Cobalt stuff should be used as the baseline. (Atleast the HoH ones...)

Btw, I think Brandishes should work like the Edges in T1. Brandishes should do LESS damage to constructs than the Caliburs because the Brandishes do Statuses. At the same time, we need a Statusless one to make up.

Err...something like that. I might have a bad sense of balances. ._.

Well my theory is that statistical balance is less important than another kind of balance, where each weapon/armor/shield must fit in differently and serve a different and unique function entirely. Spiral Knights does a good job of this, sometimes. The "standard" armor should be something akin to wolver/demo/gunslinger.

My "On Class and Equipment Design"- http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/80053

I remember seeing that thread Fehzor, and while I agree with it I also believe that there should be more than just various niche equipment. There should be, in some niches, a small variety of armors that fit the same niche in different ways, or at least with small, but noticeable, differences. Wolver and Cobalt both have normal/piercing defense but Wolver is more offensive and Cobalt is, well, cheap. Then there's Brute Jelly which has more piercing defense (as opposed to normal) and totally different, near-useless statuses (stati?) but can be acquired differently. This is a great part of SK: the variety, but it still needs much developing. And that's where Fehzor's niche equipment come in. We need all of those and what we already have. Then we'll have some great stuff going on.

But back to the topic. @Zeddy I think that each class needs a different standard because if all swords, bombs, and guns hit the same amount then swords would become near-obsolete because of the unbalanced risk/reward in comparison to the other two classes. High risk from close-range/same reward as the one that has low risk from far-range and the one with medium risk but greater total damage. Oops. You've already said that. Sorry. But yeah, so I'd pick the Cobalt line gear like Krakob said. It's basically the Goldilocks line. Not to slow, not too fast, not too elemental/shadow/piercing. Not too difficult, not too easy, not too strong, not too weak. Though I have to admit that Valiance could use a bit of a buff.

Oh and @Fehzor I had this totally random idea that FSC could randomly rotate through statuses (stati?) and/or typing so you could end up with a Slimestorm Citadel by accident, then the next time a Freezestorm Citadel with Gremlin Coolers. This way you would be somewhat coerced to create more diverse gears. Payout would be the same and the types of monsters would match the same types (elite monsters become elite monsters, etc.) and the map would be the same and all. My apologies, Zeddy, for taking up this space on your thread. I might make a new thread for this later if the idea doesn't get shot down too fast.

Actually, yeah, Fehzor's thread is alot better than my suggestion. The standard cobalt set and levi/nitronome/valiance would be good examples as well.

@Coelydragon: While it is offtopic, I would love to see a suggestion for a new boss stratum that changes statuses every time the gate containing it cycles out. Go do some brainstorming on the details and such, and take it to the suggestion forums!

~Magnicth