Earlier this week we introduced the first patch in the series of changes that will be part of our loot revamp. About a month ago we'd posted a "Talk to the Team" about the loot revamp where we asked for your feedback techniques, and from that feedback we determined that most players would expect the techniques to drop from WA and Undead categories of mobs, and the animal/insect/elemental would be the least likely to. And we agreed.

As was said before, one of the primary reasons for undertaking a project as massive as a loot revamp in the first place was from years of feedback we've heard from players who felt that there was little rhyme or reason to the loot system. Some items were extremely difficult to attain, some were way too easy. And there was little (if any) predictability to what would drop what beyond knowing that most "animal, insect, elemental" type mobs dropped trophies. And even then some monsters were "better" for trophy hunting than others. A newer player, or even one inexperienced with hunting at a particular level range, had no way of knowing if he were wasting hours hunting grulets at T3 hoping for a great trophy haul because back at T1 grulets gave great trophy hauls.

From all this feedback, a redesign of the loot system was created that would address these concerns and those of the design team itself. And though the many goals aren't the scope of this particular "Talk to the Team" request, one area of concern from players has been raised when the patch was released yesterday that we do want to ask for feedback on.

The removal of technique components as future dropped items from Withered Aegis and Undead categories of monsters has upset many of our long term players. And while we are not going to change the plan and add technique components to those categories of monsters because doing so would defeat much of the purpose of the loot revamp in the first place, and put us right back where we started in many ways, we would like to talk about ways in which we could address the concerns raised.

For the most part we have heard two areas of concern. The first is regarding what will happen to existing instances of current stores of what are now obsolete technique components. Some of how to address this concern depends on what is decided about the second area, so we've put that on hold for now as to the best way to move forward. But please know that we have heard this concern and do have some potential ideas for how to address it.

So this particular "Talk to the Team" will focus on the second area of concern...that being the feeling of accomplishment, and the usefulness, of having repeatedly met the challenge of fighting against the Withered Aegis and undead categories of mobs. Under the design that is in testing on Blight now, these categories of monsters will drop:
Undead:
Formulas (those not sold on vendors)
Techniques (those not sold on vendors)
Coin value only items
Aegis:
Formulas (those not sold on vendors)
Techniques (those not sold on vendors)
Hoardables
Blighted Gear/Formulas
Crystals
So here's the questions:

1) What other types of looted items would you find useful that also would "make sense" to drop from these categories of monster?
For example, broken items that would need to be combined to create new gear? If so, what sort of gear would be of use, especially to veteran players?

2) What other types of consumables would be of value that could drop from these categories of monsters?
For example, if WA/undead dropped items that would be consumed when using a potion, would that be of use to players?

3) Would the introduction of more complete lines of craftable blighted gear be of use to players? How frequently do you use crafted blighted gear presently?