Do wands destroy the 3.x adventure paradigm?

[javcs]

Also, the more wands wizard-boy is crafting, the XP cost adds up.
'Specially with higher level wands, CL x Spell Level x 750 gp, 1/25th of that is the XP cost, per wand. So, for a 1st level spell, CL 1, it's 'only' 30XP, say it's Magic Missile, you'll burn through a bunch of charges each encounter, so it'll last only a few encounters, for a 2nd level spell, CL 3 (minimum), it's 180XP, for a 3rd level spell, CL 5 (minimum), it's 450 XP, for a 4th level spell, CL 7 (minimum), it's 840XP. That's per wand. It doesn't sound like that much, but with a character that's primarily crafting wands, well, it does add up, since, honestly, how likely is it that he'll only be making one wand for each spell he wants? he's going to make at least two, so he's got spares, quite possibly more. That XP adds up, the GP adds up too.

 

[Vocenoctum]

If they're going through the wand's charges fast, that means they would have run out of cure spells long ago without the wand. So that just proves my point - wands shift the adventure paradigm.

The 20% guideline includes expendables such as potions and such. Relying heavily on wands might allow you to push a little further, but will also mean you have less equipment and XP. I've seen plenty of games where wands didn't disrupt things, none where it did, so I doubt it's a problem really.

 

[Nadaka]

They would just be trading 1 resource for another. Daily spells are free, wands are not. They are still using resources either way.

 

[javcs]

How? Some parties will have wands and some won't. The CRs in the Monster Manual are supposed to be balanced for all parties (and yes, I know they're only a guideline).

The parties without wands will have other magical items. Besides, the CRs are balanced assuming a ~ 4 member party of equal level, with appropriate treasure and resources due their level. The party the WotC uses as a guideline is the stereotypical fighter, wizard, cleric, rogue party.

If they're going through the wand's charges fast, that means they would have run out of cure spells long ago without the wand. So that just proves my point - wands shift the adventure paradigm.

Just because they've been fully healed through burning through the wand's charges, that means that the casters may well be low on spells and limited uses/day abilities have probably been used, such that they'd be stopping anyways.


In any event, at lower levels (which is really the only place it'd make a difference), PC's don't actually have that much in the way of resources in order to buy or make wands. A wand of Fireball is pretty expensive, 11,250GP.

Most of the time, I think that the wands people (when they're at levels where it makes a difference) will go for are Cure Light Wounds and Magic Missile.

 

[shilsen]

No, wands don't destroy the 3.x adventure paradigm. I do.

I've been running a campaign for nearly two years (and before that one lasting 1.5 years) where the vast majority of combats are the only one or only one of two in a day. Never had a problem with it, and don't expect to. I even stopped tracking healing wands and charges, and decided to assume that PCs are always healed up to full after a fight, just to make things easier.

 

[Thurbane]

To me, the 3E system of crafting and using magic items as a matter of routine is a completely different style of play than earlier editions (good, bad or indefferent is in the eye of the beholder).

IMC, item crafting feats have much tougher level requirements, and items also require rare and exotic materials. Crafting items is not something PCs really do - it's more an undertaking for high level, semi-retired spellcaster's. It does open up adventure possibilities, looking for rare materials and secrets to either craft an item of ones own, or at the bidding of a patron...

My style of game isn't for everyone, but it works well for our group, being mainly AD&D diehards...

 

[Jack Simth]

At 6th level, you want a wand of Fireball and a wand of Cure Serious in the same party. Let's see.... if you craft them yourself, it costs 5,625 gp and 450 xp per caster level 5 wand (caster level 6 wands cost 6750 gp and 540 xp). You want two of these, so 900 xp and 11,250 gp.

Wealth by Level guidelines, at 6th, suggest that a PC should have 13k in stuff. You can divide the GP cost over the entire party, but those two wands still cost you a hair over 21% of the wealth you're supposed to have at those levels to make. And you're burning it. If, as it's wealth, not money, your DM arranges for you to effectively pay full market (you had to sell off wealth to get the money), you're looking at about 40% of the party's total wealth. And you're burning it.

Umm.....

 

[Crothian]

If they're going through the wand's charges fast, that means they would have run out of cure spells long ago without the wand. So that just proves my point - wands shift the adventure paradigm.

Or it measn they are using those spell slots for other things. But even so, the money and XP that is going to the wands could instead goto other items that don't have charges. Those are the items one needs to worry about not the ones that go away.

 

[Piratecat]

We've found that wands improve the game. Not so much by adding combat spells - the minimum damage and low DCs of a wand's "default" level really stop those from being used most of the time - but they can free a spellcaster from taking the boring, traditional spells in order to concentrate on something more colorful. No thief in the party, but don't want to limit the wizard to knock spells? Get a wand. That sort of thing.

In Sagiro's game, we're 17th lvl PCs and we rely on our wants of cure critical wounds. They cost a fortune to make, but they let less powerful multiclassed clerics (like my cleric 5 / rogue 8 / lasher 4) keep the party alive - and I'd say that we've gone through 5 or 6 healing wands in that party since 3e launched. It's never made the game less challenging.

 

[werk]

I've only noticed it as a problem when the party is way over the wealth guideline. Otherwise you get wands instead of weapons, armor, and rings, and, well, you need weapons, armor, and rings in the games I run.