Playing offline I have modified the Balance.txt in the way that merchants offer better items (so Bargainer is not necessary), also I can wear my favorite sets (which I have downloaded from this site). Having in mind that, how convenient would be to use sets regarding yellow items from shops?
In high level tests I noticed that the full Niokaste set at his higher level seems worse than yellow items of lower levels. I read here that Items from shop are in fact better than sets or unique ones, so first question is: that is really true?
The second is if the bonuses from the Niokaste set** may worth those huge differences (tested with no socketed items):
Niokaste level 225 Shop yellow items level 200 ~ 214
Damage: 7.330 - 8.640 7.425 - 8.750 (slightly better)
Attack: 5.575 6.527 (better)
Defense: 1.479 4.923 (much better!)
Level 212 (guardian)
Player chance to hit: 60% 64% (¿?) *
Enemy chance to hit: 70% 42% (¿?) *
* I've never understood which one of those values is ‘my’ or ‘his’ chance to hit, please someone explain it to me...
** The full set bonuses at level 225 are:
-Chance open wounds +34%
-Chance to serious wounds +20%
-Exalted Warrior focus +30
-Aspect Exalted Warrior +26