Tier gear and you
by Amanda Rivera 
May 8th 2007 at 10:28AM
Deien over on the Mug'thol realm has proposed some interesting theories on the new Tier gear sets released since the expansion. He says in a recent forum post that he believes that the sets have not been improving substantially enough the way that the previous sets have. Now that we have five piece sets rather than the eight piece sets, he contends that the itemization is pretty much broken. It's much more difficult to mix and match set pieces to get the set bonuses you need. And the bonuses seem now to be focused on one type of game play, so if you aren't specc'd the right way, you get little benefit from having the complete set. This part I have to agree with. I know that with the Incanter's Regalia the first set bonus improves the casting time of Flamestrike. That's great, except that I'm a frost mage, so it's useless to me. And if it weren't for the fact that I am using Mana Shield instead of Ice Barrier, the set bonuses would end up being a waste of space on my little frame.Deien doesn't just give us some diatribe though in his post, he suggests a solution. He says remove the set bonuses completely. Now, before you flip out, let me just say that this isn't all. He proposes that Blizzard instead instigate a "Bonus Socket" on each item, a socket that has several choices of plusses to armor, spell damage, etc. In this way the set bonuses can be customized for the player's actual build and play style. It's an intriguing concept. Although I don't really agree that the Tier sets are "broken," I am always interested in ways that we might improve the current system. As it's been said before, a lot of the level 70 epic items will be getting revamps soon, so perhaps this all will be taken into account. I'd like to hear what you think on this. Do you have another option that might "fix" the Tier gear system? Or do you think it is fine the way it stands, and maybe I should just use the spells my gear tells me to?
[via Deien]
Filed under: Items, Analysis / Opinion
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Cullie May 8th 2007 10:40AM
As a jewelcrafter, I fully support this idea, along with socketed food, socketed bags and socketed mounts (don't ask where).
Emissary May 8th 2007 10:39AM
I think Deien makes a very good point and i would actually preferr to keep it that way.
In fact, i would even suggest that common set of bonuses be applied(whenever possible) to a set and then you could use that bonus socket to apply a bonus that best suits your style of play.
Maeghane May 8th 2007 10:42AM
I think that getting one set for your toon is just silly. If I know that my mage is going to need crit gear, I put on crit gear. If I need to respec my toon I do. With the gold flowing like water in outland, the respec costs are nothing now. Player really need to be more fluid in thier game play and stop bitching so much about every litte change.
Odas May 8th 2007 11:05AM
Instead of set bonus sockets, why not just have 1 piece of the set that changes the set bonus structure. For instance, the whole of the set is the same, except for the mantle or the belt. There are 3-4 different belts you can get that, when equipped, change the entire bonus structure of the set.
They can either set it up so that you can collect all the belts to change the bonus structure of the set at your whim. Or once you equip one belt, that permanently sets the bonus of the tier set you own - so you need to choose wisely the first time you equip a belt (for example).
But what do I know? My main is only lvl 50. haha
Chilblain May 8th 2007 11:11AM
I agree about how worthless Incanter's is. It's the first gear set you encounter in Outland, and it's only any good for a Fire Mage. Would it have been hard to add the casting bonus to Frostbolt/Flamestrike? Then I'd actually keep the gear.
Unfortunately, the next upgrade is considerably more difficult to get. That only drops in Heroic instances, so you need to have the rep for the key. And some pieces drop in Heroics that are rarely run: Old Hillsbrad Heroic is where the chest item is. Most people take the path of least resistance and run the "easy" Heroics to get the badges, and that one is rarely run to completion.
So as a Mage, your choices are to spec Fire and get the Incanter set, level Tailoring and make your own set, or hope that you can successfully complete a lot of Heroics. That seems very counter-intuitive for Blizzard's "casual gamer" initiative. A casual gamer should be able to get at least the level 70 Dungeon Set and see a bonus for that work without being a certain spec, and they shouldn't have to be forced into Tailoring as a profession if they don't want to do it.
Dur13l May 8th 2007 11:13AM
All of the set bonuses have been changed. Look them up on MMo-champion.
I personally like the set bonuses.
Hoof May 8th 2007 11:27AM
As a whole with the revamps to Tier gear, it now seems that there is some progression in gear with regard to basic stats.
That being said the Shaman Tier 5, 4 peice set bonus is pritty much awesome for any raid healing shaman at the moment. Where as the 4 piece bonus on T6 is basically crap, no decent healing shaman ever uses lesser healing wave in PvE.
It seems to me that who ever did the T5 gear actually raids or spoke to people who raid and set the gear up accordingly. Tier 4 and Tier 6 shaman healing set bonuses are useless. 24 seconds off NS anyone.
Rocklaw May 8th 2007 11:39AM
Perhaps they should introduce tree-based sets for all classes, as they have done for Paladins. We have three sets (healing, tanking and retribution) and I often wonder how &*^$%# pissed off other classes must be that they don't get the same level of lovin' from their Tier gear.
zazzawazza May 8th 2007 11:50AM
@ 2 - what about Socketed Sockets?
nubular May 8th 2007 11:49AM
@5 I totally agree with Incanter's bonuses being total crap. Especially the 2 piece bonus, I mean, .25 seconds off of a spell that's barely used, wtf is that?? A quarter of a second? Thanks bliz.
GamerJunkie May 8th 2007 1:45PM
Still waiting for Tier 8-9 til Blizz get it right with the graphics and stats.
All the new BC tier sets look so nasty compare to the past.
The stats again need reviews.
Halicante May 8th 2007 11:56AM
"It's the first gear set you encounter in Outland, and it's only any good for a Fire Mage. Would it have been hard to add the casting bonus to Frostbolt/Flamestrike?"
Yeah cause, you know, I use flamestrike totally as much as you use frostbolt. It's absolutely the best spam nuke for a fire mage.
(Sarcasm, btw)
Incanter's has the worst set bonuses in the game besides the mage ZG set. 2 piece bonus and 4 piece bonus are effing retardedly bad. It's a pos set and in most cases, it's better for a mage to take the lock pieces over the mage ones because they have better stats.
Doodzin May 8th 2007 1:02PM
Well the hallowed set for healing priests has pretty crappy bonuses as well. A tiny increase to the healing for binding heal? Does anyone ever cast that spell?
Robert May 8th 2007 1:42PM
Pretty sure only casters with tailoring would complain about having to choose which tier set pieces to wear for the set bonus. For most other classes the tier sets are the best items available (and this is true more so in 2.1).
Siedre May 8th 2007 2:11PM
The only real issue I have with Tier gear is that many of the classes' sets are 100% pve oriented. I'm a druid, so I'm saddened that the feral items (and other hybrid items from other instances) are losing their +healing. I like to play both pve and pvp and I feel that my progression in pve should help my pvp and vice versa. I want to enjoy 100% of the game, not just half of it.
Ryan May 8th 2007 4:36PM
@7 It's used, but usually for panic healing on ranged dps or healers (for melle dps I usually just switch to a chain heal). Also for fights like Aran, where healing is really stop and go and needs to be quick, LHW is your best bet.