Thread: Star lit Crystal Discussion

Originally Posted by Darkheart06

So, it's just a buff to LIs, rather than a means to truly level up our LIs with us instead of having to trash them every update? I'm starting to think that will never be a possibility.

I posted a better idea in the Suggestion thread some weeks ago. These crystals don't do anything like that. They are all throw away. People dont grind LIs mid level up, they take their LI to end game mostly and then grind there. These are a waste...honestly a waste.

It's sad bc development time went into them when it could have produces a better LI system. We're investing in the game Turbine, we're using the store...we've been asking for a LI system that matched its original promise and we don't like throw away. Traits, skirm soldiers aren't throw away...why do LIs have to be.

Please see suggestion thread for better idea than these star lit crystals.

Originally Posted by Fipiara

Looted another L65 and under crystal to apply a the third upgrade to the L65 SA Halberd:

Comparing the teirs between the various items I'd say a crystal is equal to about an item level.; Clearly 3 appear have more effect than 1 age (apart from LI points), but to be sure we'll need a FA on BR.

Originally Posted by Sapience

They're drops. THere's a full description of what they do and where you can find them in the Bullroarer release notes.

"Star-lit Crystals are now available as loot from monsters.
Star-lit crystals drop extremely rarely from Skirmish Lieutenants with an increase in drop frequency at each step of 3-man, 6-man and raids in both skirmishes and instances. "

Srry to harp on this, but does the above statement mean all monster drops?(first sentence), Or is it only from skirmishes?(second sentence)

Cant wait to play around with these on BR, Tx Sapience

Originally Posted by Doril_Bladerunner

"Star-lit Crystals are now available as loot from monsters.
Star-lit crystals drop extremely rarely from Skirmish Lieutenants with an increase in drop frequency at each step of 3-man, 6-man and raids in both skirmishes and instances. "

Srry to harp on this, but does the above statement mean all monster drops?(first sentence), Or is it only from skirmishes?(second sentence)

Cant wait to play around with these on BR, Tx Sapience

Tonight. 1 was acquired in a solo skirmish. (Personally), and the other 2 were in a classic 6man (Flipara's)

Please keep the data and ideas flowing. Before anyone gets whipped into a "convenience not advantage" position lets get more inputs! Thanks Fil and Crell for what has already been done.

Questions I have:

1) are they "single" use only? can they be removed? repurposed, etc.?
2) are the Bind on Acquire? tradable? AH able?
3) do they "grow with you"? I think one of the overall complaints of the LI system is that we have to keep chucking them out...either between ages of weapons or as level increase. do these star-lit things make a difference between that?

This is completely insane. Star lit Crystals should never be allowed to go into the live build.

One other thing that strikes me about this: my hunter has very few to no -- useful -- rating-based legacies. My warden, OTOH, has oodles. How do you justify that some classes will get much more out of them than others? Has this been considered at all?

In my own humble opinion I have to say that I think this was an unnecessary addition to an already overly complex system. When I made my first character it probably wasn't until AFTER level cap that I finally understood fully how to make my legendary item the best it could be (and I joined recently so the cap was 75).

Someone mentioned in this thread they thought the crystals would upgrade the level the legendary item, I think that would be a far superior idea and would greatly please the masses as it's something we've been asking for for a long time now! Legendary items in their current format, are disposable, there's nothing 'legendary' about them. Perhaps if these crystals worked like traits, and a slot was unlocked depending on your character level, and when you slot one your legendary item gains 5 or so levels?

So for example, you acquire a level 60 first age weapon with the desired base stats and you become very attached to it. Instead of deconning it for a second age when you reach 75, you add your crystals as you level up, so you end up with a level 60(+15) item in the end (with 75 being the maximum, meaning you can't add them to a fresh level 75 LI).

And with 6 slots (assuming they increase level by 5), you could essentially carry your starter LI to cap! Dunno if you'd want to though, as it's only a third ager ).


I realise what I just suggested is probably more complex, so pardon my hypocrisy there just thinking out loud.

Originally Posted by roselindea

Please keep the data and ideas flowing. Before anyone gets whipped into a "convenience not advantage" position lets get more inputs! Thanks Fil and Crell for what has already been done.
Questions I have:

1) are they "single" use only? can they be removed? repurposed, etc.?

Single use, Not removable or repurposable by any non-store means that we yet know of.

Originally Posted by roselindea

2) are the Bind on Acquire? tradable? AH able?

No, Yes. Yes.

Originally Posted by roselindea

3) do they "grow with you"? I think one of the overall complaints of the LI system is that we have to keep chucking them out...either between ages of weapons or as level increase. do these star-lit things make a difference between that?

If you look at the numbers, they seem to provide the kinds of increase you'd see from shifting from a 2A to a FA minus the LI points. (We'd still like some L65 FA's and more crystals for data points.)
Still, you'll want to upgrade to a new item with a new set of levels. 'very rare' suggests you'd only bother with them at cap, and maybe at 65 along the way.


Do i feel this is too far over the pay-to-win line when it comes to things like PvMP and enticing people to run things like ToO T2? Yes.

Thanks to those who got all this data together, the effect on Tactical would be great if possible, i see no real purpose of these atm bar another grindy mat for players.

Seems very odd they added these at this point in time.

Originally Posted by paperslug

In my own humble opinion I have to say that I think this was an unnecessary addition to an already overly complex system. When I made my first character it probably wasn't until AFTER level cap that I finally understood fully how to make my legendary item the best it could be (and I joined recently so the cap was 75).

Someone mentioned in this thread they thought the crystals would upgrade the level the legendary item, I think that would be a far superior idea and would greatly please the masses as it's something we've been asking for for a long time now! Legendary items in their current format, are disposable, there's nothing 'legendary' about them. Perhaps if these crystals worked like traits, and a slot was unlocked depending on your character level, and when you slot one your legendary item gains 5 or so levels?

So for example, you acquire a level 60 first age weapon with the desired base stats and you become very attached to it. Instead of deconning it for a second age when you reach 75, you add your crystals as you level up, so you end up with a level 60(+15) item in the end (with 75 being the maximum, meaning you can't add them to a fresh level 75 LI).

And with 6 slots (assuming they increase level by 5), you could essentially carry your starter LI to cap! Dunno if you'd want to though, as it's only a third ager ).


I realise what I just suggested is probably more complex, so pardon my hypocrisy there just thinking out loud.

to be perfectly honest, i think the current system is such a mess that any kind of level increasing system would completely destroy any motivation to run end game raids (who needs a 75 first age if you can level your 65 one for example). but there's been so many suggestions to replace the legendaries with a more skirmish soldier like system (which woudl likely be a lot more legendary) that have been ignored, so i doubt they're going to change anything now.

after thinking about the crystals, i kind of have to wonder- why have they been added? they don't solve the problem of legendaries being throwaway and decidedly unlegendary, at best all i can think of is they slightly increase the time a legendary is relevant for- however they're adding yet another level of grind, and there's already beyond ridiculous levels of grinding inherent in legendaries without adding more.

also, balance issues. they make even more of a mess of the lack of balance in pvp (is there something equivalent being planned creepside? i doubt it) and how do they fit into instance design? will instances then be designed assuming people don't have them, making the content easier, or will it be assumed that players have at least one in each of their legendaries? if it's assumed that everyone should be using them, you've instantly made them a requirement.

These bonuses are too big so they are must have. I understand that Turbine want to increase players' attention to scaled instances but it's too much. As people said it's another must have grind which is not good.

I think straight bonus to dps\heal\etc. should be decreased from 4,5% to 1-2% per crystal so you can live without it but sense enough for hardcore players to farm scaled instances. Legacy and stat bonuses look fine.

Well if they are cheap....sure....but im not paying those 500-2000Tp for Li stuff, EVER!

The legendary item system is complex enough already.

What exactly was the developer rationale behind this addition? What player need is this addressing? I hope to read a developer diary from the employee who came up with this idea. (Not outlining the mechanics, but explaining why these upgrades are important to the game, besides providing something for max level players to spend their TP on before Rohan comes out.)

I don't personaly think it's excitement to get three majors on your first age bow, but...

All the more reason to not play alts. The grind keeps getting bigger n bigger even when leveling isn't required.

I hope for crystals that replace headstats on 2-handed items

Majors don´t bother me that much

And how long is it till instanced content is designed with the assumption that everyone has these crystals? Just another way to make players go to the store.

More grind for a system no one likes?(LIs) Another new thing added without taking PvP into consideration?

Sounds absolutely wonderful. Where do I sign up?

Do Monster Players receive any type of counter to the DPS increase?

You guys are aware of the "other game" that threatens to steal the PVP players?

Not a good time to drop the ball in Ettenmoors

Awesome addition to the game. I kind of quit about month ago and this pretty much solved my reluctance to continue playing. I will not. This is far too ridiculous, among with other current and upcoming changes to the game.
Overcomplicating and messing already messed up system up is just pointless to waste time on.

Originally Posted by The-Walrus

Overcomplicating and messing already messed up system up is just pointless to waste time on.

So how does the existence of something that you're not going to waste your time on make the game worse?

Presumably things still fall over when i hit it with my axe or my mini is still able to heal without them.

Not being a leet raider type this would probably not affect me that much. If i luckily come across one I will be fine but otherwise not so worried.

Does kind of take me back to FF7 with slotting crystals in your weapon. If only I could summon some of those pets!

Originally Posted by MajUntagent

after thinking about the crystals, i kind of have to wonder- why have they been added?

Diablo 3 is coming out so lotro must use something similar to that

Originally Posted by Reniannen

So how does the existence of something that you're not going to waste your time on make the game worse?

Ever heard about the term "imba"? That's exactly where the game is heading (deeper and deeper in I mean, it already is imbalanced as hell in terms of char powerfulness).
Most people don't bother with the store either (wait they are) and it messes the game up big time anyway. Just because you're not taking part in something doesn't mean it's not bad.

Originally Posted by timmyloo22546

Diablo 3 is coming out so lotro must use something similar to that

the runes there are just skill modifiers :P. and thankfully no longer items so they don't waste storage space.

Originally Posted by The-Walrus

Ever heard about the term "imba"? That's exactly where the game is heading (deeper and deeper in I mean, it already is imbalanced as hell in terms of char powerfulness).

How, how is my character imbalanced? Against what is he imbalanced?

This is a lost opportunity.

People have expressed very clearly what they don't like about the LI system.

Instead this is just reinforcing the things people don't like about LIs in the first place. Grind more now, still toss later.

If you want to create something to sell in the store (mostly) why not give people what they want?

Originally Posted by Reniannen

How, how is my character imbalanced? Against what is he imbalanced?

Forget it, you will have your truth no matter what I say.

One effect of this is to make the end-game raid content more accessible. With Updates 6 and 7, we've had access to better runes, equipment, and now, for all intents and purposes, LI's with 15% more potency. Suppose that's one way to tune a raid (although I suppose it'd be preferable if the raid was possible to complete when released).

Well, I do like seeing the old scaled classics being relevant again.

The introduction of additional grind in game from these crystals is one of the "straws that broke the camel's back", as it were, that gave me the last bit of motivation for cancelling my sub before I get billed for another 3 months.

Seriously Turbine, I am personally at a point in my gaming life here, where I am about to give up, and leave this once wonderful game.

It really pains me to see how much the entire PVP community is being ignored, over and over again.

Did it even occur to any of you developers, that increasing the DPS for Free Peoples, will cause even more imbalance in Ettenmoors?

Dit it even occur to any of you marketing executives that people care about the Tolkien Lore, not about Star Wars and the store?

Dit it even occur to any of you designers, that it is actually possible to design things from the perspective of a player?

Re-think Ettenmoors, create a new map, balance the classes, support new players, introduce dynamic events...do something; do anything for the PVP community. Subscribers who fight in Ettenmoors are paying customers too you know...

I feel the crystals are a just desperate measure to keep people playing. over and over we hear people saying that this or that game will kill LotRO, no they won't LotRO will kill LotRO. Adding the crystals i thin the idea was that players go "Wow! we can get 15% extra dps now" but instead they go "annother grind?! to a system that was revamped to make it less grindy?! No thanks". There's a general lack of vision atm, and people ARE leaving, not for other games only but because they're fed up, VIPs are an endangered species these days (even the lifers get fewer) the ONLY thing you get from VIP is freep ettens and 500 TP/month.
One of the basics of philosphy is that there's a difference between what is said and what is heard if Turbine said "here's a new feature" but what is heard by the players is "Yes, you can get this ingame... but you have to use the store to get it and yes it will make the moors imbalanced but who cares really?" there's a serious issue.

And yet ANOTHER thing to grind with our legendary items.

Originally Posted by The-Walrus

Forget it, you will have your truth no matter what I say.

I asked three questions. Where have I presented the "truth" you speak of?

Originally Posted by lutemaster

Seriously Turbine, I am personally at a point in my gaming life here, where I am about to give up, and leave this once wonderful game.

It really pains me to see how much the entire PVP community is being ignored, over and over again.

Did it even occur to any of you developers, that increasing the DPS for Free Peoples, will cause even more imbalance in Ettenmoors?

Dit it even occur to any of you designers, that it is actually possible to design things from the perspective of a player?

Re-think Ettenmoors, create a new map, balance the classes, support new players, introduce dynamic events...do something; do anything for the PVP community. Subscribers who fight in Ettenmoors are paying customers too you know...

+rep. Well said. The only reason I play this game atm is for pvp and mainly as creep. More dps to freeps, just what we need to balance pvp

I'm holding out hope that there maybe a defiler/reaver class dev diary inc for update 7. We will see. C'mon Kelsen communicate with us, give us something to look forward to.

What I don't like about crystals is that it is another time sink for LI which can't be retrieved (like legacy upgrades, relics, weapon scrolls etc). It further makes "legendary" items feel less legendary.

It is just another thing that will get trashed when you need new LI.

Originally Posted by lutemaster

Its only a matter of time before crystals will be in the store aswell, and people will go all mental over it, and pay to get it.

Who's to say they aren't already in the store? The store has been down since BR launch.

; Less QQ more data!

Anyone acquire a crystal since Flip and myself this morning?

I see this as an unnecessary raise in both dps and defences which would also require: making content more difficult (especially raids, some of which are being dumbed down instead, for good reason, but still) and buffing creeps (who badly need a buff as it is). The idea itself has merit (though I honestly don't see much reason behind other than OOH SHINY), but I would be happy not to see it come live any sooner than with the new expansion in fall.

Also, not to mention the ratings based addition seems kinda unfair - for champs this essentially means a raise in dps and that's it, I think the only rating based legacy on our weapons is rend debuff and not many people use that, not to mention some class items can't get the crystals at all.

I think this idea should be tweaked quite more before going live. I understand Turbine aims for a big update but that's no reason to hurry half-baked (imho) mechanics.