Idea for the Design of Set Items

[ClownCombat]

Goal
Make Set Items more usable and flexible, while keeping the nature of getting a set bonus.

Problem
Set Items in the current state are not flexible enough and do not allow for enough choices or decision making. If they stay how are they, it will be hard to balance them. Either the set bonus is too strong and becomes “must play” or too weak and they won’t be played at all. Of course there are exceptions.
I want to discuss a slightly different approach to the Set boni, which are currently deducted by the number of set pieces.

Solution
My idea is to go away from needing a fixed amount of set items for the bonus to activate.
Any Set Item can have a variable, but limited amount of “Set Potential”.
The Set Bonus will activate based on the sum of set potential of all set items. (For the same Set).

So, instead of activating the set bonus at 2 or 3 items respectively, one could activate a stronger set bonus with only two set items, if these have high “Set Potential”.

For example:
Set Bonus (2 Items) & Set Bonus (3 Items)

would become:
Set Bonus (3 SP) & Set Bonus (5 SP) & Set Bonus (8 SP)

With a good roll, one might even activate the Set Bonus (8 SP) with two items.
This would also allow for more Set items per Set.

Other Considerations
Just introduce Legendary Potential for Set Items:
I don’t like this idea soo much, as they would become to similar to Legendary Items.

Introduce a dungeon solely for giving different blessings to currently equipped set items.
Kinda makes the sets also more flexible and introduces choices also, but I didnt like it so much.

Add an exclusive, random affix to every Set Item, which activates only, when a Set Bonus is active. This way the same Set Helmet could give additional increased HP or additonal increased Armor with the SetBonus, and so on.

Let me hear your thoughts and sorry for my bad english!

Edit1: Fix Typo

[queermathsgirl]

I really like this idea. Another thread brought up something similar with there barely being any sets built around defense, so getting defensive bonuses or utility would be nice to see as I feel defensive items can be more flexible.

The idea you mentioned of set potential is great! They really need something to compete with the gap legendary items caused.

Also, like, your English is better than that of a lot of adults I’ve met It’s not bad at all.

EDIT: Apparently I have only 8 votes remaining. Is that like 8 left this week? This month? Year? Permanent? Is there a way to regenerate them? I kinda get excited and intrigued by many ideas here and throw them a vote.

[vapourfire]

Like the Set Potential idea… sort of fits in with LP - I like it when all my socks are in the right drawer I like that you get the set bonus for using one item (always the problem with sets), but it scales up the more matching items you used & on Set Potential… Simple and deals with the sacrifice of dedicating set items in favour of other gear… Still going to be tricky to balance, but then again, what in an ARPG isnt… Reminds me of my favourite items in arpgs - ones that scale with you as you level or grow more powerful the more XP you earn while wielding them…

@queermathsgirl

EDIT: Apparently I have only 8 votes remaining. Is that like 8 left this week? This month? Year? Permanent? Is there a way to regenerate them? I kinda get excited and intrigued by many ideas here and throw them a vote.

We all have a set number of votes - unlike Likes (unlimited) it makes Voting for something have a little more meaning… Once a thread is closed, then our voting points are returned to us to be used again… (if you want to check up on the underlying forum software features, its Discourse)

[Enkidu]

I do like this idea, as part of the “fix” for set items, I still think they need work in other areas though. Expanding on this idea and looking at current numbers it would for example allow for a place where “low rolled” set items can be just as valuable for some builds as “high rolled” ones.

Look at the Corsair set for example, some builds might want a high rolled Helm to get the set bonus on just one item, where as other builds might want a low rolled helm to just get the desired helm effects without trading glancing blow for block, mostly because of high level math wizardry and a fantastic shields.

[doombybbr]

The issue with sets is the same as what the issue with uniques was before LP.

Most set items are weak on their own, with a mediocre set bonus(such as Gaspar’s Set). The ones that people run are exceptions to the general power curve(like Sinathia’s Set or Shattered Lance Set).

It is the same with uniques, you almost never use Humming Bee or Drought’s Release, but everone uses Exsanguinous. The difference is they have LP, so a Humming Bee can get an extra attack speed and ailment on hit mod, then become BiS for ailment builds as a result when it was useless beforehand.

To add LP to set items would probably not be the solution however, as these items are loaded with affixes and will be pushed over the top if you could add even a single affix of your choice.

[Shtrak]

Some set items are very good even alone.
I’d like set items to have LP the same way uniques have, and if we make a legendary with a set item, it stops belonging to a set, it becomes independant, like a standard unique.