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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nyeshet" data-source="post: 6020325" data-attributes="member: 18363">Consider making the 9th level casters PrCs, pushing back two levels the casting of 6th level casters, and perhaps removing or also delaying the casting of 4th level casters. And you should perhaps make the Adept a PC class - albeit perhaps with the same 'magic feat every 5 levels' that the wizard gets, and with the same two level delay in casting that other 6th level casters receive (ie: the first two levels they are basically a specialized expert, such as an aristocrat but magic focused). Consider allowing Potions - or potion equivalents - at half normal frequency - and even allowing other items to replace potions. If the levels of spells are raised, then remember that this will raise the cost of making them, although with rarer adepts to make them the cost should perhaps be raised further. One idea to consider: change to a silver piece based economy, but keep magic items at their gold piece price (effectively raises their prices 10x). Thus creation time is 10x, few other than royals could consider buying such, and in any case gold was simply uncommon as a form of currency in most middle age settings. Due to the expectations of CR (ie: the default level of spell and magic item availability), strongly consider changing the types of foes normally encountered, ie: bandits, mad bears, a pack of wolves new to the area, goblins with class levels, and the (very) rare magical beast. Perseus encountered only a few magical beasts and monstrous humanoids in his epic story, not dozens, and those he did encounter were often described as unique monsters; there was no 'race' of medusae, only a singular curst former priestess. If magic items are rare, then identifying their traits or recalling information about them should also be more difficult. Consider raising the level of Identify and Analyze Dweomer, and add +5 to all DCs for identifying or recalling magical properties. Do the same for the magical abilities of creatures; they are (or should be) less commonly encountered, after all. In a world where magic items are truly rare they will be both expensive and reserved for nobility - if not royalty. Much like some parts of Europe forbid peasants and freemen from owning (war) horses, permanent magic items may be forbidden to non-nobles. On the other hand, if magic items are rare and the setting is low magic, without obvious signs of magic the local mage should not be thinking to cast 'detect magic' at every adventurer who enters the city. Granted, for security purposes I can see the local court wizard being required to cast such before adventurers who come before the king. In a low magic world, those that can wield magic will have a stronger reputation than those who cannot. A low level wizard or sorcerer may be as well known as a mid level fighter or rogue. A priest who can actually heal (whether cleric, cloistered cleric, adept, or paladin) will be famed over a greater distance than a similarly leveled fighter. Also, if magic is rare people are likely to have a stronger reaction to it, both good and bad. If their is suspicion or distrust toward magic, then those who practice such may be treated as if they were one step closer to evil than they actually are, and vice versa. In a land where magic is viewed as a gift from the gods, even a lower level sorcerer may be viewed as a living saint (although of which deity may be debated). In a land where the secrets to constructing permanent magic items are no longer known, any such item found will be viewed with wonder and possibly considered a minor artifact, and many might be considered to be gifts or creations of the gods. The belt that grants +4 Strength to any who wear it is likely located in a sacred vault of the temple devoted to the local deity of strength. The sword that ever burns (flaming burst) is likely displayed upon a pillar surrounded by temple guards in the temple devoted to the deity of fire, a sacred relic (whether divine or arcane in actual origin) believed to have once been wielded by their god. A ring that grants a continuous Zone of Truth is likely only worn by the highest ranking priest of the deity associated with oaths, law, truth, etc. The +2 keen sword is likely the personal sword of a king or duke. The fire resistant shield is likely in the vault of a duke and considered the personal shield of their heroic ancestor who faced a dragon. Any permanent magic item is likely to have a story behind it, so while the properties of an unrecognized magic item may be hard to determine, once its name is known the DCs for knowing its (legendary, perhaps not actual) properties should be no higher than normal - at least for bardic knowledge and the like.</blockquote>

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