Bonus Types: Circumstance vs Competence

[kreynolds]

While it is legal to have two different bonuses, the DM should be looking long and hard at HOW those two items were created. Same method should yield the same results - I don't know how you'd get both a circumstance and a compentence bonus using the same creation method.

I see paranoia is beginning to overtake this thread. Not to be insulting, but it amazes me how terrified so many DMs are of magic item creation.

 

[SpikeyFreak]

Its really pretty simple.

A competence bonus is granted by items that help you to do something better.

A circumstance bonus is granted by something that creates a favorable situation.

The hammer actually makes you a better smith.

The cloak makes it easier for you to hide, but it doens't actually make you better at it.

So if they designed 2 items with different bonuses, they would have to figure out a way to have one make you better at it while the other makes a favorable situation for said skill.

Bonuses on skill points isn't all that powerful to begin with. Taking up 2 slots for +20 is something that I think most people wouldn't want to do.

--Smart Spikey

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

While it is legal to have two different bonuses, the DM should be looking long and hard at HOW those two items were created. Same method should yield the same results - I don't know how you'd get both a circumstance and a compentence bonus using the same creation method.

Yup.

Even though I tend to advocate the position that PCs should generally be able to get the magic items they want (because if they sell the valuable magic items they are already paying a heavy liquidity tax), I would never go so far advocate for arbitrary magic items.

Magic items should have an authentic feel to them in conception, appearance, method of function, and have technical details that match.

 

[dcollins]

Short-sightedness at its best. You're no fun. Oh well.

You should take a vacation from munchkinland and try a play-tested, balanced campaign for a change. It's not as bad as you think.

Here's your smiley back.

 

[kreynolds]

You should take a vacation from munchkinland and try a play-tested, balanced campaign for a change. It's not as bad as you think.

Here's your smiley back.

Munchkinland? I guess I failed to mention that I run 8 different campaigns, didn't I? I was just pokin' earlier. Do you really wanna start a fight about this?

 

[SpikeyFreak]

Artoomis:

I make a body suit that makes the water around me slippery with Craft Wondrous Item giving me a +10 circumstance bonus.

I make a pair of gloves made of shark skin with Craft Wondrous Item that give me a +10 competence bonus to swim checks.

What has the DM done wrong?

--Interested Spikey

 

[Arkham]

Magic items should have an authentic feel to them in conception, appearance, method of function, and have technical details that match.

So a "propeller beanie of whirring" which gives
+10 circumstance bonus to jumping would have
an authentic feel in that it's bonus
could be seen as circumstances...

And Boots can easily give a competence bonus...

 

[kreynolds]

Artoomis:

I make a body suit that makes the water around me slippery with Craft Wondrous Item giving me a +10 circumstance bonus.

I make a pair of gloves made of shark skin with Craft Wondrous Item that give me a +10 competence bonus to swim checks.

What has the DM done wrong?

--Interested Spikey

Absolutely nothing. I think some people are just really abuse-worried about magic items. Check out my other post regarding magic item creation. I'd like to see your opinion on that, Spikey.

 

[Artoomis]

Artoomis:

I make a body suit that makes the water around me slippery with Craft Wondrous Item giving me a +10 circumstance bonus.

I make a pair of gloves made of shark skin with Craft Wondrous Item that give me a +10 competence bonus to swim checks.

What has the DM done wrong?

--Interested Spikey

Why do the gloves give a competence bonus vs. a circumstance bonus? If that question is answered well (not just "'cause they are gloves"), and if the process involved is different (perhaps different prerequisites) , then it would be fine. Otherwise it's like having the same item twice - no stacking.

That's because the mere from does not determine function for wondrous items - while it should be realted, there is no strict rules reason why you could not have Gloves of Intellect, but I probably wouldn't allow it without a pretty hefty backstory.

 

[kreynolds]

That's because the mere from does not determine function for wondrous items - while it should be realted, there is no strict rules reason why you could not have Gloves of Intellect, but I probably wouldn't allow it without a pretty hefty backstory.

Yeah, it doesn't make a lot of sense to put an Int bonus on gloves. I gotta agree with that. However, like you said, the mere from does not determine function for wondrous items.