I can't help but notice that Mordenkainens Magnificent Emporium has apparently been dug up from the dead and is back on the release schedule. From my point of view, this is one of the most important books released post essentials, particularly with how absolutely broken the magic item system currently is. For one thing, there is a depth of stupidity in iron armbands being uncommon (so cannot be obtained easily) while any essentials MBA spamming class can get common bracers of archery/bracers of mighty striking (which do the same thing, only on basic attacks). In addition to this, there aren't a lot of common items in the first place anyway and many old items haven't (yet) been errata'ed properly to be common/uncommon/rare (some things are so poor, they should be common but are uncommon).
Then there are rare items. Rare items were supposed to be powerful and character defining: In practice they are frequently worse than common items. The best (worst?) example is the Gauntlets of Ogre Power. A +1 bonus to some skills and then a daily power to add +2 damage for an encounter. Whoo! That's so amazing! This is totally worth a level 5 rare that doesn't even compete with the Bracers of Mighty Striking (Common) or the Iron Armbands of Power (Uncommon). Other rares are so situational, they are practically campaign dependent or they are frequently worse than common/uncommon equivalents. For something that should be special and character defining, they are a massive failure of the new system.
But don't take my word for it, let's take the designers word for it:
In any event, seeing Mordenkainens Magical Emporium back is very pleasing. For one thing, it seems Wizards have bought it back to address the complaints above about the magic item system. Secondly, I was originally really looking forward to this book and I'm finding it tough going to make all my own new rares. I love the inherent concept within the item rarity system (which makes me an exception, most people seem to hate it), especially with rare items and what their potential should be. I do wonder why the decision to publish the book again instead of releasing the content over DDI, but not that I mind! More rare items is good by me!
But I hope, I so so so hope they have learned from disasters with initial rares. Rares can be awesome, flavorful and powerful due to the fact they aren't inherently easy to acquire. I want them to be character defining and exciting for my players. I don't want more shoddy items like the Gauntlets of Ogre Power, which deserve only thorough derision and mocking. I actually would love this system to work well, without me needing to make my own rares on a frequent basis and for there to be a decent spread of common/uncommon/rare items.
I am still quietly excited about this book, assuming that lessons that rares shouldn't suck more than more easily acquired commons/uncommons have been learned that is. I just hope its reanimation from the grave isn't a huge mistake on the Wizards website and it is actually coming.
Then there are rare items. Rare items were supposed to be powerful and character defining: In practice they are frequently worse than common items. The best (worst?) example is the Gauntlets of Ogre Power. A +1 bonus to some skills and then a daily power to add +2 damage for an encounter. Whoo! That's so amazing! This is totally worth a level 5 rare that doesn't even compete with the Bracers of Mighty Striking (Common) or the Iron Armbands of Power (Uncommon). Other rares are so situational, they are practically campaign dependent or they are frequently worse than common/uncommon equivalents. For something that should be special and character defining, they are a massive failure of the new system.
But don't take my word for it, let's take the designers word for it:
This would be a good answer if the default essentials magic item system was the parcel system: But it instead a randomly generated system. I expect that most essentials players should buy the original DMG instead of the DMs kit, because it's flat out better (and has the base monster creation guidelines), but those who didn't are hosed.I want to give the magic item rarity system a fair try, but there are very few common and rare items. Will it be supported in the future or should I use the treasure parcel system?
Until we have enough rare and common items in the system, it’s best to continue to use the treasure parcel system as written. When it comes to buying items, use your judgment as a DM to determine which uncommon items you would like to make available to the players. As a rule of thumb, treat items that lack powers and have either minor properties, such as a bonus to a skill, as common items.
If it’s still not clear if an item should be common, ask yourself two questions about it. If either answer is yes, then the item should not be common. First, would the item be overly useful if a player had easy access to multiples of it? Second, does the item provide a benefit that would be overpowering if everyone in the party had access to it?
In any event, seeing Mordenkainens Magical Emporium back is very pleasing. For one thing, it seems Wizards have bought it back to address the complaints above about the magic item system. Secondly, I was originally really looking forward to this book and I'm finding it tough going to make all my own new rares. I love the inherent concept within the item rarity system (which makes me an exception, most people seem to hate it), especially with rare items and what their potential should be. I do wonder why the decision to publish the book again instead of releasing the content over DDI, but not that I mind! More rare items is good by me!
But I hope, I so so so hope they have learned from disasters with initial rares. Rares can be awesome, flavorful and powerful due to the fact they aren't inherently easy to acquire. I want them to be character defining and exciting for my players. I don't want more shoddy items like the Gauntlets of Ogre Power, which deserve only thorough derision and mocking. I actually would love this system to work well, without me needing to make my own rares on a frequent basis and for there to be a decent spread of common/uncommon/rare items.
I am still quietly excited about this book, assuming that lessons that rares shouldn't suck more than more easily acquired commons/uncommons have been learned that is. I just hope its reanimation from the grave isn't a huge mistake on the Wizards website and it is actually coming.
