[AM] DPS Itemization

[live4treasure]

The Issue

Issue 1: RR 45 Scenario reward staff is worse than its RR 39 version.

The item in question actually ends up being worse than than the cheaper RR 39 version of the intellect-based scenario reward staff. The sole reason for this is because it trades magic power for a comparably small amount of health regeneration. This means that the majority of players never use this item in favor of the cheaper one, as it lacks in offensive stats and does not provide enough defensive ones to make a difference.

Issue 2: There is no Subjugator Staff option for DPS Archmage.

Purple bags pretty much end up turning into gold or emblems, as they never contain anything useful for the spec. While the item itself looks amazing, its stats are catered only for healers. An intellect based staff would present a more adequate defensive option for a DPS AM than the current high end scenario staff.

One should note, that DPS AM is an underperforming spec. DoK and WP have their place in smallscale RvR compositions and could even be described as effective within their respective niches. While I don't think these changes will suddenly propel DPS AM into being equal with the likes of Bright Wizards or Squig Herders. nor do I believe that they should be equal to them at all, but I do believe that it would alleviate some of their comparative weakness and place their itemization in line with many other classes.

Proposed Changes

The solutions are very obvious and simple, as the two issues themselves are also simple and clear cut. I will present the changes I would recommend for each item in question sepparately.

Solution to Issue 1:

The change is rather simple in nature, and I believe that presenting several options is unnecessary. Most caster DPS RR 45 staves add magic power instead of health regeneration. I think that if the staff in question mirrored the same stats, it would fix the issue and provide the spec with a high end item that perfectly itemized for the playstyle. I am aware that perhaps these stats were the same on live or were made this way intentionally to provide a more defensive option for solo roaming, but in the first case, I believe that the game can and has been improved already, and this would be a step in that direction, while in the second, a more elegant way to provide such an option would be...

Solution to Issue 2:

Changing the existing willpower-based staff to an intellect one is out of the question, as healer is the main role of the Archmage. However, much like tanks are provided with different kinds of weaponry to fit different kinds of specs, I believe that having only the one Subjugator Staff tailored for healers is a bit restrictive. If it would be possible, the best solution would be to create an extra Subjugator weapon that would have the exact same stats save for switching willpower for intellect. The defensive stats on it are excellent, while intellect will make it a viable option for the spec. In adherence to this being a defensive option, perhaps the current proc could be adjusted to have a chance to grant a certain amount of maximum wounds upon being hit, much like Asuryan's Fury.

Note that similar changes may be applied to Shaman itemization, if they have similar issues. However, I am not familiar with the class and only rationalize from a DPS AM perspective.

[dansari]

Hi there,

Balance forum is only for class/archetype/combat mechanics, not itemization/stats for gear. Feel free to post something on the Suggestions & Feedback forum instead.