06-03-2003, 04:48 PM
(This post was last modified: 06-03-2003, 04:52 PM by Nicodemus Phaulkon.)
The most glaring item (taken up by everyone in this thread and wereform players in particular) is the Ribcracker. While it would be THE superb weapon for a wereform, the wereform "Achilles' Heel" vs. Physical Immunes remains. Unless that is addressed (like adding another digit to Fireclaws), wereforms are still stopped cold and remain dependant on additional equipment.
All in all, you're not gaining much with a Stalagmite Ribcracker over a 1.09 IKMaul. Yes, fast. Yes, huge. Yes, Crushing Blow. Yes, Defense (pardon me, but how many Wolves and Bears out there actually WALK? Yeah, Thought so). Point of fact is that the Ribcracker was a SUPREMELY viable wereform weapon from the get-go. The ability to upgrade it to an elite is icing on the cake... but I don't see the cake being changed overmuch.
I don't see it as a huge unbalancing effect on other mêlée-class characters either. Paladins could certainly try it, but given the lack of blocking due to shieldlessness, it seems rather limiting. A paladin could use an IKmaul at this moment, too... but you don't see it overmuch. Paladin's have several skills and unilateral choices when it comes to shielding, so I believe this would be uncommon except in RBD circumstances.
Barbarians could certainly use this staff to their benefit. Considering, however, that it foregos any dual wielding and also gives no skills or resists... I don't see the imbalance. It would, however, make an awesome Whirling Weapon of the likes that D2C Lancers had/have.
The exclusion of the Buriza-Do Kyanon from this is, as already indicated, foolish. Upgrading your Buriza-Do to a Colossus Crossbow doesn't overly boost the weapon, while it does enforce some hefty additional Strength requirements. All-in-all, I would argue that this places the Buriza-Do Kyanon where it was SUPPOSED to be in the first place. The unfortunate part of the equation is that the Buriza-Do remains an Exceptional weapon and highly "findable". Its rarity should be far greater than it is, and this Cube recipe does nothing to address that. :(
Contrary to wishes, I don't believe for a moment that this "Upgrading" will be available for Set items. LoD provided the "Upgrading" to the normal sets with the Partial Set bonuses. Now, with the advent of 1.10, it would seem that the "class-specific" sets are also receiving Partial Set bonuses. All in all, this would give three effective levels of Sets: D2C "partial" sets, D2X sets, 1.10 class-specific sets. Sigon's vs. Hwanin's vs. Immortal King's. Seems balanced to me.
Also, there wouldn't really be much use in also having an "Upgrade" to armors or defensive items. A Sacred Armor Corpsemourn is really only adding a tad more defense and a LOT more Strength requirement. Considering the fickle nature of defense in the gameplay, that would seem a waste of runes to upgrade. :huh:
I have to agree with the gist of the conversation that ShadowHM and I had regarding this topic: It would have been a helluva lot better if the "Upgrading" were to affect RARE weapons instead of Unique. <_<
What I *do* see as nice about the Upgrading recipe is the ramifications it may have on variant play and roleplaying. The ability to weave the construction and betterment of equipment (without endless MF replacement runs) is attractive. It gives a new reality to work with when dealing with self-imposed limitations and roleplaying aspects. I think it'll be rather fun. :)
*tips helm*
All in all, you're not gaining much with a Stalagmite Ribcracker over a 1.09 IKMaul. Yes, fast. Yes, huge. Yes, Crushing Blow. Yes, Defense (pardon me, but how many Wolves and Bears out there actually WALK? Yeah, Thought so). Point of fact is that the Ribcracker was a SUPREMELY viable wereform weapon from the get-go. The ability to upgrade it to an elite is icing on the cake... but I don't see the cake being changed overmuch.
I don't see it as a huge unbalancing effect on other mêlée-class characters either. Paladins could certainly try it, but given the lack of blocking due to shieldlessness, it seems rather limiting. A paladin could use an IKmaul at this moment, too... but you don't see it overmuch. Paladin's have several skills and unilateral choices when it comes to shielding, so I believe this would be uncommon except in RBD circumstances.
Barbarians could certainly use this staff to their benefit. Considering, however, that it foregos any dual wielding and also gives no skills or resists... I don't see the imbalance. It would, however, make an awesome Whirling Weapon of the likes that D2C Lancers had/have.
The exclusion of the Buriza-Do Kyanon from this is, as already indicated, foolish. Upgrading your Buriza-Do to a Colossus Crossbow doesn't overly boost the weapon, while it does enforce some hefty additional Strength requirements. All-in-all, I would argue that this places the Buriza-Do Kyanon where it was SUPPOSED to be in the first place. The unfortunate part of the equation is that the Buriza-Do remains an Exceptional weapon and highly "findable". Its rarity should be far greater than it is, and this Cube recipe does nothing to address that. :(
Contrary to wishes, I don't believe for a moment that this "Upgrading" will be available for Set items. LoD provided the "Upgrading" to the normal sets with the Partial Set bonuses. Now, with the advent of 1.10, it would seem that the "class-specific" sets are also receiving Partial Set bonuses. All in all, this would give three effective levels of Sets: D2C "partial" sets, D2X sets, 1.10 class-specific sets. Sigon's vs. Hwanin's vs. Immortal King's. Seems balanced to me.
Also, there wouldn't really be much use in also having an "Upgrade" to armors or defensive items. A Sacred Armor Corpsemourn is really only adding a tad more defense and a LOT more Strength requirement. Considering the fickle nature of defense in the gameplay, that would seem a waste of runes to upgrade. :huh:
I have to agree with the gist of the conversation that ShadowHM and I had regarding this topic: It would have been a helluva lot better if the "Upgrading" were to affect RARE weapons instead of Unique. <_<
What I *do* see as nice about the Upgrading recipe is the ramifications it may have on variant play and roleplaying. The ability to weave the construction and betterment of equipment (without endless MF replacement runs) is attractive. It gives a new reality to work with when dealing with self-imposed limitations and roleplaying aspects. I think it'll be rather fun. :)
*tips helm*
Garnered Wisdom --
If it has more than four legs, kill it immediately.
Never hesitate to put another bullet into the skull of the movie's main villain; it'll save time on the denouement.
Eight hours per day of children's TV programming can reduce a grown man to tears -- PM me for details.
If it has more than four legs, kill it immediately.
Never hesitate to put another bullet into the skull of the movie's main villain; it'll save time on the denouement.
Eight hours per day of children's TV programming can reduce a grown man to tears -- PM me for details.