Galthren
05-17-2010, 02:57 AM
<p>I've been getting a bit annoyed lately at how armor and certain weapons are being itemized since The Sentinel's Fate has been released. I've taken the liberty to take the initiative to start a discussion about Itemization in this expansion that is very much needed to be talked about to see if we can make our raiding gear as it should be, instead of missing a lot of stats or having the wrong stats.</p><p>I got into the Test server and compared every single piece of T3 Raiding gear with the Challenger PvP gear that's being released on the next Game Update so we can all see what i'm talking about.</p><p>First, let's look at Helmets:</p><p><img src="http://i41.tinypic.com/24w6oeh.jpg" /></p><p>We can start seeing the trend here with the T3 Helmets vs. Challenger PvP Helmets.</p><p>Challenger PvP helmets have exactly the same stats in both Sorcerer (Deathdealer) and Summoner (Devastation) versions except that the Summoner version has an extra buff for pets.</p><p>Now the T3 Raiding helmets are a whole different story. Sorcerer (Archaic) and Summoner (Baleful) are pretty different from each other. Stats are all screwy, with Summoner's not having any WIS and having STR instead. Crit Chance but no Potency. The only thing that's the same between Archaic and Baleful are the Resistances, the Mitigation, the Critical Mitigation and the Proc. Everything else is different between both versions.</p><p>Why are the T3 Raiding Helmets so different between each other and the Challenger PvP Helmets so alike?</p><p>Let's see the other pieces of gear. Next, we'll see the Robes:</p><p><img src="http://i43.tinypic.com/11uuwr4.jpg" width="1222" height="662" /></p><p>We start really good with the base stats on both Archaic and Baleful, but then we see hardly any or no Reuse Speed on the T3 robes, when the T2 raiding robes do have spell reuse speed. And compared to the PvP robes, it seems these robes just weren't finished when being itemized. The PvP robes are even better for Summoners if it wasn't for the Crit Mit and the Potency.</p><p>Shoulders next:</p><p><img src="http://i43.tinypic.com/24zdthe.jpg" width="1223" height="668" /></p><p>Here the T3 Shoulders are pretty well itemized, except for 1 thing. Archaic has less STA, INT, Health and Power than their Baleful counterpart. But otherwise, the T3 Shoulders are pretty similar in the manner they were itemized compared to the PvP shoulders. But here we see that the PvP shoulders have different procs depending if they're for Sorcerers or Summoners.</p><p>Let's look at Pants now:</p><p><img src="http://i40.tinypic.com/3495co8.jpg" width="1227" height="713" /></p><p>Here we see how differently itemized pants are. Archaic has worse stats than Baleful, except it has 200 Ability Mod which the Baleful don't have. Everything else is terrible, IMO. Less base stats than Baleful, no Potency at all, the list goes on. The PvP pants are alright as they are, though.</p><p>Gloves next:</p><p><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/28ahn2h.jpg" width="1221" height="597" /></p><p>Archaic gloves are worse than Baleful for any caster in every way possible.</p><p>Boots:</p><p><img src="http://i39.tinypic.com/2j5f3u9.jpg" width="1222" height="694" /></p><p>Almost every caster will agree with me, they'd rather use PvP boots than T3 boots. We don't need the Excess Energy proc, but Pestilent Rain is amazing for us casters. Not only that, the stats on Archaic and Baleful are all screwy as well. STR on Baleful boots. Less STA, Reuse Speed and INT on Archaic. You can clearly see how messed up itemization is for Boots.</p><p>Forearms:</p><p><img src="http://i43.tinypic.com/m82zph.jpg" width="1218" height="633" /></p><p>More of the same screwy itemization.</p><p>In conclusion:</p><p>I'd like to see as much dedication as developers put on BG and PvP gear on Raiding gear as well. This game was founded and been kept alive by mostly people who are interested in grouping up with friends to take down digital dragons and monsters for loot.</p><p>PvP and BG are a nice addition to the game, but should not be the focus of this expansion, especially if it's getting in the way of enjoying Raids and Dungeons and the Loot that comes out of them.</p><p>My recommendation is to take a look at all this gear and see if it can be put up to par with their PvP counterparts and given the right amount of stats necessary for it to be attractive to raiders. Also, it seems kind of counter-productive to make 2 sets of Caster gear with only 1 extra pet buff being the difference between both sets of Gear. It would be easier to just make all Caster gear attractive for all 3 Mage archetypes. Give them the all the same gear with Pet buffs, procs and stats. That way gear won't rot faster, when all the Summoners have all their Baleful gear and the Enchanters and Sorcerers are still waiting for Archaic to drop or vice-versa.</p><p>I play this game and pay for a subscription to raid and have fun with my friends, and I don't enjoy having to compare between every piece of Caster loot that drops to see which one would be better for me when we raid. It really grinds my gears to see PvPers to have it much easier when they have to choose which piece of gear they should take compared to us Raiders.</p>