TOPIC: Tokens without upgrades at higher rarity/tier.

This topic is to address a specific question I was asking myself:

What tokens exists at an uncommon or rare level that do not have an available upgrade in a higher rarity (in the same slot)?

*Edit: This is intended to be a thought exercise of identifying tokens in a specific slot with "room to improve" in a higher rarity. There are a limited number of tokens that can be printed each year and this type of exercise may be helpful in determining idea candidates for rare, ultra rare, etc.

So I started creating a list to answer that question, in my own opinion.

For some of these tokens, I do not think there needs to be an upgrade at a higher rarity, whether being "too powerful" already or not desirable enough for the investment.

Criteria:

• I am skipping weapons, chest armor (except one ), potions, scrolls, ammunition, runestones, figurines, and items with effects that are difficult to "upgrade" (in my opinion).
• Strength, dexterity and constitution are considered when looking at upgrades for +melee damage, AC, and health.
• If a token has a unique effect also provided by a charm or ioun stone, it has also been omitted (like earcuff of the wind and goggles of serpent sight).
• If a token has a numeric value, the assumption for the upgrade is adjusting the value or range, which has been surround with parenthesis (). An "upgrade" can also include secondary bonuses instead.
• I have also indicated my personal preferences on if I would like to see an upgrade at a higher rarity (^), do not have a preference (-), or would prefer to not see an upgrade (v). Please note that I am one person and and this is my opinion.

Abyssal Lenses of Taunting -
Allows an additional Taunt (but character is Stunned for 1 rd after use) ((1)/game)

Amulet of Thorns ^
(4) pts of damage to any monster that hits wearer

Belt of Healing v
Any “(20)” slid by wearer heals wearer (3) pts
*Upgrade could also have an amount of healing apply on every hit. ^

Berserker Cloak ^
+(2) to CON & -(2) to AC

Bezoar Charm -
-(2) damage from Poison

Boots of Backstabbing ^
+(6) points of non-modifiable damage to a successful Sneak Attack’s final tally
*Upgrade could also incorporate other bonuses for rogue sneak attack like skipping prep round.

Boots of Bounding ^
May attack flying target with melee weapons, but take (2) pts of damage
((1)/room)

Bracers of Fire / Frost / Lighting -
+(2) Fire/Cold/Shock damage with melee weapons
*This would also be interesting if there was a transmute combining these together.

Bracers of Fire Deflection v
-(2) damage from Fire

Bracers of Ricochet v
-(1) damage from Ranged attacks

Brawler’s Mug (Rare) ^
+(2) damage in melee when held in off-hand
*There is also Orb of Might and Brawler's Horn , but these are not obvious upgrades.

Cadaver Charm -
Cures wearer (2) pts when 1st monster in room dies.

Charm of Enlightenment -
+(8) to Wisdom (+(4) to Will saves)


Charm of the Lava Fiend v
-(2) damage from Fire

Charm of the Sage -
Damage scrolls deal +(2) damage (same damage type)

Charm of the Sipquick ^
+(2) to Dexterity & -(1) to Strength
*I am predicting a +2 dexterity volunteer charm in 2019 or 2020.

Charm of Thorny Barbs ^
Deals (2) pts of Piercing damage to any monster that hits wearer in melee

Cloak of the Footpad ^
+(2) damage with Sneak Attacks
*Upgrade could also incorporate other bonuses for rogue sneak attack like skipping prep round.

Crown of Charisma v
+(4) to saves vs Charm & +(4) to Charisma
*There is currently no bonus for having a Charisma score higher than 16.

Crown of Iron Will -
+(4) to Will saves

Darkling Earcuff ^
+(1) to Reflex saves
*The Charming Earcuff exists, but there is not a rare earcuff token that provides reflex saves.

Drow Raider Necklace -
-(2) damage from Darkrift, Fire, Poison & Sacred

Earcuff of Intellect ^
+(1) to Will saves

Earcuff of Muting v
-(2) damage from Sonic

Earcuff of the Bliss ^
+(1) to Fort saves
*There also exists Icecrag Hero’s Earcuff that provides +1 to Fort saves, but there could be a rare or higher that gave a greater bonus to Fort saves.

Girdle of Wealful Health ^
You cure (1) additional hp when you eat/drink a cure item

Gloves of Healing ^
Adds (1) pt to all healing spells

Gloves of the Dark Gnome ^
+(2) to CON & -(2) to DEX

Hat of Intellect v
+(2) to hit with spell (not scroll) slides, +(4) to INT
*There is currently no benefit to having an Intellect higher than 20.

Helbane Cloak -
You heal (1) hp when you use a healing Spell or Power on another
((1)/room)

Holly Ring ^
+(1) pt of Sacred damage with missile weapons

Ioun Stone Agate Orb -
+(1) pt when healed (Spells & Scrolls only)

Ioun Stone Emerald Cube ^
Immunity to Hold, Slow & other hindrances
((outdoor only))

Ioun Stone Faceted Amber ^
Subtracts (2) pts of damage per missile or spell attack

Ioun Stone Glass Cube v
-(3) damage from Acid

Ioun Stone Ruby Prism -
Subtracts (1) pt of damage per melee attack

Ioun Stone Ruby Rhombus v
-(3) damage from Fire

Kinetic Accelerator -
Your (Magic Missile) spells do +(1) damage

Lenses of Focus ^
+(1) to your healing & damage spells

Medallion of Focus ^
+(1) to your healing & damage spells

Necklace of the Norns -
May re-cast a (1st) level spell just cast–(as scroll)
((1)/room)

Pants of Blisswalk -
You heal (2) additional hp when you receive healing from a Spell

Pants of Springing -
-(1) damage from melee attacks

Ring of Brilliance ^
+(3) pts of Sacred damage with 2-handed melee weapons

Ring of Fire Absorption v
-(3) damage from Fire

Ring of Fortitude ^
Adds +(4) to Fortitude saves
I forgot about the Charming Ring .

Ring of Iron Will ^
Adds +(4) to Will saves

Ring of Lone Justice -
+(5) damage if your attack slide is the only one on the “(20)”

Ring of Reflexes ^
Adds +(4) to Reflex saves

Ring of Soothing Touch -
+(3) healing to (1) use of Lay on Hands
((1)/game)

Ring of Stunning Fist ^
Dazing Fist or Stunning Fist trigger on natural (19-20)

Ring of the Anointed ^
+(1) to Dexterity

Ring of the Hallowed ^
+(1) to Strength

Shark Tooth Armor ^
+(7) to AC & (3) pts of damage to monster who hits wearer in melee
*This is the only armor I put in this list. I am seeing retribution builds more frequently.

Shirt of Simplicity -
+(1) to max hp for each of your unequipped Charm slots
(+(3) max)

Shirt of Venomward -
-(2) damage from Poison

Shoes of Sneaking ^
+(2) to hit with Sneak Attacks
*Upgrade could also incorporate other bonuses for rogue sneak attack like skipping prep round.

Wand of Cure Lt. Wounds v
(cure (5) pts. /(5 charges))
*If this were reprinted, I would almost expect it to exist as an Ultra Rare with the changes to wands. Wands are consumables again and should not be made at UR level. Healing on wands is problematic with the unlimited uses per room mechanic and would need to be addressed before making more healing wands.

Wand of Life Stealing v
(DC-12 Fort save) or target takes (6) pts of damage AND Wizard healed (6) pts
*If this were reprinted, I would almost expect it to exist as an Ultra Rare with the changes to wands. Wands are consumables again and should not be made at UR level.

It is a good method to research higher level token ideas although I will say a number of your entries do have UR+ tokens that have the same or very similar effect.

Ed

MasterED wrote: It is a good method to research higher level token ideas although I will say a number of your entries do have UR+ tokens that have the same or very similar effect.

Ed

Could you tell me which ones so I could update my list?

Phrash wrote:

MasterED wrote: It is a good method to research higher level token ideas although I will say a number of your entries do have UR+ tokens that have the same or very similar effect.

Ed

Could you tell me which ones so I could update my list?

It takes a bit of time but I have given you a few examples here and tell you how you can find them:

Amulet of Thorns ^ Belt of Thorns - no one will wear a Neck retribution item unless it was 15 and that gets too powerful
(4) pts of damage to any monster that hits wearer

Berserker Cloak ^ There are 17 constitution bumping items (6 are Ultra Rare)
+(2) to CON & -(2) to AC

Bezoar Charm - Drow Raider Necklace
-(2) damage from Poison

Boots of Backstabbing ^ Just printed this year so you gotta kind of wait.
+(6) points of non-modifiable damage to a successful Sneak Attack’s final tally
*Upgrade could also incorporate other bonuses for rogue sneak attack like skipping prep round.

Boots of Bounding ^ Gnomish Fizzy Lifting Pack
May attack flying target with melee weapons, but take (2) pts of damage
((1)/room)

Bracers of Fire /Frost/Lighting - Brackelets of the Cabal
+(2) Fire/Cold/Shock damage with melee weapons
*This would also be interesting if there was a transmute combining these together.

Bracers of Fire Deflection v Ring of Fire Elemental Command
-(2) damage from Fire

Bracers of Ricochet v Ioun Stone Faceted Amber, Kvothe's Bloodless, Shaed, Viper Strike Pants
-(1) damage from Ranged attacks

Brawler’s Mug (Rare) ^ Actually Orb/Horn is an upgrade because of To Hit and possible level bump
+(2) damage in melee when held in off-hand
*There is also Orb of Might and Brawler's Horn, but these are not obvious upgrades.


Go to TokenDB and for example Bracers of Ricochet search for it and then click on the item. Scroll down till it says "Subtracts Damage From" and pick Missiles. That will show you all the tokens that do that.

Ed

MasterED wrote: It takes a bit of time but I have given you a few examples here and tell you how you can find them:


Ed

Oh, I see. I should have clarified that I am specifically looking at tokens that do not have an upgrade available in the same slot.
I'll clarify that, thanks.

If you are also considering slot-less items, there are several like Masterwork Thieves' Tools and Greater Mistletoe.

Gloves of Fae Turning for Cleric.

Beertram wrote: If you are also considering slot-less items, there are several like Masterwork Thieves' Tools and Greater Mistletoe.

The problem with giving upgrades to slotless tokens is that you can just use both.

kurtreznor wrote:

Beertram wrote: If you are also considering slot-less items, there are several like Masterwork Thieves' Tools and Greater Mistletoe.

The problem with giving upgrades to slotless tokens is that you can just use both.

Not always. You can't use a RoSP and the individual components. That is kind of a special case though.

I wouldn't consider the Charming Ring an upgrade to Ring of Fortitude since you would need Charm Bracelet or Charm Necklace to be able to surpass the RoF increase and for at most an additional +2.

Brokkr wrote: I wouldn't consider the Charming Ring an upgrade to Ring of Fortitude since you would need Charm Bracelet or Charm Necklace to be able to surpass the RoF increase and for at most an additional +2.

But it can also give you 1/3 of a level

Brad Mortensen wrote:

Brokkr wrote: I wouldn't consider the Charming Ring an upgrade to Ring of Fortitude since you would need Charm Bracelet or Charm Necklace to be able to surpass the RoF increase and for at most an additional +2.

But it can also give you 1/3 of a level

True, but I'm not sure set bonus is part of Phrash's consideration on whether or not a token has an improved counterpart in the next rarity level.