Magic item creation question for the DMs

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

2. It's the spirit of the rules, not the letter - someone (not in my game) asked for an unnamed bonus to AC, since "it's not disallowed in the rules".

Ok, now you are keeping me up.

Surely, you would not allow that if it had been your game, right?

An unnamed bonus is better than a dodge bonus. It seems reasonable that any restriction on a dodge bonus would also apply to an "unnamed bonus".

(Plus I would like to hear the explanation of the unnamed bonus effect on armor class that does not fit under any of the existing AC bonus types)

 

[kreynolds]

2. It's the spirit of the rules, not the letter - someone (not in my game) asked for an unnamed bonus to AC, since "it's not disallowed in the rules".

I can't express to you you how much I agree with this. The "spirit" is not simply the goody-feel interpretation of the rules. It's what makes sense. I wouldn't allow an "unnamed bonus" either. If you want a bonus, it damn well better be a "named" bonus.

 

[coyote6]

On-topic: I voted sort-of.

I reserve the right to say, "Nah, that's more powerful/useful for its cost than I'm comfortable with" (followed by "How about X instead?", unless brainfreeze sets in & I can't think of an X). For example, the ever-popular gizmo of minor or light healing (unlimited use cure minor or light wounds item) -- as both GM and player, I like that our intrepid adventurers occasionally have to retreat to lick their wounds, rather than just saying "We spend 48.6 minutes curing everyone with the gizmo."

Of course, most of my players seem unwilling to part with XP to make magic items at all -- even for scrolls, even despite a few occurences where a few immediately usable lesser restorations would've been really handy.

Originally tangented by Axiomatic Unicorn
Tangent: IMO, the most cost effective item of all. Amulet of Endure Elements. Pick the element when you make it, Make it usable 1/day because the duration is 24 hours. Market price = 360 gp. So for 15 exp and 180 gp you can have energy resistance 5 effectively forever against one energy type. Granted, it becomes trivial after you gain a few more levels, but what a bargain.

Would you even have to pick the element when you make it? Couldn't the user choose that at the time of usage?

It does have a flaw, though -- at caster level 1, it's trivially easy to dispel it, and once it's dispelled, you can't bring it back 'til the next day. One unlucky area dispel, or any targeted dispel, and it's gone. After a while, I think dispel magic fairly common.

But otherwise, yeah, it's damned handy. Heck, endure elements in general is handy. I've seen PCs take a day of rest, prepare practically nothing but endures (some Extended), then cast 'em just before going to bed that night. 5 pts energy resistance for everyone!

 

[kreynolds]

I'm checking out the poll results and it currently reads: 20 say "Yes", 1 says "No", 9 say "Sort of".

I really appreciate everbody's input on this thread, even if you didn't actively participate in the actual posts. I fully understand that the poll results cannot be considered "accurate and fair" in any sense, but it means that all of you are giving this issue some thought. Thanks a bunch.

If you have more to add, by all means, I respectfully request that you please share you viewpoints.

 

[coyote6]

I'm checking out the poll results and it currently reads: 20 say "Yes", 1 says "No", 9 say "Yes".

Hmm 20 "Yes", 9 more "Yes", and no "Sort of" -- do you need sleep?

 

[Crothian]

Interesting thread.

I said yes, because I don't want to interfer with the creativeness of the PCs. Also, my group are all expercienced gamers, so if I tell them the item is to powerful and explain why, they understand. Plus, they know I'm more then willing to work with them to get what they want within the rules and that is fair balanced wise.

 

[kreynolds]

Hmm 20 "Yes", 9 more "Yes", and no "Sort of" -- do you need sleep?

Wow. That was a big ol' typo! Let me fix that. And yes, I do need sleep! So on that note...until tomorrow, ladies and gentlemen. Again, thank you for your input. I hope to find even more in the morning. Then again, if I don't find more, then the DM community isn't as bad-off as I thought it was, thus I'm not alone on this.

 

[kreynolds]

Interesting thread.

I said yes, because I don't want to interfer with the creativeness of the PCs. Also, my group are all expercienced gamers, so if I tell them the item is to powerful and explain why, they understand. Plus, they know I'm more then willing to work with them to get what they want within the rules and that is fair balanced wise.

Then you are a hell-of-a-DM in my book. Remember, I may DM 8 games, but I'm also a player. Sounds like a hair-loss commercial, doesn't it? Funny...I qualify for that commercial.

 

[coyote6]

Nope. Those were the results when I posted them. Check the times.

Oh. I was joking -- the results at the time (I did look) were 20 "yes", 1 "no", and 9 "sort of". You typed 20 "yes", 1 "no", and 9 "yes" -- that's "yes" twice, and no "sort of".

Either you were counting "sort of" as the same as "yes", and I didn't realize it; or the second "yes" was typo, and I was still thinking of the typo Axiomatic U. had immortalized.

 

[kreynolds]

Oh. I was joking -- the results at the time (I did look) were 20 "yes", 1 "no", and 9 "sort of". You typed 20 "yes", 1 "no", and 9 "yes" -- that's "yes" twice, and no "sort of".

Either you were counting "sort of" as the same as "yes", and I didn't realize it; or the second "yes" was typo, and I was still thinking of the typo Axiomatic U. had immortalized.

It's cool, dude. I only realized my idiotic mistake before it was too late. Thanks for pointing out that it was time for bed. Geez, and you would think I was grown up enough to know when it's bedtime, huh?