Set Items

another improvement for future expansions could be to implement Set Items which can be either collected from Collectors in the game or through monster drops............after the completion of the Set you would gain special attributes

Just like other games such as Diablo2, WOW etc

hmmm i like sets... perhaps sets that look cool but no bonus. Why? Coz the point of this game is that at level 20 we are all equal in strength but not skill; so that would mean you either have the set stupidly easy to find so everyone in your class gets that bonus, or have no bonus at all.

But in saying that ask the question Is it really Possible for everyone to be equal after level20? The Answer is No

Reasons
Skills Obtained
Weapons Upgrade
Weapons Used
Armour Used
Runes Used

So adding Set Items with special attributes would not unbalance the game since IT"S IMPOSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE TO BE EQUAL

I've never understood the idea of set items, it is exactly the same as gaining the specific items you already are looking for, except for now you have one that is weaker until you get others, so essentially they are replacements only when their overall stats are better than current in specific areas, so for many of us, they are useless sell items.

As for imbalances, many of those are actually quite varying, a person can have greater armor, greater runes, upgrades, weapons, and an elite skill, a well practiced and outfitted person can kill them, granted it may be a bit harder. It has sort of come down to that problem, I enjoyed defeating that bone dragon in the original ascalon mission after traveling way into the mountains, was my first look at griffons and giants too, as well as the beastmasters and dwarves. Then, we all got our rune for it.

That is where the imbalance comes, is that they've merely not made proper rewarding, it is randomized. I don't care about getting superior soul reaping, or major smiting prayers, nor do I want to still have found no major vigor by the time I've "beaten" the game.

True rewards for quests and mission competion, with selection, need to be created to be facilitate the arrival of this tier for people, else we will fall prey to equipment for survival, a lesser degree granted but there all the same.

yes, because
Skills: Limited amount. Get them all.
Weapons Upgrades: there are only a limited amount of upgrades. And they are not amazing; you can lose health for a larger max, you can lose energy regen to gain energy each hit, you can gain dmg % against certain types of foe... a couple more maybe
Weapons Used: There are max damages on weapons
Armour Used: At level 20 *and* ascended everyone has access to the best armour for their type. And seems most go for the same, i.e. most rangers take Druids Armour coz of the extra energy
Runes Used: Ok well these add like +1 to something, or +5 if you want to lose a large part of your health.

Now dont get me wrong, I'm a mad freak when it comes to sets; in Sacred, a similar game to D2, sets ARE weaker than if you use all unique items, but i like to have a set and so always wear sets. And in D2 I love to see that green name.

After looking back at your argument now, sets *may* fit in here if you make it so they have, say +1 marksmanship but can't add runes to them. But then again you never just find armour lying around in this game. So you would have to go the collector route I guess. Unless you went for a weapon/shield combo or something *shrugs*