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Complex underpowered magic items in Magic Item Compendium
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<blockquote data-quote="Friendless" data-source="post: 3526018" data-attributes="member: 52177"><p>I bought the Magic Item Compendium on Saturday and I'm busily reading through it. There are some very interesting ideas, but there are a vast number of items I'd never use because:</p><p></p><p>1. their powers are too restrictive</p><p>2. they have too many powers</p><p>3. they're recommended for levels that wouldn't even want them</p><p></p><p></p><p>Now I'm going to totally make up an example here because if my boss comes along and sees me with a roleplaying manual on my desk I'm going to be in trouble. But there are many items with powers like this:</p><p></p><p>SWORD OF STABBING</p><p></p><p>This is a +1 long sword which allows the user to make sneak attacks on oozes, slimes, constructs and undead. The device has 3 charges which replenish at dawn each day. For the expenditure of 1 charge the wielder may turn invisible for 1 round. For the expenditure of 2 charges the wielder turns invisible and receives +5 on Move Silently and Hide checks. For the expenditure of 3 charges the user receives the affects for 2 charges and additionally is Blessed.</p><p></p><p>Cost 15000gp, 11th level</p><p></p><p>If you read the book you'll recognise the sort of thing I mean. My gripes are:</p><p> * too many powers - what about just a +1 sword that gives you +2 on Move Silently with no charges at all - if I had 5 similar items I'd never remember all the things all my items did</p><p> * too obscure powers - yes it would be nice to be able to backstab slimes and oozes, but is it worth keeping a sword just for that? I'd rather dump this sword for something that gives me a bonus all the time</p><p> * 11th level? What 11th level character will want to use a +1 sword because of an obscure power like that?</p><p></p><p>I read the authors' justifications for the item levels (half the value of the amount of treasure you'd be expected to receive while you were in that level) and it makes sense, but the item level system just doesn't feel right to me. No +2 weapons till 9th level seems very harsh.</p><p></p><p>Finally, unless I misunderstand, the augment crystals seem to be extremely good value compared to the basic items. </p><p></p><p>I'm a fairly novice DM (this time round) and I wonder whether my opinions on magic items are way off the mark, or is this a symptom of anti-munchkining gone too far?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Friendless, post: 3526018, member: 52177"] I bought the Magic Item Compendium on Saturday and I'm busily reading through it. There are some very interesting ideas, but there are a vast number of items I'd never use because: 1. their powers are too restrictive 2. they have too many powers 3. they're recommended for levels that wouldn't even want them Now I'm going to totally make up an example here because if my boss comes along and sees me with a roleplaying manual on my desk I'm going to be in trouble. But there are many items with powers like this: SWORD OF STABBING This is a +1 long sword which allows the user to make sneak attacks on oozes, slimes, constructs and undead. The device has 3 charges which replenish at dawn each day. For the expenditure of 1 charge the wielder may turn invisible for 1 round. For the expenditure of 2 charges the wielder turns invisible and receives +5 on Move Silently and Hide checks. For the expenditure of 3 charges the user receives the affects for 2 charges and additionally is Blessed. Cost 15000gp, 11th level If you read the book you'll recognise the sort of thing I mean. My gripes are: * too many powers - what about just a +1 sword that gives you +2 on Move Silently with no charges at all - if I had 5 similar items I'd never remember all the things all my items did * too obscure powers - yes it would be nice to be able to backstab slimes and oozes, but is it worth keeping a sword just for that? I'd rather dump this sword for something that gives me a bonus all the time * 11th level? What 11th level character will want to use a +1 sword because of an obscure power like that? I read the authors' justifications for the item levels (half the value of the amount of treasure you'd be expected to receive while you were in that level) and it makes sense, but the item level system just doesn't feel right to me. No +2 weapons till 9th level seems very harsh. Finally, unless I misunderstand, the augment crystals seem to be extremely good value compared to the basic items. I'm a fairly novice DM (this time round) and I wonder whether my opinions on magic items are way off the mark, or is this a symptom of anti-munchkining gone too far? [/QUOTE]
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