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Raid Gear vs Crafted Gear
Khalathwyr
Member UncommonPosts: 3,133
For those that lamented tha raiding will take over the game as only the best gear will come from it, well, read.
Sprite - *Kalatir* Do you plan on keeping crafted items up to speed with droppable items? Will the craft system have real, permanent rewards, unlike many other MMO's that eventually make items drop that far surpass any that can be crafted by hard-won professions in the game.
Mithril_Miser - We've made a long-term committment to ensure that crafters will keep up with loot-dropped items.
Mithril_Miser - Even today, some of the high-level one-shot recipes create some items that Avon describes as "hella busted good."
Avon - oops. did i say that?
Mithril_Miser - He did!
Avon - doh!
LOTRO_Patience - ...and they all heard it. 
Mithril_Miser - We've been tweaking crafted items for the better all through beta, and I expect that to continue.
http://www.stratics.com/content/portals/me/content/hoclog/hoc6.php
As I've said before, raiding in this game will be for story(lore) or just because you want to. It won't be necessary for top end gear. You will also have a very, very small chance to get that same level gear soloing and a better chance from normal (6 person) grouping. 
"Many nights, my friend... Many nights I've put a blade to your throat while you were sleeping. Glad I never killed you, Steve. You're alright..."
Chavez y Chavez
Comments
I think they just nerfed the level 50 one shot recipes the last patch as well. Haven't gotten my hands on any myself, but I thought someone mentioned that the DPS on them was decreased.