Sorry gents, been busy the past days. So now I try to reply and have some items i would like to discuss further with you 
But first…
As much as you obviously like to enjoy the “I told you so” we like the discussion.
Even if it will most probably not be heard. At least we deliverd some good advice and enjoyed the journey…
And maybe some day…someone will pick that up.
So some quick ones at the beginning.
Would you mind if we remove the PDmg on this one (we focussed the Viperfork around poison)? Instead I would add -25% Targets Defense (so it works on bossed as well). Found several and still not sure why an how I would use that (even if it´s close). Maybe 2 additional OS could change that.
I like the current proposal but would like to tweak it a bit since I think it is not enough to make me wanting to use it. For the lvl 43 req. the lvl 3 Frozen Orb (most probably without any synergies or -res) would be nothing like a nice fireworks.
Lvl 3 has a dmg output of 61-67. I would assume that even with the increased CtC of 15% a lvl 15 Frozen Orb would not be crazy. The basic dmg ot this little boy is just very shy. Increased frozen orb might help to use it at least in a SSF. Otherwise I would lower lvl req. to 38 (Dacian Falx starts at 25, but that would be too low).
Same with Ghostflame. Big lvl req. of 66. ITD and ML would not be enough to give it a try (for ML the base dmg is not really good as well). Not sure wich char would use that. A poison dagger Necro would most probably use something else like Fleshripper or Blackbogs. The increased magic dmg to 300 would help, but is not crazy at all. The base dmg is to low imho for lvl 66+.
What would you say if we lower the lvl req. to 60 and increase the magic dmg further to 500. I could also see us adding a low (like 2%) CtC lvl 20 Spirit of the Barbs when struck. That would fit the theme nicely. Would not work as a prebuff and only for melee chars. But the package could be enough to make it beeing used in early hell. Still wont be end game viable, what would be fine for me.
Now to the big boy:
First it is not a really rare item (with 100 MF, Baal has a 1:1700 chance to drop). The +15 all attributes are nice, but not crazy for endgame (eBotD has +30). Bonus to AR is important. 50% OW would be great. If it will be strong enough mayber Ubers-viable. With 50% IAS on the weapon you would need to add 33% more to hit the second/11 FPA BP. At WW only 13 is needed for the highest 5 FPA BP. Both good! Increase fire dmg is a nice to have imho. But 250-450 is not small either.
Assuming a lvl 90 Barb. Base Champion Axe has a min dmg of 59. With 350% ED that would be 266. Max base dmg is 94 (350% ED > 423). So we have a base dmg of 266-423 (with the Max dmg per lvl that would be +225 at lvl 90). So 266-648.
Even if MR has no real utility affixes (no LL, no procs) and high strength req. If we add 350 flat dmg that would be super strong with 616-998. If it is eth or Ohmed on top, that might be too much. After all bonuses applied (Axe Masterie etc.) that would be a super high output dmg and although 2H it would be really fast.
I would leave a roll for ED (since not too rare to support the hunt) and if flat dmg added would limit that to +100. If higher, IAS needs to be limited to 20% imho.
So this would have my approval (could be increased later anyway if PTR shows, that it would not be enough).
- Buffs:
- Add Damage +60-100
- Add +50% Increased Attack Speed
- Add +50% Chance Of Open Wounds
- Change Fire Damage to +250-450
- Change E. Damage to +250% - +350%
Last one.
My goal would be to fill the gap between Leaf (lvl 19, 2 OS) and Memory (lvl 37, 4 OS) with a cold theme option and for 3 OS. Only mid-game viable and end game only I you really found this crazy +3/3/3 base with the GG staff mods. So dual spirit is not the competiton here.
I like the idea to add some elemental dmg. So starting with this I make a specific proposal with the early runes needed to keep lvl req in the early 30th:
This is my proposal.
Cold Breeze
IO TIR TIR
Req level: 35 (with the IO)
3 socket Staves
- +3 to Cold Skills (Sorceress Only)
- +20% Faster Cast Rate
- +10 Vita (IO)
- +4 Mana after Each Kill (2xTIR)
- +2-5% To Cold Skill Damage (Nightwings starts at +8%, Death’s Fathom at +15%)
- +50 Mana
- +33% Chance to Cast lvl 5 Frost Nova when struck
Assuming that you use a decent base with good staff mods, that would likely have something like +2-3 Blizzard and/or Cold Mastery on top (and maybe Warmth, Enchant, Static, Thunderstorm etc. etc.).
So anything more would be to strong and rival other mid-lvl options like our buffed Chromatic Ire or Skull Collector. So we migh even tune down FCR and Mana even further?
But we would have created a use-case for nice 3 OS 2H staves?
