I thought there'd be more magic items in patch 8. Things specifically tailored to the bard, perhaps. There's the hat, of course, but that's the only one I know about.
It makes me wonder if they held back on the magic items because of the poor reception they got from the earlier patch items. I suspect there aren't many people using some of these items, and that their data shows as much.
Most of the items were bugged though, especially ones obtained in the Underdark and Grymforge.
The new lighting items are pretty good on Rogues though or Rangers, as they can stack those lighting charges like crazy. Rogues especially ^^
I agree that some of the items are effective. Some. Certainly not all, not by any stretch.
But in regards to the ones that are effective, I'm still not sure they're popular. Effective doesn't necessarily translate to enjoyable. I suspect there are a lot of players who understand how the items work, but don't want to use them, largely because they don't want to change up their playstyle by dashing before attacking or because they don't want to walk around with lowered hit points or just because they don't want to bother with cumbersome, conditional items of the sort that were introduced.
