Suggestion: Remove all +1/+2 items from the Loot Tables

[chad878262]

Good in theory, but currently we only have 4 of 6 of the stat boost +4 items available in shops and the CON boots are a bit useless unless your build doesn't need dodge AC boots... The RIG is the ONLY chance you will have currently of getting a +4 STR, CHA or non-boots CON item is via the RIG.

That is the most obvious example, but the RIG remains the one thing that can produce the absolute best items you can get (though it's insanely unlikely). Even taking the "Epic" RIG items out of discussion many of the items I equip on my characters come from it. My Ranger had a +3 WIS/immunity to fear hood back in the day I really liked when going to the Haunted house since his WILL saves were pretty weak. double +3 stat items or +4 AC/EB items with cool extra's, etc. The RIG perhaps could use tweaking if someone has the skillset, but I think it would be a mistake to completely remove it.

And even if enchanting ever does get completed/implemented we have posted examples in the past which show it will never replicate what is available in epic shops, loot drops or the RIG.

[AlfarinIcebreaker]

My suggestions for the loot/equipment :

1. Remove trash (broken items, bottles, basic ammo...) from the loot table
2. Remove ridiculous name generator
3. Add +4 CON, STR and CHA item (not on boots or shield).

[Calantyr]

Or introduce more ways to spend money at low level, so loot gets picked up and sold.

Like maybe having low-level mercenaries that can be hired by new players until they get the hang of things and meet more real people.

Or up until level 10 giving new characters the option of paying of resurrection fees with gold, rather than burning xp. It will make the early game much less frustrating (especially if it's the first time you've played a mage!).

Or charge gold to use the Appearance Kit or Change Appearance window (with reduced fees the higher your crafting skills).

Or open up crafting in general, but require gold as well as components.

Or maybe some kind of faction donation system like you see in modern MMO's, where you give cash/items and gain access to rare stuff.

Or the best idea yet, sudden plague of Rust Monsters. HA HA! Now you must buy new stuff.

Some options may be more sensible than others.

[Wandering_Woodsman]

Hireable NPC companions.

My mage is so weak he would get bowled over by a sneeze from a rat.

Hire a companion to play meatshield. Equip them.

That is all.

[Steve]

I've been putting my money were my mouth is—or maybe better said "their money where my mouth is..."—and following the statements of many on Staff, that, in order to get good loot, you need to loot-grind for at least 1 hour a day, for a week.

I'm not pleased with the result so far!!!

The below screenshot is the latest example of going to a high-CR dungeon—Lizard cave : CR 23—and facing a Boss, only to acquire:

Hidden: show

https://postimg.org/image/tobfdf1yt/

I won't even bother posting what I got in the Northern Troll Caves....

[chad878262]

Unlucky I guess...i lied the frost giant keep over the weekend, 20 minutes and got about 15k in loot...

[aaron22]

steve. looting is not about examining the chests one at a time. its about looking at the whole. after a week if you look at a weeks worth of looting the same chests you see the results. even better look at a month.

but whatever. looting is not your game. that is ok. it is a patience game and a seeing the whole and being content with the lows because you know the highs will offset them.

[Maecius]

I don't think we should remove items that can be a huge boost for lower-level, newer players.

Just because they don't generate excitement for years-long players (many of whom have whole sets of excellent gear) doesn't mean they won't be exciting for someone running through the kobold ruins for their first time!

And we do still get new players, seemingly every week if not every day. Each one of them starts at level 1 with 1000 GP and a whole lot of learning to do. I'd rather not disadvantage them when there's already a learning curve to overcome as a new player.

[Sun Wukong]

I've been putting my money were my mouth is—or maybe better said "their money where my mouth is..."—and following the statements of many on Staff, that, in order to get good loot, you need to loot-grind for at least 1 hour a day, for a week.

Few days ago, I think more than few days ago, I logged on to one of my current epic characters for no other reason than shits and giggles. I ended up partying with someone, and we ended up going through the Stone Giant Cave/Fortress in the Troll Claw map. (You need two guys with high strength to gain access there.)

I ran through it, and the loot I picked was pretty much what you picked up. Except for one exception... I found Armor of the Stars, +3 Iron Chain Shirt with some blue light and 20 points of electrical damage reduction... I just found out today when I actually bothered to identify it.

I've had it before... So I am feeling suddenly all nostalgic... For no reason... At one time in the server history it was one of the best armors you could get your hands on. It was a '+3' armor...

Anyhow, if you want to fine occasional +3 item every now and then... Go to Soubar, from Soubar north, enter Troll Claw Fjord, and there go through Elder Ogre Fortress, Ogre Cave with quick detour into the upperdark, collect the skeleton on the Fjord along with pile of skull and crates too, then head to the Troll Cave and loot it, and after it head to loot the poor fellow whose head is crushed under a rock. After this you can enter the Fields of the dead, loot the crypt and its easy boss, and the things on the exterior map, perhaps peak inside the vault if you can handle it, head to Thundar's Ride, loot the loose stone and go back to Soubar to identify. This takes about 1-2 hours, depending on what you encounter on the way.

It is a lot of chests, and you will start to run into the occasional +3 item. Few +4 too. At level 20 it is about 4-5k experience, at level 22 it is about 2-3k experience. (You are not really grinding for experience, mind you.)

[Wandering_Woodsman]

Is this assuming you've already got some heavy duty armor?

I'm only 17th, as a fighter, and my gear is probably par, or subpar compared to what I'd run into anywhere north of Thundar's Ridge (the area next to field of the dead, which I KNOW will kill me, so I avoid that like a plague.)

[Sun Wukong]

Cloak of Shimmering, Spell Resistance of 32, can be bought from the basement of Blushing Mermaid for less than 100k with a cross classed Appraise skill. This will basically make you largely immune to the Skeleton Priests and Mages found on the Fields of the Dead. They are still very annoying, mind you, just a lot less dangerous.

Anyhow, the area north of Fields of The Dead, Troll Claw Fjord is pretty much an high AC playground. Once you get to 41+ AC, this area becomes relatively easy to deal with as long as you can finish off the trolls.

[Wandering_Woodsman]

Hah.

Nope to both areas.

Neither the gold, nor the AC do I, a humble fighter have.

[Lockonnow]

well i can say yes to remove all the noon magic items in the loot spot place

[Sun Wukong]

Nope to both areas.

Then perhaps this is something you can do:
Sharptooth Orc Cave, both floors, Goblin Mine North of Beregost, Seacave Near Candlekeep, and then to the Gnoll Cave. The experience is lowist at levle 17, but... you should have 4 attacks per round and it should make mincemeat off this mobs...

Thus, about ten runs, and you can buy the cloak mentioned before...

[Steve]

steve. looting is not about examining the chests one at a time. its about looking at the whole. after a week if you look at a weeks worth of looting the same chests you see the results. even better look at a month.

but whatever. looting is not your game. that is ok. it is a patience game and a seeing the whole and being content with the lows because you know the highs will offset them.

What is the available alternative to farming in circles, daily, for a month? This is a serious question, because if there isn't an alternative with equal merits/results, then there is a problem, yes?

@Mac: "...disadvantage new players..."

2 things here: 1) +1 gear is sold at NPC merchants in abundance! Better still, you can cherry pick for your Toon—Loot is semi-random and thus getting Coin/gems in place of +1 gear is by far the more kind and efficient means of "rewarding" newbies. Just think about it for a bit.

2) expecting new—and old—Players to learn the Farming Circuit for "material" gains, is destructive to a role-play environment. You are in turn creating a Pac-Man-esque environment, supported by a lingering SIMS-like hangout. How can this be good for D&D fantasy adventures, or, make BGTSCC anything different than a million other mindless CRPGs?!?