Not every set is made for PVP/PVE and some are just there for fun reasons or someone wanting to be better at *something*. Is that so hard for you to comprehend? There are many players that absolutely don't care to be the best, do trials or PVP. They want some sneak/run bonuses, nice/fun animation etc.

You will also notice that most set areas have someone crafting something, for whatever purpose.

Further, Queens' elegance was a very desirable set in its time. Not sure about now, but certainly nowhere near "trash".

Grianasteri wrote: »

daedalusAI wrote: »

A tiny selection of just hilarious trash set:
https://eso-sets.com/set/sergeants-mail
https://eso-sets.com/set/queens-elegance
https://eso-sets.com/set/call-of-the-undertaker
https://eso-sets.com/set/crusader

Some of the stats on those sets aren't really bad, but the 5-piece set bonus is just utter trash.

How about making more sets useful instead of pumping more and more sets into the game with each new update?

Hmmn...

Ive actually been planning to theory craft and create a heavy attack stam build, to specifically make use of sets like Sergeants Mail. There are extremely viable high dps heavy attack builds for magica, I imagine similar can be achieved with Sergeants and/or something like Undaunted unweaver.

Queens Elegance is also an excellent, easy to obtain set, for those without access to things like Undaunted infiltrator or Infallibale Aether. if we consider that around 20 - 25% of dps can be from light attacks... if you build correctly sets like Queens can be viable.

Call of the Undertaker is dismissed because there are other better tankings sets. However its not a pure tanking set and should not be viewed that way. I assume its designed specifically for tank/healer hybrids. I can imagine it working well on a Warden or Templar tank/healer hybrid if build correctly. Also its really easy to obtain.

Crusader, yep, its only usable for a very niche build. Probably only viable for a pvp niche role dodge build.

I think folks need to consider that there are different levels of set effectiveness, in part because there needs to be progression from easy to obtain sets through to the sets considered more best in slot that are more challenging to obtain. We also need variety and to cater to off meta, niche, fun/themed builds.

There is a tiny selection of sets to take for every role which is considered the go-to/meta.

Then there's a tiny selection/alternatives if you e.g. don't have a trial set, but want something comparable or another player is already using a go-to/meta set so you use the next best one.

After that you quickly approach a chasm as the overwhelming majority of the remaining sets are either trash by default, or might only be useful in a single use-case with a specifically crafted build to make them decent or maybe good.

Agreed that there needs to be set variety and not every set can be a meta one, but the disparity between a meta set and the bottom trash sets is way too large for my taste.

Sets have very different functions

Overland and crafted sets have massive utility for lower level characters, providing easy access, stats boosts and fun play elements. There’s basically one mag set, one stam set and a chunky monkey set each giving stats and a 5 piece twist. I remember my first set of Ashen Grip made my L19 DK feel like a god every time it flamed some equally low level enemy. A low level set of Crafty Alfiq is great for a new mag character. They can also work well as support sets for many endgame builds.

DLC crafting sets have the additional pressure of having to help sell the DLC (hello Sloads and New Dawn Fades or whatever it’s called). They are meta for a while before being nerfed back to the mainstream.

Dungeon sets should also do something to enhance the group’s power or give an advantage in group situations. But with 38 dungeons you’ve got 114 sets, which means a pile of them are going to be borderline useless at endgame, but might be a significant step up for lower level characters (and still fun to play with). At low levels, a set of Sergeants might be a significant benefit, especially if the game is trying to encourage players to heavy attack. Essence Thief isn’t BiS but it’s really fun to play with for a while.

At endgame, you’re right. Those 114 sets really boil down to maybe 20-30 sets that have genuine utility, so that’s maybe one useful endgame set per dungeon, which is probably about right as it means there’s some reason for farming each of them.

So in each dungeon there’s one set with endgame potential, one set with levelling utility and one set that is either fun or experimental or trash depending on your viewpoint.

And if we don’t rate, say, Sergeants, how would you adjust its 5 piece benefit? Increase the damage? Make it stun the enemy? And given it comes from Weyrest Sewers, which is accessible from very low levels, what player/character type are you designing it for?

FYI
Sergeant’s Mail
Set bonus
(2 items) Adds 1206 Maximum Health
(3 items) Adds 129 Health Recovery
(4 items) Adds 129 Weapon Damage
(5 items) Increases the damage of your fully-charged Heavy Attacks by 1634.

https://youtu.be/11DYqswMhuk

You might be surprised by niche builds that exist. For example, the build shown above features Sergeants Mail and Undaunted Infiltrator. It's a surprisingly effective build that does very high heavy attack damage against players. He plays it well and has success against decent players using meta builds.

Aerenel wrote: »

I will agree with OP that alot of sets are suboptimal. But in a game like this that's unavoidable. The meta sets are easy to identify. But you can still have fun theorycrafting unique builds just like some posters have shown.

Why is it unavoidable?

No one forces ZOS to constantly release new sets with every new update + barely touching the remaining sets to get them towards a decent level.

Just look at the Crusader set: from my point of view there's not a single build which can make use of the 5-piece bonus.

Why isn't ZOS upping sets like that to make them actually useful, even if only in specific niece builds?

daedalusAI wrote: »

A tiny selection of just hilarious trash set:
https://eso-sets.com/set/sergeants-mail
https://eso-sets.com/set/queens-elegance
https://eso-sets.com/set/call-of-the-undertaker
https://eso-sets.com/set/crusader

Some of the stats on those sets aren't really bad, but the 5-piece set bonus is just utter trash.

How about making more sets useful instead of pumping more and more sets into the game with each new update?

The amount of useless sets in this game is staggering. Its the same crap that is continuously meta.

Some are old designs <I think they once said they designed literally for hybrids on some items for instance>.

Others I don't know. Call of the Undertaker I had some serious disappoint with. Swap it for whenever an enemy deals damage to you <Spell/physical both>, apply Minor Lifesteal to them for 30 seconds <more close to the ability>. It would at least be better for 1-50, but would still have been a better crafted set <easy early level crafted set for alts/newbies that helps the group, and has tanky stats.>

The issue with thinking about healer applications is that it's a late game mentality. People entering the game that are desired to be healers will most likely equip X2 light sets because of the Mana on it - Restro Staff - "X" other (Seen Two restro staves, stamina weapons etc>).

When players first enter the idea of equipping sets off system in rings/weapons then, you will have Undaunted open and negate that entire set with a much better option.

*Edit: Some sets like Sergeants just need a little change

Sergeant's Mail:
Set bonus
(2 items) Adds 1206 Maximum Health
(3 items) Adds 129 Health Recovery
(4 items) Adds 1206 Maximum Health <Or stam or mag>
(5 items) Whenever you deal damage with a Heavy Attack deal 1600 Physical Damage <STANDARDIZATION - Proc based damage that would hit a single target regardless of shock staff>, and X% of that damage is transferred as magicka or stamina <Whichever is higher> to two players X distance from you.

It now functions the exact same with the additional benefit. It still isn't that great for raids <not meant to be>, but would work both for healers and tanks in dungeon environments.

daedalusAI wrote: »

A tiny selection of just hilarious trash set:
https://eso-sets.com/set/sergeants-mail
https://eso-sets.com/set/queens-elegance
https://eso-sets.com/set/call-of-the-undertaker
https://eso-sets.com/set/crusader

Some of the stats on those sets aren't really bad, but the 5-piece set bonus is just utter trash.

How about making more sets useful instead of pumping more and more sets into the game with each new update?

I argue this VALID POINT! All the time!