Item creation.

[Grendel]

Technically, if they create an item and keep it, the item counts against their character wealth at full market value. Of course, I might have eaten too much cheese today, so just take my opinion with a grain of salt.

mmmm salt.
ok so you have a wizard in the party who has (for a time) the recomended value (as per DMG) of equipment, as to the rest of his party members.

the wizard then picks the craft wonderous item feat, and proceeds to create magical items (of his choosing) that put him well beyond the recomended level (again from the DMG), and well beyond the level of his fellow party members.

This all perfectly legitimate within the context of the rule. It really gets bad as he continues to acculate wealth, and craft items, yet fails to level due to the xp costs, soon you have a 10th level wizard with equipment that exceeds that of a 15th level character.

I would definately recommend limiting or eliminating the ablity of characters to purchase items from 3rd parties, then eliminate the xps cost of creating magical items and charge 1.25+ times the listed market value for items. Its really a bargain at that price since where else are you going to get that +1 ghost touch mercurial full-blade sword.

 

[kreynolds]

mmmm salt.
ok so you have a wizard in the party who has (for a time) the recomended value (as per DMG) of equipment, as to the rest of his party members.

the wizard then picks the craft wonderous item feat, and proceeds to create magical items (of his choosing) that put him well beyond the recomended level (again from the DMG), and well beyond the level of his fellow party members.

This all perfectly legitimate within the context of the rule. It really gets bad as he continues to acculate wealth, and craft items, yet fails to level due to the xp costs, soon you have a 10th level wizard with equipment that exceeds that of a 15th level character.

I would definately recommend limiting or eliminating the ablity of characters to purchase items from 3rd parties, then eliminate the xps cost of creating magical items and charge 1.25+ times the listed market value for items. Its really a bargain at that price since where else are you going to get that +1 ghost touch mercurial full-blade sword.

Sounds like you're trying to shove a square peg through a round hole. What is it that you don't like about the system?

 

[Crothian]

And of course the rest of the party is waiting patiently in the local pub as the Wizard makes all these things. I've seen camapigns were the party doesn't even give the wizard a day. THey say eith come and adventure or sit and make your items.

 

[kreynolds]

And of course the rest of the party is waiting patiently in the local pub as the Wizard makes all these things. I've seen camapigns were the party doesn't even give the wizard a day. THey say eith come and adventure or sit and make your items.

And that is the one true balancing factor.

 

[Grendel]

I have found that time is not a balancing factor unless the party is constantly having to "save the world, yet again".

When the party wizard say he is going to take a month or two to make magic items, everyone waits. If they choose to go it alone then they run the risk of meeting a horrible end becasue the bit off more than they can chew without their spell casting friend.

If you do want to use that arguement about game balance however, what do you do when the wizard needs 2 days per spell level to scribe new spells into their books. Does the party leave with out their wizard then too? or are they only in a hurry when the wizard wants to make magic items.

 

[Magus_Jerel]

When the party wizard say he is going to take a month or two to make magic items, everyone waits. If they choose to go it alone then they run the risk of meeting a horrible end becasue the bit off more than they can chew without their spell casting friend.

The last time I played and had a party do this... the GM went and did a TPK on general principle. He has this version of gibberlings that are just NOT nice, and knew that the cleric liked to be out in front. Once the cleric was grappled - the party was in for it. Very humiliating experience for the "hack and slash" bunch.

Of course - one little cloudkill spell...

From a personal perspective - if the party is stupid enough to leave someone behind - I kinda would like to make real sure that they didn't leave that player out for the gaming session. If a player can't be there - that is one thing (and a great thing for their character to do while they can't be there and the others adventure) but deliberatly leaving someone behind is just bad form.

 

[kreynolds]

If you do want to use that arguement about game balance however, what do you do when the wizard needs 2 days per spell level to scribe new spells into their books. Does the party leave with out their wizard then too? or are they only in a hurry when the wizard wants to make magic items.

Two days to scribe spells into your spellbook is one thing. Taking 30 days off to craft a nifty staff is a completely different matter. If the spellcaster wants to hang back for a month, that's fine with me. I'll just tailor the game to the new party, as a DM should do. Why punish the other players simply because a spellcaster desires to take the time out to actually use one of the best features of his class? I fail to see your point in this, but I might be missing something, so let me know if I am. This is kinda a broad topic, so please elaborate.