I want to encourage TD to give more thought to transmuting recipes and how it impacts new players. 2022 we crossed a threshold where transmuting a legendary costs more than buying multiple legendaries from the past (the same is true of relics.)
Please remember that the veteran players are getting 23 draws per run and do 50+ runs per year. We aren't the same animal as a newer player. Many newer players see the transmute costs and think the 3 star and 4 star relics are reasonable then give up hope of ever doing a 5 star transmute. Some give up the game entirely because they see the obvious power creep and costs and what it would take for them to get to join veteran/more NM difficulty groups. Those same players also discourage others from trying TD for the first time.
Someone who hasn't been playing for 10+ years likely doesn't have a CoA and all the TE's. I routinely see people with only +6 on TE's (Ioun Stones) for a net of +10 treasure (assuming 6th level.) They won't build up the extra treasure the longer term vets and more wealthy players have.
I strongly recommend make the game something that newer players see as approachable to where they could build up in 5 years or so at $250-$500 per year in tokens to join NM groups and be a legitimate combat contributor in those runs. Ideally, they should be able to do that through buying new tokens rather than just the secondary market.
TD has done a good job in making new UR's and standard pack tokens able to help newer players build up their power levels faster than had happened previously. Keeping the 3 and 4 star relics good and somewhat inexpensive is also a great help. The next step is to make, at least, the 5 star relics obtainable. Once they have those - they can build up long term to make that special legendary. As is, newer players can't get into this transmute path without spending a prohibitive amount of money.
A 5 star relic shouldn't cost $900+ in raw materials to transmute (using secondary market costs for all components - $800 if you went with an auction.) Doing a legendary from scratch shouldn't cost $2,500+ (again, same methodology looking at proposed 2023 transmute costs.) 2022 legendary transmutes cost over $2,000 from scratch. This doubles the costs from just 5 years ago.
We hit an inflection point where buying older tokens is a vastly better option for new players than most recent 5 star and higher transmutes. The boots are just underpowered so they aren't a good example - I really can't see newer players spending $2K to build those. Let's use the new bead as an example.
Relic: Cost approximately $900 to transmute - yields +3 to saves
Secondary market older token better option:
Bead of the lucky traveler: $150 (+2 to saves and freedom of movement)
Charm of Broaching: $100 (+1 back slot)
Lucky Cloak: $100 (+3 to saves using the extra back slot)
Class specific 5 star relic (amulets or bardic instrument): $400
Net result: for the same $ investment, the new player now has +5 to saves, freedom of movement, AND their class 5 star relic for $150 less than transmuting the new bead to a 5 star relic.
Legendary:
+5 to saves is definitely BiS for that bead. It looks like it will also cost about $2,500.
Here's what a newer player could get for that same $2,500:
Skull of Cavadar: $1,600 (various psychic powers)
Kilt of the Dungeonbane: $400 (+5 hp plus +4 stat bonus)
Charm of Broaching: $100
Lucky Cloak: $100 (+3 to saves)
Bead of the Lucky Traveller: $150 (+2 to saves and Freedom of Movement)
Bead of Guided Strike: $100 (negates sneak and crit immunity)
Net: +5 to saves, +1 level, Skull powers, +5 hp, +4 stat bonus, freedom of movement, negating sneak and crit immunities.
The bead would be a terrible investment for the newer player compared to other options.
Please keep the 5 star relics more affordable. 2018 was the last year before we saw pretty substantial creeps in transmuting costs. The transmuting requirements for those 5 stars were reasonable for newer players to put together within two years (before they went OOP.)
If we need to creep up the transmuting costs, let it be on legendaries, eldritch, and trade good sinks (like the maps.) Legendaries are timeless recipes so they can be long term goals for players.
Fred
