AllisterH said:
This is the one feature of 4E I don't understand honestly. How can one make it so that a character is less dependent on magic items and yet at the same time, have it so that actually getting a magic item is an actual REWARD?
Anyone want to help me out here?
As I see it (as I hope it is in 4e), suppose three Fighters, exactly equal except in equipment.
Number one has only non-magic weapons and armor.
Number two has a Belt of giant strenght +6, amulet of health +6, a +5 flaming shocking sword, +5 armor and shield, ring of protection, and cloak of resistance +5.
Number 3 has a cloak of the mountebank, a folding boat, dust of illusion, and winged boots.
Number 3 is "more powerful" than number 1: he has more options and capabilities. However, the two of them have more or less the same combat power, since none of #3's items give him direct advantage in a straight combat (he can use his items inteligently to gain some advantage, like luring enemies to go after hin and teleporting back with the cloak, but he doesn't have a direct, numerical advantage); thus, #3 is more interesting and has cool items, but he isn't more powerful in combat. None of his magic is "required" to be more powerful.
#2, however, has a great advantage over #1 and #3: he hits harder and his AC is 15 points higer. If the other two fighters want to compete with him they too need stat bosting items and magic weapons and armor. #2 is more powerful. #3 is more
interesting