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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Painfully" data-source="post: 6227607" data-attributes="member: 601">Where does magic come from?  Does it come from a wizard in a lab, or things like dragon's blood?Magic items for me comes from time (older is stronger), and the source of magic (dragon's blood, a kiss from a goddess, phoenix feather, etc.)  I certainly allow masterwork gear of all kinds, and consumable items are not uncommon, but to earn permanent magical abilities it has to be special.Want a +1 sword?  Start with a masterwork weapon, perhaps have it "charged" by a wizard to receive powerful magic, and then set out to kill a powerful boss like a demon.  It becomes the demon's blood that fills the charge on the sword to complete the enchantment--not some old codger in a lab asking for money.  If you choose, perhaps the charge will last only a few months or a few years and wear off.  Or, if they keep killing more demons, perhaps it "grows" into a +2 sword; or a demon's bane weapon; or a holy avenger.  The power can grow as you need it to, which is a great way to prevent magical equipment trade-ins to satisfy PC's as they continually want stronger magic items.If the sword is inherited, it can "reawaken" it's old powers with use.  It's a great way to level up magic items with the character, even if the item is/was an artifact at one time.Want a Cloak of Warmth? Kill a giant yeti, and take the hide to the right wizard who often deals with such creatures.  A wizard who specializes in evocations might just make a fireplace rug out of it, but a transmuter could whip out a magical cloak in no time, right after you have it prepared by a masterwork tanner, and gather the right ingredients from an apothecary, before making you eat the yeti's liver...there should be so much more to getting somebody a magic cloak than just taking their money.  This is the part where you can make it memorable, and even send them off to a few mini-tasks before they can get the magic item they want.Ultimately, I see the most powerful magic as coming not from some old guy in a lab taking people's money, but from rare and wonderous sources that should be treated as such.I wouldn't extract an XP cost, just because I would make them "pay" for their item in a more interesting way.  That, and I don't like to have a group with different levels in the party.</blockquote>

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