the entire game. But it's unfortunate that the only belts to replace it are Trak's belt, Veksar belt, or Kurns x2 belt. The one off Xebnok would be killer if it had something besides 2 crit bonus.</p>

[thog_zork]

<p>this nerf is just terrible ... leave the old belt at least untouched/changed a lot of people have paid great amount of dkp for it !</p><p>there was defintly no need for a change like previously poster mentionend now there is no good instanced belt for mages anymore in tso ! just terrible <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>however while you fix this can you please look at zarrakons braclet compared to other items it is just weak ..</p><p>ps. what about power procing mage gear from instanced mobs ? those is MIA while every second named drains a bunch of power ...</p>

[Hecula]

<p>Could we please get some indication as to why this change was done?</p><p>Is it because Anashti is supposed to be a "neck upgrade" encounter and Ykesha is supposed to be the "belt upgrade" encounter so this is being done so that the devs can create and introduce a new "best mage belt" for the Ykesha encounter which, as it stands, does not drop any mage loot?</p><p>As-is, I do not understand this change (along with pretty much everyone else, I'm sure).</p>

[Elessara]

<p>This change is making a lot of people I kwow very unhappy.  Why do this?</p><p>Ele~</p>

[Undorett]

<p>Is this new anashti belt going to continue dropping off anashti along with the new neck?  If so, could you boost it by putting a proc on it so it is more powerful than other belts?  It has potential to be a good belt upgrade but as it is, it isn't.  If it isnt upgraded, whats the new best mage belt, the Kurns x2 belt or Trak's belt?</p>

[Xalmat]

<p><cite>Undorett wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>If it isnt upgraded, whats the new best mage belt, the Kurns x2 belt or Trak's belt?</p></blockquote><p>Yes.</p><p>This was announced (a bit quietly) at Fan Faire btw. So this is not new news.</p>

[Seduce]

<p>The poster you just responded to was one of the Summit members at Fan Faire, I'm pretty sure something like this wouldn't have gone by without him noticing it...  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Xalmat]

<p><cite>Seduce@Guk wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>The poster you just responded to was one of the Summit members at Fan Faire, I'm pretty sure something like this wouldn't have gone by without him noticing it...  <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>I was one of those Summit members at Fan Faire too, by the way. And Fyreflyte told me personally on the Fan Faire floor (in the grand ballroom with all the game demos and such) that the Anashti belt was being changed to a neck. To which I spread the word.</p><p>Apparently it didn't spread very fast.</p>

[Xalmat]

<p>*edit, [Removed for Content] double-posts*</p>

[Valanthe]

<p><cite>Xalmat wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Seduce@Guk wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>The poster you just responded to was one of the Summit members at Fan Faire, I'm pretty sure something like this wouldn't have gone by without him noticing it...  <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>I was one of those Summit members at Fan Faire too, by the way. And Fyreflyte told me personally on the Fan Faire floor (in the grand ballroom with all the game demos and such) that the Anashti belt was being changed to a neck. To which I spread the word.</p><p>Apparently it didn't spread very fast.</p></blockquote><p>I remember him saying he would consider leaving some base damage on it too... that didn't go far <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Undorett]

<p><cite>Xalmat wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Undorett wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>If it isnt upgraded, whats the new best mage belt, the Kurns x2 belt or Trak's belt?</p></blockquote><p>Yes.</p><p>This was announced (a bit quietly) at Fan Faire btw. So this is not new news.</p></blockquote><p>Xalmat, I don't typically concern myself with mage loot because the highest level mage I have is 72.  Did you mean this to be a reply to me?  Your answer doesn't really respond to my post but may respond to someone else's.  Anyway, what I was trying to say is that the belt is now lower quality than other belts, but this is the mage "end game" belt.  Scouts and fighters get theirs from Ykesha and Priests from Gynok (well, I guess byzolla because its belt is actually better).  The mage end game belt now comes from a x2 zone.  Make the anashti belt better with a nifty proc or something.</p>

[Necs]

<p>wow so months and months and months of waiting for avatar choker to drop and belt from anashti to drop was all just a waste of many many hours. This is down right up absurd. How do dev's expect people to still play the game when we get blows like this? really.</p>

[Korrupt]

<p>This change is ignorant(apparently cant use the rere word) but not the end of the world. I would be ok with it on 2 conditions. First if the avatar neck remains unchanged, contested loot should be more powerful than instanced. AND if we get a mage belt on Ykesha. Ykesha drops top end belts for the other classes yet doesnt have a single mage drop for some reason.</p>

[SSgoku]

<p>Can you nice devs make these items sk usable? <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /></p>

[wingedwizard]

<p>8 months of anticipation to get this belt and now i am going backwards. 5% higher over choker and 12% less on belt . so new change = 7% less. now if a End Game belt was dropped off Ykesha for mages with very similar stats i could live with it. but its still a travesty. why couldnt ykesha just drop a new neck. Is this so difficult to figure out or do you like to upset your customers. we are mostly adults here not children. treat us as such please.</p>

[1jesse1]

<p>Fyrflite Question:</p><p>Was the purpse of changing the belt to a neck? Simply to take away more base damage from mages? As if the avatar nerf wasn't enough?</p><p>Your taking away the best belt in the game and turning it to the best neck?</p><p>The rest of the belts in the game for mages are rubbish compared to the ykesha belt for fighter/scout.</p><p>Where is the logic in replacing our chokers and leaving a big gap in our waist slot if not only to take away from us?</p><p>Can you please indicate to the community any kind of direction that you are taking other then this story of not being able to come up with loot for the next xpac? Or did I need to go to some summit and rub elbows with you to find out what your next bad idea is?</p><p>You already screwed my class specificly with the illusionist set. Did you know that the best gear set up for illusionist doesnt include any TSO set pieces? Are you aware that the illusionist set bp does nothing? That it is completely broken? Are you aware that the highest dps combination for my class includes 2 pieces of previous tier set (zomg now your gonna nerf that too).</p><p>Just seems to me that every bright idea you present makes this game less enjoyable for me. I called you out at the begining of this xpac with your terrible set ideas, and yet you still continue to force this and other changes, completely oblivious to feedback from the community.</p>

[Tehom]

<p>Well, I understand the reasoning - a neck slot is a much smaller upgrade over bloodthirsty choker, so it limits the base damage mages can get overall. The problem is that it leaves a pretty big itemization hole in the waist slot - mages don't have a viable option for this expansion for that slot among endgame gear. There's things like the terrible waist from Xebnok, belts from x2 or even -heroic- zones, or the Trakanon belt. That's really not healthy to have such limited and unpalatable options.</p><p>The best solution is to make a new belt on Ykesha's loot table, I think, that has a proc similar to the veksar/kurns belts (8-12% base damage proc or so), with maybe a nuke component similar to the other ykesha belts, then some spell crit, spell crit bonus, and +spell damage on it.</p>

[Noaani]

<p><cite>Vaydin@Nagafen wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>Was the purpse of changing the belt to a neck? Simply to take away more base damage from mages?</blockquote><p>Itemization has rules. One of those rules, whether new or old, is that only two slots in the game will have more than 3% permanant base damage increase. These slots are neck and shoulders.</p>

[UNTILitSLEEPS]

<p><cite>SSgoku wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Can you nice devs make these items sk usable? <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>if anything plague neck should be made crusader useable, else it becomes a bard only item and leaves crusaders as only class without an upgrade to shard of fear choker</p>

[thog_zork]

<p>this change is such a bad idea ... it creates such a hugh hole in itemization for mage which is already lacking behind.</p><p>if this go live please add another good mage dps belt to some like ykesha zarra oder mynzak ... oh an while you at it could you make the zarrakon power belt mage usable also so that mage can have a power proc item from tso at all ... or maybe adding 1 power proc the zarrakon wrist <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /> or a completly new item with a power proc ...</p><p>however if you got not that much time and this change goes life could you please add the vek2/kun x2 belt to mynzaks, tyrannus or uktaps  loot table so that at least the best belt for mages drops from a x4 raid <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" /></p>

[Noaani]

<p><cite>thog_zork wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>this change is such a bad idea ... it creates such a hugh hole in itemization for mage which is already lacking behind.</blockquote><p>In terms of mage itemization, this change does nothing more than add another slot to the list of slots with no top end, instance dropped mage loot.</p><p>We are now 8/21 slots that lack top end instanced items (symbol, ranged, waist, one charm, two wrists, one ring, one ear). More than 1 in 3 slots. In fact, mages only have 5 worthwhile non set gear upgrades in all of TSO instanced raiding.</p><p>This means there are mor slots we can not upgrade than there are slots we can.</p><p>While I understand that this change needs to happen to this item, can you add in <strong><em>some</em></strong> mage itemization while you do it?</p><p>It makes me wonder if all the mage raid loot in TSO has the same issue the symbol from Veksar did... they made it, but just forgot to put it in game.</p>

[hugh1]

<p>This is a stupid change, The belt was fine at is was but if you wanted to nerf it just remove some base % of it, no need to completely make it meaniless for waist and then make it a replacement choker?</p><p>Back when I looted my Anasthi belt 4months or so ago I was happy to finally dump my Trakanons belt (from Rok belt) now im being forced by soe to switch and farm heroic zones (!!) for upgrades for my waist slot.</p><p>How pointless - If you think this item was bad why wasnt it fixed in Novemeber when this expansion was released? Didnt you guys put these items through Q&A and see how they'd work? Its really not hard is it? Or what we do we as subsribers pay you guys to do? Make items and then you guys go "oh [Removed for Content] this is to op, NERF NERF NERF" </p><p>Palace is a 1hour instance anyhow so not superly overpowered compared to what you did to Avatar loot but thats in the other topic <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Ge'Sar]

<p><cite>Noaani wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Vaydin@Nagafen wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>Was the purpse of changing the belt to a neck? Simply to take away more base damage from mages?</blockquote><p>Itemization has rules. One of those rules, whether new or old, is that only two slots in the game will have more than 3% permanant base damage increase. These slots are neck and shoulders.</p></blockquote><p>Where did you get this nugget from?</p>

[Hina]

<p>As developers you absolutely have to understand how guilds in this game earn gear, either through earning and spending DKP or from leader assigned loot. Either way, by changing items  (any items) this late in the game, you are, essentially, wasting people's hard earned effort. </p><p>Whoever commented to you that they really thought the anashti neck for scouts was "purty" and that they wanted mage's to have one, probably wasnt someone thinking the scenerio through.  I'm an avatar raiding mage, which means that I have killed anashti so many times ive lost count, got my belt months and months ago, and then farmed and farmed and farmed Avatars until the scenerio occured that BOTH the necklace of the plague dropped AND I had enough DKP to beat out everyone else... Oh, and i had to win a roll off on top of that to get it, cause someone else also went Max DKP. </p><p>Now, if this update goes through, im forced to go back to my trakanon belt that i got last..... March? In addition, I replace my necklace (which i paid 160+ raid hours worth of DKP) with a BELT (which i also paid 160+ raid hours worth of DKP on-- THIS MARCH).  So basically myself, and many other (i can imagine) raiding mages, are left in a situation where, on the whim of a developer, our hard work in attaining an item, is, suddenly, worthless.  There is no other word to use there but... worthless.</p><p>Please do NOT do this.  If you feel mages should get a nice neck upgrade, add it to a loot table seperately.  Give Ykesha a necklace similar to the belts scouts and fighters are getting that we cant refuse.  Make us work for it now, dont make our efforts wasted.</p><p>Hina</p>

[Ge'Sar]

<p><cite>isis23 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>As developers you absolutely have to understand how guilds in this game earn gear, either through earning and spending DKP or from leader assigned loot. Either way, by changing items  (any items) this late in the game, you are, essentially, wasting people's hard earned effort. </p><p>Whoever commented to you that they really thought the anashti neck for scouts was "purty" and that they wanted mage's to have one, probably wasnt someone thinking the scenerio through.  I'm an avatar raiding mage, which means that I have killed anashti so many times ive lost count, got my belt months and months ago, and then farmed and farmed and farmed Avatars until the scenerio occured that BOTH the necklace of the plague dropped AND I had enough DKP to beat out everyone else... Oh, and i had to win a roll off on top of that to get it, cause someone else also went Max DKP. </p><p>Now, if this update goes through, im forced to go back to my trakanon belt that i got last..... March? In addition, I replace my necklace (which i paid 160+ raid hours worth of DKP) with a BELT (which i also paid 160+ raid hours worth of DKP on-- THIS MARCH).  So basically myself, and many other (i can imagine) raiding mages, are left in a situation where, on the whim of a developer, our hard work in attaining an item, is, suddenly, worthless.  There is no other word to use there but... worthless.</p><p>Please do NOT do this.  If you feel mages should get a nice neck upgrade, add it to a loot table seperately.  Give Ykesha a necklace similar to the belts scouts and fighters are getting that we cant refuse.  Make us work for it now, dont make our efforts wasted.</p><p>Hina</p></blockquote><p>Let me 2nd this statement!  This would show much more respect and understanding to your players.   Not to mention that it's sad how many end game mobs are lacking quality mage loots.</p>

[Hypnottic]

<p>Once upon a time there was this amazing belt for mages. Any and all who looted it became very happy. Those that did't have it, sought it out.  Then one day the devolopment team decided to change the belt to a neck! The players were all very unhappy.. Their nice new belt became a downgrade as the adventurers lost over all base damage. After many tears and goat sacrifices the developers changed thier minds kept the belt as is.  Then just to show how much they care they added and amazing neck piece to ykesha's loot table as there was no mage loot on that mob.  The raiders rejoiced and EQ2 lived happily ever after. tbh bbq.</p><p>Epilogue:</p><p>Some raiders say "The devolopment team's heart grew two sizes that day." They threw out the avatar gear nerfs, did away with item degredation, and came up with interesting loot for the next expansion.</p><p>The end.</p><p>By Hypnottic.</p><p>ps QQ this sucks =(</p>

[Morghus]

<p><cite>Hypnottic@Befallen wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Once upon a time there was this amazing belt for mages. Any and all who looted it became very happy. Those that did't have it, sought it out.  Then one day the devolopment team decided to change the belt to a neck! The players were all very unhappy.. Their nice new belt became a downgrade as the adventurers lost over all base damage. After many tears and goat sacrifices the developers changed thier minds kept the belt as is.  Then just to show how much they care they added and amazing neck piece to ykesha's loot table as there was no mage loot on that mob.  The raiders rejoiced and EQ2 lived happily ever after. tbh bbq.</p><p>Epilogue:</p><p>Some raiders say "The devolopment team's heart grew two sizes that day." They threw out the avatar gear nerfs, did away with item degredation, and came up with interesting loot for the next expansion.</p><p>The end.</p><p>By Hypnottic.</p><p>ps QQ this sucks =(</p></blockquote><p>Hahaha, that is awesome. Too bad it probably won't happen though.</p>

[Undorett]

<p>This change is being overshadowed by the avatar loot changes, and this single item probably effects nearly the same number of people as the avatar loot changes do (mages in guilds that can kill Anashti vs all players in avatar guilds).  It would be nice to get some feedback and hear that the concern was heard and better yet something was going to be done about yet another end game item for mages that is not going to be dropped in any of the TSO x4 content.</p>

[thog_zork]

<p><cite>Undorett wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>This change is being overshadowed by the avatar loot changes, and this single item probably effects nearly the same number of people as the avatar loot changes do (mages in guilds that can kill Anashti vs all players in avatar guilds).  It would be nice to get some feedback and hear that the concern was heard and better yet something was going to be done about yet another end game item for mages that is not going to be dropped in any of the TSO x4 content.</p></blockquote><p>yeah ...   could not agree more</p><p>btw. how about adding some pet-caster specific stats to the belt/neck because it is clearly the premium instanced mage item</p>

[carpe_caminus]

<p>This by far the most infuriating change I've seen in a while.</p><p>Yeah so now you say that the trak belt is supposed to be the good belt instead of this.  Well guess what, that belt isn't priest equippable, and it ony adds crit chance not base damage.</p><p>This belt is the number 1 piece of gear I wanted for my Fury.  I've been salivating over this [Removed for Content] thing hopeing to finally get it after the mages get it.  Now they're taking it the hell away and leaving us with no alternative choices at all.  Sure you mages have some crappy alternatives, but us priests have none.</p><p>Seriously Devs, explain the logic here?  You took one of the few items worth really working your butt off for and made it worthless.</p>

[Aule]

What's my motivation to log in again? I'm failing to see what it is when there's almost no high-end mage loot and what little there is gets nerfed.

[Hecula]

<p>Sadly, as a raiding, non-avatar enchanter, the highlight of our TSO raiding fun in terms of great gear upgrades is Gynok Moltor. He offers 2-3 solid upgrades (ear, finger and pants).</p><p>Anashti used to be another milestone but with this change, it's sort-of bleh. Choker is an upgrade but not as nice an upgrade as the belt. I guess there's still the set robe but honestly, it's only a bit better than the trak robe - more crit and +spell when it's already pretty easy to cap those.</p><p>The only encounter now beyond Anashti to look forward to is Gozak who offers an OK upgrade to our ear choices and a non-set helm upgrade.</p><p>Still pretty blah compared to the fact that (as someone already mentioned) Zarrakon was like Christmas to scouts (dropping at least 3 great pieces of melee gear + set shoulders). I think I even saw priests and fighters shed tears of joy at his/her death. We get a horrible wrist slot item. Mynzak (which has to be like hanukkah for the melee classes - dropping 4 nice pieces of melee gear + set shoulders) drops nothing but set shoulders for mages.</p><p>What we have to look forward to past Gynok:</p><p>Set robe - slightly better than Trak Robe, Darkened Jewel - slight upgrade over Gynok or Switchmaster ear but sort-of meh after proc nerf, Earring of Void Channeling - slight upgrade over Gynok and Switchmaster ears, Hood of the Lightning Rider - only really solid upgrade after Gynok, Choker of the Desolate One - Still a good upgrade to Bloodthirsty Choker but not as nice as belt.</p><p>That's all I can think of.</p><p>Note: Shroud and Essence of Destruction I would probably consider earlier in the progression than Gynok after recent nerfs.</p>

[thog_zork]

<p>soooo new items added to ykesha and anasti ... could some dev please link them so that we can provide feedback before they went live ?</p><p>btw.</p><p>what about mage loot from mynzak , tyrannus and field general uktep ?</p><p>still missing in action !?</p>

[Morghus]

<p>The Zarrakon wrist gained a <strong>whole</strong> 3 crit bonus, the rest of its is completely unchanged. The change to the belt overall is just lame in my opinion, and the whole argument that "only certain slots are allowed to have permanent base increasers and it was always meant to be a neck" doesnt really sit with me as valid in this case.</p><p>I mean <strong>come on</strong>, someone had <strong>deliberately</strong> designed the item's stats, picked the icon, named it, and then put it on Anashti's loot table and let it sit there and saturate into player's hands for whatever amount of dkp for <strong>almost a year</strong> and only now do they feel the need to change it. I mean changing it early on would have still hurt, but waiting this long after people have aquired the belt to change it is just disrespectful.</p>

[Mythal_EQ2]

<p>Casters need to get raid secondary/ranged drops. Melee classes (especially scouts, since they dual wield) get significant upgrades in their dps from secondary weapons and (to a lesser extent perhaps) from ranged weapons.</p><p>There is really nothing non-Avatar obtainable (and even then, there's only 1 item any more) for casters.</p><p>So, fine, if the belt was never supposed to add permanent +base damage, or whatever else you want to call it, then give us secondary/ranged items that will benefit us just as significantly as melee classes. It's stupid to have to stick with items from 2 expansions ago or depend on Avatar drops for us.</p><p>And no, giving us an item with just a proc on it is NOT the way to do it.</p><p>D.</p>

[Hina]

<p><cite>almat wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><img src="http://www.mattcrews.com/images/eq2/anashti-n-avatar.jpg" /></p><p>The new Anashti Choker is now the best mage neck in the entire game. But it's unfortunate that the only belts to replace it are Trak's belt, Veksar belt, or Kurns x2 belt. The one off Xebnok would be killer if it had something besides 2 crit bonus.</p></blockquote><p><cite>Fyreflyte wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>isis23 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>We are 6 months out from the next expansion with NOTHING to upgrade to to make up for the proc changes that have already been made</blockquote><p>The very next game update is going to offer some new item upgrades you can work towards. Most guilds still have not defeated Munzok and obtained any of his upgrades, either. You have not yet won the game <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p><img src="http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn66/hina23/crappyneck-1.jpg" /></p><p>This is the Mage loot off of Munzok.  So now ive seen your loot.  And im not impressed.  Why would you change the anashti belt, make it into a neck and then expect us to be thrilled about a necklace with 10 base off of MUNZOK the hardest encounter currently in game?  The arguement of "just wait, you havent beat the game yet" doesnt fly.  The so-called carrot that the players talk about chasing isnt the promise of things not yet out (especially when anticipation only leads to disappointment these days), it's striving for the things that they currently have seen, saving DKP for them and working to upgrade their characters.  Once again, we have another end TSO mob with less than desirable mage loot and the one piece that was desirable (the belt) got changed to an item slot that was already well itemized this expansion.</p>

[Xalmat]

<p>Torque of Darkened Direction is a joke. And a piece of garbage when compared to the Anashti Choker.</p><p>If it dropped off an easier mob in progression (ie: easier than Anashti Sul) then it would be worthy of attention.</p><p>Although as it stands there are still no quality Belt upgrades from the Anashti belt, other than the Veksar/Kurns belts or Trakanon's belt.</p>

[Tehom]

<p>I don't understand how they could even design that item then write something about 'You haven't seen loot from Munzok yet'. How in the world could they not believe that item wouldn't be massively unimpressive? I'm seriously suffering from flashbacks to EQ1's release of Plane of Sky, with Abashi's infamous comment of, 'It'll make current loot in the game look like rusty broadswords!' and then everything being so underwhelming.</p><p>I'm half-expecting that item is buggy or has a typo in its stats or something.</p>

[Korrupt]

<p>It's not, it's real. I agree at first glance it looks like a joke, but after knowing that it really did drop off of munzok you start to get a little depressed. Mage loot itemization is completely screwed up and keeps getting worse.</p>

[Xalmat]

<p><cite>Korrupt@Najena wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>It's not, it's real. I agree at first glance it looks like a joke, but after knowing that it really did drop off of munzok you start to get a little depressed.</p></blockquote><p>And that's what makes it a joke. :/</p>

[Korrupt]

<p>But it's not a haha joke, its an up yours joke <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e78feac27fa924c4d0ad6cf5819f3554.gif" border="0" /></p>

[hugh1]

<p>Got to be one of the most shocking items designs ever.</p><p>What was your reasoning to change Anasthi belt to Neck (!) to make 2 base damage necks (!) from 2 end zone encouters where Anasthi is [Removed for Content] and Munzok is tough, Just makes the anasthi belt change worthless, it was already worthless, do yourself a favour, leave anasthi belt a BELT, and rework this munzok loot, how can any raiders take this item/mob seriously?</p>

[Korrupt]

<p>Actually I dont mind the anashti change. But if the change goes through they need to add a very nice belt to ykesha(not some garbage like we see here with munzok neck), and dump this munzok neck(or move it to a useful slot) and give him a [Removed for Content] symbol(another area of itemization that is badly lacking).</p>

[Hecula]

<p>Until I see the new Anashti mage loot and Ykesha mage loot (which noone will likely see until it hits live either) I guess I'm OK with the belt-to-neck change, granting that we'll get a good belt as one of the new pieces.</p><p>BTW - that Munzok neck is poor. Anyone that can count to 12 should be able to figure that out. I thought Munzok loot was supposed to make Avatar loot look like trash or some such. I would even take the gimped Necklace of the Plague over that POS.</p>

[hellfire]

<p>Dont worry guys they will now nerf the avatar  necklace  even more so its in the proper place for item progression ...hahahahahahaha.</p><p>Need to laugh these days...but its starting to become like  a bad joke these days.</p>

[Ge'Sar]

<p><cite>isis23 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><cite>Fyreflyte wrote:</cite><blockquote><p><cite>isis23 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>We are 6 months out from the next expansion with NOTHING to upgrade to to make up for the proc changes that have already been made</blockquote><p>The very next game update is going to offer some new item upgrades you can work towards. Most guilds still have not defeated Munzok and obtained any of his upgrades, either. You have not yet won the game <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p><img src="http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn66/hina23/crappyneck-1.jpg" /></p></blockquote><p>ROFLMAO, really?  Come on Fyrelyte, you put a downgrade on the hardest mob in the game?  And I mean leaps and bounds harder.   What an impressive way to get us all behind your clear vision for itemization futures.   Though I guess they were honest when they said the new gear will be 1/3 what we have now.  This is the start of that reversion!  Truely digusting.  I can't wait to upgrade to the 8 base choker we'll get from the planar shard! I'm all warm and fuzzy inside thinking about it!</p>

[arksun]

<p>This is gonna make guilds want to clear this zone.... not to mention that O so great brawler weapon.</p>

[wingedwizard]

<blockquote><p><img src="http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn66/hina23/crappyneck-1.jpg" /></p></blockquote><p>LOL really.. [Removed for Content] .. do we have a Muter in the Raid? trash loot drops from end game encounter? Lets clear to Gozak and reset.</p>

[thog_zork]

<p>LOL @MAGE-Itemization ...</p><p>come on .. leave anasti belt as it is .. improve munzok loot => DONE and everyone is happy !</p>

[Hina]

<p>Any word on any of this?</p><p>Also, just a note:  adding pet stats to mage items is not upgrading them (like was done to 80% of mage items when loot was revamped at the start of the expansion).  Only 2 of 6 mages rely on their pet for DPS (and some have no pet <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> ).</p>

[slippery]

Honestly, this change is terrible, and not for the reasons you think I'm going to say. The reality is, Belt is a strong slot for mages, so whatever new belt you are putting in is likely really good. The net result is that you added crit and crit bonus to neck plus whatever you do on the belt. It is likely to end in a higher net power gain then if you left the neck as a belt. The crit on the neck really affords me a lot more flexibility choosing other pieces.

[Tro]

<p>THE SoE itemization folks have already admitted in the Avatar nerf thread they have no clue what they are doing with gear and future expansions/game updates.</p><p>Until there is a serious personnel change in that department, this type of thing will ALWAYS be an issue. Sometime before each expansion the nerf bat WILL swing.</p><p>You all should be use to it by now and unfortunately they just do it without listening to the paying customer because they screw it up so bad they put themselves in a position where they "Have" to make the changes. There is no discussion on it..</p><p>This is EQ2.. for now and forever..  </p>