Well, don't get me wrong Doug. I'm not saying all magical items should be like artefacts, or artefact level. I'm just saying most all magical items and other magical effects could be far more interesting than just a +1 item.
Let me give you an example.
I gave some of my players a crystal lens which when looked through changes their vision. That's all it does. Just changes how they see things. But for one person, because of his class and nature, he can see magical dwoemers around objects (if they have one). For another it lets him read foreign scripts. For another it apparently does nothing (in truth he just hasn't noticed what it does for him yet). For my daughter it allows her to see things as they truly are. For another guy it lets him see things in the ultraviolet spectrum. For the last character it lets her see in darkness as if in bright moonlight (like nightvision).
The object has no great power in and of itself, but it has a different power for most every person according to their character and nature and capabilities and race. It focuses the way they see the world and creates a new kind of vision for that individual.
You don't necessarily have to make everything superman level powerful, or do thirty amazing things. Sometimes just one thing done differently, or suited to the personality of the character or player makes a thing real interesting, and that's what I mean about the difference between magic and technology. You make a high powered telescope and it lets you see things far way. Make a high powered magical telescope and it may let you see things far way, or even over the horizon, or through time. That's the kind of magic I'm talking about. Not limited to single functions like technology, but adaptable to user and circumstance.
As a matter of fact I think the very
"best magic" arises from an interplay between item or spell or situation and individual user.
How about an item that has different powers at night than it does during the day?
That's a real interesting and useful idea that I think I'm gonna steal mate.
Thanks for that one because it's a keeper. Especially with certain items and in certain circumstances.
Well, I gotta go. Taking my kids swimming and then attending a graduation ceremony this evening.
Later.