greg kaye
Explorer
Why would you take identify other than to check if items have curses?
Why would others bother to make items with curses?
In regard to the first case I think that, within a context like a session zero, it would be fair for a forming character to make an arcana check to evaluate the prevalence of cursed items and similar within a gaming world (but it may also be fair to say that general prevalence in a world may not be the same as prevalence on a particular adventure).
In regard to the second case:
perhaps what might be latterly regarded as minor "curses" were item "features" that were purposefully intended to cater to the particular preferences of the original recipient of the item;
perhaps a creator just had a bent for chaos or evil:
or perhaps items were created for the likes of traders who were trying to care for business.
So a shopkeep has magic item/s. Perhaps the item/s are kept behind a thick stone wall, in a heavy metal box or in a lighter one made of lead or perhaps they're buried. But what does the shopkeep do if they don't want to lose those potential customers (that casts Detect Magic and walk around town looking for valuables) but they still want to keep an eye both on security and related business opportunities? Perhaps they invest in cursed items.
Perhaps the items may have a base enchantment of Nystul's Magic Aura but then all manner of potentially conditional curses might also be applied. Perhaps the shopkeep or their cooperative acquaintance can cast locate object (a 2nd-level Bard, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Ranger, or Wizard spell) and has become sufficiently familiar with the item. Perhaps a means to access Remove Curse (a 3rd-level Cleric, Paladin, Warlock, or Wizard spell) has also been sourced.
In these cases like these, who knows, perhaps having items stolen might even become more profitable than by selling them.
What are the types of items that shopkeeps might have produced?
Why would others bother to make items with curses?
In regard to the first case I think that, within a context like a session zero, it would be fair for a forming character to make an arcana check to evaluate the prevalence of cursed items and similar within a gaming world (but it may also be fair to say that general prevalence in a world may not be the same as prevalence on a particular adventure).
In regard to the second case:
perhaps what might be latterly regarded as minor "curses" were item "features" that were purposefully intended to cater to the particular preferences of the original recipient of the item;
perhaps a creator just had a bent for chaos or evil:
or perhaps items were created for the likes of traders who were trying to care for business.
So a shopkeep has magic item/s. Perhaps the item/s are kept behind a thick stone wall, in a heavy metal box or in a lighter one made of lead or perhaps they're buried. But what does the shopkeep do if they don't want to lose those potential customers (that casts Detect Magic and walk around town looking for valuables) but they still want to keep an eye both on security and related business opportunities? Perhaps they invest in cursed items.
Perhaps the items may have a base enchantment of Nystul's Magic Aura but then all manner of potentially conditional curses might also be applied. Perhaps the shopkeep or their cooperative acquaintance can cast locate object (a 2nd-level Bard, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Ranger, or Wizard spell) and has become sufficiently familiar with the item. Perhaps a means to access Remove Curse (a 3rd-level Cleric, Paladin, Warlock, or Wizard spell) has also been sourced.
In these cases like these, who knows, perhaps having items stolen might even become more profitable than by selling them.
What are the types of items that shopkeeps might have produced?