Spiral Knights - *A broader arsenal of gear*

A broader arsenal of gear

16 replies [Last post]

Fri, 10/04/2013 - 10:21

Yvanblo

Nick said this: "As you play, you will find over time that you have more orbs than you need for the upgrade of your initial choice of weapons, and that you have the resources to build a broader arsenal of gear."

Unfortunately, this new system has me feeling more confined than ever. I have very few orbs of each level; from 1* to 5*: 17, 8, 3, 14. I barely have enough fire crystals to heat 1 new piece of gear at the 4 star level, let alone all the way from 2 star to 5 star completed.

I know it's only been a short amount of time, but I have played for quite a few hours during that time. It is such a shame to waste so much heat by not using the forge... I just hope that the stats OOO is farming tell them that the forge is making things worse, not better.

Agree? Disagree? Please jot down your thoughts on this subject.

Fri, 10/04/2013 - 10:42

Battlegrinder

Disagree

I've found the orb system a nice change. I've crafted at least a dozen items that I otherwise wouldn't have, and while I don't exactly like the forge, I do acknowledge that its useful.

Fri, 10/04/2013 - 10:53

Whimsicality

Patience is a virtue.

Fri, 10/04/2013 - 12:12

Bopp

disagree and agree

I'll just copy and paste my response from this parallel thread on the same topic:

Fire crystals are a legitimate complaint about the new Spiral Knights, because they have greatly complicated the heating process. They've been discussed to death, but if you want to talk about them some more, then okay.

Orbs are not a legitimate complaint about the new Spiral Knights. As people have repeatedly pointed out in every thread on this topic, you can buy orbs for the same price as the old crafting price --- for example, 800 energy for a 5-star craft. The only difference between the old system and the new system is: Under the new system, you occasionally craft for free, because you have orbs lying around. Wonderful!

In other words: You expect to get your orbs for free. This is unrealistic. Instead, you should expect to pay massive amounts of energy for your orbs --- just as you used to pay massive amounts of energy for crafting --- and you should be delighted when you don't have to pay.

Fri, 10/04/2013 - 12:31

Khamsin

@bopp

"In other words: You expect to get your orbs for free. This is unrealistic. Instead, you should expect to pay massive amounts of energy for your orbs --- just as you used to pay massive amounts of energy for crafting --- and you should be delighted when you don't have to pay."

Nailed it. Basically, the orb system reduced the price of 5* crafts by $2.50, making it substantially cheaper to get new stuff. From time to time you can get an extra $1.25 off if you find the elite orbs you need.

The heat crystal system is a replacement for energy on elevators. Aside from having an elevator pass, initially you were hamstrung by the limit on how many runs you could do to heat your items. Now, you've limited by how many heat crystals you can get. I prefer this system.

Fri, 10/04/2013 - 12:53

Yvanblo

My comments are based on what Nick said

Instead of spouting patience as the answer, say something constructive. I think I have put in ~70 hours since Nick's comment was made. I have played many, many arcade depths, missions, boss runs, etc. I'm curious how long OOO intends players to play, and at what point 'over time' comes into play. I would venture a guess that a lot of SK players don't end up playing 70 hours or more. Fewer who will make it to 500, or 890, as I have.

Please focus on what Nick said. That's my point here. Nick said I would get them for free, but perhaps he should specify how long 'over time' really is. As well as how much equipment he expects us to make 'over time'. I would guess that ~20 5* star items and 1000 hours is not what he had in mind when he said 'over time'.

Fri, 10/04/2013 - 13:00

Khamsin

@Yvan

It doesn't take 50 hours to make a 5*. Lol. Aside from the lower orbs, it takes one 8 hour day at most. If you make 250 CE an hour, it shouldn't take you very long to get everything you need.

(Assuming you're already 5* and can roll FSC no problem, which I assume you should be able to do if you wish to pump out items)

Fri, 10/04/2013 - 13:04

Bopp

sorry, don't know

I don't know how much time was supposed to be involved in "over time". And I don't know how much "broader" our "broader arsenals" are supposed to be. It all comes down to where Three Rings sets the drop rates.

I'm swimming in 5-star orbs, but I have very few 4-, 3-, and 2-star orbs. So I agree that the drop rate is so low that the new system is only slightly more generous than the old system, whereas Nick's wording suggests more generosity.

Fri, 10/04/2013 - 13:08

Vesperaldus

I thought what Bopp said was

I thought what Bopp said was rather constructive. However, I will address what you just said in your last post:

Nick was talking about Orbs. Not fire crystals. I've played less than 70 hours since this update came and I have around 20-30 extra 5* Orbs laying around. Granted, I had plenty of gear before the update, but I still have enough to motivate me to work to get other 5* gear that I currently do not have.

Let me do some calculations for you. Nick specifically said, "more than you need for the upgrade of you initial choice." Assuming a solid 5* set here, then there would be a Helm, an Armour, a Shield, and two Weapons. That's 5 items right there. Which would require 15 Eternal Orbs. By the time you have all of the 4* gear heated, you "should" have more than 15 Eternal Orbs... which goes perfectly with Nick's statement.

Fri, 10/04/2013 - 14:57

Skillextor

Crafting

It is nice that people can craft for pratically free, which people always could have done by trading crowns for energy. If someone was totally F2P this may be a quicker way of crafting. The only thing that bothers me is that I have 8 or 9 items that are 4* and need to be heated to level 10.

Let the grinding begin. What joy..

Fri, 10/04/2013 - 14:59

#10

Skillextor

One more thing to add, the orbs should not bother anyone at all. It's the exact same price as it was to craft beforehand.

Fri, 10/04/2013 - 16:31

#11

Midnight-Dj

disagree

I have to stop you there for a moment, yvanblo. In the past i experienced huge difficulty when it comes to making new weapons due to the rediculously high crafting cost between 4* to 5*. Now days, thanks to the new system, orbs are easy as heck to find. I made 4 pieces of new eqiupments thanks to the butt tonnes of orbs i found in FSC and JRP. I now have three 5* shields(one for each type of damage) and a new dragon scale helm which i use in C42. The silent nightblade that i refused to upgrade before the patch is now a badas Acheron. And boy is it a beast. The only hard part of all this is finding 4* heat crystals. But this problem is countered out by the excess radiant crystals and the huge payoff in FSC.

Mon, 10/07/2013 - 08:46

#12

Yvanblo

Interesting

Well, one thing seems certain; 4* is the most uncommon link in the chain. Going from 4* to 5* is not that big a deal, however, 3* to 4* IS a big deal... when using the method promoted by Nick. The 4* orbs/crystals are just not as easy to find. I'll give it more time, and not bother crafting much at this point in time.

It's worth pointing out, I don't do FSC very often (and rarely do Vana. I have only collected 14 van tokens... in my entire SK life), because ever since elevators have been free, I have been enjoying the arcade, danger missions, OCH, etc. I was hoping that having a broad playing style, I could earn the required materials to craft whatever I want. It's clear that Nick's definition of time is much different than mine. I have played 10 additional hours since I started this post... and I have only found 1 orb in that time. 30 hours per item... that seems like a lot, but I suppose it's worth it for entirely free weapons and gear.

Mon, 10/07/2013 - 20:24

#13

Poopsie

...

4* orbs farming is a bit tricky.
1. You want to narrow down your theme choice. (go) Arena or treasure vault has the most treasure boxes while (avoid) graveyard and compound have the least. You also want to open danger area at clockwork tunnel for extra boxes (raw crown from there usually pay off the energy cost, not considering your spark of life)
2. Elite difficulty may help the drops chance
3. Finding party for 4* orbs farming is difficult. 4* is at stratum 4 (depth 14 - 17). 3* is at stratum 3, and 5* is around stratum 5 - 6 (though one time I found 4* orb at depth 22, usually drops 5* orbs) People mostly do arcade stratum 3 and 5 for recipe farming then just stop at basil. Stratum 4 also have less desirable materials range. You only have 2 random gates out of 4 due to 2 boss runs at tier 2. Comparing boss runs, RJP and IMF has less boxes (though you could find them just fine given enough grinding) compared to FSC (which is why 5* orbs is more common).

edit: i just found 4* orbs from depth 11 and 12 elite so....

Mon, 10/07/2013 - 12:03

#14

Kurapika

I think the orbs are a

I think the orbs are a welcome addition. What I don't enjoy is having to grind crystals AND levels to heat my gear. I prefer the old heating system to the new one.

Mon, 10/07/2013 - 12:25

#15

Feyi-Feyi

We should just have a way to downgrade 5* orbs to lower star variants as with the heat crystals.

I have 30 of the 5* ones. That's 8kce in the old way that sitting in my inventory being useless. I know of people having 90+
We should be able to sell them or downgrade them imo.

Tue, 10/08/2013 - 14:18

#16

Usevnsevnsixfivfor

Wait what?

Elite orbs are RARE? Try looking for some Advanced orbs then try to see if you'll be crying in Chilled to the Bone. Farm the mission "Rise or Fall" for EASY Elite orbs. Sheesh OOO, let me craft 3* gear with 4* orbs.

Search

*A broader arsenal of gear*

A broader arsenal of gear