Magic Item Wishlist: Yea or Nay?

[IronWolf]

I am not bothered by a magic item wish list. It helps to know what players want from their game and I don't mind that coming in the form of a list. In some cases it may be something they can just track down at an out of the way vendor or sometimes it can be an item with some story behind it that is dropped as treasure or the source of an adventure in and of itself. Even with a list I can work the story to include it as much as I want or simply let them find the item easily - whatever seems to fit the group I am playing with the best.

 

[Dausuul]

I feel like that kid in South Park who goes "Really?" Providing the GM a wish list is not telling the GM he wants to find an item in the garbage can. I don't think anyone here including the biggest fans of wish lists are saying that's so. Can you provide some examples of that type of thinking in this thread?

I wasn't claiming that was what wish lists were; I was simply pointing out that there's more to questing for an item than making a skill check or two. The difference between a wish list and questing for an item is that, in the latter case, you have to actually go quest for the item. (Or sub-quest, or side-plot, or something.) You set out with a purpose, face challenges and beat them, and accomplish your purpose. With a wish list, you happen across the item in the course of your regular adventuring. You don't do anything with the goal of finding the item; it just kind of pops up when the DM feels like giving it to you.

To me, at least, there's no fun in that. It's just, "Ah, there's that item I put on my wish list. Whaddaya know?" It's the worst of both worlds. I knew stuff from that list was going to show up eventually, so I don't get the lottery-win thrill of "Holy CRAP! Look what this guy had!" But I have no control over when it shows up, so I also don't get the sense of accomplishment that comes from "At last, my quest is complete!"

 

[JoeGKushner]

Thank you for expanding your meaning there. It's one of the problems with the ole internet.

I can see the whole 'questing' thing for unique and powerful items but is every magic item worthy of the quest?

 

[ExploderWizard]

Magic item wishlists are part of what makes magic items feel like mundane gear rather than some form of magical treasure. I prefer magical items to feel like magical items including researching or experimenting with them to find out what they do.

It takes a bit more work from the DM perspective but well worth it and appreciated when I'm a player.

 

[Lanefan]

I can't give ExP to Stormonu right now so all I can do is echo that post:

A full-on "nay" to wish lists, but if a character seeks a specific item (the example used was a Paladin questing after a Holy Avenger) I'm way cool with that.

I usually have a vague idea of what specific PCs want, along with a real good idea of what everyone wants (Ring of Invisibility? The line forms on the right...); sometimes these things get found either in town to be traded for or in the field in a hoard or on a defeated foe; sometimes they don't.

And if you really want something and have the cash, I allow items to be built on commission in my game - but you usually have to wait half a year or more for it to be done.

Lanefan

 

[Dausuul]

I can see the whole 'questing' thing for unique and powerful items but is every magic item worthy of the quest?

No. But if it's not worthy of the quest, is it really that crucial for the PC to have it?

 

[BryonD]

No. But if it's not worthy of the quest, is it really that crucial for the PC to have it?

That is exactly my view on it.

I am very much on board with working with a player who has an item that is key to a character idea. And even if the item is relatively minor I'd happily adapt if it made the game better. I'll can even imagine going so far as to contrive finding an item, IF(!!) the idea was cool enough.

But helping the character track down an item in-game, or quest for it would be much more likely.

What I would never consider is substituting items into treasures just because it is on a list addressed to the North Pole.

 

[Ed_Laprade]

I usually have a vague idea of what specific PCs want, along with a real good idea of what everyone wants (Ring of Invisibility? The line forms on the right...); sometimes these things get found either in town to be traded for or in the field in a hoard or on a defeated foe; sometimes they don't.

This is how I've always done it. One of the problems with wish lists is that they don't allow for those odd magic items that require thinking outside the box to be used effectively. The best thing about them is that the players don't keep getting stuck with stuff they have no use for. (But if you can sell it and get what you want anyway, then its no biggie.)

 

[JoeGKushner]

No. But if it's not worthy of the quest, is it really that crucial for the PC to have it?

I guess this is another part of the disconnect.

I rarely get wish list where every item is 'crucial'.

If it has to be written down on a wish list, must it be crucial? Seems that there are a lot of 'extremes'! here on the net.

 

[JoeGKushner]

That is exactly my view on it.

I am very much on board with working with a player who has an item that is key to a character idea. And even if the item is relatively minor I'd happily adapt if it made the game better. I'll can even imagine going so far as to contrive finding an item, IF(!!) the idea was cool enough.

But helping the character track down an item in-game, or quest for it would be much more likely.

What I would never consider is substituting items into treasures just because it is on a list addressed to the North Pole.

Does the resistance come from fear of making magic items special? I've seen some posters not that they will not use wish list and only have monsters/enemies use items that are useful and pondering how exactly that works if items on the wish list would be... yeah, useful.