Tipping point

There's a point at which balance shifts - the tipping point - and it applies equally to the loot obtained from dungeons. Last night saw us venturing into Drak'Tharon Keep, a 74-76 dungeon on the border of Grizzly Hills and Zul'Drak, and Andro's gear "tip" considerably. Between quest rewards and loot drops I picked up six items that may well replace outland epics, and a run through the arena quest chain in Zul'Drak netted me a staff that, when enchanted, will certainly replace my current dagger-offhand combo (for a while at least).

The loot was:

[Robes of Novus] (replacing [Tormented Demonsoul Robes] which was Shattered Sun badge loot) - a drop from Novos. The switch from crit to haste (-50 crit but +53 haste) will be interesting (as will the loss of 8 points of spellpower) but it adds 23 int (which is worth 345 mana and about 0.25% crit)

[Crystal Pendant of Warding] (replacing [Shattered Sun Pendant of Acumen] which was a Shattered Sun item) - a drop from Novos. A debateable switch - +17 int and +9 stamina, but 7 less spelldamage (and no arcane zap)

[Stable Master's Breeches] (replacing[Legwraps of Sweltering Flame] which was Shattered Sun badge loot) - a drop from King Dred. Again, less spelldamage (-8) but a bucketload of stats (+15 stam, +25 int, +22spi). The legwraps still have the edge in boss fights though due to their hit rating (25).

[Kurzel's Angst ] (replacing [Violet Signet of the Archmage] from Kara) - a quest reward. A +10 gain in spellpower and stats (+4 sta, +10 int), but a loss of crit (-17) though there's the addition of 10mp5.

[ Shroud of Temptation] (replacing [Reinforced Velvet Helm] which I'd acquired from Prince Keleseth in UK) - a quest reward. A slight reduction in stamina (-3) and int (-3), but 18 more spellpower and 16 more spirit.

[Shameful cuffs] (replacing [Fury of the Ursine] from Zul Aman) - a quest reward. +11 spellpower (and +15 stamina and +17 int) but -16 spirit and -17 crit. Again, there's the addition of 10mp5

[Chilly Slobberknocker] (replacing [Merciless Gladiator's Spellblade] and [Fetish of the Primal Gods] which were Season 2 and badge rewards respectively) - a quest reward from The Champion of Anguish. The one clear-cut "pure gain" item (+15 stamina, +27 int, +35 hit, +30 haste, +19 spelldamage)

In essence, there's some choices to make: spelldamage or int? Int or crit ... if I used them all  believe that'd leave me with four Outland epics (boots, trinket, wand and ring) though I'm in two minds on some of them. Decisions, decisions ...