Guild Wars 2

Why are crafting backpacks (Exquisite) level 78 and not 80?

This makes crafting backpacks almost pointless at level 80, because you cannot ad any exquisite level 80 options on them.

People more interested in precise numbers than me have opined you can get better stats out of them than out of 80’s, depending on what you insert in the upgrade slot. As they are significantly cheaper to make than a lot of level 80 backs, it’s probably a balance issue.

Because its a material sink.

+ It will make you use a transmutation charge.

Well they are not cheaper, their advantage is, they give you the back pack stats of an item you are seeking. So if you desire to complete a set of cleric’s including the backpack, then it’s possible to have a cleric’s backpack, or celestial for the cost of a) maxing out your profession to 400, b) roughly the same cost as purchasing any other exotic (orange) item from the Black Lion Trading in materials. Considering you can purchase a backpack with Karma this is not a balance issue, only an issue on getting the completed set of a gear set such as all cleric’s you are trying to reach.

A crafted backpack with the correct jewels will have higher stats than one without, and its generally much more simple to craft your own than to get an 80 exotic of whatever stat you’re looking for.

but they can’t use exquisite gems.

if you put a lvl 65 rare embelished jewel in them, they’re about equal to what a lvl 84 exotic would be. they’re better than the lvl 80 exotic backpieces.

They’re meant to be leveling gear. That’s why they go to 78. And, as Enko suggested above, if you put in a level 65 upgrade, the stats will be better than that of an upgraded level 80 exotic back item.

Well that’s not actually true, I’ll use my Hunters Backpack as an example.
Default stats are 22 /16 /16 level 80 with an exquisite Ruby 25 / 15 / 15 = 47 / 31 /31
Crafted stats are 32 /18 /18 level 78 with an Ruby Crystal 14 / 11 / 11 = 46 / 29 / 29

now this might not seem like much, but the numbers don’t lie, these are crafted inferior items.

Tungsten Monarch.6058:

Well that’s not actually true, I’ll use my Hunters Backpack as an example.
Default stats are 22 /16 /16 level 80 with an exquisite Ruby 25 / 15 / 15 = 47 / 31 /31
Crafted stats are 32 /18 /18 level 78 with an Ruby Crystal 14 / 11 / 11 = 46 / 29 / 29

now this might not seem like much, but the numbers don’t lie, these are crafted inferior items.

We’re not talking about crystals; those aren’t refined and crafted upgrades. Put an Embellished Brilliant Ruby Jewel in it.

Yep. Place an Embellished Brilliant Jewel in a Lv78 back item and you come out a couple of points ahead of a Lv80 exotic back item with an Exquisite Jewel in it. Plus, the Lv78 ones come with an Infusion slot and are account bound vs soul bound Lv80 exotic back items. Easier to get started adding infusions, agony resistance, or using later for a new character once you have upgraded.

Transmutation charge? The tailoring backpack is the best looking back in the game :O

It’s so you can use them at level 78.

Put in the proper upgrade and use your impeccable basic math skills again:

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Embellished_Brilliant_Ruby_Jewel

Level 78 backpack + level 65 jewel = better stats than a level 80 exotic.

Elden Arnaas.4870:

Put in the proper upgrade and use your impeccable basic math skills again:

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Embellished_Brilliant_Ruby_Jewel

Level 78 backpack + level 65 jewel = better stats than a level 80 exotic.

…but is it better than that level 80 backpack with a level 80 Exquisite Jewel?

IIRC the only exotic 80 backpiece that doesn’t have an upgrade slot are the Prototype Fractal Capacitors and the original Sclerite Karka Shell (the one you can get from the laurel vendor does though). Any other exotic 80 backpiece you can find or purchase off the TP you can put an upgrade in, which would make it superior to the crafted backpiece, even if you’re just putting the same lvl 65 jewel in it.

What the craftable backpiece really has that separates it from your average level 80 backpiece is an infusion slot. That makes it something you can use to have a little extra agony resistance if you don’t have enough ascended items to negate agony for the fractal level you want to do otherwise.

Foefaller.1082:

Elden Arnaas.4870:

Put in the proper upgrade and use your impeccable basic math skills again:

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Embellished_Brilliant_Ruby_Jewel

Level 78 backpack + level 65 jewel = better stats than a level 80 exotic.

…but is it better than that level 80 backpack with a level 80 Exquisite Jewel?

Yes, it is.

Exotic Crafted Lvl 78 Backpack + Lvl 65 Embellished Brilliant Jewel:

32 // 18 // 18 + 21 // 13 // 13 = 53 // 31 // 31

Exotic Lvl 80 Backpack + Lvl 80 Exquisite Jewel:

22 // 16 // 16 + 25 // 15 // 15 = 47 // 31 // 31

As seen above, The lvl 78 Backpack with a Lvl 65 Rare Jewel has a whooping 6 extra Stat points over the Lvl 80 Spineguard with a Lvl 80 Exotic Jewel. The difference is really negliable.

<edit, TheSwede ninja’d my post, with a better stats table – can’t get the numbers properly spaced>
Yes, with a level 80 jewel in the level 80 exotic. Why would anyone not use proper level upgrades in the comparison. Spelling it out completely:

Crafter’s Lv 78/65 —-—- Exotic Lv 80/80
item(78) + jewel(65) —-- item(80) + jewel(80)
32 + 21 = 53 —-———- 22 + 25 = 45
18 + 13 = 31 —-———- 16 + 15 = 31
18 + 13 = 31 —-———- 16 + 15 = 31
ttl 115 +4inf=119 —-———- ttl 107

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Exquisite_Ruby_Jewel
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Embellished_Brilliant_Ruby_Jewel
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Crafter%27s_backpack
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Elegant_Weaponsmith%27s_Backpack
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Advanced_Spinal_Blades

Seems like they need to buff the level 80 backpacks, and or nerf the level 78 one.

re: Seems like they need to buff the level 80 backpacks, and or nerf the level 78 one. – The level 78 Crafter’s backpacks are leveling equipment. The proportionately high stats are intended.

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Leveling_equipment

Dante.1763:

Seems like they need to buff the level 80 backpacks, and or nerf the level 78 one.

Or people could just stop crying and use the one with the highest stats.

Khristophoros.7194:

Or people could just stop crying and use the one with the highest stats.

Im crying? That was crying to you? You are funny Im stating something that makes sense to me. A level 78 item should not be better than a level 80 one.

As for the leveling item bit, okay maybe, but is a level 78 leveling item needed? Honest question.

This isnt a problem for me anyways, as i make ascended back packs, sure it takes longer, and is way more costly, but i will never have to worry about not having a BIS stat item.

Dante.1763:

Im crying? That was crying to you? You are funny Im stating something that makes sense to me. A level 78 item should not be better than a level 80 one.

Think of it like an item in Diablo with the reduced level requirement mod.

Khristophoros.7194:

Dante.1763:

Im crying? That was crying to you? You are funny Im stating something that makes sense to me. A level 78 item should not be better than a level 80 one.

Think of it like an item in Diablo with the reduced level requirement mod.

Never..played Diablo…But im going to assume that it lowers the level required to equip said item?

However that makes me wonder if in the future level 80 backpacks from here on out will have stats equal to those same level 78 ones.

Elden Arnaas.4870:

re: Seems like they need to buff the level 80 backpacks, and or nerf the level 78 one. – The level 78 Crafter’s backpacks are leveling equipment. The proportionately high stats are intended.

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Category:Leveling_equipment

Maybe, but IMO it seems a bit off when a not level cap item is statically better than a level cap item of the same rarity.

Dante.1763:

Khristophoros.7194:

Dante.1763:

Im crying? That was crying to you? You are funny Im stating something that makes sense to me. A level 78 item should not be better than a level 80 one.

Think of it like an item in Diablo with the reduced level requirement mod.

Never..played Diablo…But im going to assume that it lowers the level required to equip said item?

However that makes me wonder if in the future level 80 backpacks from here on out will have stats equal to those same level 78 ones.

Maybe they’ll buff the level 80 ones a tiny bit to make them equal. I don’t see how it matters all that much. The difference is a few stat points.

Oops, that should have been this link:
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Leveling_equipment
(The level/stat disparity is explained. And no, they won’t buff level 80 to compensate, it’s intended.)