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Item of Infinite Magic Missiles?
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<blockquote data-quote="Celebrim" data-source="post: 6025031" data-attributes="member: 4937"><p>And well you should be. I learned this lesson as a 9th grade DM when I decided that 1e cantrips were minor enough to be allowed as at will spells. It wasn't so much that I was wrong, as the fact that since casting the spell had no obvious cost it totally derailed sessions as players set around casting the spells every round and in every situation. I vowed never again.</p><p></p><p>I don't think there is good precendent for introducing a use activated device that casts instantaneous effect spells.</p><p></p><p>However, magic missile is about as safe as a spell can be if you want to have a one-off infinite use item. It has no economic value (other than as a helpful device for a rat catcher). It doesn't effect objects (so no using it to tunnel through walls). It has no utility other than replacing an attack action, and is roughly balanced with the actions available to other classes - that is, at 1st level a fighter ought to average above 3.5 damage per round (say, average 7 damage hitting roughly half the time) and a 10th level fighter or rogue ought to average at or above 17.5 damage per round. If for some reason they don't, you'll want to reprice the item to make it less attractive or consider examining your rules for martial classes. In particular, consider what the item would do to the parties average damage per round if everyone in the party had one. If that would significantly up the parties average damage output, its probably something you want to be really careful about.</p><p></p><p>The main things I'd want to watch for is that the device is not obviously more attractive than a wand. In particular, I'd want to avoid the 'push button fireball shooter' effect, that ends up turning your game from a fantasy feel to a sci-fi feel (in magical costume). I'd want to limit the item to people who can cast the spell or have sufficient use magical device skill. Unless you want players running around with blasters and light sabers, be careful about introducing them into your game.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Celebrim, post: 6025031, member: 4937"] And well you should be. I learned this lesson as a 9th grade DM when I decided that 1e cantrips were minor enough to be allowed as at will spells. It wasn't so much that I was wrong, as the fact that since casting the spell had no obvious cost it totally derailed sessions as players set around casting the spells every round and in every situation. I vowed never again. I don't think there is good precendent for introducing a use activated device that casts instantaneous effect spells. However, magic missile is about as safe as a spell can be if you want to have a one-off infinite use item. It has no economic value (other than as a helpful device for a rat catcher). It doesn't effect objects (so no using it to tunnel through walls). It has no utility other than replacing an attack action, and is roughly balanced with the actions available to other classes - that is, at 1st level a fighter ought to average above 3.5 damage per round (say, average 7 damage hitting roughly half the time) and a 10th level fighter or rogue ought to average at or above 17.5 damage per round. If for some reason they don't, you'll want to reprice the item to make it less attractive or consider examining your rules for martial classes. In particular, consider what the item would do to the parties average damage per round if everyone in the party had one. If that would significantly up the parties average damage output, its probably something you want to be really careful about. The main things I'd want to watch for is that the device is not obviously more attractive than a wand. In particular, I'd want to avoid the 'push button fireball shooter' effect, that ends up turning your game from a fantasy feel to a sci-fi feel (in magical costume). I'd want to limit the item to people who can cast the spell or have sufficient use magical device skill. Unless you want players running around with blasters and light sabers, be careful about introducing them into your game. [/QUOTE]
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