Curse

CKaz · Apr 11, 2006, 04:38 PM // 16:38

This stems from a community post I made - basically we need armors for what they do for us, but often that means not the desirable looking set or even very poorly matching pieces. Great we can hide the helm, but why not allow us to use all the designs you created rather than look at them and wish there was a reasonable use for it/for us?

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The suggestion? Remove function from form.
We already put runes into armor. How about the function.
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This isn't a new idea, Ive seen it mentioned for warriors and suggested for others, but with Factions looming OMG could this get some real consideration?

Have you went through the list? I'm not even overly happy with all the sets, but it concerns me much more that honestly, I dont think I'd bother with the vast majority of new armor for any class. Again this has been mentioned before in other threads. Isn't this an incredible shame though? So weapons and shields (focii too? shrug) will be the only real new flash?

What if we could put our energy armor into the pieces we want? Seperate the look and cost from the function and its cost (in money and materials as appropriate). A crafter now would require a mana boost, or +10 stance mod, etc. Meanwhile now you can go after the armor you want! And you can still go after the uber leet armor that always has the same stats anyways.

ANet keeps its money sink. Have the suit have the basic armor/AL, obviously the function wouldnt be that expensive as it'd be on early armors too, its just a method to modify. Wouldn't it be that much greater if you could put new units in over the old? But I'm not even so worried about that if not - it'd be nice not to have inventory hogs and having to re-buy to be sure, but just being able to do something like this even if permanent would be a HUGE plus.

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So the suggestion in a nutshell (hey look I'm in a nutshell!):

You buy armor for its look and base armor. This increases in cost as the base armor increases (ie would be what you buy @increasing levels throughout the appropriate cities). Mods to the armor would be the same and available in all cities - either on the armor vendor itself (another tab) or a new merchant.
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So you buy the armor set that appeals to you and a modification for the stat effect (to armor, hp, in particular states, reduces damage, etc). Obviously these effects might have a little deterimental - ie +10 phy, -1energy etc. The only other caveat is stuff like energy and hp would change per armor piece, but that's ok - again that other tab (or vendor) would have these mod pieces - but now maybe we need it available per location (and priced accordingly as well, or we just let the initial armor piece take care of that inflation). So maybe a little to iron out, dont overcomplicate it, shouldnt be that bad though.

The net effect would be nothing short of tremendous. You wouldn't see Gladiators on 90% of the warriors in the world, and the poor guys (like my warrior) finally spending 15k simply to unexpose their nipple for a very pricey and odd-shoulder-bladed 'sports bra' piece. Similiar things could be said about most of the classes short of the ele - the ele having such bad choices they could chose for style lol. It's kind of a kick in the pants, the ele IMO has little exciting now and leading into factions skill-wise but oddly enough may be the best positioned to enjoy some of the new armor simply because of the very weak prophecy offerings. But even there the Archmage by far has the best look of the new 3 I've seen IMO, but the Battlemage certainly is the best option for something like the PBAOE Ele for example. So do I have to look like I'm using skins from Prophecies again with either of the other 2 or can I use the one that looks the best?

Now some may argue well everyone will pick the best looking armor with the above model. I'd argue they'd pick the best towards what they want to look like. Taking the ele example again am I a bad person after paying $50 for chapter 2 to want something that doesn't re-paint the Prophecy armor skins?

Meanwhile other classes got some really wild armor (some arguably off-putting like lace on the male ranger IMO lol). Why can't they chose what area to dig into? If Druids is the best for the Ranger say, how about simply letting them run with one of the new ones with those stats? Disciples for the monks... I mean is this Martyr only armor?

But if I'm correct that's the coolest looking one... leave conditions on yourself ftw?

Look at the 'ooh wow' threads for the warriors weapons and shields. I'm happy I have one and plan to enjoy that part thoroughly, even though I have the caliber weapons I need (but still wish I took a female avatar once again due to how you're funnelled into armor choices, and well GW always seems to do a lot better job with female armor

)

But here's the kicker - what if these items were all going to be using different stats or scales that didnt make sense for the way one plays the vast majority of the time? You'd look at them but then probably go 'ah well' right? Maybe a show piece?

Armor doesn't work that way. A show piece? No it'd really have to be a show set. And here you had to pay big money. But those new weapons and shields will be as functional as our current offerings (we'll just have to re-dig). I (and a lot of us I believe) are simply asking the same thing for armor.

It's a big part of the game and prophecy armor has gotten old, particularly certain sets for certain classes. But meanwhile factions armor really doesnt seem to surpass, in some cases even arguably match, the function of prophecy armor. The Elementalist with its poor prophecy choices almost stands alone here (and I'm really really hoping 15k/faction side armor gets away from the same prophecy armor models re-skinned in two of the cases.).

I'd have added a poll if I could to get your thoughts lined up.
I think most of you saw many of the models and went 'oooh!' and then saw the stats and went 'oooh...'

Anyways that's my 100plat - I'll pay it if I can finally get looks I actually want with function I need.

Hello Kitty · Apr 11, 2006, 06:41 PM // 18:41

The armor crafters in the preview event each had one look on them and all of the statistics available, so I think Anet is actually working towards this kind of goal.

Should be cool to be able to mix and match without looking ugly!

Count to Potato · Apr 11, 2006, 07:38 PM // 19:38

Most of the time mixing helps, but when you get with elementalists mixing isnt the best choice

LifeInfusion · Apr 11, 2006, 09:14 PM // 21:14

I agree wholeheartedly. I like judge's and disciples for male monks but the usage of disciple's just isn't practical at all.

Similarly, Knights has appearance but offers little benefit. You will only get laughed out of PvP if you wear this. Meanwhile when you wear Gladiator's in PvE you get snickered at. :P (FoW glad's= the PvE armor of choice).

Blighters is pretty nice as well for necros. Guess what? It is +20 Armor while Hexed. I don't know about you, but the condition seems kind of useless since most hexes ignore armor.

Don't get me started on the new elementalist armor. It seems that splitting the coat at the abdomen is a cool thing to do...It is not...
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Image:A...e%27s_Male.jpg
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Image:B...e%27s_Male.jpg
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Image:Tempest_Male.jpg

It is a balance issue probably... a way to make people wear armor that you would never dream of buying if the looks were separate from the stats. :P

Hunter Sharparrow · Apr 11, 2006, 09:23 PM // 21:23

/signed

I hate the look of glads but like the extra energy it gives. Same goes for my ranger. I have full druid's armor for the energy but prefer the look of scale armor.

NatalieD · Apr 12, 2006, 12:10 AM // 00:10

I had a bit of trouble deciphering the specifics of CKaz's suggestion, but /signed /signed /signed to the general idea of being able to choose armor appearance and armor stats independently of each other.