Author: Noxrider
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Invention Sets: a basic FAQ set!
First of all, kudos to Villainous Vines for writing that excellent guide to Invention Origin Enhancements and their creation.
The next question for people still new to I9 is, of course, what those specially-named Invention sets do. I’ll post some basics here for now, answering some of the most common questions, and perhaps collaborate with some others here on GA to develop a complete listing of all the available sets. Since this is a run-through on basics, I’ll stick to a FAQ-like format.
What are Invention Sets?
Invention Sets are groups of Invention-Origin Enhancements that are meant to work together. If you’ve played other MMORPGs, then you know how sets work, basically: the goal is to create and slot certain pieces in certain powers, and they have a gestalt-like effect, i.e., the overall power gained by correct placement of the correct elements is GREATER than the sum of its individual parts.
How do Invention Sets differ from Invention Origin Enhancements?
The typical IO generally offers a higher bonus than a single-origin enhancement at the same level, and can be slotted multiple times within a given power. So, just like other enhancements, one could choose to slot a power with 3 IO’s for damage, and it would provide better overall enhancement than 3 SO’s at the same level.
With Sets, though, the rules are different. Invention Set items generally offer Enhancements to either two or three enhancement attributes (Damage, Accuracy, etc.). However, these individual bonuses are LESS than those gained by using IO’s. Why? It is expected that someone who slots an Invention Set enhancement will use others of the same set in the same power, and benefit from the Set Bonuses.
Also: in any given power, you may only use ONE Set Enhancement that serves a particular purpose. You can slot a Numina’s Convalescence: End/Heal in different powers, but you can’t use two of them in the same power. Since the rarity of some Set Enhancements is different than others, you can count on this being another source of difficulty.
For my Ninja Blade/Ninjitsu stalker, Psionic resistance is really hard to gain, even using the powers in my secondary. One Invention Set in particular caught my eye, though: Crushing Impact, which offers a set bonus with Psionic Resistance for using all six pieces. So, I knew I was going to need all six of the different elements in that set.
How are these any different than set pieces in other games?
City of X throws in another plot twist with Invention Sets: all of the Set Enhancements you want to use must be slotted in the SAME power in order to earn the bonuses for the set. So, if you’re inventing a set with six pieces, and want ALL the set bonuses, you’ll need to either have six slots on a single power, or respec your character so that it does.
In other games, sets are usually pieces of equipment that serve different purposes: a piece of armor, a sword, a helmet, etc. As long as you’ve equipped the set items anywhere on your person, you get the set bonuses.
For example, Crushing Impact has six elements, and while most of the bonuses in the set are good, the one bonus I really wanted was the bonus offered for having all the pieces in one power (2.5% resistance vs. Psionic powers and Toxic Damage). Fortunately, as a Stalker, I’d already 6-slotted my Assassin’s Strike, so it was a matter of just getting all the Recipes (no easy task, since this is a Rare set) and creating them.
So, in CoV, when you start planning to use Invention Sets, really think about which set bonuses you’re after and in which power you plan to slot them.
Can I slot any power I want with any Set that I like?
No. Set Enhancements, like the other Enhancements, have categories. They’re a bit different than anything we’ve seen before. Each power now has a category (or categories), based on its overall function. These are terms most MMO players already understand, though, like Heal, Melee, Ranged AoE, etc. So, you can’t slot Warmth (/fire corruptor ranged Heal) with a Set that is mainly for Melee Damage powers. However, when you slot Set Enhancements, you’ll notice that the attributes they enhance are quite likely the ones you’d want to enhance for that power. My Crushing Impact, for example, enhances Damage, Accuracy, and Recharge Time—all essentials for making my Assassin’s Blade the instrument of death that it is.
Set bonuses don’t necessarily correspond to the powers to which they are attached. A Set designed for a Melee Damage power doesn’t just offer set bonuses geared for Melee Damage. That’s actually a good thing—many times, it will allow you bonuses that help in the weakest parts of your character. Other set bonuses offer some nice all-round options, like added HP or Endurance. They might seem like small percentages, but they do make a difference—ask anyone who’s Personal Info Screen is loaded with Set Bonuses.
This also raises another difficulty: most characters that devote themselves to a single task (e.g. “healer/buffer”) might not be able to use all the sets they like. Why? Chances are if you’re devoted to a single job on teams, you have all the powers for that job slotted to the max, while other, less-important powers are only 2- or 3-slotted. Should you decide you want to gain lots of Set bonuses, but the Set corresponds to a power that you don’t use much, you won’t have that power slotted enough to hold the entire Set. If you decide you really want that hard-to-get Set bonus, you may have to respec to get the correct number of available Enhancement slots.
How do set bonuses affect my character?
Each Invention Set has a series of 2-6 bonuses it offers, based on how many items are available in the set. These will be listed at the bottom of the Recipe information screen, with each bonus set off with a number in parentheses, like this:
(2) Adds 2% to your maximum HP.
(3) Reduces Interrupt time of all powers by 1.5%.
(4) Increases run speed by 4%.
(5) Increases your Regeneration rate by 10%.
(6) Increases your defense vs. Fire, Ice, and Electric damage by 3%.
(This is only an example, not based on any set currently in the game.)
As you add more elements of the Set to any single power, then, you gradually begin adding the set bonuses to your character, in the order shown in parentheses. So, suppose you feel you have plenty of elemental resistance, but you really crave that increased Regen rate. Collect five of the pieces in that Set, and slot them into a single power!
On your enhancement screen, you can hover over any Set Enhancement you’re using, and the Set Bonuses that are currently applied to your character will be in green.
So, what do the Enhancement Levels mean in terms of Enhancement Sets?
Like all Invention Origin Enhancements, Set Enhancements don’t weaken as your character grows in experience. The enhancement bonuses simply remain the same. However, as your character grows, you’ll have access to higher-level Set Enhancements with better fixed percentages on the basic power attributes. The set bonuses, however, remain the same REGARDLESS of the level of the Enhancements used.
This means some decisions for your character development. Do you invest in Set Enhancements, planning as you go for slotting, or wait until you’re level 50 and perfectly happy with your power selections? Many people wait until they’re satisfied with their characters, and then consider a bit of re-slotting to make room for Set Enhancements.
One piece of personal advice, though: DON’T pay outrageous sums for mid-level Set Enhancement Recipes or crafted items. Even if you wind up loving a particular Set and its bonuses, you’ll eventually want higher-level Set Enhancements (it’s just a villain’s way—MORE POWER!). You’ll feel a bit silly having paid millions for a level 37 Set Enhancement Recipe, then want the same Set Enhancement later in the level 50 variety, and have to pay millions for it AGAIN. If you’re interested in getting Sets early, just be conservative about how much you’re willing to pay for Recipes.
Plus, there are some sets that use only 2-3 items for a complete set, and provide some nice set bonuses. Freebird, a set that enhances Travel powers, comes to mind. It offers a Stealth bonus for a complete set—and who wouldn’t want that? This might be a set to consider for “toying around” with Sets, since it’s not too much investment for a younger character.
How do I get Set Enhancement Recipes?
Well, it depends on what you need. Like other Recipes, SE Recipes come up randomly from minions, but most likely, you’ll see them drop from bosses and as the Rare Recipe reward from the completion of a Strike Force.
If you’ve done your homework and found the EXACT set and the pieces you need, it’s probably time to hit the Black Market. My reasoning: there are about 20-30 different sets out there, each with 2-6 items in each, not to mention all the possibilities when you consider the various levels. Now, factor in the rareness of drops into the formula, and it will begin to feel like you’ll NEVER get what you want. True, you might have to pay a handsome sum for the item you want, but it’s generally worth it. I had been working for weeks to get the last element of my level 50 Crushing Impact set, and finally was able to lay down 8 million Infamy for it. I probably paid too much, but I had been searching for it for weeks, and it was the LAST one to get that coveted bonus to Psi Resistance.
Another possibility is to hang on to some of your rare drops and trade with someone for the item you need directly, or work out deals with SG or Coalition partners. I’ve borrowed millions from friends at a time, and worked out a deal to pay them back gradually. This actually helps you build friends and establish a network of people to play with more often—and that’s a big part of what makes MMO’s so fun.
Finally, another great possibility is that you’ll get a high-level SE you can’t use at all—sell it on the Market! You can either set your price based on the current rate, or, if you need fast, easy Infamy, put a ridiculously low asking price on it. Most likely, it will sell immediately, and you’ll get the lowest price that people are bidding on it. It’s a risk, to be sure, but I’ve placed plenty of useless SE’s on the market, asking 10 Infamy, and gotten MILLIONS for it. Of course, if everyone starts doing this, it will crash the market values. Only do this if it’s something fairly common or not viewed as particularly valuable.
What are Unique Set Enhancements?
Some of the SE’s in Enhancement Sets are beyond rare, and are subsequently worth the most in the game. Numina’s Convalescence, a Healing set, offers a +Regen, +Recovery SE that is Unique. Uniques have an additional stipulation for slotting: you can only use one of any given type throughout your entire character. Presently, no more than one SE in an Enhancement Set is labeled Unique. For these types, you’ll want to choose the power you slot very carefully. If you get a unique SE and don’t need it, feel free to give it to me! Just kidding. Sell it on the Market for millions—some sell for upwards of 30 million Infamy, so be on the watch for these coveted items. Everyone knows inventing can be really expensive, and that one-shot bonus to your Infamy is irreplaceable.
What are Global Enhancements?
A Global Enhancement is one that you can slot in a power, and it affects your entire character, much like a set bonus. However, with these, you’ll want to be even more careful to slot these in certain types of powers, since their ability to enhance your character varies depending on the power type:
Click powers: these powers, like attacks, happen every time you click them. Globals slotted in these powers give a bonus that applies for a set amount of time, which then restarts each time you click the power.
Toggle powers: these powers, like Personal Defenses, occur as long as the power is toggled on. Global Enhancements in these apply for as long as the Toggle power is on, as well.
Passive powers: These powers are automatic—once you gain them, they remain operative. These include powers like Health and Stamina. If you slot a Global Enhancement in these, you’ll always gain whatever bonus they offer.
I have yet to encounter a Global Enhancement Recipe, but I’m certain if I do, I will find a way to use it, rather than sell it. I’ve only heard about them via another website, ParagonWiki: Guide to Enhancement Sets. You can read their notes on these by clicking that link. It also lists additional help about Uniques and other basic questions you might have.
Which sets will be best for my character?
Unfortunately, that’s up to you and your personal research. Hopefully, as mentioned before, a few of us will team up and produce an exhaustive list of all the Enhancement Sets, their Categories, and their individual set bonuses.
But, that’s another guide for another day. For now, get out there, do your worst, and find those coveted Set pieces! Perhaps, just maybe, you’ll find plenty of sets that cater to your fondest evil desires….
Noxrider, Pinnacle server
Lvl 50 Ninja Blade/Ninjitsu Stalker
Leader, Sons of Shadow VG
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