MIC127 Ring of Spell-Battle

[Storme]

I just want to point out that the current magic item pricing system is Broken, not the newer items coming out of WotC. MIC is the first step in fixing the 24,000 gp Helms of Underwater Actions that few will ever want or use, and the 200,000 gp Mirror of Mental Prowess, which is a neat item but is curiously not really reasonable to own pre epic, condiering the rather odd Gold Per Level Chart.

I've heard that one of the 4th Edition ideas is to fix the wildly silly gold per level/item calculation thing. It s one of the few things I'm pleased to hear about it. MIC is just a preview.

I think most people have become so accustomed to the way things are that they don't really see how odd it is. These well meaning folk are generally the first to wince at attempts to fix it. I for one am looking forward to the day that a level 12 character in my game can have a staff of power and not have to feel guilty as a DM, and when a character can build a stronghold with their hard earned money, and not have to be level 20, and sell all their gear to be able to afford it. When the rich level 3 aristocrat can ACTUALLY afford his mansion and treasures within the context of the rules, and not be limited to a few hundred gold.

Game balance controlled by gold was a neat idea...but never really worked in my opinion.

None of this is meant to change your view, of course. You're welcome to it. This is just a heads up as to the possibility of an overall impending change which we are all experiencing.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I for one am looking forward to the day that a level 12 character in my game can have a staff of power and not have to feel guilty as a DM...

Well, the impression I got for 4E is that all magic items will have a level associated with them... so if Staff of Power is a level 16 magic item, say, then there's probably still going to be a guideline that says it's inappropriate for a 12th level character.

-Hyp.

 

[green slime]

Bah... its a game. Game as in fun. Guidelines be toast. They are just guidelines. Just because there is a road carved in the middle of the desert doesn't mean you have to follow it. Sure it may be a good idea for the newb to stick to the road, but if you want real adventure...

 

[Wycen]

The version in the MIC is less powerful.

Firstly, when it comes to retargetting, the complete arcane version says "can change the target or the point of effect of the spell" whereas the MIC says "change the target of the spell" which is far more limiting (no rays, certainly no "personal" spells, no redirecting effect spells).

Secondly, the counterspell effect in the MIC is much, much less useful, since it requires a dispel check of maximally 1d20+10, which is likely to fail against high-level casters, whereas the version in the CArc always succeeds at counterspelling.

The complete arcane version annoyed me more than once in my high level game. I still think it is dubious what the revised wording can do. Personal spells, touch range spells could still be screwed with in my reading of your post, but I don't know what the actual books say.

 

[eamon]

The complete arcane version annoyed me more than once in my high level game. I still think it is dubious what the revised wording can do. Personal spells, touch range spells could still be screwed with in my reading of your post, but I don't know what the actual books say.

The new target must be valid. For personal spell's there is only one valid "target" - the caster himself. For range:touch spells, you'd need to redirect the spell to another creature the caster happens to be touching as well. In any case, given the spell turning prerequisite, I'd probably rule that range:touch spells simply are not effected.

 

[Storme]

Well, the impression I got for 4E is that all magic items will have a level associated with them... so if Staff of Power is a level 16 magic item, say, then there's probably still going to be a guideline that says it's inappropriate for a 12th level character.

-Hyp.

Hmm...that makes alot more sense than money as the gage. I can live with that. That's more in line with online RPGs which seems to me to be what they are trying to emulate.

Now I can go back to having a character build a Lumber mill, a few jewelry shops and not have people scream bloody murder because my character is rich! Hehe.