An Eberron Review by SKR

[Gez]

Writers shouldn't use game-defined terms to mean something other than those meanings if they are writing rules text.

And given there is no ambiguity as to what "enchanting an armor" is compared to "enchanting a person's mind" there is no risks of confusion.

Natural languages are never context-free. Context is everything. And context in "enchanting an armor" refers to magical enhancement for armors, while context in "enchanting someone" refers to using a spell of the enchantment school.

Anyway, this rant is kinda useless, because I've never seen "enchanted" or "enchanting" used for enchantment spells. Instead, creatures are described as being charmed or dominated, for example.

And there are no good words to replace "to enchant" when speaking about items. "Magickify?" "Magicize?" "Enhance?" I don't know about you, but if I had to read things like "enhancing your masterwork sword with magic effects", it would look like some subtker-than-usual spam.

 

[Dark Jezter]

And there are no good words to replace "to enchant" when speaking about items. "Magickify?" "Magicize?" "Enhance?" I don't know about you, but if I had to read things like "enhancing your masterwork sword with magic effects", it would look like some subtker-than-usual spam.

I vote for magicize.

 

[Liquidsabre]

It seems odd that he would compare Action points to Force points instead of to... well, to Action points, that were published a long time ago in d20 Modern and again in Unearthed Arcana. I can't believe he's so out of touch that he hasn't seem them before now.

That would be because Force Points in SW came first in d20. Actions Points essentially accomplish the same thing as Force Points.

 

[Psion]

In response to SKR's complaints about Warforged being LA+0. Warforged take PC classes, which automatically makes them better than the average soldier, which would have a weaker, NPC class. No need for level adjustment.

Keith also mentions that they should be built with the elite array and be 2nd level (for NPCs.)

 

[Deadguy]

And there are no good words to replace "to enchant" when speaking about items. "Magickify?" "Magicize?" "Enhance?" I don't know about you, but if I had to read things like "enhancing your masterwork sword with magic effects", it would look like some subtker-than-usual spam.

This problem cropped up years ago in a LARP system I co-wrote. We ended up using the word "Ensorcel" meaning to imbue magical powers into. Since it doesn't see any other usage I still tend to use this word when writing my own material.

 

[Henry]

Which does bring up the question: What IS the proper term in Dungeons and Dragons for imbuing magical properties into an item?

 

[Desdichado]

That would be because Force Points in SW came first in d20. Actions Points essentially accomplish the same thing as Force Points.

I don't see how that makes any difference. What's the possibility that the readers of his review would be familiar with the Star Wars RPG vs. that they will be familiar with actual Action points, as published in d20 Modern, Unearthed Arcana and Dragon Magazine? Who cares what's first? The point is, Action Points, as they were constituted in Eberron were published two and a half years ago. I'd either describe them, making no reference to what they are similar to, or assume that my readers are at least as likely, if not more, to already be familiar with them vs. Force points.

 

[d20Dwarf]

"Enhance?"

You can't use Enhance, because enhancement is a particular type of bonus, what if you aren't giving the armor an enhancement bonus?!?!

 

[Deadguy]

Which does bring up the question: What IS the proper term in Dungeons and Dragons for imbuing magical properties into an item?

The Core Rules seem to use the verb enhance for that purpose, and it is okay. But since enhancement has a specific technical usage, as d20Dwarf points out, it's open to causing confusion. You can see why I use ensorcel!

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Incidentally, this whole thing on semantics is why I really wish more writers would look toward Vancian naming schemes. If something is called "The Outsanding Aura of Weapon Confounding" as opposed to "enhancement" you'll have fewer opportunities for confusion. Your game will last two hours longer as the guys launch into nordic-saga-length names for their spells and such, but you'll be able to use words like "enchant" without d20 designers rapelling into your game room like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible to offer a correction.