Could we get more Medium Armor designed for casters?

[Visik]

Both Warlocks and Eldritch Knights have Enhancements that allow them to wear Medium Armor by L6 (Tier 4 in their respective trees, requiring 20AP to unlock the tier + 2AP for the Enhancement). Yet the first Medium Armor with Spellpower bonuses is ML13, while the first Cloth and Light Armors are ML5 from Feywild. It would be ideal if a couple of the L6 Feywild quests dropped ML6 named armor with such effects.

I'm talking about effects like these:

• +5 Enhancement Bonus
  
• Exceptional Universal Spell Lore +3%
  
• Exceptional Universal Spell Power +8
  
• Fortification +77%
  
• Shield +6
  

I feel like I'm forced to choose protection or offensive ability. And the lack rather deprecates the associated Enhancements, imo.

I have similar complaints about Shields. It seems like most shields are designed around using them offensively, ie. for bashing. Yet relatively few builds are designed around doing so. Seems to me that most people use a shield for defense, and thus more of them should have effects focused that way. It would also be nice to have more Bucklers and Small shields especially with actual Spell Power and Spell Lore bonuses on them.

 

[rabidfox]

Yet the first Medium Armor with Spellpower bonuses is ML13

ML8 chill gear can get those bonuses.

 

[LunaCee]

Yet the first Medium Armor with Spellpower bonuses is ML13

Technically Elfcraft Plate is ML 10. The fact its so old as to have zero augment support is an issue however.
Much like some other aspects of the game the turn-in armors in Gianthold could use a refresh.

 

[Visik]

Technically Elfcraft Plate is ML 10. The fact its so old as to have zero augment support is an issue however.
Much like some other aspects of the game the turn-in armors in Gianthold could use a refresh.

Hmm.. that one's not even ON the list of armors on DDOWiki....

 

[Lotoc]

to be fair EK and Enlightened spirit are both trees designed around caster/melee hybriding so they're not exactly the major point to needing more caster specific medium armor
However, Druids, Clerics and FVS all inherently have medium proficiency.
Really I feel we should actually be getting exceptional spell lore and exceptional universal spell power on jewelry (rings, neck, trinket) slots more often (like Legendary Dragon's Eye and Clouded Dreams) so casters in general have more gearing flexibility.

 

[Visik]

to be fair EK and Enlightened spirit are both trees designed around caster/melee hybriding so they're not exactly the major point to needing more caster specific medium armor
However, Druids, Clerics and FVS all inherently have medium proficiency.

Good point, and clearly one I overlooked.

In fact, Druids and FvS get medium; Clerics actually get heavy armor proficiency.. which makes an argument for heavy caster armor, too.

 

[Dielzen]

The poor bard sits quietly in the corner of the room, chanting of war and lamenting of game knowledge.

 

[Smokewolf]

Both Warlocks and Eldritch Knights have Enhancements that allow them to wear Medium Armor by L6 (Tier 4 in their respective trees, requiring 20AP to unlock the tier + 2AP for the Enhancement). Yet the first Medium Armor with Spellpower bonuses is ML13, while the first Cloth and Light Armors are ML5 from Feywild. It would be ideal if a couple of the L6 Feywild quests dropped ML6 named armor with such effects.

I'm talking about effects like these:

• +5 Enhancement Bonus
  
• Exceptional Universal Spell Lore +3%
  
• Exceptional Universal Spell Power +8
  
• Fortification +77%
  
• Shield +6
  

I feel like I'm forced to choose protection or offensive ability. And the lack rather deprecates the associated Enhancements, imo.

I have similar complaints about Shields. It seems like most shields are designed around using them offensively, ie. for bashing. Yet relatively few builds are designed around doing so. Seems to me that most people use a shield for defense, and thus more of them should have effects focused that way. It would also be nice to have more Bucklers and Small shields especially with actual Spell Power and Spell Lore bonuses on them.

One thing to consider... Medium armor prevents to use of evasion. Thus, pure casters are more likely to avoid medium armor as the advantages gained from evasion are often greater.

 

[Visik]

One thing to consider... Medium armor prevents to use of evasion. Thus, pure casters are more likely to avoid medium armor as the advantages gained from evasion are often greater.

Sure.. IF they ever get evasion. Which either makes them not pure casters or in Epic levels with investments in specific trees. Far from universal. And specifically doesn't provide any valid reason not to have caster medium armors at low levels.

 

[Visik]

The poor bard sits quietly in the corner of the room, chanting of war and lamenting of game knowledge.

OK, OK, so I was far from thorough in my examples. Fair enough. I felt having two examples was adequate.

But, seriously, thanks for providing more.

 

[Archest]

Medium Mithril armor is light armor with evasion isn't it?

 

[Smokewolf]

Sure.. IF they ever get evasion. Which either makes them not pure casters or in Epic levels with investments in specific trees. Far from universal. And specifically doesn't provide any valid reason not to have caster medium armors at low levels.

ED's offer evasion quite cheaply.

 

[Dielzen]

One thing to consider... Medium armor prevents to use of evasion. Thus, pure casters are more likely to avoid medium armor as the advantages gained from evasion are often greater.

I'd never consider Evasion as a caster Bard

1. I can get over 100 MRR (21 from PLs, 41 from standard sheltering, caster filigree usually are MRR so another 20ish from rares) that's 80 right there without going into Insightful/Quality MRR, Mythic/Reaper bonuses, Artifact/Profane or other less common sources like shields and some feats
2. I have too many stats to worry about trying to cram Ref/Dex stuff like crazy to get near the thresholds to make evasion useful
3. Shadowdancer was a great tree when I had 10ish points for a 3rd tree, but with the addition of all these new levels, I need a more generally useful tree. Maybe if they add a 4th tree option it'd come back into focus.
4. By ignoring evasion I can bolster other defenses that are more universally useful, such as MRR/PRR/Dodge, which are applicable to a LOT more things than Reflex saves.

 

[Smokewolf]

Medium Mithril armor is light armor with evasion isn't it?

This may of been a thing at one time in DDO but i doubt its relevant today.

Edit: I stand corrected as their appears to be quite a few... https://ddowiki.com/page/Category:Mithral_items

 

[Visik]

ED's offer evasion quite cheaply.

But not at Level 6.

Casters take Evasion more often because they can't get decent PRR/MRR than because it's the best option, I think.

But none of what you've said does anything but point out other options. I just can't see why the medium-armored caster should be penalized without armor that suits them just because some other casters prefer to be light-armored and use evasion... once they can get it. Heck, the same caster could well choose to wear medium armor through heroics and swap to light armor once evasion becomes available in EDs. Again, why argue to limit that option?

 

[Phaedra]

But not at Level 6.

Casters take Evasion more often because they can't get decent PRR/MRR than because it's the best option, I think.

But none of what you've said does anything but point out other options. I just can't see why the medium-armored caster should be penalized without armor that suits them just because some other casters prefer to be light-armored and use evasion... once they can get it. Heck, the same caster could well choose to wear medium armor through heroics and swap to light armor once evasion becomes available in EDs. Again, why argue to limit that option?

Think of the poor Warforged, with no medium armor option at all.

 

[woq]

Think of the poor Warforged, with no medium armor option at all.

Docents were a mistake.

 

[Archest]

But not at Level 6.

Casters take Evasion more often because they can't get decent PRR/MRR than because it's the best option, I think.

But none of what you've said does anything but point out other options. I just can't see why the medium-armored caster should be penalized without armor that suits them just because some other casters prefer to be light-armored and use evasion... once they can get it. Heck, the same caster could well choose to wear medium armor through heroics and swap to light armor once evasion becomes available in EDs. Again, why argue to limit that option?

Medium Mithril Armor with a blue augment slot was my 1st purchase on the shard exchange it can be crafted into level 6 armor built may not be able to ad an extra enhancement until level 10 as well several other enhancement may push the armor above level 6 a minimum level armor type will also push the armor to that level regardless if its cleaned for crafting. Fearsome will push it to level 10 as well as the armor type ( mage craft) will bring it to level 16 minimum level how ever you may craft it at level 1 and use the crafting bug but still think armor type effects the minimum level anyway never tested that particularly ( just have been disgruntled when it took from my rare materials and couldn't be used)

 

[Tumideon]

Would be nice to see some more mithril & twilight gear in general, during the Shroud era that was something that was highly sought after AFAIR.

It's a bit annoying as a FVS getting ASF trying to use arcane scrolls, or just do away with that in general since it's a scroll ******

 

[Visik]

Medium Mithril Armor with a blue augment slot was my 1st purchase on the shard exchange it can be crafted into level 6 armor built may not be able to ad an extra enhancement until level 10 as well several other enhancement may push the armor above level 6 a minimum level armor type will also push the armor to that level regardless if its cleaned for crafting. Fearsome will push it to level 10 as well as the armor type ( mage craft) will bring it to level 16 minimum level how ever you may craft it at level 1 and use the crafting bug but still think armor type effects the minimum level anyway never tested that particularly ( just have been disgruntled when it took from my rare materials and couldn't be used)

Yes, Armors have tiers based on their material type and the tiers produce an 'Absolute Minimum Level' when you disjunct them. But that's good and clear in the crafting interface, last I checked.