I have been reading through the loot discussions in this forum and just wanted to add my perspective here. Also adding in (as a bonus?) my perspective on the challenge difference between the two patches.

As a non-member, the puples and yellows are just vendor fodder to afford some new skills. I rarely even look at the stats on them so I cannot comment as to the value of blue loot versus various colors of member-only loot (which seemed to be the main theme in the other thread).

Pre-patch in Algernon (level range 6-12 at the time), just about everything that dropped were purples and yellows. Most of my gear was many levels behind me, usually not for my class (warrior) but was equipped anyway because it was still better than anything else I had found. A good example was that I 'upgraded' my green armor found around level 2, to grey colored armor around level 10 (I honestly had not had anything better drop), and shortly after found some blue mage armor with no real warrior stats that I equipped because it simply had more defence on it.

Pre-patch it really seemed like non-members were getting the shaft. Which I actually completely expected, it seemed as though that was how the game would convince me to pay.

Due to how easy I was finding things though, the loot was not an issue. I had basically blown through half of Algernon drinking a reasonable amount of potions along the way.

Post-patch, I ran through most of Algernon and upgraded almost everything I own. At level 16 I am still wearing some ranger armor, my shield is still from level 8, and both my rings (the only two rings I have found that I could equip) are low level as well.

This is much, much more in line with what feels like a really good balance for my cheapskate non-member status. I am not getting completely left behind in gear but rather finding just enough to keep advancing, all the while being tempted to become a member by the yellow and purple drops (which are much rarer but still seem plentiful).

When I tried to jump back into Algernon half-way I was completely demolished. Chain chugging potions couldnt even keep me alive. So I stepped back into level one and started it again, finding new equipment as the difficulty ramped back up. It wasnt until Tainted Crypts that I found myself drinking more potions than might be reasonable (not to mention the mobs down there were kiting me all over the place, which was kinda annoying).

Im not sure if a level 15 in just okay blue gear in the Tainted Crypts is supposed to do well, but thats about where the difficulty ramped up and it seems I might have to do another dungeon clear for XP and gear to advance.

As a side note, I am having a blast with the game. I intended to play it a little to test it out and report my findings to friends and guild members from another game, and maybe becoming a member if some of my friends decided to join in (as I usually play this style of game with a solid group). But I am finding plenty to enjoy solo and keep coming back for more, so its looking very likely I will become a member soon.

Just hope the game doesnt turn into too much of a grind in coming levels, I dont mind doing the dungens twice and maybe a quick run though a third time to hand in the quests, but any more than that would be a real disappointment.

Oh, and is it just me or does it seem like about 1/4th to 1/3rd of the loot is crossbows? This has been both pre and post patch.

Probably just my luck.

Pain grinding, no planned schedule for updates, deleting of some of your forum posts, no status on your concerns, no feeling of value for your creative ideas. These are things you should expect, aswell as I had to accept it, which in the end I could not, now im not a member anymore.

And Ill make sure Ill write a good review on this game and support on some sites around the net. Its disgusting to see it happend still today, even tho it have happend with many other gaming companies. If they could take your money, they would without blinking.

Yeah it was only 5 bucks so I became a member the second day I played. I couldn't stand getting all the good gear and not being able to use it.

IDK if this is off topic...and I think this happens in a lot of games, where you get eq for everything except what you are. I hardly find ANY mage eq..but I find a lot of fighter eq like swords and what not..and a lot of Ranger eq. I will have to say that out of all the weapons I get I get a Crossbow in what seems like almost every drop. They have some good stats on them..but I don't want a crossbow. I am literally get SICK of seeing crossbows. I see crossbows more then anything. If you were to walk behind me after I went through a level in a dungeon ..you would really see crossbows litering the ground EVERYWHERE. I really honestly hope they lower the percentage of crossbows drops.

wish i see that many crossbows. but i believe i see more warrior weapons...1h 2h mace, short sword, sword, clubs, hammers....<lesigh>