Ring of borrowed spells: can characters use spell of high level?

[pwnedd]

Hi all,

Ring of borrowed spells in Mordenkainen's Magnificent Emporium allows a character to use one of two daily powers, up to level 17 each, that the DM chooses.

If a lower-level character (e.g. 12) obtains such a ring, should they be allowed to use it unchecked?

I was thinking of perhaps having a failure rate (e.g. 5% x level difference) for characters of a lower level attempting to use the it's ability.

What do you think?

 

[Pour]

25% failure rate seems fair enough. And as the PC gets closer to the appropriate level, that failure rate decreases. Alternatively, I'd tack on an Arcana check at a level 17 moderate difficulty. If the character is well-versed in the skill, he or she could probably make it even at 12, though not as frequently as when he levels up.

This is the kind of stuff I love about 4e, a DM tweaking an item or game in a way they see fit and knowing it won't break the game. Try it and let us know how it goes.

 

[the Jester]

Hi all,

Ring of borrowed spells in Mordenkainen's Magnificent Emporium allows a character to use one of two daily powers, up to level 17 each, that the DM chooses.

If a lower-level character (e.g. 12) obtains such a ring, should they be allowed to use it unchecked?

I don't have MME, but unless it says otherwise, yes.

I was thinking of perhaps having a failure rate (e.g. 5% x level difference) for characters of a lower level attempting to use the it's ability.

What do you think?

Yuck. I think that's a terrible idea given the carefully-balanced action economy in 4e.

That said, I could be wrong.

 

[OnlineDM]

I think this is handled in the DM's choice of powers. If it's something game-breaking for the level 12 character to have, then don't give it to them! Give them powers that are cool but not unreasonable for them to have access to.

 

[Ferghis]

I think this is handled in the DM's choice of powers. If it's something game-breaking for the level 12 character to have, then don't give it to them! Give them powers that are cool but not unreasonable for them to have access to.

Agreed.

 

[Trit One-Ear]

I think this is handled in the DM's choice of powers. If it's something game-breaking for the level 12 character to have, then don't give it to them! Give them powers that are cool but not unreasonable for them to have access to.

Unless of course you want to give them unbalancing powers for a short spell. Making the PC's overpowered for a time can be exciting, and it's always fun to take that power away from them

Trit