Buff the Tempered Runenblade it deserves better

[Phoenixphire]

In my opinion, the questline to create the Tempered Runeblade is one of the coolest quest additions that Twow has added to date. A unique questline based around a swordsmith weapon that leads you to multiple lvl 60 instances and is filled with cool fluff and lore is amazing.

The issue is, the Tempered Runeblade is kind of lack luster given its cost, and the time investment with the questline. It is essentially on par if not slightly worse than extremely easy to obtain 2handers like OEB or Shadowbringer the 2hander from Kara10 you can get just by sliding into pugs and getting lucky. On top of that, its honestly kinda boring. Its a RUNEBLADE and it has no extra shadow dmg on hit, no proc, no on use, no unique equip like Baron's Runeblade, just some stats and health per 5. While the Engineering version Dark Iron Desecrator which has its own questline gets an on use AND cool little extra fire dmg on hit.

Kinda a let down after such a thematic and rich questline. So my proposition is simple, buff the dps slightly so it is either on par with the MC/Kara weapons or slightly above while being below something like Untamed Blade. I think a dps of 64-68 would be a great sweetspot. And if possible, give it some cool thematic stat or proc or on use to fit such a amazing weapon and questline. Also give it the same extra shadow dmg on hit that the Untempered version ALREADY has. When adding something more thematic, obviously you can and may need to remove some of its base stats.

Examples of some procs or changes could be one of the following:

Use: Summons a disgusting ghoul to aid the wielder for 60 seconds.

(This ghoul could be similar in strength and is identical in length that of the book of the dead or Ancient Cornerstone Grimoire. An on use to summon an undead minion similar to that of the 2 held in off hand items with a similar effect would be really cool flavor and make it a very cool RP item as well without making it have some insane unprecedented effect. If you wanted to make it stronger or more unique than the 2 held in offhand items, adding more health or dmg, a longer duration, or maybe make it 2 ghouls or some kind of disease or special little attack for the ghoul to use could easily accomplish that)

Chance on hit: Chance on hit to send out a Carrion Swarm in a cone infront of the wielder. The swarm deals 200 shadow damage over 10 seconds.

(The damage numbers may be slightly off here, but it is similar to both Flame Wrath which is a blue polearm from BRD just with shadow dmg and thunderstrike, but with shadow dmg. The Shadowbringer already has both a lifesteal AND a shadow dmg dot on it, so this is not an insane prospect if the dmg is tuned correctly. Also it ties into the questline and is thematic for the weapon.)

Use: Deal 300-500 damage to the wielder and blast the target with shadow magic dealing 300-500 shadow damage.

(This is more out there, kind of a single target sapper/lifetap or demonic rune style use but does less damage and the damage matches the self damage exactly. Again numbers may need tweaking, but another nice and thematic on use)

Use: Teleports the wielder to the bridge of Strathholme after a 10 second cast.

(Another kinda out there one. This could have a cooldown similar to that of the wormholes if not longer. Not as much a combat effect as a cool thematic and sometimes useful effect to get to the Plaguelands quickly.)


These are just kind of off the top of my head but I wanted to make them specific as I know the Twow team like specific suggestions or examples when giving feedback. Some may be too good or too weak but the general idea is that this weapon, as cool as it is with its awesome questline is and its pretty decent cost in mats, deserves something better than being outclassed by extremely easy to get raid weapons from MC and Kara10 and or having no real unique effects, stats, procs, or on use effects.

Let me know what you guys think, and do you have any ideas on how to spice up this let down of a weapon?

Cheers.

[Wolf of Rage]

As someone who went through all the trouble to get the Tempered Runeblade before Level 60, it's disappointing to see some Weapons getting buffed (hello Runeblade of Baron Rivendare), to the point that it just ends up being less and less worthwhile to get now.

It's already weird that it loses its innate Shadow Damage on strike the Untempered variant had.

It's lame to just ignore such an epic blade following patches that literally serve to increase the effectiveness of others around it.

[Bayanni]

It was probably my favorite questline they added, but it is quite a small group of people that can even experience it. You need to be a Master Swordsmith with the rare recipe drop to even begin this chain, so the list would be quite small. I'd love it buffed, but I'd lean more into the unique effects rather than any additional flat stats or dps bonuses personally. Give it that last bit of flavor it's missing, because, disappointingly, the reward for the chain is the least flavorful and exciting part of it. That shouldn't ever be the case.

[Phoenixphire]

It was probably my favorite questline they added, but it is quite a small group of people that can even experience it. You need to be a Master Swordsmith with the rare recipe drop to even begin this chain, so the list would be quite small. I'd love it buffed, but I'd lean more into the unique effects rather than any additional flat stats or dps bonuses personally. Give it that last bit of flavor it's missing, because, disappointingly, the reward for the chain is the least flavorful and exciting part of it. That shouldn't ever be the case.

I would 100% agree. Add the flavor it is currently missing. I gave some examples but there are probably 50 ways to do it besides it just having flat stats, pretty disappointing.