Masterwork More Common?

[jdavis]

well I don't see all that many Subarus in Western Kentucky, but I see a lot of Mercedes. The point is a good one though. Do you want the Ford or the Lincoln. You don't need a fancy car but if you can afford one you'll get it. I always concidered masterwork to just mean well made. The main reason they are rare is that they are more expensive to make. A masterpiece is something else entirely, it would be a one of a kind object (or maybe a few of a kind).

 

[Xeriar]

Should masterwork weapons and equipment be more common?

Pro: They represent stuff of exceptional quality, so wouldn't anyone of any wealth contract out for the masterwork stuff?

Con: If you suppose these are the great achievements of a lifetime in the crafting of items, well, of course its rare. Wizards that want to enchant something have to track down a great smith, tell him what they want to inspire his work, and supply him with the best of materials. After that, the smith will be depressed for months having just accomplished his greatest work.

Maybe there should be partial masterwork. Perhaps providing bonuses to the weapon's ability to absorb damage.

Unfortunately the little +1 bonus does not exactly confer the true power of a well forged, well balanced blade.

A friend of mine had a beautifully balanced sabre... I mean, no recovery recoil, I could fight from the wrist with it... The weapon would deserve something like +1 attack/round and +3 to hit...

I mean, I could do things with that weapon you could only normally expect to do with a knife (and get killed trying).

That type of balance would take some special care in a medieval setting, for sure.

+1 to hit isn't very impressive in comparison, IMO.

 

[Khorod]

So, maybe there should be additional grades of 'masterwork'.

And to establish the rarity and flavor of this, maybe to have a weapon with a total +5 magic enhancement you need a +5 masterwork. What is the maximum bonus of a purely physical enhancement?

And so those +10 swords really are divinely forged...

 

[ced1106]

Yes, they should be more common. Just replace all your +1 weapons with masterwork items, replace all your +2 items with +1 items, and so forth.

Also, make sure there's a quick exit for the GM from the room.


Cedric.
aka. Washu! ^O^