Yeah cheating to simulate conditions of the circumstance got it.
Well my strength actually is higher than when i was 17th lvl. I am on the game now and the 17th lvl claymore is 193-312 slashing and 58-93 tenebrium.
The 18th lvl claymore is 185-299 slashing and 55-89 tenebrium.
Otherwise they are identical in the non damage related stats.
Yes its minor but seems wrong, or that i am doing something wrong which i would think is more likely, but i want to eliminate luck as the deciding factor of which is better, the loot i find or the loot i make, and if iam going to the effort of researching it and making it i want it to be the best possible.
Thanks gentleman.