Which bracers?

[Evilmagus]

I'm maining a lvl 50 bard here, big believer in HP/Sta, MR, AC in that order, Dex, then other resists and generally think Agi/Str is irrelevant on a bard other than to carry more gear.


Here are 4 bracers I have and trying to figure out which to keep until I get BoBs

1) Ice Forged Shackles - no brainer this is 1 on HP, and AC, no resists
2) Bracer of Hammerfal - 2nd best HP, crappy AC, no resists
3) Hero's Bracer - 2nd highest AC, Str, no HP, meh resists
4) Tar Goo Strands - 3rd most HP, negative resists, some Str, crappy AC


I am thinking either #1 and #2 or #1 and #3. What are your thoughts?

[DeathsSilkyMist]

I would do 2x https://wiki.project1999.com/Silver_Chitin_Wristband for when you need AC/HP.

Swap to 2x https://wiki.project1999.com/Velium_Blue_Diamond_Bracelet for when you need resists.

Sell the items mentioned above when you get 2x BoBs.

I did notice the bracers you mentioned are all cheap or free (solo quested). If you don't have the money to afford the items above, then I would just do 2x Tar Goo Strands until you can buy something better or get your BoBs.

The quests for #1 and #2 aren't difficult, but they can be time consuming. You could probably just spend the time leveling/farming plat instead. The stat boost you will get from #1 and #2 compared to Tar Goo Strands isn't large enough to justify the time questing. Obviously if you want to do the quests for fun, that's a different story. Play the game how you want.

2x Tar Goo Strands:
1. 10 AC
2. 40 HP
3. 6 STR
4. -10 FR
5. Other Stats are not very relevant.

Ice Forged Shackle + Bracer of Hammerfal:
1. 16 AC
2. 55 HP
3. 5 STR
4. 5 STA
5. Other stats are not very relevant.

Difference:
1. +6 AC
2. +15 HP
3. +5 STA
4. +10 FR

So you'd be spending quite a bit of quest time for a total gain of 6 AC, 15 HP, and 5 STA (20 HP at 60 for Bards). That isn't going to give you a noticeable boost in survivability. You also don't lose the 10 FR, but honestly you probably shouldn't be fighting nasty Wizard/Necro casters, so the -10 FR probably won't be an issue too often. My Shadowknight is a Troll, but I don't really notice the -20 FR penalty trolls get in most solo/group scenarios.

[Evilmagus]

Yes I already have all 4. Solo quested them for fun.

[Vivitron]

I'm maining a lvl 50 bard here, big believer in HP/Sta, MR, AC in that order, Dex, then other resists and generally think Agi/Str is irrelevant on a bard other than to carry more gear.


Here are 4 bracers I have and trying to figure out which to keep until I get BoBs

1) Ice Forged Shackles - no brainer this is 1 on HP, and AC, no resists
2) Bracer of Hammerfal - 2nd best HP, crappy AC, no resists
3) Hero's Bracer - 2nd highest AC, Str, no HP, meh resists
4) Tar Goo Strands - 3rd most HP, negative resists, some Str, crappy AC


I am thinking either #1 and #2 or #1 and #3. What are your thoughts?

I like Hammerfal over the Hero Bracers. It's convenient to have shattering hammers in the ammo slot: leave them on a corpse that might get rezzed later. And don't forget to count the +sta hp until you cap sta.

[Crede]

2x silver chitin as dsm said. Get as much hp as possible.

[kjs86z2]

BoBs

[Snaggles]

Ice Forged Shackle will hold you for a bit.

Outside BoB’s, having two Silver Chitin Wristbands and two Velium Blue Diamond bracers will cover all the classes who can wear them (BoB’s are huge for monks though).

IMHO with a bard I would probably just roll BD’s with Jacinth rings and call it a day.