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What makes a magic item interesting?
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<blockquote data-quote="mlund" data-source="post: 4813689" data-attributes="member: 50304"><p>The problem with an Magic Item that isn't Useful, first and foremost, is that it doesn't properly register as "Magic Item Treasure," in terms of its value to a player. Instead it is falls into one of the following categories: gag, macguffin, cash, or trash.</p><p></p><p>So here is the deal. Build a <strong>useful</strong> Magic Item. Then modify it so as to give it uniqueness without compromising the usefulness. That way the item gets some show time to make a lasting impression.</p><p></p><p>A quick gag or a unique quirk are great to start an infatuation with an item, but it won't list through the long haul. For a Magic Item to truly <strong>hold</strong> interest it needs to be, helping out in a meaningful way with the daily adventuring grind. That's a Magic Item a player can love as opposed to flirt with and then dump soon after.</p><p></p><p>That's not to say that one-shot type <strong>objects</strong> can't serve an important role and capture a lot of attention for a while. Likewise a MacGuffin can be a great narrative focal point. It is just that items of that type don't really qualify as "Magic Item Treasure," of the type players like to equip their characters with.</p><p></p><p>- Marty Lund</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="mlund, post: 4813689, member: 50304"] The problem with an Magic Item that isn't Useful, first and foremost, is that it doesn't properly register as "Magic Item Treasure," in terms of its value to a player. Instead it is falls into one of the following categories: gag, macguffin, cash, or trash. So here is the deal. Build a [b]useful[/b] Magic Item. Then modify it so as to give it uniqueness without compromising the usefulness. That way the item gets some show time to make a lasting impression. A quick gag or a unique quirk are great to start an infatuation with an item, but it won't list through the long haul. For a Magic Item to truly [b]hold[/b] interest it needs to be, helping out in a meaningful way with the daily adventuring grind. That's a Magic Item a player can love as opposed to flirt with and then dump soon after. That's not to say that one-shot type [b]objects[/b] can't serve an important role and capture a lot of attention for a while. Likewise a MacGuffin can be a great narrative focal point. It is just that items of that type don't really qualify as "Magic Item Treasure," of the type players like to equip their characters with. - Marty Lund [/QUOTE]
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