TOPIC: 2021 Ultra Rare Almost Final!

Fiddy wrote:

Dave wrote: Nice work on the tokens Jeff. While I'm sad not to get a spellbook or familiars this year, I think you made the right decision. Making the spellbook a medallion just did not feel right. In the end it felt like a medallion with spellbook qualities, but not a true spellbook. So I guess we have to wait yet another year for the "fun" stuff. ok.

And this is not a criticism, just an observation, but I seem to have gotten to the level where URs don't really help my build. Thus, I haven't been commenting on them a whole lot. They seem intended for players who are ready to take that next step in their build, but haven't been at this long enough to accumulate very many BIS tokens.

As it stands, the only UR token I will need for my build is the platinum nugget. Other URs will just be needed for transmute recipes. A few might be useful for specialty purposes for my backup builds, but really nothing here that will crack into a top build for wizards (at least nothing that hasn't been previously released).

If you're already purpled-out on your main build and were still seeing a lot of URs you want for it, that would probably be a sign that too much power creep is slipping through.

You're probably right.

It's not that I was seeing BIS URs the past few years, but was always seeing 3-4 tokens that would enhance focused builds. LIke...I want to max out spell damage, but it will cost me in another area. Or, I want to max out hp, but it will cost me in another area. Things like that. For a wizard, the Pants of Focus almost come close, but the net damage gain is only +1 since Dungeonbane is eldritch, so even that doesn't really feel like its worth the cost. Usually, on a 2K order I struggle to limit my PYP to only 8 and end up having to place more orders or buy more on the market. This year it really doesn't feel necessary.

Overall I think they look good. The charm of bonding however is very powerful as a UR. It effectively grants plus four strength and plus four dexterity in a charm slot when it comes to combat. Sure there's a very minor restriction with the weapons but it's basically on par with the Draco Lich which is a Relic. Too powerful as a UR imo.

Rob F wrote: Overall I think they look good. The charm of bonding however is very powerful as a UR. It effectively grants plus four strength and plus four dexterity in a charm slot when it comes to combat. Sure there's a very minor restriction with the weapons but it's basically on par with the Draco Lich which is a Relic. Too powerful as a UR imo.

Jeff already replaced Charm of Bonding. See posts 28 and 39

Suggestion for Jeff. If any more URs need to be swapped out at this point, consider replacing them with a much-requested reprint. Much less likely to have something unexpected slip through.

Jeff, thanks for taking all the time to go through our widely divergent recommendations and coming up with changes when you think appropriate. Here are some more comments:

Boots of Ogre Mage Power seem much more balanced than the previous Boots, thanks.

Charm of Bonding: I think this may have been addressed already, but does this not work for double-wielding Monks & Rangers, or does it work for them if both of their melee weapons are the same? I'm OK with it not working for them, as they have such an advantage already with damage bonuses on both attacks.

I'm glad to see Mad Evoker's Charm reprinted. I was very happy to see that it was opened up to non-Wizard classes, and then sad to see it Wizard-only again. It is such a game changing token (in my opinion the most powerful UR ever) that I think it should be opened up to other classes as well. The Wizards will still get the most benefit since they have the most damage spells.

Thanks for adding more classes to the +2 Nightshade's Dagger, to be consistent with past Daggers.

Please add the Druid back to the Ring of Power. The Wizards are already getting the super-powerful Mad Evoker's Charm back this year, to also give them the Ring of Power but leave the Druids off of it is a huge disadvantage to the Druids. Especially since you've just said as well that Wizards are getting Spellbooks next year while Druids aren't.

If you're going to add Druids back to Ring of Power then might as well add Clerics.

Fiddy wrote:

Rob F wrote: Overall I think they look good. The charm of bonding however is very powerful as a UR. It effectively grants plus four strength and plus four dexterity in a charm slot when it comes to combat. Sure there's a very minor restriction with the weapons but it's basically on par with the Draco Lich which is a Relic. Too powerful as a UR imo.

Jeff already replaced Charm of Bonding. See posts 28 and 39

Thanks Fiddy. Didn't have a chance to go through all the comments. They come in pretty fast.

Jeff Martin wrote:

Arcanist Kolixela wrote: Charm of bonding hurts Rangers and Monks as both use more than 1 melee and ranged weapon.

I did not mean it so...I will change it so the wording is better for them.

Please don't! This is perfect, as it will give other classes the option to have a little catch up on the 2 highest melee damage classes.

EDIT: Waited far too long, the token is already out.

Flik wrote: If you're going to add Druids back to Ring of Power then might as well add Clerics.

This. But honestly, I see why Druids and Clerics were removed.

David Zych wrote:

James Bennett wrote: ... Ring of Quick Prayer. I do suggest considering dropping the Druid from it because the cleric has more limited damage spells which are harder to use than the druid can cast.

Edit: I just saw they were removed from the Ring of Power. I alter my suggestion to remove them from Ring of Quick Prayer and put them on Ring of Power.

No, as much as it pains me to say so (since they are my two main classes), removing both Cleric and Druid from Ring of Power Expertise was definitely the right call.

Otherwise an extra 7x Cure Light Wounds each (with full bonuses) would be tantamount to reinstating the original LoDS, and tempt the wrath of the whatever from high atop the thing.

(OK maybe 6x if the party takes no damage in the first room, but still)

A Druid with Ring of Quick Prayer is burning through their fixed allotment of spells twice as fast, not getting extra spells. Doesn't seem like a problem to me, especially since every spell cast for damage is one less to spell-swap for healing.

It's ironic that the Ring of Quick Prayer does not in fact enable quick Prayer (you need the relic for that). Would Ring of Blessing be a better name? If not, I'm happy to just smile at the irony each time I equip it.

In other news, I am much less in need of charm bracelets now. Also it's too bad that Charm of Bonding is already cut; I could really use a Charm of Being Able to Hit Things Better (even without the +dmg). Still, good set!

If the Druids and Clerics were removed from the Ring of Power because of concern of extra healing spells (which I think an extra healing spell per room isn't broken at all), why not add them back in and change the wording to "May cast a first level damage spell without marking it off card (1/room)"?

Can we change ring of power to 0 or 1st level spell?

Honestly, I'd rather have another sonic dart than any of the 1st level bard spells.

Boots are very good. Maybe too good? Having strength boots in the same set as the gloves seems a bit heavy handed (pun intended).

I think Cranston's hat will see a lot of play.

Should a sneak attacking assassin really be able to assassinate with the SA 6-10? That honestly seems counterintuitive to me. If the SA is a 10, it's a 10. Also, shouldnt it be an 8, to be consistent with the shortsword? The dagger is already arguably better, with the ability to be thrown for a ranged SA without lenses.

I still would like to see something more from Psyferre's. It just doesnt feel like it's enough. Maybe if it was equip an additional figurine (either allowing bards and Paladin to get to 3) or "may equip 2 figurines (so it at least got DF to 2 as well). I'm hoping for additional, as a way to differentiate it from crown of allure at a higher rarity.

I like the MEC reprint. Not sure about the int change, but ok.

If we keep Druids on ring of quick prayer, their legendary gets a LOT better really quickly......

Wade Schwendemann wrote: Can we change ring of power to 0 or 1st level spell?

Honestly, I'd rather have another sonic dart than any of the 1st level bard spells.

Boots are very good. Maybe too good? Having strength boots in the same set as the gloves seems a bit heavy handed (pun intended).

I think Cranston's hat will see a lot of play.

Should a sneak attacking assassin really be able to assassinate with the SA 6-10? That honestly seems counterintuitive to me. If the SA is a 10, it's a 10. Also, shouldnt it be an 8, to be consistent with the shortsword? The dagger is already arguably better, with the ability to be thrown for a ranged SA without lenses.

I still would like to see something more from Psyferre's. It just doesnt feel like it's enough. Maybe if it was equip an additional figurine (either allowing bards and Paladin to get to 3) or "may equip 2 figurines (so it at least got DF to 2 as well). I'm hoping for additional, as a way to differentiate it from crown of allure at a higher rarity.

I like the MEC reprint. Not sure about the int change, but ok.

If we keep Druids on ring of quick prayer, their legendary gets a LOT better really quickly......

I don't see how Ring of Quick Prayer makes the Druid Legendary any better at all. How do you think it improves it? Being able to cast 1st Level spells as instants would happen exactly the same way regardless of whether a Druid has the Iktomi Legendary or not.