Mastercraft versus magic.

[RangerWickett]

With the mastercraft rules in D20 Modern, you can basically get +1 AC to your armor for +3 Purchase DC. If you use magic, that costs +8. Why the difference? To make matters worse, it's also possible to get really mastercraft items of up to +3, for a +9 to the Purchase DC, as opposed to +18 with magic armor.

F'rinstance, a mastercraft +3 leather jacket is light armor that grants +4 AC for a purchase DC of 19. A +3 leather jacket is the same thing, but with a purchase DC of 28. True, the armor check penalty is reduced by 1, but leather jackets have no armor check penalty. And anyone can wear this armor even if non-proficient.

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

Well, I explain it in Modern via high technology being much more common and entrenched than Magic. You can pay more for a specially-built kevlar-lined biker jacket, or you can track down special leather, special metal for buckles, and somebody that everybody else on the planet doesn't even know exists (like a Dwarf cleric or something of the such) to cast SPELLS onto it.

I went another step and have started using the Black Company masterwork rules for items. Which could easily become abusive, so for weapons I decided that the first MC added +3 or brought the DC to 15, whichever was more. Clunky, but mastercraft quarterstaves become VERY VERY popular weapons, otherwise. And mastercraft clubs.

But eventually you do get some situations where making a Magic item is cheaper than creating a similar normal item. Plus it limits magical items to interesting unique things, or more powerful magical weapons ... when you've got a MC +3 weapon that THEN gets +2 tagged onto it, it's a death-machine. I like that sort of situation a little more than every 4th level adventurer on any particular plane of existence with a Magical (+1) Longsword or Magical (+1) Glock.

--fje

 

[Turanil]

With the mastercraft rules in D20 Modern, you can basically get +1 AC to your armor for +3 Purchase DC. If you use magic, that costs +8. Why the difference?

It's d20 Modern, not DnD. I am personally tired of magical items that grant a + to something. It's not magic, it's mundane, and boring. So be it technological instead, and keep a few magical items that are really fantastical, not a + something enhancement.

 

[RangerWickett]

Okay, good. I personally don't mind mastercraft items (though now my next character's going to have to have a mastercraft +3 sap). I just wanted to know if anyone can see a reason to have magic weapons that just grant bonuses anymore.

 

[Turanil]

I just wanted to know if anyone can see a reason to have magic weapons that just grant bonuses anymore.

Your initial post was about an armor. For weapons there is indeed a reason to prefer magic over mastercraft: certain creatures are immune to non-magical weapons. It would be an interesting plot device in a modern campaign where almost no magical weapons are known to exit, and then you have a supernatural critter that seems unkillable. Then, the PCs read in old grimoires that a certain sword rumored to have been blessed by St Malachius or who not...