D&D 4E Questions about money & magic items in 4e...

[AFGNCAAP]

Have a couple of questions regarding money and magic items.

Regarding money...

Per the preview (IIRC), platinum got a rate hike, placing it at 1 pp per 100 gp, instead of the decimal system of previous editions. There was also higher forms of currency, IIRC (though I can't recall what they were). What are they?

Also, is copper/silver/gold still at the decimal rates of 3.X ed., or have they been modified as well?

Regarding magic items...

One of my old favorite magic items is the sun blade. A lightweight bastard sword (so a short sword user can use it just as well) with good magical abilities. Is it still around in 4e? On a related note, what about the longtooth dagger (the dagger than damages as a short sword when used by halflings & gnomes)?

In addition, are there very many utility magic items? Stuff like Heward's handy haversack, ring of sustenance, everfull mug, everlasting rations, everburning torch, folding boat, etc.?

Also, what about artifacts? Are they simply just higher plus items (thrown in with the rest of the magic items), are they something more, or what?

I'd appreciate any info you could provide.

 

[tafkamhokie]

Don't see a sunblade or longtooth (and the longtooth was one of my favorites, too). But note that as a ranger or rogue, it is not that hard to add your dex to damage, so the higher damage die in the body of a light blade is not as important as it used to be. Heck, the KotS rogue does 20-25 hp of damage per hit pretty easily at 1st level with nothing but a nonmagical dagger.

Magic items seem to be broken down into weapons, armor, implements (holy symbols, wands, staffs, orbs, and rods), arm slot items (bracers and shields), a few boots, a few gloves/gauntlets, a few helms, bunch of amulets and cloaks, a few rings, some belts, maybe 20 wondrous items, and 4 potions.

To your specific questions, there is a Handy Haversack, a basket of Everlasting Provisions, a Feather Boat (new version of folding boat), and an Everburning Torch. Don't see a Ring of Sustenance, but the Everlasting Provisions covers most of that functionality.

 

[Cintra]

Also, keep in mind that one of the first supplement books is going to be the one for Magic Items, so many of the old favorites could well be re-introduced in just a few months.

 

[AFGNCAAP]

What about the monetary system? Or elven chainmail, for that matter?

I am getting the books—it's just a matter of when they arrive in the mail.

 

[Staffan]

What about the monetary system? Or elven chainmail, for that matter?

No need for elven chain, since wizards (and others) can cast just fine wearing whatever armor they like. They just need proficiency in the armor in order to get the AC bonus.

As for the monetary system, the step above the platinum piece is the astral diamond (ad), worth 100 pp. In addition, it only weighs 1/10th (1/500 lb instead of 1/50).

 

[NMcCoy]

Slight correction: You get the AC bonus from armor even if you're not proficient, but you get -2 to Reflex and attack rolls. You don't get a bonus from a shield you're not proficient with.

 

[AFGNCAAP]

No need for elven chain, since wizards (and others) can cast just fine wearing whatever armor they like. They just need proficiency in the armor in order to get the AC bonus.

As for the monetary system, the step above the platinum piece is the astral diamond (ad), worth 100 pp. In addition, it only weighs 1/10th (1/500 lb instead of 1/50).

Is there cross-category armors in 4e? A normally heavy armor that works as a light armor? For example, elven chain would've been a good example of this—a very lightweight chainmail that counted as light armor, allowing Dex/Int bonus to AC & Reflex.

 

[NMcCoy]

No, but at higher levels there are "masterwork" (special material) armors that contribute additional armor bonus above standard for their type, such as feyleather/starleather. This can have pretty much the same effect without causing complications for proficiencies, etc.