New gem suggestion: Entitled Support

For a while now I've been thinking we should have another exceptional gem, and I think I finally figured out what I want that gem to be:

Entitled Support (white gem)
Exceptional, Support
Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 110%

Level 1
no effect

Level 2
1 linked socket is treated as if it were a white socket, gems in that socket ignore requirements

Level 3 (max)
2 linked sockets are treated as if they were white sockets, gems in those sockets ignore requirements

That's such a unique idea which I think this game needs a LOT more of.

However, as it stands, your idea gem would never be used outside of leveling, and exceptional gems are mainly endgame gems. Why would I give up an entire support gem just to get rid of stat requirements (white sockets are super easy to craft)? By the time I would use something like that, I would have already taken stats into account and made sure they were covered elsewhere. Losing an entire support is a far bigger loss than getting a dex roll on a piece of gear.

But still, interesting and unique idea that has creative potential outside of its current form.

Here's how I would tweak it to make it more valuable: your gem at lvl 3 also LINKS the adjacent non-linked gem slots. So that a 4L / 6S item instantly becomes a 6L with the sacrifice of using that gem in the slot. Again, this is almost entirely a "leveling" gem which is not ideal, but it makes it a tad more useful. I would also have it at a 100% multiplier because it really isn't giving you an enormous benefit anywhere.

Another idea: the opposite of empower. Maybe "enrich". Increases the level of all support gems.

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By the time I would use something like that, I would have already taken stats into account and made sure they were covered elsewhere. Losing an entire support is a far bigger loss than getting a dex roll on a piece of gear.

Yes and no. The way I see it, is three-fold:
* on the one hand you can ignore dump stats entirely, which can free up mod slots on items (I frequently have a 20 Int marauder that would like to use Assassin's Mark)
* on the other hand, there are niche cases where this can be useful, e.g. items with "all sockets are blue" enchant
* finally this could be a godsend for people levelling characters after their league start: ignoring requirements also ignores level requirements; running around with a level 20 gem in act 1 should help get to maps faster

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Another idea: the opposite of empower. Maybe "enrich". Increases the level of all support gems.

My suggestion for "enrich" would be: Enrich support makes any linked exceptional support gem also support non-skill gems. In other words "Enrich" could be used to make "Empower" and "Enhance" also work on supports, at the cost of a socket.

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TrashCondor wrote:

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Another idea: the opposite of empower. Maybe "enrich". Increases the level of all support gems.

My suggestion for "enrich" would be: Enrich support makes any linked exceptional support gem also support non-skill gems. In other words "Enrich" could be used to make "Empower" and "Enhance" also work on supports, at the cost of a socket.

Could be a great idea, this enables "Enhance" to add quality to support gems, possibly resulting in a lot of new ways to utlizize alt quality support gems.

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jsuslak313 wrote:

That's such a unique idea which I think this game needs a LOT more of.

However, as it stands, your idea gem would never be used outside of leveling, and exceptional gems are mainly endgame gems.

I think you are absolutly right with the statement, that it would be mainly used in leveling, despite being an exceptional gem, but I don't think that's inherently an argument against it.

I always thought the reason why the gems are exceptional, is because they don't do anything at lvl 1, and take massive effort to get going. "Entitled Support" would fit in that category just fine.

Also, we do have some "endgame" items, that are used almost exclusively in leveling. Seven-League-Step is one of those which, while you could drop it early, most likely will be seen by grinding Breachlords for the cards.

Just my two cents.

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TrashCondor wrote:

e.g. items with "all sockets are blue" enchant
* finally this could be a godsend for people levelling characters after their league start: ignoring requirements also ignores level requirements; running around with a level 20 gem in act 1 should help get to maps faster

To preface: I'm only arguing because I find this idea so interesting and beneficial to the game as a whole. However:

2 things: nothing would override the "all sockets are blue". ever. When there is an absolute mod like that, nothing you put on or use can ever alter it. Just like "Your maximum resistances are x%" or CI "Your maximum life is 1". They are absolutes. If GGG were to ever introduce a way around that, we would be in trouble...

I did not think about level requirements since that would be absolutely bonkers. Nothing like that would EVER happen...the closest we get is unique items like Clayshaper that grant us an overleveled skill to use for a while. But to erase level requirements entirely is just asking for a broken game imo. There's something like that in D3 that erases level requirement if I remember correctly and it doesn't add any kind of fun, it just makes the leveling process even more pointless than it already is. Tabula is easy to get and there's simply no need for all that damage when you already have a 6L at least 55 levels ahead of time.

The issue I have with exceptional gems being geared towards leveling and not endgame is the sheer amount of playtime and experience they require to level. Why would I waste my time on a gem only used for leveling when I likely already have twink uniques and rares that already trivialize leveling? The gem would be bloat rather than uniqueness.

I like the original idea. I remember when I used to play Freezing Pulse Totems (before they butchered it into a sorry state) I would always need to bend over backwards to get 159 dex for Sniper's Mark. That was the ONLY gem I used that needed any meaningful amount of dex. In that build, I would've happily given up a socket in exchange for not needing dex.

I don't think Exceptional Gems need to be great in every build so as long as there is even 1 niche case where it is "build-enabling," I think it would be a fine addition.

To get around the "All sockets are blue" thing, I would change the gem to say 1-2 linked sockets ignore socket color requirements (similar to Dialla's).

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jsuslak313 wrote:

nothing would override the "all sockets are blue". ever. When there is an absolute mod like that, nothing you put on or use can ever alter it. Just like "Your maximum resistances are x%" or CI "Your maximum life is 1". They are absolutes. If GGG were to ever introduce a way around that, we would be in trouble...

Well true, the blue-ness of the socket cannot be violated, but as TemjinGold neatly points out, that is just a matter of phrasing. (Just because the socket is blue, doesn't mean that "Entitled" cannot force a green gem to work inside it.)

i would argue against this suggestion for a few reasons:

1. socket recolouring from a gem could be a coding nightmare to implement and trouble shoot

2. stat requirements are there to reinforce the notion that stats are useful and you gain power from having better stats. without better gear having higher stat requirements, there is no longer a "cost" to equip.

3. what is the purpose of this gem? from my understanding it helps the leveling process. i would say this gem may "hurt" a newcomer's experience. being statblocked early, hammers a point into the new player. get this stat or you cant use a better version of this skill/support/equipment.

if the purpose of the gem is to "make it easier", i would say, instead have a new mod roll on equipment "socketed gems have % reduced requirements", this could be made better with a vendor recipe.

if the purpose is to "power level" a new character with level 20/20 gems, then i would say this gem is the wrong solution to a problem. it would fall on ggg to make powerleveling a thing IF they wanted it to be a thing.