Eberron-as corny as I think?

[genshou]

Look at the standard treasure tables lately? How about the suggested equipment for NPCs in the DMG? Yes, going by the Rules as Written magic really is that common. In your game world it may be less so, but it is what is maintained by the core rulebooks. And if your campaign does not follow those guidelines then that is perfectly okay - there are no game police waiting to carry you away - my own homebrew is also scant on magic items.

Yes, high-level NPCs have a lot of magic. How many high-level NPCs are there among every million characters in the game world?

 

[Hussar]

Genshou makes a very good point. A 7th level NPC, which is certainly not a low level flunkie, but not the king either, should have about 9500 gp in equipment. +1 sword, +1 armor, and a +2 statboost item and he's pretty much done. I would hardly call that very high magic.

When you really start to look at it, there isn't THAT much magic inherent in the system.

 

[Numion]

Seriously, it highlights my whole problem with the warforged. Ignoring the need to have them as PC-playable race, and ignoring weird "accidents" that any PC would whine if it happened to them, they make no sense, since, using simple RAW, you can have much better warmachines for the same price.

So, everything that ever happened to an NPC in a campaign worlds history should be 'fair'? That is metagamey to boot, and would lead to very boring worlds.

I mean .. you couldn't ever even have a rescue the princess scenario, since it's unfair to kidnap a PC so that he'll miss sessions while others rescue him. No sense. At all.

 

[genshou]

Genshou makes a very good point. A 7th level NPC, which is certainly not a low level flunkie, but not the king either, should have about 9500 gp in equipment. +1 sword, +1 armor, and a +2 statboost item and he's pretty much done. I would hardly call that very high magic.

When you really start to look at it, there isn't THAT much magic inherent in the system.

Another one realizes the truth

 

[genshou]

Incidentally, happy birthday, Keith!

*goes back to arguing about magic and warforged and stuff*

 

[glass]

You're getting outside of the discussion. We're talking War machines. -One- Iron Golem is better than the equivalent number of warforgeds with cheap equipment, or one warforged with equipment commensurate with the cost involved in creating whatever equipment you want. So house Carnith would have been better off making Iron Golems.

Only if their cients could afford iron golems.

Besides which, only a handfull of people in Eberron are capable creating iron golems (if that). Granted, most of them probably work for House Cannith, but what is the rest of the house supposed to do? Sit around twiddling their thumbs, or make lesser (cheaper) constructs using these ancient machines they have more-or-less figured out how to use.


glass.

 

[Stone Dog]

Their clients are nations, nobles and the fantastically wealthy. Those who have purchased legions of warforged, warforged titans, eternal wands and magical items of every kind under the sun. They have not only vast sums of gold, but the promises of political favors, mineral rights, food stuffs and all manner of assets to trade for supremacy. We are talking trade items, gems , precious metals and contracts over the course of a hundred years probably measuring in the millions of GP. The vast expenditure of a nation at full scale war with its direct neighbors.

Hell, Cannith probably threw in an Iron Golem or two as a bonus for being such good customers every decade or so. Anything to keep the war moving and the money flowing.

 

[Hussar]

Meh, Scarred Lands went a step further. They didn't bother with any eldritch machinery. They just went straight for the Deus ex Machina. Hollow knights were created by Corean to fight the titans. Now they live in a nice little valley in the middle of Ghelspad.

 

[glass]

Their clients are nations, nobles and the fantastically wealthy. Those who have purchased legions of warforged, warforged titans, eternal wands and magical items of every kind under the sun. They have not only vast sums of gold, but the promises of political favors, mineral rights, food stuffs and all manner of assets to trade for supremacy. We are talking trade items, gems , precious metals and contracts over the course of a hundred years probably measuring in the millions of GP. The vast expenditure of a nation at full scale war with its direct neighbors.

Nations have vast quantities of money, but they also have vast demands on that money even in peace time. In times of war, you have to get the maximum bang for every last buck because you can bet your opponent will be doing the same.

Iron golems are usefull, and the warring nations may have bought a few, but has been pointed out several times by other posters they aren't going to win the war on their own, nor will they help prevent your losing it. There is a little thing called dissimilar assets.


glass.

 

[Piratecat]

Incidentally, happy birthday, Keith!

I was about to say the same thing!