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Message: <blockquote data-quote="darkrose50" data-source="post: 4407828" data-attributes="member: 70793">Magical item demand Version 08.01.2008 1:01 AM CST I am working on how my campaign world works. Just now I am coming up with reasons for a demand on magical items. Let me know if you have any ideas on advancing the below concepts. Note: We will be using the parcel system. I will allow characters to earn gold outside of the parcel system.  Note: We will be ignoring the 0%, 20%, 100% selling rules. You may create a character that can interact with the economy. You may make a character that is a crafter, merchant, treasure hunter, or is otherwise effective in interacting with the economy.  Note: One may upgrade a magical item by paying the difference in values between the levels. Note: Starting at fifth level one item may be a legendary legacy proximity item (an item that has been granted magical abilities due to the legendary deeds the character has preformed). The Great Ax of Furgus the mighty is magical not because some mage performed a ritual dance over it, but because Furgus the mighty, a legendary hero of the realm, is intrinsically tied to the ax though deed, song, and tale. First cornerstone: Monsters want to eat your face, and magical items keep them from doing so  Characters have levels, magical items have levels, and monsters have levels. Monster races advance in power without taking into account magical items, while player character races do not. If a player character race society has monsters threatening it, and has any scrap of stability, then it would need magical items to balance things out. Adventurers are indeed a part of that balance, but not the whole of it. The military (knights and nobles), organized crime, wizardly guilds, wealthy merchants and other organizations are all over the magical item market. This is how they keep there power, and there faces in tact. Second cornerstone: Magical items require properly powered souls to function  Magical items channel magical energies though a soul. A soul can only handle channeling a certain quantity or quality of magical energy. The level of the character is a manifestation of the power of characters soul.  In order to allow characters the luxury of spending gold on non-magical items, I have removed the wealth cap, and to keep game balance I am going to set a limit on the number of magical items a character can equip at any one time.   Magical items use the power of the wielders soul in order to fully function. <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Each level a character gains a core magical item equipment slot with maximum capacity equal to the level gained.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A character may select up to four magical item equipment slots (core of wondrous) to add a +4 level modifier, +3 level modifier, +2 level modifier, +1 level modifier. A character can change, or alter those slots modified between adventures. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A character may only have up to 8 core magical item equipment slots (the slots with the highest capacity).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Core magical item equipment slots may be used to attune any form of magical item (including wondrous magical items)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Beginning at 10th level a character gains a wondrous item slot. An additional wondrous item slot is gained at levels 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, and 30.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A character may only have up to 3 wondrous magical item equipment slots (the slots with the highest capacity).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Wondrous magical item equipment slots may be only used to attune wondrous magical items.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Only one magical item may be equipped per slot.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">It takes one week for a soul to attune to a magical item. Alternatively a character can spend an action point to attune immediately. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Un-attuning an item is a free action.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">One shot magical items do not require a magical item equipment slot. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Self aware magical items do not require a magical item equipment slot. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Some magical items do not require a magical item equipment slot (per the stories needs). </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">There will be 0-level magical items such as magical bedrolls of comfort and such that do not require a magical item equipment slot. Zero level items will be limited in some undecided manor. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Magical items not attuned may be worn, but their magical abilities will not function, and the item will act as a mundane item of the base type.</li> </ul>[Sblock=Character Level, And Core [/B]Magical Item Equipment Slot Maximum Capacities]Note: the newest slot is listed at the right. [code][/COLOR][COLOR=white][/COLOR] [FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=white]Character [/COLOR][COLOR=white]Magical item (one permanent, and one temporary)[/COLOR][COLOR=white]1st [/COLOR][COLOR=white]1st[/COLOR][COLOR=white]2nd [/COLOR][COLOR=white]1st, 2nd[/COLOR][COLOR=white]3rd [/COLOR][COLOR=white]1st, 2nd, 3rd[/COLOR][COLOR=white]4th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th[/COLOR][COLOR=white]5th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th[/COLOR][COLOR=white]6th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th[/COLOR][COLOR=white]7th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th[/COLOR][COLOR=white]8th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]9th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]10th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th[/COLOR][COLOR=white]11th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th[/COLOR][COLOR=white]12th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]13th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]14th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]15th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]16th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]17th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]18th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]19th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]20th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]21st [/COLOR][COLOR=white]14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st [/COLOR][COLOR=white]22nd [/COLOR][COLOR=white]15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd [/COLOR][COLOR=white]23rd [/COLOR][COLOR=white]16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd [/COLOR][COLOR=white]24th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]25th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]26th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]27th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]28th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]29th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]30th [/COLOR][COLOR=white]23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th [/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=white][/code][/sblock] [sblock=Character Level, And Wondrous[/b] Item Equipment Slot Maximum Capacities][/sblock][sblock=Character Level, And Wondrous[/B]Note: the newest slot is listed at the right. [Sblock=Character Level, And Wondrous[/B] Item Equipment Slot Maximum Capacities]Note: the newest slot is listed at the right. [code][/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=white]Character [/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=white]Magical item (one permanent, and one temporary)[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=white]10th [/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=white]10th[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=white]14th [/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=white]10th,14th[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=white]18th [/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=white]10th,14th, 18th[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=white]22nd [/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=white]14th, 18th, 22nd[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=white]26th [/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=white]18th, 22nd, 26th[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=white]30th [/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=white]22nd, 26th, 30th[/COLOR][/FONT][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=white][/code][/sblock] Third cornerstone: Magic items do not last forever  Magical items need to get replaced as entropy does its thing. Third cornerstone part 1: Arcane Nature Spirits  Arcane nature spirits seek to return magical energies trapped in magical items back into the world’s ecosystem. These arcane nature spirits, usually, understand that if an item is attuned, that it is being used, is part of the system, and leave it alone. An arcane nature spirit needs to attack, and kill the person an item is attuned to in order to unmake an attuned magical item. Doing so is normally considered blasphemy by other arcane nature spirits, but it is known to occur.  If an item remains un-attuned then it risks being unmade by arcane nature spirits. The longer an item is un-attuned the greater the risk of the item being unmade. Arcane nature spirits are, usually, duty bound and driven by compulsion to unmake any magical item not attuned for one hundred-and-one-years. Some spirits unmake items that have been un-attuned for a shorter period of time, and doing so is an expectable practice (especially if the local arcane nature spirits are angered).  Magical items created though the legendary legacy proximity are considered part of the system as long as songs and tales keep there magic alive (and are thus spared by the arcane nature spirits). Once forgotten they are fair game for arcane nature spirits. Disenchanting such items can bring glee or anger from the local arcane nature spirits, depending on the treatment of the lore that kept the legendary legacy proximity item in circulation. Attempts to prolong the deeds of a long forgotten, no longer relevant hero with the express intent of circumventing the spirit of the accord in order to keep the magical energies trapped in item form is seen as bad form by arcane nature spirits. Disenchanting such an item greatly appeases arcane nature spirits. On the other hand to disenchant an item of a hero whose tale is told, and deeds are sung with pure intent, and admiration angers arcane nature spirits.  An unmade item leaves behind residuum as detritus as if a disenchant ritual was performed. In actuality the disenchant ritual speeds up this process by summoning arcane nature spirits, and making an item appear to not have been attuned for a hundred-and-one-years.  Wards holding arcane nature spirits at bay are possible, but have the danger of angering arcane nature spirits. Spirits can be quite vindictive when angered.  One can also attempt, and often succeed in fooling the arcane nature spirits by hiring a high level soul to attune a family heirloom, for example, when no family members are capable of attuning it themselves. Attempting to fool the arcane nature spirits in such a manor sometimes succeeds, and sometimes it does not. Spirits can be quite vindictive when angered, and attempting to fool one can anger a given spirit, or tickle its fancy, depending on the spirit.  One can also come to an arrangement with the local arcane nature spirits by ritually disenchanting magical items to appease them. Old un-attuned items are favorites, the older the better. Remember that as a rule most arcane nature spirits don’t care about residuum. It is a standard practice of the Mage’s Guild to offer all items being disenchanted for residuum to the local arcane nature spirits in hopes of placating them. Doing so usually distracts them from disenchanting un-attuned items quite nicely. Residum does not contain the magical energies arcane nature spirits can undue, nor does it trap arcane energy. Residum can be used to channel, and trap arcane energy. Arcane nature spirits tend not to care about residum.  Third cornerstone part 2: Things Break  Items become warn, used, dilapidated, and break with use. Magical items are no exception. Magical items break from time to time. A broken magical item remains attuned, and may be repaired. Often they are disenchanted. An un-attuned broken magical item attracts arcane nature spirits to unmake a broken item sooner rather than later. I see no reason to make rules for magical items breaking, but let it be known that they do break. Magical items are tougher then there non-magical counterparts, and the more powerful they are the tougher they are.  Third cornerstone part 3: War is chaos, and stuff gets lost  Knights die, troops are routed, and scavengers loot the bodies. Monsters eat knights as the peasantry flees. Knights loose weapons on the battlefield. Weapons stick in foes, or there mounts, and then they ride off. Weapons are disarmed, and land in deep mud. Battle is not an orderly situation, and chaos abounds. Fourth Cornerstone: People demand magical items  The base setting is a medieval feudalistic society named Folokrie. Folokrie is both an island, and a country that houses the bulk of humanity. Folokrie is a feudalistic society that bound together by an interconnected web of oaths of loyalty, and pledges of military support. Loyalty is bought with food, shelter, and protection form harm. There are dangerous and inhumanly evil things that go bump in the night that one needs protection from. Magical items offer tangible protection from danger. Adventurers, guilds, churches, gentry, nobles, and great land owners drive the demand for magical items.  In this setting one out of every 450 individuals is a landed knight (with an equal number of landed ladies). There are an equal number of landless knights, and ladies in waiting. The county is in a dangerous period in its history. There was an undead plague three generations ago, much of the undead menace continues to this day, and most of the lands in the center of the human kingdom island remain in the hands of the undead.  Fourth Cornerstone part 1: Pawn shops  You can sell a magical item, even a broken one, with little or no effort for 20% of it crafting cost to many merchants in the realm. Fourth Cornerstone part 2: Auction houses  There are two great metropolises on opposing coats of the human island nation of Folokrie, and each one houses several competing auction houses that deal in magical items. Auctions are held weekly to monthly (levels 1-10), monthly to seasonally (levels 11-20), and seasonally to yearly (levels 21-30) depending on the supply of magical items, and there given level.  Fourth Cornerstone part 3: Magical item agents  There are people who are well respected experts in locating buyers and sellers of magical items. They charge a fee for there expertise and reputation. Each of the major auction houses are frequented by these agents, and many of these agents are in the employ of the auction houses.  Fourth Cornerstone part 4: Standing orders  Great landowners require supplies to keep there lands operating. Dragons fly in, burn and loot villages, Orc hoards raid in longboats by sea, undead spill from the center of the island, and monsters roam and breed in the center of the lands unchecked by civilized countermeasures. Brave knights and brave men and women die defending humanity, and magical items are lost in the process. Wealth is spent on walls, towers, guards, training, and magical items to equip the knights, and other defenders of humanity. This is especially true of the seven march lord’s of the seven duchies of Folokrie who are tasked with defending civilization form the undead infested core of the land, and when possible reclaim territory, county, by county. Doing so requires vast amounts of supplies, and this includes magical items. A march lord’s quartermaster’s office is a good place to swap magical items, and sell magical items for hard currency. A march lord’s office is also a good place to obtain dangerous mercenary work (spoils of war are a big part of the appeal of such work).  </blockquote>

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