magic items in a no-magic world?

[The Goblin King]

Only powers available are from psychics and incarnum. Arcane and divine magics do not work in this world. I don't want the cheese things by saying "Oh, all your magic items are not magic. Its Psionic items now. See the difference?"

I suppose I could adjust the encounters so that the party never meets things that need magic items. But, that feels arbitrary and takes away from the players who like to get new shiny.

Anyone have a unique way of giving out magic items without actually giving out magic items?

 

[DMH]

First, are you using psionics or psychics?

 

[Crothian]

If you are goping to alter the level of magic in a world like this, players aren't going to get their shiny things.

 

[Evilhalfling]

well Psionics can do weapons and armor, just play up the special effects, crystals, colors sounds -etc. When my party ran into a nest of gobilin blues they had no trouble disniguishing the cystal headed arrows and studded leather set with glowing crystal studds from normal magic items. Give the tattoos a try as well.

It doesn't do stat bonus items well, in xph at least. Animial Affinity is a psiwar 2 or Egoist 2 power which does physical stats. But the low # of powers avalible to each psion would make crafters with this power very rare. Each with an enormous waiting list.

wands (dojeries) are as useful to a psion as a sorcerer.

 

[Andor]

What magic items are missing that concern you?

If it's DR I wouldn't sweat it. Incarnum wielders are doing elemental damage or are making aligned weapons. Psions are doing elemental damage. Psi Warriors can 'Call Weapon' anything they happen to need, including magical weapons (unless you nix the call magic weapon function of that power.) Soul Blades could mabe use another feat or two to help with DR.

Transportation magic? Psionic personal items or do something dramatic to replace the flying carpet. A giant bird psigolem covered with multi-colored prismatic crystal feathers.

Healing? Here you might have a problem. Perhaps expand the use of Craft Alchemy to include potions of healing? Use the HP reserve rules from Iron Heroes or Arcana Unearthed? Leave it as is and have PC that actually get laid up for a few days after a big fight?

There is plenty of cool 'bling' left in the game between crystal widgets and crawling tattoos. What lack concerns you?

 

[The Goblin King]

Psychic's Handbook. Sorry, I mixed those up. I have not done anything with D&D in about a year. When I was in the local bookstore I noticed Magic of Incarnum. I flipped through it and got the gaming itch again

Psionic Tattoos are pretty sweet. I'll have to yoink those. Mainly I was concerned that the party would be too weak to fight at higher level. DR, incorporeal, flight, save-or-die, stuff like that. I guess I'll just have to improvise.

 

[LostSoul]

You could say that some weapons are "blessed" and can penetrate Evil DR without being magical. (Or "cursed" and can penetrate Good DR.)

You could have non-magical items with bonuses to hit and to damage.

You could say that silvered items penetrate both silver and magic DR.

 

[shilsen]

For a lot of magic items, you can just give them out as special abilities. At a particular level, just give the PCs a +1 (and later +2, +3 , etc.) resistance bonus to saves. At another point, give them a +2 enhancement bonus to a stat of their choice. And so on. I suggest retaining the same bonus type as the items because it prevents stacking problems.

 

[Nifft]

How about symbionts, grafts, and other such (basically) permanent enhancements?

For example, instead of a +1 flaming sword, the PC finds a fire elemental symbiont that inhabits his body, granting the following:
-1 Con: The symbiont feeds on the PC's blood, taking one point of Con every day. The PC recovers one point of Con every day, so it balances out as net -1 Con.
Fire Resistance 10
Flame Blade at will (caster level = total HD)
Flaming Strike -- as a standard action, the PC can cause his unarmed strike or whatever weapon he is holding to be wreathed in flames. If holding a weapon, that weapon deals +1d6 Fire damage while it remains within his grasp. If unarmed, the PC is treated as armed, and his attacks deal 1d6 Fire damage.

-- N

 

[Tonguez]

I use three forms of non-magical special equipment

1. Special Materials - eg the shell of the giant medium sized red coackroach can be worn as armour giving AC 3
2. Weird Tech - the bronze spear has a large clay enclosed bulb attached to its shaft into which acid is added each morning. The spear is able to generate a bolt of lightning 5 times per day. Note however special gauntlets are required to use the spear safely
3. Divine Boons - the White Eagle gives you a feather from its wing which when waved in the air creates a powerful gust of wind