PC How to mod item quality levels?

[Euzio]

Casual player here.

Prior to A17, I've always altered the starting item quality levels for crafting, looting and such to be more advanced. That is to say instead of crafting like Level 1 (grey) stone axe, I'd start off instead with crafting a Level 2 (orange) stone axe instead.

Now though, after a hiatus, I've decided to give A17 a try. However, in going through the XML files, I've noticed that things seem to be very different now. I'm unsure of what exactly to look for. So my question is, if I wish to mod the starting crafting, loot and even what the traders offer, which line do I look for?

 

[Gamida]

Level just changes durability now on tools.

 

[Euzio]

Level just changes durability now on tools.

Oh? Does that mean a level 1 axe will do the same amount of damage as say a level 4 axe now? The perks dictate the damage done instead?

 

[Gamida]

Well from what I have read yes. They both do same damage but the higher level one lets you get more hits before you have to repair it.

I think there is a mod or 2 out there though where higher level ones do more damage and give back more resources.

 

[Euzio]

I see. Thanks for the info! I'll probably leave it as it is then. Overall, if I wanted to make the progression faster, it seems all I have to do is tweak the amount of points available for use per level.

 

[unholyjoe]

Gamida is correct (for a17)... a18 will be different (you can see hints to this in the devs diary for a18 discussions.)

Spoiler

 

[Gamida]

unholyjoe, I notice it says "damage against". Can you say or not that it also means the amount you get from the resource goes up also. So if say an axe does 15% more damage to wood you get 15% more wood with each hit? Or is that what means anyway by damage.

To me now in A17 it seems that miner 69'er does more damage with each level but that means you destroy the resource faster but get less of the resource back because of it.

 

[Euzio]

unholyjoe, I notice it says "damage against". Can you say or not that it also means the amount you get from the resource goes up also. So if say an axe does 15% more damage to wood you get 15% more wood with each hit? Or is that what means anyway by damage.To me now in A17 it seems that miner 69'er does more damage with each level but that means you destroy the resource faster but get less of the resource back because of it.

Yeah its gotten me a little confused when looking at the perks. Miner69er does more damage per block but doesn't run contradictory to the Mother Lode perk? The idea is you want more resources each time you damage the block but because the harvest amount and block damage amount is split now, it seems like its better to simply get points in Mother Lode and skiper Miner69er totally.

 

[Gamida]

Yeah its gotten me a little confused when looking at the perks. Miner69er does more damage per block but doesn't run contradictory to the Mother Lode perk? The idea is you want more resources each time you damage the block but because the harvest amount and block damage amount is split now, it seems like its better to simply get points in Mother Lode and skiper Miner69er totally.

Which is what I do. Earlier alphas I would go for miner 69'er right from the start. Now I max out Mother Lode and put 0 points into Miner 69'er.