D&D General Sandbox style: Rumors say a +1 sword is in a cave nearby. Go get it?

[Bill Zebub]

That's fine. You get to play how you want.

But the answer stands - I prefer the choice to be more informed by the in-fiction presentation than mechanical metagame information.



The 5% difference is below what humans can reliably notice without keeping detailed records and doing some math. Indeed, at that level, I should see more rumors of supposed magic weapons that actually aren't magical than rumors of ones that are!

ACTUALLY...

(ok, pedantry off) a +1 results in a much greater damage increase than 5%. Maybe still not noticeable without careful record keeping, and even then you might not know the difference between "it would have died anyway" and "good thing I have a magic sword or it would still be alive with 1 hp."

But it's more than 5%.

 

[Bill Zebub]

I am speaking of my own personal distaste for receiving +1 weapons in any game.

Yeah, I shy away from flat bonuses. Maybe sometimes also a +N bonus, but I like magic items with more distinctive flavor.

 

[ezo]

I think you missed my point. It is about being able to hit monsters otherwise immune to nonmagical weapons.

While a valid point this is incredibly edition dependent. In 5E there are very few creatures immune to nonmagic weapons. And many of those can be overcome with silver or adamantine if magic isn't available. Offhand, the only creature I know of in 5E which is immune with silver/adamantine issues is the Lich, but there are probably others...

I am speaking of my own personal distaste for receiving +1 weapons in any game.

I don't mind +1 weapons, but I like them to have something unique as well. Like a rogue's +1 dagger with invisbility once/day or a +1 flaming spear which can fire scorching ray X uses/day, etc. The extra features don't even have to be combat-related.

 

[KYRON45]

While a valid point this is incredibly edition dependent. In 5E there are very few creatures immune to nonmagic weapons. And many of those can be overcome with silver or adamantine if magic isn't available. Offhand, the only creature I know of in 5E which is immune with silver/adamantine issues is the Lich, but there are probably others...


I don't mind +1 weapons, but I like them to have something unique as well. Like a rogue's +1 dagger with invisbility once/day or a +1 flaming spear which can fire scorching ray X uses/day, etc. The extra features don't even have to be combat-related.

Its 5e.
We can just all hold hands and sing the monsters lullaby's. When they wake up rested and reassured, we can just ask them to be less monstery. Then we all dance around the May Poll and level up.

MIC DROP!!!!

Thank you very much....don't forget to tip your servers!!

 

[BruceWright]

Missing kid stole a +1 sword over grandpa’s fireplace mantle and went into the ruins outside town, mother distraught is a better hook.

 

[billd91]

In 5E? Meh.

In basic or AD&D or 3.0? Hell yes.

Considering 5e.2014 has lots of creatures resistant to non-magical slash/bludgeon/pierce damage, STILL worth it. It isn't until 5e.2024 where it's truly kind of meh.

 

[Lanefan]

You are fresh level 1 characters. You are playing in a sandbox style game. You have many options to explore. Caves and temples and whatever. Riches and glory and treasure no matter where you go.

One rumor says a cave full of monsters has a magic (+1) sword hidden somewhere inside. Is it worth it to you to seek out this sword? You are level 1 and have no magic items. Plus, who knows what's in the other areas to explore. It's JUST a +1 sword after all.

Would it make a difference if it was AD&D/OSR/Shadowdark etc?

Basically: Is it worth going out of the parties way to get JUST a +1 sword?

Were I running a character in that game I'd make a list of those rumours, try to determine which ones we could handle given our level and capabilities and which would have to wait, and then try to follow up on every one of 'em .

Depending what the other rumours said and-or what the apparent risks were, the +1 sword mission might end up at the start, the middle, or the end of that follow-up sequence.

 

[KYRON45]

Why won’t anyone listen to me?!?
It’s One Eyed Willie’s pirate treasure!!!

Why are we all still sitting around?!?

 

[Lanefan]

I am speaking of my own personal distaste for receiving +1 weapons in any game.

Fine. Everyone else gets the +1s, you get a +0.

 

[Lanefan]

... a +1 results in a much greater damage increase than 5%. Maybe still not noticeable without careful record keeping, and even then you might not know the difference between "it would have died anyway" and "good thing I have a magic sword or it would still be alive with 1 hp."

But it's more than 5%.

If only because you're doing that extra 5% damage 5% more often than you would with a +0.