Detect Magic is Dead

[Fifth Element]

Identify doesn't spill the beans on items, just reveals the main aspect of that item.

Check your 3.5 PHB and get back to me.

 

[Fifth Element]

My big beef with all of this (and most of the issues I'm starting to have with 4e) is everything is getting dumbed down. For the most part, I don't mind and I can live with the magic item thing. The problem with the way its handled know it that we are losing the mystery and coolness of magic items.

Don't fall into the trap of "simpler/easier = dumbed down". They are not equivalent.

And again, the "mystery" of magic items to which you refer was solved by the use of a 1st-level spell.

 

[JVisgaitis]

Who says that magic is only arcane? It could be part of the martial too.

I didn't and martial clearly isn't magic. In the description for martial exploits it says they represent a persons training, will, and dedication. My big beef is that a Fighter can learn about a Wand of Fireballs by spending 5 minutes with it when knowing about a wand of fireballs clearly isn't his specialty.

There ain't no reason in D&D 4th edition why only wizards should be able to identify.

If I show you some piece of complicated electronic equipment or software should you know all of the inner workings with it in 5 minutes? No. And the same goes for magic items. I don't mind the rest thing, but let it be done by characters that specialize in that particular area.

Someone else summed it up perfectly, the Fighter knows the sword is very well balanced. The Wizard knows it has magic in the blade. That's how it should be IMO.

 

[JVisgaitis]

Magic items aren't about their plusses in 4e, they're about the abilities, which are new and high on cool factor.

4e is putting the excitement of magic items back in the game, which I think is great.

Different aspect of the conversation really... In any case, I agree with you 100%.

 

[JVisgaitis]

Don't fall into the trap of "simpler/easier = dumbed down". They are not equivalent.

I'm not falling into any traps. You look at the descriptions of the monsters in the Monster Manual and you tell me those aren't dumbed down from the previous editions. I like simple and easier. Hell, I've been doing game design for a long time, but a lot of the flavor of the game is being yanked out. Its not hard to add it back it and we will with Violet Dawn for 4e, but its happening with core 4e and I don't like it.

 

[Storminator]

If I show you some piece of complicated electronic equipment or software should you know all of the inner workings with it in 5 minutes? No. And the same goes for magic items.

I bet I can figure out what button to press to make it play music.

I don't mind the rest thing, but let it be done by characters that specialize in that particular area.

Unfortunately, that means a wizard class is required for each adventuring party, which sucks rocks.

PS

 

[malraux]

I didn't and martial clearly isn't magic. In the description for martial exploits it says they represent a persons training, will, and dedication. My big beef is that a Fighter can learn about a Wand of Fireballs by spending 5 minutes with it when knowing about a wand of fireballs clearly isn't his specialty.
snip..
Someone else summed it up perfectly, the Fighter knows the sword is very well balanced. The Wizard knows it has magic in the blade. That's how it should be IMO.

Why? Swords aren't a mage's speciality. Sure, I get that the wizard would be the one to figure out wands and orbs. But weapons trigger of the martial power. The wizard might see that its magical, but the fighter understand that its a +3 by the way it cuts through some test material. And I don't see why either one would have an advantage with boots of spiderclimbing, unless the mage actually knows that spell.

 

[DandD]

I didn't and martial clearly isn't magic. In the description for martial exploits it says they represent a persons training, will, and dedication. My big beef is that a Fighter can learn about a Wand of Fireballs by spending 5 minutes with it when knowing about a wand of fireballs clearly isn't his specialty.



If I show you some piece of complicated electronic equipment or software should you know all of the inner workings with it in 5 minutes? No. And the same goes for magic items. I don't mind the rest thing, but let it be done by characters that specialize in that particular area.

Someone else summed it up perfectly, the Fighter knows the sword is very well balanced. The Wizard knows it has magic in the blade. That's how it should be IMO.

Adventurers are these people who specialise in the particular area of acquiring magical items, using them regularely and selling them for some bucks when they are outdated and useless for them.

You're simply trapped in the old out-dated mindset of D&D veryoldandpoorlybalancededition. Let it go. It makes things easier, and more fun for the players.

 

[Lackhand]

I'm not falling into any traps. You look at the descriptions of the monsters in the Monster Manual and you tell me those aren't dumbed down from the previous editions. I like simple and easier. Hell, I've been doing game design for a long time, but a lot of the flavor of the game is being yanked out. Its not hard to add it back it and we will with Violet Dawn for 4e, but its happening with core 4e and I don't like it.

Uh, okay. I can tell you this thing.

By the way, I was reading the 1st ed monster manual, and the 2nd ed monster manual kind of spoiled us. Then I contrasted it with the BD&D tables...
I've come to the realization that, if Dragon publishes a ton of ecology articles (as I can't help but imagine that they're going to!), and published adventures include gems like the gestation period of the ankheg, the main difference between (2nd ed, 3.xed) and (BD&D, 1st ed, 4th ed) monster manuals will be made up entirely via this side channel.

I like that. I like the 2e MM too, but as long as the information is available somewhere, I'm happy. Hell, I reflavor monsters all the time anyway.

 

[baberg]

If I show you some piece of complicated electronic equipment or software should you know all of the inner workings with it in 5 minutes? No. And the same goes for magic items.

That's actually quite an interesting comparison, one that lends itself to the 4e method of thinking actually.

Pretend you've never seen an iPod. Suddenly you're given an iPod with earbuds. You clearly recognize the "Menu" label at the top so you press it. The screen lights up and displays runes you've never seen, but one of them (||) is also on the bottom of the control panel (the play/pause button). You hit that button and noise begins to come from the earbuds - you'd probably hear something even if you didn't have them in your ears. So within a minute you've discovered that the earbuds are supposed to go into your ears, the iPod plays music, and you know how to start and stop the music. Another couple minutes of experimenting and I'm betting you've got 90% of the iPod's controls under your grasp.

I wouldn't understand the digital-to-analog conversion, the power source, or in what form the MP3s are stored, but I'd know how to use the item for its intended effect. And that's all you have to know for usage.