Not Another +1 Sword

[Greatwyrm]

With the action points and healing surges being part of 4e, I may have found a way to get around a problem I had in the past.

In an old 2e game, just by die rolls, the party ended up with what they jokingly called the Golf Bag of +1 Swords. As far as they were concerned, the things rained from the sky. Just off the rack +1 swords. Tough to get excited about, right?

So, what do you think about using healing surges or action points to power short-term abilities on lower level weapons. For example, you spend an action point and your bow shoots flaming arrows for a round or your dagger is wounding for a round.

Seems like an odd use for healing surges, but I recall someone at WotC mentioning "customizing" healing surges for home campaigns. Probably would work better with action points. Still, what do you think?

 

[Stalker0]

It has been mentioned that action points at the paragon level could (and I really stress the could, as this is taken from innuendo on wotc's posting) be used to renew encounter or even daily powers. I could definitely see that taken to the next level and allow magic item abilities to be used more frequently.

As for healing surges, you could make a living sword or something that draws its energy from the person's body. That person has a net -1 healing surge from his total, to represent that extra energy going to the weapon.

 

[neceros]

With the action points and healing surges being part of 4e, I may have found a way to get around a problem I had in the past.

In an old 2e game, just by die rolls, the party ended up with what they jokingly called the Golf Bag of +1 Swords. As far as they were concerned, the things rained from the sky. Just off the rack +1 swords. Tough to get excited about, right?

So, what do you think about using healing surges or action points to power short-term abilities on lower level weapons. For example, you spend an action point and your bow shoots flaming arrows for a round or your dagger is wounding for a round.

Seems like an odd use for healing surges, but I recall someone at WotC mentioning "customizing" healing surges for home campaigns. Probably would work better with action points. Still, what do you think?

That would be something I'd expect from an Action Point, not a Healing Surge.

Regardless, from what I hear Magic Items will be gotten from making them, and less finding them. Speculative, though.

 

[VannATLC]

If you want to treat healing surges as resource for health.. well, maybe, but you've got the question of why certain classes would have more.

Have you seen the magic items that already exist? They are no dissimiliar to your ideas.

 

[Jack99]

I think it is an odd idea, and that you would be better off giving players inherent bonuses or something, if you wish to avoid the portable holes full of +1 swords. Game balance is partially build around healing surges and actions points, and if you tempt players to use these on flashier things, you might soon be forced to return to the, for some, dreaded 5-minute-day.

Cheers

 

[Pale Jackal]

As for healing surges, you could make a living sword or something that draws its energy from the person's body. That person has a net -1 healing surge from his total, to represent that extra energy going to the weapon.

I do like this idea, from a flavor point of view. Spending healing surges to boost a magical item seems like it could cause problems, as others have mentioned.

 

[small pumpkin man]

Isn't this exactly what the Magic Threshold rules are there to prevent? I think the "golf bag" is dead.

 

[bobthehappyzombie]

I am sure I read somewhere about a ritual (yup I've invoked the old ritual panacea) that allowed you to drain the magic out of items (even while down a dungeon), to presumably use in some sort of dramatic fashion or possibly to squirt into your trusty old fav.

 

[hong]

Hmm, attuning daiklaves with motes of healing. I likes it.

 

[Destil]

Milestone

From the magic item previews we've already seen this is in fact in the game. There are magic items with limited charges and a recharge of 'milestone', every 2 encounters, the same point you recover Action Points.