Standard DM behavior?

[Ariosto]

Being a big damn hero is what our games are often about. ... what we'd rather be doing is harrying the dark forces of the Lich King, before finally smiting his ruin upon the grave menhir of his tainted necropolis.

It's not a choice between harrying and smiting on one hand and something else on the other. It's not a choice between getting magical gewgaws on one hand and not getting them on the other.

It's a choice between wresting the Magic Sword from the Dark Lord's minions on one hand -- and simply popping into Plot Devices Shack with a sack of gems wrested from said minions on the other.

 

[Nifft]

It's not a choice between harrying and smiting on one hand and something else on the other. It's not a choice between getting magical gewgaws on one hand and not getting them on the other.

It's a choice between wresting the Magic Sword from the Dark Lord's minions on one hand -- and simply popping into Plot Devices Shack with a sack of gems wrested from said minions on the other.

So in your opinion, monetary wealth should be useless for adventurers?

Magic items have always had prices. I'll give you three guesses why.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Ariosto]

You just equated any non-quest magic item acquisition with pig farming.

I did not. I observed that there's nothing in D&D or D-Day particularly concerned with staying at home and raising pigs. That's just not what fighters, magic-users, Sea Bees or paratroopers are all about in those games.

So in your opinion, monetary wealth should be useless for adventurers?

What's with all this obviously absurd baiting? Of course that's not my opinion; not only have I not suggested it, but I have stated just the opposite.

 

[Nifft]

I did not. I observed that there's nothing in D&D or D-Day particularly concerned with staying at home and raising pigs. That's just not what fighters, magic-users, Sea Bees or paratroopers are all about in those games.

... so your pig-farming thing had nothing to do with the discussion of buying magic items?

I'm a bit lost as to what your point is. If those who equip paratroopers refused to buy ammo, and instead forced the troopers to rely on whatever ammo they found during their mission, they'd be doing their men a disservice.

All combatants need equipment to function efficiently. In D&D, that equipment is magic items.

-- N

 

[Nifft]

What's with all this obviously absurd baiting? Of course that's not my opinion; not only have I not suggested it, but I have stated just the opposite.

I'm just trying to figure out what your point is.

If you don't allow PCs to use material wealth to buy magic items, what good is it? Magic items are the main tools PCs use.

-- N

 

[Hunter In Darkness]

The whole I-can-buy-any-item-in-the-books is (as far as I am concerned) an abomination introduced with the previous edition. In my games, no matter the edition, this is never allowed.

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+1 I never allow this. It was a bad ideal then, it's a bad ideal now. When my groups find that +3 spear they damned well keep it. No telling how hard it will be to find a magic item in citys or towns

 

[Halivar]

If you don't allow PCs to use material wealth to buy magic items, what good is it? Magic items are the main tools PCs use.

I can only speak for my own campaign and the campaign I play in. While the cash flow is a bit leaner than standard (in my game, very lean), I find that what wealth players do get is used on rituals, gifts to NPC's as payment/bribery, and buying soon-to-be-dead horses (those things are expensive!).

I like the idea that metropolises have +1 weapons for markup, but anything hire must be found or quested for, or someone must be able to craft it.

 

[Hunter In Darkness]

Any how to the OP, limiting items , spells, class or feats or anything else you can have is very, very common. Like others I would talk to your GM it seems to me you guys are not on the same page

 

[Nifft]

I like the idea that metropolises have +1 weapons for markup, but anything hire must be found or quested for, or someone must be able to craft it.

That works absolutely fine in 4e -- but that's because using wealth for the Enchant Item ritual is functionally identical to shopping: you put in gold, you get out exactly the magic loot you want.

It's a flavor change rather than a mechanics change. (Oh, and someone has to take the Enchant Item ritual. But that's not necessarily a huge roadblock.)

Cheers, -- N

 

[Dausuul]

I'm just trying to figure out what your point is.

If you don't allow PCs to use material wealth to buy magic items, what good is it? Magic items are the main tools PCs use.

-- N

Ritual components come to mind. Also bribes in social encounters. And even basic necessities depending on circumstances - if the PCs don't have to buy magic items, then they don't need the absurd quantities of cash that standard 4E hands out at high levels.