Vanezar, Bulwark of Frost

[Garluk]

We've recently had 2 Vanezar, Bulwark of Frost to drop in IP but I was waiting until I had a decent sample parse before posting any results.

Times hit: 16,799
Total bp procs: 56
Proc rate: 0.33% or roughly once every 300 times getting hit.

Linken posted a summary of some of his logs concerning the mirror bp proc rate. After over 22,000 times hit, he showed a proc rate of 0.58%.

The proc is nice, a 950 pt rune against melee dmg. But given the proc rate of 1/3 of 1% chance each time you get hit, it is almost exactly equal to DR 3.

I think this is quite low. I also think that the stats could use some adjusting. It is only slightly better than the chain combine bp while the IP plate bp (from mirrors) is a substantial improvement over the plate combine. I could point out that the mirror drops from a far easier encounter than Farguziar, but I don't feel that is a valid comparison as the mirror bp and Vanezar are the best item for all of the classes concerned.

The chain combine bp:

Vanezar, Bulwark of Frost:

The plate combine bp:

Mirror plate bp:

Upgrading from the                     Upgrading from chain
plate combine to the mirror            combine bp to Vanezar yields:
gives the following results:           
            +5 AC                      +10 AC
            +15 STR                    +12 STR
            +15 STA                    +7 STA
            +12 AGI                    -12 AGI
            +20 DEX                    -12 DEX
            +5 WIS                     +4 WIS
            +5 INT                     -12 INT
            -8 CHA                     -8 CHA
            +5 HP                      +25 HP
            -40 MANA                   +20 MANA
            +20 MR                     +4 MR
            -15 FR                     -8 FR
            -15 CR                     +4 CR
            -5 PR/DR                   -12 PR/DR
            +8 dmg reduc

I'm not saying that Vanezar should be a clone of the mirror bp, but the mirror bp is a vast improvement over the plate combine while Vanezar is marginal at best. It should also be noted that the duration of the proc on the mirror is 36 mins while Vanezar is only 2.

My suggestion is to add +5 STA, +25 AGI, +25 DEX, +15 CHA, 5-10 points of dmg reduction, add some to FR/DR/PR, remove the proc and add a useful focus like dmg inc 7 or heal 7 and reduce the hp by 10-15 and reduce the AC by 5. Yes, I'm asking for a reduction in the HP and AC on this item that I own. My goal is to balance not to further strengthen myself.

 

[Aeran]

I'd like to add that a rune proc on Vanezar is nowhere as useful on a raid (since these drops are supposed to be used for raiding more than they are for xp) as the Mirror BP, simply because those classes that can use it shouldnt be taking hits (and thus this shouldnt proc on a raid). If they do somehow manage to take a few hits, (1) they're probably screwed anyways because 950ish hp isnt going to do much, and (2) it most likely wont proc in the first place. The rune procs on the Mirror BP are better because most classes (War/SK/Pal) are going to be taking hits constantly, so the effect will come into play more often. I would second the suggestion of replacing it with a nice focus like Damage Increment 7 (AFAIK rangers/rogues and perhaps shamen dont have any options besides cmal4 gloves for dmg increment beyond the cmal3 damage increment 4 shoulders) because a rune proc seems too tank-oriented for a rng/rog/shm bp.

 

[Kasferix]

Even adding some agi/cha would make it an awesome upgrade from combine

 

[Garluk]

Even adding some agi/cha would make it an awesome upgrade from combine

No, an awesome upgrade is going from plate combine to mirror bp. In it's current form it is less than combine UNLESS you are tanking and then it is marginal.

 

[Aeran]

With more of these dropping, and more and more people discussing the desirability of this item, I'd like to make an update to this thread.

Since the post I feel like the proc rate on the BP was increased, and while this is pretty sweet as a tanking ranger, I feel for the other classes on this that do not reap the benefits as I do. After talking to some rogues and shammys who will eventually get this bp (it would rot otherwise), I noticed that it really offers no real upgrade for them over much easier obtained items.

Shammys have the Bulwark of Malice (30 ac, 12 sta, 25 wis, 20 cha, 135 hp, 165 mana, 12 fr/dr, Flowing Thought 1 as well as Healing Increment 6), which blows Vanezar out of the water in terms of what they need out of gear (9 more wis, 20 more cha, very good worn/focus effects). Rogues on the other hand do not have as nice an alternative, though some have told me that they would rather stick to combine than 'upgrade' to Vanezar (combine has much more in terms of useful stats, and the resists are better as well). For both of these classes, the proc is essentially useless in most situations. For rangers, Vanezar is a marginal upgrade at best over combine (for the same reason as rogues, as well as losing cha), and this is assuming that the ranger is tanking regularly.

Comparing this to other chest upgrades from combine reveals that this isn't a normal trend. The Mirror BP is undoubtedly the best that the server has seen for at least 4 of the 5 classes that can use it (WAR PAL SHD BRD), and arguably the best for clerics which are unable to equip Taesh robe (due to the massive stats and MR). Taeshlins robe is undoubtedly the best that the server has seen for every one of the classes that can use it (CLR NEC WIZ MAG ENC). Both of these are massive upgrades compared to combine and any other BP for those involved. Compare this to Vanezar, which is perhaps a slight upgrade for one of the classes (RNG), arguably two (RNG ROG). Also note that Mirror BP and Taesh robe drop off encounters much much easier than Vanezar.

Again, I would suggest replacing the proc with something thats more useful to all who can wear, rather than a subset of one class. Some have suggested Healing Increment 7 (considering hybrids have no selection of healing increment items on end game loot), however this would leave out rogues (and rangers most of the time). Damange Increment 7 is a viable alternative, considering the rarity of this focus on loot available to RNG ROG SHM, and even rogues say they would love this for proc damage. I would think some sort of mixture of the two would be great, though probably overpowered.

Overall, I think this item definately needs to be looked at. Adding some cha, maybe a touch of dex/agi and replacing the proc would definately be a step in the right direction :keke:

 

[rab]

There's no real focus that would work well instead of a proc, so the proc should stay and continue to serve as an "oh shit" proc rather than a reliable damage reducer. The OTHER stats should be looked at. Tone down the AC, tone down the HP, make the mana more useful so a shaman would perhaps want to use it (200ish or more) over Combine or Bulwark of Malice (which has FT, a stat that is more difficult for shamans to get), and even out the melee stats so that it's desirable to rogues and rangers.

 

[Xeldan]

I agree that Vanezar could use a few stat tweaks. I'll see about modifying it a bit to make it a more popular rogue/ranger tunic than it currently is.