Accursed URs
How many builds are going to run enough Accursed to (assumedly**) get around Will save penalty? How many won't run enough but will run at least one? There are builds that particularly want STR, DEX, and CON - builds that do thrown weapons. A lot of builds care much more about one or two of the physical attributes. But, then, someone with few to zero URs gains vastly more than someone who already has UR+ in these slots.
** Can we get set bonuses written in one place for all 2026 tokens?
Girdle of Stone Giant Strength seems to get a lot of grief when it's at the appropriate numbers level given precedent. Sure, Belt of the Brave is UR power level, and it shouldn't be. But, it got made, and it's not necessary to have one data point establish a new benchmark.
Belt of the Accursed without the set bonus is arguably between Stone Giant and Frost Giant. Add in that there's a way to counter its disad, which has some value, and I'd make Belt worse.
Now, should worse be +4 STR or -2 Will save?
A relic earcuff that gives CON exists, and it only gives +2 CON, though it has three abilities. If earcuff had no drawback, I'd often run it over a relic. I'd maybe say it's more of a toss up at -1 Will save, so to be UR level, I'd go with -2 Will save.
Cloak is mostly new ground. At +5 DEX, think it should be -2 Will save. Keep in mind that there's precedent for an UR giving -2 Will save. In fact, the only UR that only gives a Will penalty that I can find is -2.
Coming from different direction, would I ever use belt, cloak, or earcuff on their own at -2? There's enough nuance here that I don't think anyone wants to hear all of the factors that go into why, but I wouldn't run belt by itself because I own both Frost Giant and Surtr's, I would run cloak because I have a penchant for DEX, and I'd run earcuff because I have a penchant for CON, though there are pretty close substitutes in ear and back where ear gives slot expander that can get you CON or CONlike effects and back can be subbed backwards with charm.
I think Belt can get away with not being too much with -2 Will save, cloak not too much with -2 Will save, earcuff not too much with -2 Will save. I think a set bonus that removes Will save penalties or removes only Will save penalties for Accursed set is not absurd if it counters large penalties that are self-inflicted.
If I were at the point I was before I started accumulating legendaries, I'd be really interested in the Accursed URs even with -2 Will save in certain builds and would strive for having enough to get the set bonus. Make the penalty too small and the set bonus isn't as valuable, which means less incentive for someone to get more URs.
Hat of Critical Thinking
I think latest version is way too much like Cranston's. Cranston's is also an overpowered UR.
Putting aside that I don't see a need for it to remove Sneak immunity, it doesn't bother me if a player has to mention to a DM that they are using the hat. For one thing, they need to mention it, anyway, to crit things that cannot normally be critted. For another, if a player doesn't mention that they get a bonus to damage on crits, then that's the player's fault rather than a DM failing. So, I was more sanguine on the old ability.
But, if really don't want to do old ability, instead of giving damage bonus a la Cranston's, can still tie into crits by having wearer heal damage whenever they crit. For instance:
"Heal 5hp each crit & attacks ignore Crit/Sneak immunities"
The other possibility is something like:
"+3 INT & attacks ignore Crit/Sneak immunities"
It's kind of important to make INT matter as there are already tokens that increase it.
Ioun Stone Moonstone Orb
Do players want even more Retribution given how much Retribution there is now available in the game? If so, I'd go with no more than +5 Retribution with whatever bonus for Accursed. Actually, if this was the old days, this would probably only give Retribution against Accursed as tokens were more narrow in use back in the day.
If there's a point of too much Retribution, can we just get a regen IS, which we almost had before, and which fits thematically both were creatures and vampires really, really well?
None of the other stuff individually bothers me at the UR level, though I think there should be more discussion on the Triad bonus as I think there are more elegant benefits than what was written a lot of UR iterations ago.
