The gem portions of the metal enchanting is removed with Velious. This is a really, really big deal for cultural smithing for a lot of peeps. Unfortunately it means you gotta wait for the server to enter that era, but hey. It is getting closer every day, and once it's here you're in business.
I personally leveled up a little dwarf cleric and capped 175 skill off of banded armor solely for the Imbued chain armors that can be made. Just the Brell chain armor offers a slightly higher AC over Fineplate, +3 / +4 str / sta bonuses, fire resists, AND can be worn by rogues. The overall fighting stats + AC are flat out better than either Ry'gorr or Crustacian shell which will be floating around in auctions, and the imbued armor will be easy as all hell to make.
Rogues are top dogs of raid DPS for Velious. Players cluing into this wanting Twinks will be a suitable market for gaining the skill.
Meanwhile, the other cultural armors (especially Ogre War Plate or human forged Rallos Zek plate) will see a resurgence of popularity just for the raw stats they provide on every slot they fit in. But for now, yeah, we gotta wait.
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