ZOS originally said they intended crafting to be comparable .. just another good intention that fell by the wayside due to QQ from one section of the player-base or other.

jarydf wrote: »

Am I missing something?

Those people have to grind Undaunted Pledges, and Trials over and over again to get those sets completed. So, it does not bother me at all.

However, crafters should be able to make something comparable to any dropped gear.

Ourorboros wrote: »

They were doing good with the crafted sets right up to the 6 trait sets. Then, apparently someone had a brain fart, because the 8 & 9 trait sets are either worthless or very limited for the most part. In answer to your question, yes, most crafter feel ZO$ dropped the ball big time on crafted items. They certainly did not adhere to their pre-game hype that dropped sets would never equal crafted gear.

However, ZO$ also made crafting nothing more than a grind that anyone can do given enough time. It does make more sense that dropped sets have more value because they have to be earned through skill, not just showing up and doing some simple tasks.

What needs to happen is the addition of extended crafting accessed through quests of similar task. The reward would be the ability to craft high value set on par with the dropped sets. Then, the reward would equal the effort.

I'm with you there. I sell a LOT more sets that are 6 trait than I ever do for 8 trait. Even the Mara set people usually don't buy as they want Healers Habit instead.

The statistical difference between the Mara set and the Healers set is almost insignificant. Unless memory fails, they have near identical bonuses in the same order at the same level. The 5 piece bonus in the former is LMC for a restoration staff, and a higher level of healing in the latter.

Thus, dropped gear's added value is one part objective advantage and 10 parts perceived advantage.

In a content limited game people need a reason to carry on and dropped items are a proven supplement and, often, substitute for content.

I do agree, though, that there's not a lot of sense to the trait system of armor value. How many people you know run with a combo of Hundings Rage (6 trait) and Ashen Grip (2 trait) on their Dragonknights?

This says a lot about trait scheme overall.

As MissBizz just noted, the crafting system is extremely simplistic in this game, however. It's not Ultima Online where people can still earn a living making suits 18 years after the game's debut.

Just by breaking down the loot you get, your character will be at max level for the three armor and weapon crafts by the time you hit the Veteran Ranks. Plus you'll be able to outfit your character yourself in green and blue gear as you level up.

Not a bad system. Not the system that was promised, though.

Crafted sets should be better only if They were harde to obtain. Lets say 1000 refined Mats for a decent weapon. Maybe even more.

The reason now is crafting is far to easy

Executive Summary:

CRAFTED GEAR *IS* COMPETITIVE

If you disagree then post numbers and make your case rather than begin with an assumed premise.

I feel like I'm attending a wake for someone who is very much alive.

I have said this a few times, but will repost here.

The dropped vs crafted debate is easily solved by making dropped pieces able to be crafted. Here is how I imagine it:

- Any gear in the game can be researched for it's set bonus much like traits currently are
- The time it takes to research the set is a large amount and should include daily/weekly quests and mats required for research to continue
- The amount of time it takes to research the top sets should coincide with the expected release of new content (meaning new gear sets)
- The goal is to create content for crafters using content already created

So to put it in other words, the newest released sets can be researched and crafted, but will take enough time that the next set is either released or coming shortly (expected time of next content release). The time it takes to research is not just a number of days the crafter has to wait (like trait research is now) but is an interactive daily and weekly set of quests that have to be run and mats that have to be acquired to keep the research going. (Existing writs might work well here, though I would prefer a more innovative approach to the daily/weekly quests) Crafters that get the set bonus researched before others will have a large market share or monopoly until others catch up. Depending on how the content release timetable works out, they may fall a bit behind or they may be able to craft the top tier for short periods of time.

The raiders get to always have the newest/best equipment while the crafters are a step behind and trump in diversity.

The real problem I have seen with most crafting systems is that they get left behind as the game ages. Then the devs have to make a massive effort to catch them up to keep the crafters pleased. I feel this system puts less pressure on the devs and even works well if content is ahead or behind schedule.

its a combination of both worlds, so you cant just stick with one thing to be able to get the best gear.

if you want to stack the best gear possible on your char, you need not just crafted or dropped. But a combination of the two, which in my opinion as a master crafter is needed for the game.

If it were the crafted gear that was the best for all 7 armor and 1-2 weapon slots, there wont be any real incentive to grind anything in open world gear drops at all

I think Dropped set have the most advantage for those that come with Jewelry Pieces. So this might however change when Jewelcrafting comes out, if and when it does. As a Breton Templar Healer, the Seducer trumps all set out there for me because I would rather try to magnify what I already have. Even when people where screeming Martial Set this and that before 1.6, I just bat an eylid and look the other way. Maybe for a soc but I have not played one yet. Recently getting my Healer Jewelry, Sash and Brechees, it is definately a huge bonus for me.

I think therefore the idea is to mix crafted with dropped now that Jewelrycrafting is not yet implemented. This have been said many times on the forums.

The thing we also need to remember is that the gear give you an edge and makes you ABLE to complete the task but player skill, alertness and attention to what is going on, for example in Trials is also important.