Upgrade(quest?): Wolfpack's animal hide

[Kasi]

I was playing a new build and decided to try the wolf den just south of Falhaven. I remembered armor dropped there but forgot it's stats. I beat the dungeon with a mild challenge at level 15 so expected the loot to be useful but was dissapointed to find the armor was terrible compared to the Hardened Leather Shirt I already had bought from the general shop. So after this experience I thought it might be a good early game opportunity for improvment.

First the stats:

Wolfpack's animal hide
Lowers AC -15, Increases BC +2, Increases DR +1
Cost: Defeat Boss

Hardened leather shirt
Increases BC +5, Increases DR +1
Cost: 1876g

The idea would be to make this boss loot better than the shop item. I think the simplest way to achieve this would be a "tailoring" type quest to have it fitted to the character and this way the original item does not require modification. To make it interesting perhaps a choice of two or three variations can be added? Crit chance, more AC or more BC for example.

[Nut]

The wolfspack hide is really bad as armour.
It could be enhanced (technically the item would be exchanged).
The enhancement shouldn't be too much so that the item would become an outstanding must-have. But a wolfs hide certainly looks cool and would be used for role play aspects, if it'd be less bad.

I have in mind to create a quest involving wolves where you get their acceptance while wearing the hide. (The quest must be solvable also without the hide, because the player might have sold it). Then the hide would get some use beside a trophy.
I never got it done yet though.

What do you have in mind as quest?

[Antison]

Not every item needs to be great and a boss drop doesn't have to be better than a merchant item.
This particular item is one of those nostalgic pieces from the original version of the game and I would find it difficult to see it changed. After all, you just killed a bunch of innocent wolves and canines, why should you be rewarded?

Nut's idea however, is a really good one that we've discussed internally in the past and I think would be a good idea to see it come to fruition.

[Kasi]

The wolfspack hide is really bad as armour.
It could be enhanced (technically the item would be exchanged).
The enhancement shouldn't be too much so that the item would become an outstanding must-have. But a wolfs hide certainly looks cool and would be used for role play aspects, if it'd be less bad.

I have in mind to create a quest involving wolves where you get their acceptance while wearing the hide. (The quest must be solvable also without the hide, because the player might have sold it). Then the hide would get some use beside a trophy.
I never got it done yet though.

What do you have in mind as quest?

I like the idea of it being a key item for a special quest outcome! The armor just feels... significant for some reason, especially for new players i imagine.

[Kasi]

Not every item needs to be great and a boss drop doesn't have to be better than a merchant item.
This particular item is one of those nostalgic pieces from the original version of the game and I would find it difficult to see it changed. After all, you just killed a bunch of innocent wolves and canines, why should you be rewarded?

Nut's idea however, is a really good one that we've discussed internally in the past and I think would be a good idea to see it come to fruition.

I'm also onboard with Nuts idea and like you said it would preserve the nostalgic trophy item. It also sounds like a unique quest where holding(or wearing?) a item opens up a sort of easter egg quest path.

I agree that the wolves are innocent but are very close to human settlements and are large enough carnivores to merit a culling lol

However, it seems that the area is missing flavor. There really is no reason to go there in the first place so I agree that a great reward cant be expected.