Introducing The R&D Gear System!

Play content Defeat bosses Loot gear Salvage unwanted gear, breaking it down into new components Convert those new components into the rare gear you do want using new R&D Plans

Why R&D Gear?

New Gear Release Schedule Starting with Episode 18, all quality levels of EACH gear slot in each cycle will be released in the same Episode. This means each piece won't have a replacement until the next cycle, or three Episodes later. Phrased another way, this expands the time between one piece of gear's launch and the launch of its replacement to at least 12 weeks. For example, in Episode 18, you will find the vendor, rare, AND elite versions of Chest, Back, Legs, and Waist gear, and you won't find gear for those slots again until Episode 21.

Increased Drop Rates With Episode 18, the rare gear drop rate has been increased by at least 40% when compared to 17.

This means more rare drops, less common drops, and that's before we even get to R&D. Weapon Reward Box Starting with 20, weapons will no longer drop individually. Instead, you will receive a Weapon Reward Box as a drop which, when opened, let's you choose which weapon you desire. Vendor Gear Stays The Same No changes have been made to vendor gear, vendor gear cost, or vendor gear progression requirements.

So Really, Why R&D Gear?

What You Said: You get frustrated when you complete an instance but feel like you have made no progress toward your goal of rare gear when you only receive common drops.





What We've Done: With the R&D Gear System, common drops now progress you toward rare gear, so progress is guaranteed with each boss, and you know how many bosses you need to get that next piece of gear.









What You Said: You get frustrated when you are striving for that last piece of gear you don't have but you keep getting the rare drops you already do have. Even worse, you know that (while unlikely) it is possible that you will never, ever get that last drop.





What We've Done: With the R&D Gear System, you can now create that last piece of gear that eludes you, and you know you can do it for a predetermined amount of components. You know for certain that you will eventually be able to obtain that last piece, even if luck never turns your way.









What You Said: You get frustrated when you feel like you must play just one piece of content to progress onward, when there is so much other new content to play.





What We've Done: With the R&D Gear System, all content and gear drops in your current 3-month cycle progress you toward the rare gear from that cycle - every solo, duo, alert, op, and raid.









What You Said: You get frustrated hunting for your preferred weapon, and having to play with some other weapon or an older, worse weapon until you find the one you want.





What We've Done: With the R&D Gear System, you can create outright the weapon of your choice as soon as the Episode it is included in launches.

Okay, Details. How Does The System Work?

Step 1: Salvage green, blue, and/or purple gear for some number of gear scraps. Green gear returns the lowest number of scraps, while purple returns the highest.





Step 2: Using an R&D Plan, create Fused Scraps from a certain number of gear scraps.





Step 3: Purchase Matter Enhancers and R&D Plans with Marks of Victory.





Step 4: Using the correct R&D Plan, combine the appropriate number of Fused Scraps and Matter Enhancers to create your desired piece of rare gear. And yes, this created gear is exactly the same rare gear you find as drops.

Month 1

Drop or R&D: Chest, Back, Legs, Waist





Month 2

Drop or R&D: Helmet, Hands, Feet, Shoulder

R&D Only: Face





Month 3

Drop or R&D: Neck, Trinket, Utility Belt, Weapon

R&D Only: Ring #1, Ring #2

Our Expectations!

If you are this player, you refuse to participate in the R&D Gear System entirely, and you continue to play only for drops just as you did previously.

You take about 10 weeks of play, without replays, to obtain each Episode's gear set.

If you are this player, you refuse to run content for or even accept random drops, only utilizing the new R&D Gear System.

You are now able to progress, albeit very slowly, where you were unable to progress at all before.

It takes you about 6 weeks of play, without replays, to obtain one gear piece.

If you are this player, you choose to take advantage of the new R&D Gear System AND random drops.

You progress faster than you could previously, now utilizing both systems.

It takes you about 6-8 weeks of play, without replays, to obtain each Episode's gear set.