Question!
Will current items e.g. current firebirds set prior to the patch be automatically updated, or will we have to create new sets after the patch? In the past, some items prior to a patch have become redundant or inferior and new items have had to be looted/crafted to get the updates. Confused where we stand on this.
Changes made to non-crafted Set items are retroactive (as long as the change is made to the set bonuses rather than individual set pieces). So in other words, any existing firebird pieces you have will be updated with the new set bonuses.
Set bonuses will be retroactively updated. Crafted sets were previously an exception but that was due to the fact the crafted set plans were basically completely replaced with new ones.
Legendary items need to be refarmed, if the legendary power is changed completely or at least its RNG values are altered. If conditions which are not stored in the item themselves are changed (NCS piercing cap for example), the changes are retroactive.
Its not clear for me, so will NCS pierce cap change for old farmed pre 2.7 NCS?
That is a retroactive change because the cap is not stored in the individual item data. The pierces are capped in the gameplay mechanics with a script.
The item itself remains unchanged. This is exactly same kind of case as were Ring of Emptiness, Bone Ringer abd Shield of Fury.
“ * The Ninth Cirri Satchel: Hungering Arrow is guaranteed to pierce and also deals 450% to 600% increased damage. Hungering Arrow can only pierce up to 3 times.”
From what I see the item is modified and not piercing in general.
Why are you so sure piercing in general is affected?
Basically the legendary power in the item data is merely a reference to an external function with a RNG variable. The piercing cap is attached to the external function as an additional script, the reference is unchanged, the RNG variable is unchanged.
Even the description of the legendary power is not stored in the item data itself.