There is nothing to manage here.. those BIS are just a bribe for actual subscriber with no long term vision at all for the retail balance. Shard bound best in slot was just them giving up.. we gonna feed you op heresy since u give us money every months, plus we want living events on all those shards...
For the power creep it's pretty simple we need more GOOD OPTIONS not better stuff.. but first understand two things.. AoS brang a couple BIS forcing PvPer to PvE; my argument was if u were good at PvP u'd have the money to pay (with the PS and stats scroll) a PvE players for that BIS piece.. no need to PvE if u don't want just do better in PvP if u deserve that BIS without PvEing.
Gauntlet.. I was part of the minority of PvPer that enjoyed it.. more content on top of champ spawn!!
Here an example of fun theorycrafting.. my sappire suit in ~late 2005.. at this time I was limited by 2 pieces the spirit totem and the other was gauntlet of nobility (later with faction items i traded the nobility for stormgrip + totem faction version)
If u do BIS u don't do what BS doing.. see the difference here.. both these items are farmable.. then I build around that:
yes, BS deleted my mark, pure white tainted faction: totem, stormgrip and crimson, stripped me semi-naked.. I had dex,str,HC,DC, LMC and DI on jewelry (somewhere in a box, couldn't mark/find them)
If u keep doing heresy BIS items event, stop the shard bound (if u don't.. lift the limitation after x time/1-2-3 yrs, if all u want is active event on dead server, so people don't just farm on ATL to move them the next day).. and use slot like apron, sash, earring, tali, cloak, shoes.. all the good stuff.. u mess the LESS possible with crafter and magic finder, SPECIALLY with limited time items and u shower them players/markets on dead server with them conjurer tali or tokuno part 1; 50 charges!!!
You cannot drop BIS armor or even worst a freaking weapon like u been doing under BS management.. Now easiest fix i'm seeing is do something even worst.. like selling battlepass events on the store.. players could drop money to experience those event and grind the booty off-season, type of stuff.
On top of only giving piece like apron or earring.. u don't do a bigger and better version but u question your experienced players.. ex: for what would u trade a 10 hp apron + 5 dex and 2 HR? tangle is a legit try.. should be ~12-13 MANA tho.. make a luck version, a zerker version with dmg and reflect or another one SDI
Long story short if u keep doing BIS items, stay away from craftable and Magic Find gears and instead completing the heresy u been doing just try to compete with it..
Hvn't done theorycrafting since ~2008.. but i have the feeling im actually hunting a full BIS suit on most of my characters.. with a TINY room for fancy piece, like a freaking bramble coat.. when u have thing like balron bone armor for every slot or waiting for one -.-
In same time how do you compete with some of those shard bound BIS out there!?
15% eater cloak with op mods? really!? after the serpent quiver and all u had to compete with was a 5% swing speed, 5 fire resist or 3% physical !?
Off topic: hardcap the + stats on items.. how come u hvn't done that already? oh wait.. u guys gave up on balancing the powercreep a while ago, to just bribe them.
Shake the meta once every ~18 months and the powercreep will love you even more.. even if they asking for once every 4 months.. stop the bribe and at least try to balance the game.. no more BIS weapon and armor piece from those shardbound event.. more options on specific pieces, like keep doing the superslayer tali at this point.. after just offer a variation instead of HC make it 10 DC with 1 MR (vs 2 HR and 1 STR) type of stuff
PS: a good way to balance the powercreep would be to limit the power.. at this point they need more hardcap all around.. example limiting 2 BIS armor/weapon per suit.. u make a list of broken OP items and hardcap.. u could even limit certain OP items like the balron armor to people with X total skills.. if u pick 800 skills.. at 801 skill my balron armor become red.. like i lack STR.. when in fact i'm just too OP.. HARDCAP for powercreep.. and SOFTCAP to help the lazyness... seems pretty forward and u have enough vet player to help u find the sweet spot to start with...
