The Expanse

Raist,

When you craft with a runic hammer, the higher the quality of metal the better (# of) attributes you could receive (ie; Valorite runic hammers can yield you up to 5 attributes). When you just enhance an item, it won't add attributes, but it will add to the resists depending on which colored ingot/Runic hammer you use. (I know you know all of this....I AM leading up to a question haha )

I was under the impression that you didn't really need runic hammers since spell crafting came out because you can take a normal iron armor piece and spell craft 5 attributes of your choosing (And increase all of the resists) and keep trying until you get the desired number (ie; All resists in the 20s, LRC high 20s, INT/DEX/Str +11, etc......). Using a Valorite runic hammer would give you.....say..... 5 attributes, but random ones. Now, I know the starting resists would be better using a runic hammer, but is there an advantage by using a runic hammer THEN using spell crafting on the crafted piece? Like.....does, first using a runic hammer allow you to spell craft higher than what was intended on the armor piece? (Example; you craft a piece with 25% physical resist. Does spell crafting allow you to hit 50% or is spell crafting limited so it won't go above......say......28% period?). I kinda think that spell crafting is superior because your first physical resist attempt can lower the 25% to 3%).

Our guild leader said some servers allowed you to go above and beyond on certain items because of the Valorite hammer in conjunction with Spell Crafting and Imbuing. We wanted to clear it up for this server. Does this server allow for such advantages? Am I making any sense??? haha

Q

Q[/quote]

Yes there are advantages to using a runic tool in the very beginning and spellcrafting afterwards. Spellcrafting itself is hard-capped however.[/quote]

So let me see if I have this correct. I'll use Mana Regen as an example because I've usually only seen Mana Regen 1 or 2 as the highest number when applying Spell Crafting. Let's say I craft using a valorite runic hammer and crafter a piece with Mana Regen 2. Does Spell crafting having the chance to now bring said piece up to 3-4 Mana regen? Or is Spell Crafting "hard capped" at 2, know matter what? I don't think Spell Crafting just adds to whatever was already present on the item since Spell crafting can actually lower the first property.

Hi Raist,

My comment about the caps wasn't what I was getting at. I was just wondering how does using a runic hammer, then spell crafting, better than just using spell crafting on any object?

Q

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Well Spellcrafting has a chance to destroy whatever you're trying to spellcraft, that's just the nature of things. Using runic tools can give you similar results (slightly less), but nothing will get destroyed, you're just locked in to whatever numbers you get when using them.[/quote]

(Sorry, I'm having trouble getting my point/question across with typing haha) I get that, but would YOU try to craft a Valorite item, then use spell crafting on it? Or would you just get some random loot item with good attributes and use spell crafting to improve them? ((To me.....I ask what's the point? Because I think I can take any random loot piece and get the same results, as wasting time to get a good runic hammer just to make a decent piece, only to enhance it with spell crafting, which I could have used spell crafting on a normal piece, just the same.) Is there any benefit to using a runic hammer, then using spell crafting to increase said piece ? I do understand that you can go above the server cap, but the serve cap is final (Nothing above it works). Personally, I think it's a waste of time to get a nice runic hammer, if it doesn't help when I use spell crafting afterwards. Am I wrong?

Q

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I think I understand what you're asking now. I think at that point it's a matter of personal preference. Crafting an item and enhancing it, then used to be a status symbol on OSI servers. Having a skill point cap really changes the way you play. I'd rather craft the item myself then hope I get a decent piece of loot to start with. Getting tunic tools will be a bit more fun when patch v1.9 comes out as there'll be a chance to get them in the chests or as various other quest rewards.[/quote]

That's good to know about the hammers in the upcoming patch as rewards. Thanks