civic magic items

[DreadPirateMurphy]

Actually, decanters draw water from the elemental plane of water, IIRC. The source is effectively infinite.

 

[Cheiromancer]

Actually, decanters draw water from the elemental plane of water, IIRC. The source is effectively infinite.

That's just what they want you to think.

It would be interesting if there were secret balancing mechanisms behind other kinds of magic. I.e. every time someone was raised an innocent man died suddenly. Or an undead monster animated. And that's for a normal adventurer- What would the powers require in exchange for returning a king to life?

 

[kirinke]

Well there is a perfectly good balancing system with raise dead. When the soul of the individual goes to the afterlife (if they're good), their version of heaven is just that, heaven. If you read the DMG guide under planes, most of them have an entrapment thing. Most souls once they reach their version of heaven don't want to leave. Only those with a very pressing need to return do.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Disintegration Chambers could be used as a means of a death penalty and to be rid of garbage and unwanted matter (fecal, medicinal, etc.).

 

[BiggusGeekus]

You could whip of a few minor items that granted skill boosts, like a ring of +6 Knowledge (Architecture) to make sure civic projects went well.

As mentioned earlier, a Lyre of Building is a must have for any kingdom.

A want of wall of iron means not having to lug all that raw material from the moutains.

I've always thought that there should be an advanced form of Hero's Feast and Create Food and Water that would feed hundreds or thousands. It would move the D&D economy (such as it is) away from an agrarian base. At that point you'd have to decide how easy magic was to learn to figure out where things developed from there.