Choices for Fixing Bracers of Mastery

[Travesty]

I agree; there's a content-to-monetization imbalance in this game.

While $5/month for an engaging game is an outstanding value, the truth is there is not much more than a month's worth of engaging content here. I suspect that's why more players (customers) aren't renewing their monthly gem subs.

And don't get me started on the event 'value' pacts. You said it best CarnivorousDeathParrot : "A fundamental misunderstanding of microeconomics and marketing."

That said, my point about not expecting changes to BoM crafting remains unchanged. I think BoM crafting is a revenue generator for the studio and the're not going to change it without a replacement, either because they need the revenue to keep the lights on or because they have plenty of revenue and are no longer willing to appease low-paying or non-paying customers.

I just hope the new feature announcement gives those of us on the fence a reason to stick around for season 5.

[CarnivorousDeathParrot.2]

An underlying issue in these discussions is that DP seem to confuse the value of a monetization scheme for themselves and for players.
For example, all the effort that went into designing the current crafting system; at the end of the day, players still want to play the levels of the game and see less glitches and better content.

This is akin to having a product that's not selling so well, slapping price tags all over it and calling that an improvement.
A fundamental misunderstanding of microeconomics and marketing. . .

[Alx]

+10 on #4 from me not +1

[TerryDarc]

I'd bet the devs designed BoM crafting to be an intentional resource sink. If so, I wouldn't hold your breath on changes to that unless they come up with a different resource sink and then throw us a bone on BoM to soften the blow.

Yes, but pissing off the players is not a good strategy either. Most of the people who were posting (if not playing) 6 months ago when I left the game are no longer posting. If that is b/c they aren't playing, that would not be good. I still haven't worked up the 100 glory in a month of playing including 2 ANB's and 1 War Chest. There are other things to buy...trinket recipes e.g.

I don't like the idea of an "alternate currency" in the first place and I expect very few others do either. Keep screwing around MF/DP and you can lose this player again in a trice.

[Oshisin]

Integralas Mantle is a major resource sink. The Bracers of Mastery are a resource whirlpool. They are orders of magnitude worse than any other item. It’s a crying shame that the developers have done this, and if they don’t fix it in some way, it will bite the developers in the long run.

[jdh0721]

I'm definitely +1 on #4. The BoM has become the most frustrating part of Eternium for me. Literally tens of millions of gold and 1000s of greater essence thrown away.... not trying to get a lvl 77 version of the BoM that I want, but just trying to get one that has the enchantment that I need. And my main push character STILL doesn't have it. When your Shockwave BoM has Vitality (reforged from Block), Haste, Physical Damage, and Experience, you figure spending 100 glory should allow you to cerate one that's better suited. But after literally 35 tries, still no Shockwave (but I have made 6 with Devastate, 7 with Leap, 5 with Charge, and a lvl 77 with Shield Bash with Fire Damage (which is good for my SW which isn't competitive any longer))....

I'm done venting now. Definitely prefer the option #4, the ability to chose, ideally by breaking out each Bracer into it's own unique BoM.

[NoSuchReality]

While we all do variations of it, it just highlights the metagaming and dysfunction of ANB and crafting.

[Travesty]

I'd bet the devs designed BoM crafting to be an intentional resource sink. If so, I wouldn't hold your breath on changes to that unless they come up with a different resource sink and then throw us a bone on BoM to soften the blow.

[CarnivorousDeathParrot.2]

[Stusmith50]

Anything is better than the current system!

[Allunra]

Anything to fix the annoyance of rolling a good bonus and low item level or vice versa.

[Oshisin]

4 even if I have to re-spend glory.

If not 4, then 2.

[Benedicto]

For me, 100 glory points is not too expensive for a specific ability, the no. 4 suggestion is the most cost effective for me.

[Loreg]

I hate to be the anti-fun guy but...

BoM are the perfect thing to farm and make in ANB Bronze/Silver. Save a gold set as you grind XP and grind out gold for like 5-10 minutes of play time and you can make as many as you have essences for, which are even cheaper in the ANB.

Because ANB lowers the cost of materials and gold crafts it actually doesn;t even cost you greater essences unless you have more than one of the same type of essence. If you have 2 Fire Essence slots, for example, it will cost you 4 Greater Fire Essences to craft 1 pair of bracers, gold cost is like 40K if I remember correctly. But if you can make it so you have one of each color essence only, it will only cost regular level essences which over the course of a Bronze ANB you can farm a crap ton of.

OBV if you actually crafted one you wanted you would have to use a celestial on it to bring it home.

My current gripe is not with BoM, but the unique trinkets that you cannot put a celestial on during ANB if you craft a really good one during the event.

I respect your point. I also hate to be the anti anti-fun guy but, that will only be applicable if you happen to craft JUST THE "Bracer of Mastery" and no other gears to craft. Of course, pro or old (not old as in "old" but rather not new to the game ) players would be like "hey, push set for my main is almost complete, so I only have to focus on crafting BoMs". Think about the rookie players and new players that are about to come. Yeah, they can always buy gems or some chest packs to hasten their way to climb up, but that makes the game MORE like a P2W but that's another topic.

As you can see, right now, with the new major updates, we happen to craft like 13 different gears during ANBs (6 gears from set, cape, main and off hand weapons, bracers, belt, and 2 trinkets) excluding the necklace and 2 rings. And it's really frustrating that in order to be competitive you need to craft atleast lvl 74-77 gears. With the BoM crafting mechanics, you happen to waste the "lvl76/77" crafting bonus on a BoM that you don't really need with your push or atleast XP setup, whereas you could've crafted a nice lvl 76/77 gear, say weapon or gear set instead.

Unless you are a total whale, and you got the BoM you need, it would be ok. But for semi-F2P players, which actually can pay but, has high hopes for JUST skills and knowledge of the game because of the advertised "not made with greed" - something like that - slogan, crafting BoMs would still be more of like a gambling.

[Morgan Davies]

I hate to be the anti-fun guy but...

BoM are the perfect thing to farm and make in ANB Bronze/Silver. Save a gold set as you grind XP and grind out gold for like 5-10 minutes of play time and you can make as many as you have essences for, which are even cheaper in the ANB.

Because ANB lowers the cost of materials and gold crafts it actually doesn;t even cost you greater essences unless you have more than one of the same type of essence. If you have 2 Fire Essence slots, for example, it will cost you 4 Greater Fire Essences to craft 1 pair of bracers, gold cost is like 40K if I remember correctly. But if you can make it so you have one of each color essence only, it will only cost regular level essences which over the course of a Bronze ANB you can farm a crap ton of.

OBV if you actually crafted one you wanted you would have to use a celestial on it to bring it home.

My current gripe is not with BoM, but the unique trinkets that you cannot put a celestial on during ANB if you craft a really good one during the event.