Cultural - Possible Changes

[Grayhelm]

http://forums.station.sony.com/eq/po...24557&#1759167

I will start off with changes that we already said would be happening.

We will be evaluating the set of 70 armor + 75 Symbol + Serpent or Sunshard. Those overall stats are higher than our goal.

The intent of Cultural armor is to work in certain sets.

These sets are:

70 armor 70 symbol 70 seal (last blood) let's call this the "Last Blood Set"
70 armor 75 symbol 75 seal(TSS) (Serpent) let's call this the "Serpent Set"
70 armor 75 symbol 75 seal(TBS) (Sunshard) let's call this the "Sunshard Set"
80 armor 80 symbol 80 seal (Faycite) let's call this the "Faycite Set"

We are happy with the Last Blood SET and the Faycite SET, and we feel that the Serpent and Sunshard SET only need a slight adjustment.

BUT some issues are coming about because of the large increase in what we are giving to group level equipment that is making the 75 symbol, 80 armor and 80 symbol artificially inflate the value of the 70 seal (and to a lesser but still there extent, the 75 seal)

We have two options we are looking at, though we have fairly much decided on one. I will go over the one that we are likely to do first.

Overall (with the exception of the slight overdo of the 75 seals) we are satisfied with the way the sets work. The overall stats they give as a complete set fit where we want them too.

What we are going to do is move some of the stats from the seals into the symbol and armor of the set and out of the seals of the set. Overall the SET will be the same, but less of it will be concentrated in the seal. Additionally in some cases some of the stats from the Symbol will be moved to the Armor.

Additionally I am likely to implement a level 75 armor set, so that we can adjust the stats in the 75 symbol and seals to make it not so huge a jump from the 70 (though it will still be a large jump since we are improving group equipment so much overall)

With this adjustment, that does mean that the level 70 GROUP set of armor and symbol will see a large improvement. It should be equivalent to level 70 group armor from TBS when we are done. By moving these stats from the Seal to the symbol that will make the effect of "hanging onto" the level 70 seal less attractive and encourage it to be upgraded as we wish it to be. Additionally it will reduce the effect of the 70 + 75 + LB and 80 + 80 + LB. While they still may exceed some sets of equipment, it will definitely be a step in adjusting the large effect of it.

In some way this will be seen as an "Adjustment Down" of the Last Blood Seals. And well it is, but it is NOT an adjustment down of the Last Blood *SET* of armor. that whole SET will be the same as it is now.

The second option, which we do not like as much (but would be less work for us...) is to enforce an Idea of "sets" using item scripting (which brings a whole other set of issues). A sort of "Set affinity"

For this option the seals would loose value if they are not in there "SET" the stats would decrease the further away from their "set" they are. So if a Last Blood Seal was put in a 80 armor + 80 Symbol set, it would have its stats reduced by a percentage.

The main issue with this is that we would have to wait for a code change (that we are waiting on for jewelry) so that we would not be stuck with even more items that show no stats until they are equipped. So this issue we are having would be in the game longer than we like.

Neither of these changes will be happening until January or later, but the second could take even longer to happen since we need the code change first.

So with that information, our decision is to go with the first choice of just moving the stats around within the set, (and though it was not directly part of it, I think we will have to add a 75 armor set) because with this if we still find that mixing and matching outside of sets is still too much of an issue we can still go with the "set affinity" idea and the adjustments for being out of set could be smaller.

This is all still subject to change, but it is the direction we are going at this point. I will be starting on the research necessary to make the changes very shortly after I send this post.

[Redhenna]

Adjustments coming to Cultural Armor, Symbol and Seal Stats.

Originally Posted by "Dev-Ngreth

I will start off with changes that we already said would be happening.

We will be evaluating the set of 70 armor + 75 Symbol + Serpent or Sunshard. Those overall stats are higher than our goal.

The intent of Cultural armor is to work in certain sets.

These sets are:

70 armor 70 symbol 70 seal (last blood) let's call this the "Last Blood Set"
70 armor 75 symbol 75 seal(TSS) (Serpent) let's call this the "Serpent Set"
70 armor 75 symbol 75 seal(TBS) (Sunshard) let's call this the "Sunshard Set"
80 armor 80 symbol 80 seal (Faycite) let's call this the "Faycite Set"

We are happy with the Last Blood SET and the Faycite SET, and we feel that the Serpent and Sunshard SET only need a slight adjustment.

BUT some issues are coming about because of the large increase in what we are giving to group level equipment that is making the 75 symbol, 80 armor and 80 symbol artificially inflate the value of the 70 seal (and to a lesser but still there extent, the 75 seal)

We have two options we are looking at, though we have fairly much decided on one. I will go over the one that we are likely to do first.

Overall (with the exception of the slight overdo of the 75 seals) we are satisfied with the way the sets work. The overall stats they give as a complete set fit where we want them too.

What we are going to do is move some of the stats from the seals into the symbol and armor of the set and out of the seals of the set. Overall the SET will be the same, but less of it will be concentrated in the seal. Additionally in some cases some of the stats from the Symbol will be moved to the Armor.

Additionally I am likely to implement a level 75 armor set, so that we can adjust the stats in the 75 symbol and seals to make it not so huge a jump from the 70 (though it will still be a large jump since we are improving group equipment so much overall)

With this adjustment, that does mean that the level 70 GROUP set of armor and symbol will see a large improvement. It should be equivalent to level 70 group armor from TBS when we are done. By moving these stats from the Seal to the symbol that will make the effect of "hanging onto" the level 70 seal less attractive and encourage it to be upgraded as we wish it to be. Additionally it will reduce the effect of the 70 + 75 + LB and 80 + 80 + LB. While they still may exceed some sets of equipment, it will definitely be a step in adjusting the large effect of it.

In some way this will be seen as an "Adjustment Down" of the Last Blood Seals. And well it is, but it is NOT an adjustment down of the Last Blood *SET* of armor. that whole SET will be the same as it is now.

The second option, which we do not like as much (but would be less work for us...) is to enforce an Idea of "sets" using item scripting (which brings a whole other set of issues). A sort of "Set affinity"

For this option the seals would loose value if they are not in there "SET" the stats would decrease the further away from their "set" they are. So if a Last Blood Seal was put in a 80 armor + 80 Symbol set, it would have its stats reduced by a percentage.

The main issue with this is that we would have to wait for a code change (that we are waiting on for jewelry) so that we would not be stuck with even more items that show no stats until they are equipped. So this issue we are having would be in the game longer than we like.

Neither of these changes will be happening until January or later, but the second could take even longer to happen since we need the code change first.

So with that information, our decision is to go with the first choice of just moving the stats around within the set, (and though it was not directly part of it, I think we will have to add a 75 armor set) because with this if we still find that mixing and matching outside of sets is still too much of an issue we can still go with the "set affinity" idea and the adjustments for being out of set could be smaller.

This is all still subject to change, but it is the direction we are going at this point. I will be starting on the research necessary to make the changes very shortly after I send this post.

So changes coming to LB armor. Make your own conclusions about the changes.

[Papapedro]

Maybe some people will get their panties out of a twist now.

[Redhenna]

If I read this right, the last blood set is going to be unchanged, the power will come more from the armor, lessfrom the last blood itself. If I am interpreting that right, some are still going to be upset. It also means, if I am interpreting right, is that it is intended to be where it is in power, and unlikely to change.

[Mendler]

So elegant is going to be reduced as well as the step below? Oh well we'll see when the day comes with the nerf bat.

[Grayhelm]

Originally Posted by Mendler

So elegant is going to be reduced as well as the step below? Oh well we'll see when the day comes with the nerf bat.

?

Elegant is going to be improved. The reduction in stats is going to be to the last bloods.

Amusingly, this means that grouping classes will get FREE improvements, and there will be less need for non-raiders to get the last bloods.

[Silthrix]

Originally Posted by Grayhelm

?

Elegant is going to be improved. The reduction in stats is going to be to the last bloods.

Amusingly, this means that grouping classes will get FREE improvements, and there will be less need for non-raiders to get the last bloods.

So then how comparable is bazu going to be to last blood statwise? I have had all the pieces ready for a while to make one if I get lucky...

[Yoda]

it means that the GM armor from DoN are going to be increased in power... and thus they are likely to be better than PoR armors (both one groupable and two groupable sets). We will have to take a close look a it not to make it too close of TSS set (battle marred).
it means too that the lvl80 TS armor from SoF, with the LB aug, will be slightly under TBS but not by that much since lvl70 GM armor +LB is already better than TSS (except few pieces).

[Morose]

So if I read that right:

Elaborate + Eminent + Last Blood = the same
Elegant + Sublime + Last Blood = reduced stats

??

[Redhenna]

Originally Posted by Dev-Ngreth

This is correct.

I expect to be making a set of 75 armor, and thus making a "75" set too. So some amount of stats will be moved from the two 75 seals (Serpent and Sunshard) to also make a similar adjustment.

In 80 we just might see a bit of movement of stats from the sublime symbols to the Elegant armor but the seal will likely be left be.

The point of this is to get full benefits of a set you need a SET, not some new pieces with an old piece.

So some one answer me this: does this mean that the set armor that has some people are being nerfed? I am thinking so, but not sure.

[Morose]

I think it is the answer to the outcry of Last Bloods + new cultural being too powerful. If i read it right, the results will be that the new cultural won't be as much of a power boost until you get the appropriate level seal that goes with it.

[Brabble]

It means that it won't make any sense to put the last bloods in level 80 armor.*

Among other things it also means that a low-end guy who had the level 70 armor and symbol but not the last blood seal will see an increase in his armor's stats by the amount they nerf the last blood (because they are moving the amount nerfed on the last blood seal to the base armor/symbol).

*Well, it would be better to have last bloods in there than nothing, but it won't be nearly as good as it is now.

[Redhenna]

That sounds pretty reasonable then, a neat compromise, that helps where help is needed most. Thanks for the quick answers(and hopefully I get off hold soon, and off the phone and can do something more than troll boards).

[Phantron]

From what I gather, this means level 70 cultural armor will get a good boost, and LB will nerfed by the same amount. This means LB will no longer inflate the level 75/80 to unrealistic levels as well.

[yeux]

so the stats on the lastblood are moving and not the symbol? thats a very confusing statement. maybe they can elaborate on it