Hi!

I just had an idea regarding set items and how maybe get rid of the problem that once you collected all parts of the set you would have outleveled them:

They could just scale up with the char level. For example, you find set piece 1 of 5 and you can wear it instantly regardless of your char level. Same goes for item 2, 3, 4 but when you equip those, you will get mods that relate to your char level you have at that time. At level 0-10 you will maybe get 1 normal mod, at level 10-20 you will get one or two better mods and at level 60 you will get the best mods.

Once you collected the whole set you will get a set bonus, which also depends on the level you have at that time. But, the sets will be final once you have all the set items. They will not get better if you level up any further, meaning if you collected all set items at level 10 you will have a rather weak set, but if you collected them at level 60, it will be awesome.

Maybe this will be a pain to implement or will not work at all but I just wanted to share this.
What do you think?
reply by Bashiok Blue Poster
It's looking more and more likely that set items will simply be something you chase in the end-game. And realistically that's really where they simply work the best.

We have a few ideas still that could allow them to be available while leveling, but each of them have sticking points that would require their own solutions. One is expanding sets out so that it isn't just one item in each slot, but a group of items all separated by level requirement. So there could be, say, five pairs of pants that all work as part of the set and are each better than the last. While leveling you could be wearing the first pair of pants and then find a new and better pair that still work to benefit your set bonus. That isn't without its problems though.

We of course like and intend to keep partial set bonuses, by the way.

Anyway, sets are actually in the game right now in very limited forms, there's a bit of design left on them yet, but as I said they work very well at end-game and that's where we're leaning toward them appearing.