It came to my attention today that one of the two cleric Thurg quest items could be looked at, or at least reviewed. The item seems to lack desirability, and when you begin to look further at other classes' rewards, it definitely seems like something got missed.
The actual item in question is this:
Aegis Chain
From SoDWiki
Slot: NECK WRIST
STA: +5 CHA: +8 WIS: +10 INT: +10 HP: +50
Spell Ward: +3%
Recommended level of 45.
WT: 0.3 SIZE: Tiny
Class: CLR
Race: ALL
Type 3 Aug Slot
Now, there are some good things about the item. The fact that you can put it in either your neck or your wrist slot is great. That adds extra utility to the item, which overall should increase the desirability. Spell ward also increases the quality of the item (I am distinctly lacking in the specific knowledge of what exactly Spell Ward does, if anything).
The drawbacks end right after that. 10 Wisdom is great, but everything else is essentially useless to a cleric who's worth their salt. I think most clerics would gladly sacrifice 50 hp, for either a 25 m / 25 hp item, or simply a 50 m item.
With that laid out, I'd like to show you the great items that were produced for the other classes ( as well as the other cleric item):
Boots of the Returner
From SoDWiki
MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM NO DROP
Slot: FEET
AC: 8
Effect: Resurrection (http://sod.nemesis2.com/spells/show/Resurrection) (Casting Time: 10.0)
DEX: +5 STA: +5 WIS: +10 INT: +5 AGI: +5 MANA: +30
Recommended level of 45.
WT: 0.9 Size: SMALL
Class: CLR
Race: ALL
Type 5 Aug slot
- These boots are a great utility item. They have a nice amount of wisdom, and some extra mana on top. However, the most appealing feature of this item would be the clicky. To me, the clicky almost seems over-powered, but since every other class has some amazing items in the Thurgadin quest series, I suppose it's in-line. Which, naturally, proves my point even more when you compare this item to its sister.
Paladin:
Soulfire 1HS
From SoDWiki
MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM NO DROP
Slot: PRIMARY
Skill: 1H Slashing Atk Delay: 20
DMG: 20 AC: 10
Fire DMG: +3
Effect: Transmute Blade (Casting Time: 15.0)
STA: +15 DEX: +10 WIS: +5 HP: +10 MANA: +10
SV Magic: +10
Recommended Level of 45
WT: 8.5 Size: MEDIUM
Class: PAL
Race: ALL
- Great item, awesome graphic / name. This weapon when clicked transforms into a 2hander version, making it an extremely awesome quest reward. Having the added utility that occurs when you can switch between a 1hander version and a 2hander, makes this an item that Paladins cannot live without.
Barbute of Purity
From SoDWiki
[Magic Item] [Lore Item] [No drop]
Slot: Head
AC: 23
Focus Effect: Healing Increment IV
STR: +8 STA: +8 WIS: +8 CHA: +8 HP: +55 MANA: +65 MR:+10
Mind Shield: +2%
CLASS: PAL
RACE: ALL
Slot: Type 2
While this helm has no extra gimmick, the focus effect and pure AC / HP / Mana combo makes it an item that a 45'th level Paladin (or even for that matter a 60'th level Paladin) cannot live without. Let me say this, I am more than happy to accept a boost in stats for the cleric Aegis Chain, so it's more in-line with this item. Obviously not as powerful since Helms are usually more powerful than a bracer or a neck piece, but, a little mana goes a loooong way. So does a nice focus effect like duration increment, range increment, etc.
Moving on, we have some other classes quest items.
Bard:
Melodic Gem
Slot: Range
All instrumental 1.3 modifyer
AC 10
STR +8 CHA +8 AGI +8 HP +20 MANA +20
Recommended lvl 45
Class:Bard
Race:ALL
Stud of Harmony
SLOT: EAR
EFFECT: Harmonic Aura (CASTING TIME 2.0)
CHA +8 WIS +8 INT +8 HP +20 MANA +40
Recommended lvl 45
CLASS:BARD
RACE:ALL
TYPE 3 AUG
Necro:
Focus of the Serpent
From SoDWiki
LORE ITEM NO DROP
Slot: FINGERS
Focus Effect: Venomous Channeling
CHA: +10 WIS: +10 INT: +10 MANA: +35
SV POISON: +5
Recommended level of 45.
WT: 1.1 Size: TINY
Class: NEC
Race: ALL
Bonesinger Collar
From SoDWiki
MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM NO DROP
Slot: NECK
Effect: Recovery III (Worn)
Focus Effect: Companion Health IV
CHA: +15 INT: +15
SV DISEASE: +5 SV POISON: +5
Recommended level of 45.
WT: 3.5 Size: SMALL
Class: NEC
Race: ALL
Wizard:
Focus of the Glacier
Slot: Fingers
FOCUS EFFECT: FOCUS OF FROST (2% TO COLD SPELLS)
CHA +10 WIS +10 INT +10 MANA +35
RECOMMENDED LVL 45
TYPE 3
Manacle of Shielding
Slot: wrist
AC: 14
Effect: Runeshield (casting time 0.0) (no recast time) (205 dmg shield)
Str +4 Dex +4 Sta +4 Cha +4 Wis +4 Int +4 Agi +4 HP +40 MANA +40
Recommended Lvl 45
So, what we see are three classes' Thurg quest rewards. The Bards get a nice modifier on the ranged item, and a nice little clicky effect on their earring. Both items seem to be in-line with the rest of the classes. Necromancers get an item that boosts their poison line by 2%, and Wizards get an item that boosts their cold spells by 2%. In both cases, these items are irreplaceable until many, many levels later, and about two (?) tiers of raid content. The other items for the Necros and Wizzys have other neat little clickys like Rune, or awesome focus effects like companion health with an added recovery III. For a necro, recovery and companion health together make the item extremely desirable.
In closing, I hope that my argument is obvious. The cleric Aegis Chain seems extremely underpowered and underdeveloped when you look at other classes' quest rewards. Not only does it lack a focus effect, it lacks anything unique that sets it apart from any other item in the game. While the Paladin's Barbute of Purity lacks a nifty clicky, it still hosts an excellent focus effect: healing increment IV, which combined with the huge stats of the helm, make for an extremely desirable item. Every class got two defining items that helped them perform their job better, with nice little clickies, effects, etc., so what happened to the Aegis Chain?
Finally, I want to propose some minor changes that would rectify this oversight and put it more in-line with the rest of the rewards.
- Changing the 50 HP to 50 Mana would help, for starters.
- Adding a focus effect: healing increment, duration increment, range, etc.
- Adding a runes effect, something similar to the 225 k charm and Freeport shield, that gives a +% crit bonus. 2 % would be in-line with the wizard / necromancer items.
- Adding a clicky, perhaps a minor group heal, a heal over time, a pet clicky, etc.
Any one of these suggestions will make the item go from something that clerics collect along their travels to something that clerics seek to attain so that they have a class defining item. These items seem to be about travel, seeing the world, and attaining something that feels special, and unique, when compared to other items easily purchased. The Aegis Chain sorely lacks anything that would make it included in a list that defines special.
Edit - I forgot to mention that adding a unique focus effect, or a focus effect in general, in order to reduce the chance of the item being over powered, designers could make it only useable in one slot. A sacrifice I'm sure many clerics would gladly make.
The actual item in question is this:
Aegis Chain
From SoDWiki
Slot: NECK WRIST
STA: +5 CHA: +8 WIS: +10 INT: +10 HP: +50
Spell Ward: +3%
Recommended level of 45.
WT: 0.3 SIZE: Tiny
Class: CLR
Race: ALL
Type 3 Aug Slot
Now, there are some good things about the item. The fact that you can put it in either your neck or your wrist slot is great. That adds extra utility to the item, which overall should increase the desirability. Spell ward also increases the quality of the item (I am distinctly lacking in the specific knowledge of what exactly Spell Ward does, if anything).
The drawbacks end right after that. 10 Wisdom is great, but everything else is essentially useless to a cleric who's worth their salt. I think most clerics would gladly sacrifice 50 hp, for either a 25 m / 25 hp item, or simply a 50 m item.
With that laid out, I'd like to show you the great items that were produced for the other classes ( as well as the other cleric item):
Boots of the Returner
From SoDWiki
MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM NO DROP
Slot: FEET
AC: 8
Effect: Resurrection (http://sod.nemesis2.com/spells/show/Resurrection) (Casting Time: 10.0)
DEX: +5 STA: +5 WIS: +10 INT: +5 AGI: +5 MANA: +30
Recommended level of 45.
WT: 0.9 Size: SMALL
Class: CLR
Race: ALL
Type 5 Aug slot
- These boots are a great utility item. They have a nice amount of wisdom, and some extra mana on top. However, the most appealing feature of this item would be the clicky. To me, the clicky almost seems over-powered, but since every other class has some amazing items in the Thurgadin quest series, I suppose it's in-line. Which, naturally, proves my point even more when you compare this item to its sister.
Paladin:
Soulfire 1HS
From SoDWiki
MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM NO DROP
Slot: PRIMARY
Skill: 1H Slashing Atk Delay: 20
DMG: 20 AC: 10
Fire DMG: +3
Effect: Transmute Blade (Casting Time: 15.0)
STA: +15 DEX: +10 WIS: +5 HP: +10 MANA: +10
SV Magic: +10
Recommended Level of 45
WT: 8.5 Size: MEDIUM
Class: PAL
Race: ALL
- Great item, awesome graphic / name. This weapon when clicked transforms into a 2hander version, making it an extremely awesome quest reward. Having the added utility that occurs when you can switch between a 1hander version and a 2hander, makes this an item that Paladins cannot live without.
Barbute of Purity
From SoDWiki
[Magic Item] [Lore Item] [No drop]
Slot: Head
AC: 23
Focus Effect: Healing Increment IV
STR: +8 STA: +8 WIS: +8 CHA: +8 HP: +55 MANA: +65 MR:+10
Mind Shield: +2%
CLASS: PAL
RACE: ALL
Slot: Type 2
While this helm has no extra gimmick, the focus effect and pure AC / HP / Mana combo makes it an item that a 45'th level Paladin (or even for that matter a 60'th level Paladin) cannot live without. Let me say this, I am more than happy to accept a boost in stats for the cleric Aegis Chain, so it's more in-line with this item. Obviously not as powerful since Helms are usually more powerful than a bracer or a neck piece, but, a little mana goes a loooong way. So does a nice focus effect like duration increment, range increment, etc.
Moving on, we have some other classes quest items.
Bard:
Melodic Gem
Slot: Range
All instrumental 1.3 modifyer
AC 10
STR +8 CHA +8 AGI +8 HP +20 MANA +20
Recommended lvl 45
Class:Bard
Race:ALL
Stud of Harmony
SLOT: EAR
EFFECT: Harmonic Aura (CASTING TIME 2.0)
CHA +8 WIS +8 INT +8 HP +20 MANA +40
Recommended lvl 45
CLASS:BARD
RACE:ALL
TYPE 3 AUG
Necro:
Focus of the Serpent
From SoDWiki
LORE ITEM NO DROP
Slot: FINGERS
Focus Effect: Venomous Channeling
CHA: +10 WIS: +10 INT: +10 MANA: +35
SV POISON: +5
Recommended level of 45.
WT: 1.1 Size: TINY
Class: NEC
Race: ALL
Bonesinger Collar
From SoDWiki
MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM NO DROP
Slot: NECK
Effect: Recovery III (Worn)
Focus Effect: Companion Health IV
CHA: +15 INT: +15
SV DISEASE: +5 SV POISON: +5
Recommended level of 45.
WT: 3.5 Size: SMALL
Class: NEC
Race: ALL
Wizard:
Focus of the Glacier
Slot: Fingers
FOCUS EFFECT: FOCUS OF FROST (2% TO COLD SPELLS)
CHA +10 WIS +10 INT +10 MANA +35
RECOMMENDED LVL 45
TYPE 3
Manacle of Shielding
Slot: wrist
AC: 14
Effect: Runeshield (casting time 0.0) (no recast time) (205 dmg shield)
Str +4 Dex +4 Sta +4 Cha +4 Wis +4 Int +4 Agi +4 HP +40 MANA +40
Recommended Lvl 45
So, what we see are three classes' Thurg quest rewards. The Bards get a nice modifier on the ranged item, and a nice little clicky effect on their earring. Both items seem to be in-line with the rest of the classes. Necromancers get an item that boosts their poison line by 2%, and Wizards get an item that boosts their cold spells by 2%. In both cases, these items are irreplaceable until many, many levels later, and about two (?) tiers of raid content. The other items for the Necros and Wizzys have other neat little clickys like Rune, or awesome focus effects like companion health with an added recovery III. For a necro, recovery and companion health together make the item extremely desirable.
In closing, I hope that my argument is obvious. The cleric Aegis Chain seems extremely underpowered and underdeveloped when you look at other classes' quest rewards. Not only does it lack a focus effect, it lacks anything unique that sets it apart from any other item in the game. While the Paladin's Barbute of Purity lacks a nifty clicky, it still hosts an excellent focus effect: healing increment IV, which combined with the huge stats of the helm, make for an extremely desirable item. Every class got two defining items that helped them perform their job better, with nice little clickies, effects, etc., so what happened to the Aegis Chain?
Finally, I want to propose some minor changes that would rectify this oversight and put it more in-line with the rest of the rewards.
- Changing the 50 HP to 50 Mana would help, for starters.
- Adding a focus effect: healing increment, duration increment, range, etc.
- Adding a runes effect, something similar to the 225 k charm and Freeport shield, that gives a +% crit bonus. 2 % would be in-line with the wizard / necromancer items.
- Adding a clicky, perhaps a minor group heal, a heal over time, a pet clicky, etc.
Any one of these suggestions will make the item go from something that clerics collect along their travels to something that clerics seek to attain so that they have a class defining item. These items seem to be about travel, seeing the world, and attaining something that feels special, and unique, when compared to other items easily purchased. The Aegis Chain sorely lacks anything that would make it included in a list that defines special.
Edit - I forgot to mention that adding a unique focus effect, or a focus effect in general, in order to reduce the chance of the item being over powered, designers could make it only useable in one slot. A sacrifice I'm sure many clerics would gladly make.
syduck: