Infraction for Lamaros: General Idiocy

• Bad Luck · 06/05/08, 10:42 AM

Post: Wrath of Lich King Stuff (was 'Blizzcon' thread)
User: Lamaros
Infraction: General Idiocy
Points: 1

Administrative Note:

Message to User:

http://elitistjerks.com/f15/announcements.html

Don't quote split.

Original Post:

Originally Posted by Finkum

I have in fact been following the discussion for some time; there is no need to be rude. Your whole post struck me as unnecessarily adversarial.

I wasn't intending to be rude, though my post was adversarial. Hard to aviod when I strongly disagree with you.

Addressing each of your points in turn:

1) You will notice I mention this only in passing. I agree that it is not the main issue at stake here.

2) No one is disputing that some drops are wasted/useful only once etc. I mentioned other ways that this can be addressed without gear homogenisation.

2a) Nowhere did I say that all loot should be badge loot. The thread encompasses many possibilites other than just badges/tokens, despite its name.

I know, I suggested some myself. However they are general badge/token-esque or have similar drawbacks to this homogonised suggestion.

3) The item designers are clearly capable of making well-itemised items NOW (see the majority of Sunwell loot as an example). It's really not that hard. I am inclined to think regarding recent loot that poor itemisation, where it exists, is a result of developer bias (mages are supposed to need spirit damnit!), rather than incompetence.

Or perhaps they've just learned? Either way this isn't the main point or my main problem.

This is an example of where homogenisation is easy. Spell crit and spell hit are examples of where it is hard(er).

Again, compared to the rebalancing of the game with 10 new levels and 10 new talents points and x new talents, and a new class and everything it's not really a big deal. Really.

Within reason, an abundance of different stats makes gear choice more interesting. There are of course places where this is not true (spell hit/melee hit mechanics for paladins are a good example). I am not opposed to combining stats where there is good cause, but I am opposed to combining stats just so that everyone who uses a particular armor type can make some use of every piece of armor of the said type.

This makes no sense really. And abundance of different stats is only interesting if there is lots of different gear that uses different stats that you want. If you have 50 stats yet everyone just wants y of each stat then the fact there are lots of stats is mostly pointless, everyone will just get the gear that has the best combination. Better to have a couple of simple stats that people actually use in different ways than a whole bunch of stats that everyone uses identically.

No. Realistically one of two things will happen:

1) One set of e.g. bracers will be vastly superior to all the others (one with 3 sockets, a good spread of stats, whatever) and everyone will want them. Others will be used only until this uber ser of bracers is available.
2) Some bracers will be stronger for particular classes (e.g. ones with heavy spirit and damage, low crit will appeal to holy priests). Things will work similarly to the way they do now, with the disadvantage that the items will be usable by many classes/specs, but designed specifically for none.

Except for all the badge, token, and other such gear? Or the odd piece that is still specifically designed for a certain class/spec? No one is saying do away with badge and token sets. They'll still be around.

You see to have the impression that homogenising gear in this way will mean that everyone will want the same gear overall. This is not necessarily true. Some classes might want a little more stamina than int, and some a little more +damage than spirit. So let us consider some examples:

A warlock wants 3stam, 2int, and 1spirit, generally speaking.
A mage wants 1stam 3int and 2 spirit, generally speaking.
A priest wants 1stam 2int and 3spirit, generally speaking.

We have three chest pieces. One has 2 stam, one has 2 int, one has 2 spirit, and one has 1 stam and 1 spirit.
We have three leg pieces. One has 2 stam, one has 2 int, one has 2 spirit, and one has 1 int and 1 spirit.
We have three head pieces. One has 2 stam, one has 2 int, one has 2 spirit, and one has 1 stam and 1 int.

So the warlock might get pieces 1 for the chest, 3 for the leg and 3 for the head. Or 3 for the chest, 1 for the leg and 2 for the head. Etc...

This is an abstract example. It's just aimed to demonstrate that you can have homogeny in stats and gear, but if you give those who use the gear different requirements then they can still have different gear. Between each other and between those of the same class.

Additionally, if (as seems likely) gear homogenisation is also intended to reduce loot table bloat, then we can expect fewer sets of bracers being available per tier.

Just because you have shared stats doesn't mean the designers will just design one drop and leave it at that. They'll just design the same (or more; as I have said before) number of drops which will be usable to more people. So you can get bracer x, y, or z instead of hanging out for z and z only.

At the moment, all priests look (somewhat) alike within a tier (discounting tier gear). Assuming 1) above, all four casters will look alike, making the situation worse. If 2), then things will proceed similarly as they do now (except that, as mentioned, there will likely be fewer bracer drops in toto for all cloth users than there is currently).

As the example above demonstrates, this is not necessarily so.