So you're nerfing attack boosting weapons, but not doing anything about defense boosting items?
It is much easier to loot defense modifier items than damage boosting ones. People complain about weapons dealing so much damage, but don't make any effort to loot defense items that prevent ALL weapon-based damage. I have a full set of "Ancient XXX of the Defender" and "Masterwork XXX of the Defender" with q300 armor and people with two Perfect Weapons of Talad's Arm and Masterwork Battle Helms of Blinding Strike can't do any damage to me when they're in bloody stance.
It's silly, because in the hours that I've spent grinding for nice attack boosting weapons, I've looted ten times as many max defense helms, shields and weapons. And all the big grinders have full sets of that defense gear for all their friends.
Is there any plan on balancing that?
It seems you want everyone to run around in game and be unkillable by weapons. The only thing that makes sense to use in combat is magic. I guess everyone can just run around as a magic-slinging tank.
Yes, casting drops defense considerably, but if a warrior wanted to fight a max armor mage with full defense gear, the mage just needs to stand there and laugh at the warrior.
I know you said that the rework of damage is going to be balanced, but another consequence of nerfing attack buffs is that when you make the best weaker, you make the adequate inadequate. Having satisfactory weapons, the ones that dealt a third or half of max HP damage from bloody stance, are going to be even weaker now. And you mentioned nothing of making these items easier to loot.
Yes, one-shitting someone is ridiculous, but so is being undamageable. Balance the whole thing. Someone maxed combat skills with defense gear shouldn't be able to sit in full defense and laugh when another maxed player with attack gear does only 10 damage per hit from bloody stance.
That may be "balanced," but it results in a stalemate. There is nothing fun or dynamic or engaging about a stalemate. It's silly enough that a stalemate can be obtained by one party simply running away.
So, yeah... Are you going to do anything about defense modifiers?