"Iron Banner: Bring your best gear, earn some garbage!" - Lord Shaxx

At least, that's what it feels like to me. I'm running at light 303 and the reward cloak is 282? I'm actually really disappointed with how this shakes out, because even though I can infuse the cloak to a usable level (in theory... why do I keep getting 266 rare cloaks???), I want to use my shiny new PvP reward item right out of the box! But doing so actually hurts me, if only a little bit.

I feel like Iron Banner rewards should be at the same tier as raid rewards (300-310) with Trials rewards being at the same tier as hardmode raid rewards (310-320).

It has been and still is nonsense to force PvP players into the raids (and hard mode raids) in order to earn gear which in necessary to remain competitive at the highest levels of PvP.

"Iron Banner: Bring your best gear, earn some garbage!" - Lord Shaxx

At least, that's what it feels like to me. I'm running at light 303 and the reward cloak is 282? I'm actually really disappointed with how this shakes out, because even though I can infuse the cloak to a usable level (in theory... why do I keep getting 266 rare cloaks???), I want to use my shiny new PvP reward item right out of the box! But doing so actually hurts me, if only a little bit.

I feel like Iron Banner rewards should be at the same tier as raid rewards (300-310) with Trials rewards being at the same tier as hardmode raid rewards (310-320).

It has been and still is nonsense to force PvP players into the raids (and hard mode raids) in order to earn gear which in necessary to remain competitive at the highest levels of PvP.

You can still be competitive, you just can't have the highest advantage, and it's only like that because a lot of those people are willing and able to also do raids-- if you're not, then they already have something you don't. (I largely agree with you, especially since they pushed that whole "activities for everyone" thing, but I don't think your reasoning holds up.)

Agreed. IB gear and rewards use to match the raid gear, it was the only way I got that level gear for quite some time when I started playing the game. Now it's vendor level gear, and it drops a lot less frequently than Bungie claimed it would. Really sucking the fun out of the Lag Banner.

Charge Marks and Hadium Flakes. Have it raise the light level by 10%.

or maybe, make an "Infusion Rune" that costs 10+ SC, and has to be charged (playing Court, Heroic strikes, daily crucible, nightfall). Once charged, you can infuse any piece of gear with hadium flakes, weapon/armor parts, and Marks.

could be a neat solution. Still think IB should just drop higher gear and more often, but heh, when has Bungie done the logical thing thus far?

That is a really cool idea.

... I sat down to play a couple games of Iron Banner before work. I paused for orbit for a moment. I typically have a lot of fun during the Iron Banner, but this week has been just a slog for me.

"Why am I doing this?" I thought to myself.

I do really want that IB Pulse Rifle, I thought. But almost just as quickly, I caught myself thinking do I really? Do I want another 280 weapon that will need 2 or 3 infusions to bring up to raid/trials level, using a bunch of weapon parts I don't have in the process?

No. I don't really want it that badly.

It's a bit of a bummer for me, since IB has been something I've looked forward to quite a bit over the past 6 months or so. But between the current state of Destiny PvP (Sunbreakers, infinite shadowshots, and matchmaking that is worse than ever*) and the subpar level of the rewards, IB has lost all its appeal for me.

I hope we see some tweaks in the future to make it both more enjoyable and more rewarding. It's great having these little limited time events :)

* in my experience

I do really want that IB Pulse Rifle, I thought. But almost just as quickly, I caught myself thinking do I really? Do I want another 280 weapon that will need 2 or 3 infusions to bring up to raid/trials level, using a bunch of weapon parts I don't have in the process?

I went through the same thing. On Tuesday night I played with squid and Disciple and got to Rank 2. I played a little on Wednesday night (like three games) and lost all of them to Sunbreakers, infinite Shadow Shotters, and lag, so I quit in frustration. I haven't played Iron Banner since. I wasn't having fun, and I definitely wasn't going to slog through it to Rank 5 for that Pulse Rifle, so I said fuck it and and played something else. I think I switched over from my Warlock main and starting running strikes with my 220 Light Level Hunter to start bringing her up to snuff.

I've never been a huge fan of Iron Banner, just because I'm not a huge fan of Crucible. This week started off great. I had a lot of fun with squid and Disciple. It's the first time I've played IB with a party, and it was great. Playing alone for the rest of the week was the worst crucible experience I've had so far.

I may give IB a try next time it comes around. I might not.

I played a little on Wednesday night (like three games) and lost all of them to Sunbreakers

I think sunbreakers would work just fine if the health regen was removed. It works fine for blade dancers, because their attacks are not ranged. Getting in close, while they have options for doing it quickly, is dangerous if met with certain resistance. Hungering blade then rewards you for getting in close to get the kill, and lets you move on to the next.

Sunbreakers don't need that, because their attack is ranged. There's no risk / damage sustained in getting the kill. So it becomes pretty overpowered. Think about if Golden gun refilled your health on kill. That's what Titans do right now.

Goldspiral.

I'm starting today, really, so I hope Shadowshot doesn't kill my chances more than my connection would.

When has Iron banner ever given top tier gear? I thought that's what Trials of Osiras was for?

While I can sort of feel for PvP players that feel like they HAVE to play some PvE in the form of the raid, I also think Bungie and the design of Destiny has pretty clearly put the Raid as THE pennicle of the Destiny experience.

It usually took two or three IBs for the gear level to get even close to max level.

It has been and still is nonsense to force PvP players into the raids (and hard mode raids) in order to earn gear which in necessary to remain competitive at the highest levels of PvP.

If no PVP activity gives rewards with light levels that high, why are they necessary to remain competitive?

What you're saying is that PVPers who don't raid should be able to remain competitive with PVPers who do raid, but without raiding.

Why should that be so?

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It has been and still is nonsense to force PvP players into the raids (and hard mode raids) in order to earn gear which in necessary to remain competitive at the highest levels of PvP.

If no PVP activity gives rewards with light levels that high, why are they necessary to remain competitive?

What you're saying is that PVPers who don't raid should be able to remain competitive with PVPers who do raid, but without raiding.

Why should that be so?

Because You should be able to progress in PvP by playing PvP.

Because You should be able to progress in PvP by playing PvP.

I'm not even a PvP player and I agree with this. I've never played Trials, but I hope Trials gear can drop at 310. Heck, I'd like to see unique exotics drop exclusively in the Trials playlist.

It really does seem like PvP players get shafted when it comes to progressing. Where's their Black Spindle mission?

I'd actually be interested in knowing how many folks only play PvE because they're forced to in order to get new gear. It's brought up in a lot of conversations that a majority of players in they typical shooter never finish the campaign, so how many players have given up on Destiny altogether because they aren't able to only play PvP?

While I will say that the rewards are sparse, they are not insignificant. Every item I was interested in (minus the pulse rifle) dropped for me while playing. Certainly better than having to grind for glimmer to buy everything he's selling. I know that other guns aren't dropping like that, but the fact that the stuff he's selling is dropping is really cool.

Also, for those complaining about the 280 level... It has never been about the perks of the gear for me (I think there was one IB event where it dropped max level gear) It has always been about the aesthetics for me. If there was a good looking piece of armor, I loved wearing it. Now we even have the opportunity to level it up. Before, it was stuck. These are good things. Get it because you like it, not because it'll complete your perfect build.

As they should.

Trials gives gear on par with hardmode. As it should.

But this IB gives gear on par with faction vendors. Laaaaaame.

Because You should be able to progress in PvP by playing PvP.

I'm not even a PvP player and I agree with this. I've never played Trials, but I hope Trials gear can drop at 310. Heck, I'd like to see unique exotics drop exclusively in the Trials playlist.

It really does seem like PvP players get shafted when it comes to progressing. Where's their Black Spindle mission?

While I agree that PvP progression is fairly anemic in Destiny, we do have a "black spindle" mission:
It's called The Chaperone

I'd actually be interested in knowing how many folks only play PvE because they're forced to in order to get new gear. It's brought up in a lot of conversations that a majority of players in they typical shooter never finish the campaign, so how many players have given up on Destiny altogether because they aren't able to only play PvP?

The main things I like doing are: PvP, patrol and the occasional strike. I also really enjoy the first pass through a raid. But I don't enjoy the seemingly endless raid grind just to get the high light gear in order to be competitive in high-end PvP.

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could be a neat solution. Still think IB should just drop higher gear and more often, but heh, when has Bungie done the logical thing thus far?

It's not about the logic, it's totally logical for stretching out the play time. They wouldn't say that, but if they really believe a bunch of people are necessary for the game to be what it is (although some of us don't), then they need people to play for as long as possible.

Because You should be able to progress in PvP by playing PvP.

I'm not even a PvP player and I agree with this. I've never played Trials, but I hope Trials gear can drop at 310. Heck, I'd like to see unique exotics drop exclusively in the Trials playlist.

It really does seem like PvP players get shafted when it comes to progressing. Where's their Black Spindle mission?

Trials adept weapons should be 320. I'm hoping that's what adept means this time around, rather than elemental.

Looking at the data-mining from destinydb, the adept weapons have slightly higher base stats than their non-adept versions.

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