Dev Diary Feedback: Trait Sets

[Clover]

As The Lord of the Rings Online™ expands its systems with the Mines of Moria™, characters now have the ability to create Class Trait Set pairings that build upon class themes, allowing players to specialize and making them more effective at a chosen class role.

Rean more about class traits and join the discussion here!

[Kentelyoo]

This is great !

I have one question: when will a new player begin earning those traits ? Before level 50 or after ? In other words, as a level 50 player, am I "behind" in my trait earning ?

[gildhur]

Originally Posted by Kentelyoo

I have one question: when will a new player begin earning those traits ? Before level 50 or after ? In other words, as a level 50 player, am I "behind" in my trait earning ?

Your existing traits will be converted into these sets with the update. The only traits you'll have to "earn" are the ones you haven't completed yet, a few new ones added with the update (but not level 50+ necessarily), and the new legendary traits.

Oh, and Clover, the Class Trait UI and Equipped Trait UI screenshots are on the opposite pages.

[Kentelyoo]

Originally Posted by gildhur

Your existing traits will be converted into these sets with the update. The only traits you'll have to "earn" are the ones you haven't completed yet, a few new ones added with the update (but not level 50+ necessarily), and the new legendary traits.

Oh, and Clover, the Class Trait UI and Equipped Trait UI screenshots are on the opposite pages.

Thanks ! I have another. How about the cost of changing trait configuration at a bard ? I guess I will change my traits more often now. As a tank, if I play solo, I'll probably focus on damage with my 2 handed weapon, but if I plan to join a group, I'll focus on gaining and keeping aggro.

[gildhur]

Originally Posted by Kentelyoo

Thanks ! I have another. How about the cost of changing trait configuration at a bard ? I guess I will change my traits more often now. As a tank, if I play solo, I'll probably focus on damage with my 2 handed weapon, but if I plan to join a group, I'll focus on gaining and keeping aggro.

I don't think that traiting cost has changed at all, but I don't remember specifically.

However, because of the low level of loot in the Moors, Creep trait cost has gone down dramatically.

[Stilgaard]

Ok, what's confusing to me is, how many legendary traits will we now be allowed to slot at lvl 50?

More or less than the current 2 based on how these all are juggled about?

[Felamid]

So can you start putting yourself in a trait set before you level beyond 50 or is that something to plan for like 55 or so....

thanks in advance

[gildhur]

Originally Posted by Stilgaard

Ok, what's confusing to me is, how many legendary traits will we now be allowed to slot at lvl 50?

Still 2 legendary slots at 50, but a third opens up at 60. So you can either use that extra slot for one of the new legendaries, or a third of the old ones, or replace all your legendaries with the new ones when you get them. Completely up to you.

Originally Posted by Felamid

So can you start putting yourself in a trait set before you level beyond 50 or is that something to plan for like 55 or so..../quote]
Trait sets are the new default way that traits work. So the first time you get a class trait from your class quest at level 15, it will be in a set. Then the first time you slot a second trait in that set that you acquire from leveling normally, you get your first set bonus.

So for existing level 50s, when you login the first time after the expansion updates, your class traits will already be in sets, and you will probably already have a few set bonuses active based on what you have slotted at the time. You should probably double check your traits the first time you login each character to make sure you're ok with the bonuses (and some negative trade-offs) that your existing traits give you.

[delphinius81]

With the previous trait system incarnation, there were several line bonuses that we received (ie +crit, +icpr, +some stat). These line bonuses are now gone from what I've heard. Do we still receive the these type of bonuses on a per-trait basis now, or is it only for following the laid out set. IE 5/5 of one set nets you +15 agi, +15 vit (plus any other bonuses directly related to skills), and 2/5 of the second set nets you +2.0 icpr (plus any other bonuses directly related to skills).

I guess in simple terms, are stats still affected by traits and picking the correct grouping, or do traits now only affect skills and IA is the new way we are expected to adjust our stats.

[HahnsPCs]

With all these changes, I see TONS of self-examining screenshots in my near (read as doing them before/after 11/18/08) future to see what I USED to look like and what I look like "now"...

;oD

[Dougvk]

Are there still going to be virtues and racial traits or is everything now class traits?

[Gillros]

Originally Posted by delphinius81

With the previous trait system incarnation, there were several line bonuses that we received (ie +crit, +icpr, +some stat). These line bonuses are now gone from what I've heard. Do we still receive the these type of bonuses on a per-trait basis now, or is it only for following the laid out set. IE 5/5 of one set nets you +15 agi, +15 vit (plus any other bonuses directly related to skills), and 2/5 of the second set nets you +2.0 icpr (plus any other bonuses directly related to skills).

I think I read a dev post the other day that implied as much--that these bonuses are now part of the sets. Someone from beta will have to verify that.

I think the dev mentioned that the initial intent of those was to provide some level of "synergy" with class builds (like if you're looking for a high-might build, you might pick traits with might line bonuses).

If my/our assumption is correct, it's much better, as I would pretty much never pick a trait based on the line bonus but rather what the trait actually was.

[Gillros]

Originally Posted by Dougvk

Are there still going to be virtues and racial traits or is everything now class traits?

The screenshot in the diary showed virtues and racial traits, too.

[LurtzArcher]

Originally Posted by Dougvk

Are there still going to be virtues and racial traits or is everything now class traits?

If you look at the screenshot on the second page you will see that racial and virtue traits are still showing. And IMO the new virtue icons look really good

[gildhur]

Originally Posted by delphinius81

With the previous trait system incarnation, there were several line bonuses that we received (ie +crit, +icpr, +some stat). These line bonuses are now gone from what I've heard. Do we still receive the these type of bonuses on a per-trait basis now, or is it only for following the laid out set. IE 5/5 of one set nets you +15 agi, +15 vit (plus any other bonuses directly related to skills), and 2/5 of the second set nets you +2.0 icpr (plus any other bonuses directly related to skills).

I guess in simple terms, are stats still affected by traits and picking the correct grouping, or do traits now only affect skills and IA is the new way we are expected to adjust our stats.

Line bonuses are gone, and some are used in trait set bonuses instead. But a lot of them are just gone. For instance, the Champion tanking traits tended to have +10 Vitality on them. They don't anymore, and there are no base stats in any of the traits. But I think most of the set bonuses more than make up for that.

And yes, set bonuses combined with legendary legacies make your stats and abilities ultimately customizable.

Originally Posted by Dougvk

Are there still going to be virtues and racial traits or is everything now class traits?

Virtues and Race traits have not changed at all. Only Class and Legendaries.