Should rings be able to function for low level characters?

[Zamkaizer]

Out of curiosity, does a ring suggest any magical powers by it's very nature? I find it odd that the Ring of Warmth keeps getting invoked, since a ring is worst thing a person normally wears at keeping them warm. I've never taken adventurers for ironists. I would think that Trousers of Warmth or, for the more subtle, a Periapt of Warmth, placed over the heart, would be much more appropriate.

There seem to be very few magical effects that would elaborate upon the inherent properties and common uses of rings. Perhaps a Ring of Provocation, worn on the middle finger, that, when the appropriate 'arcane' gesture is made, incenses an enemy into attacking the wearer. Or perhaps a cursed Ring of Binding, that bends entirely a persons will to that of a jealous lover.

The point is that nearly anything one does with rings is going to appear arbitrary, if exposed to even mild scrutiny. So, why not reserve them for exceedingly powerful effects, apply some limitations - which bring some semblance of balance, and whose logic can't be contested since they have no basis in reality, and stopped having any the moment they decided they let you summon dragons and whatnot - and save the remaining powers for items of other categories, in combinations ranging from just as arbitrary to astoundingly appropriate.

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

I don't know here's how I see it:

the basic distinction is between Hand items and Ring items.

Now in the hand item category you have gloves and gauntlets, mostly, but I'd also say you could have simple 'mundane' magic items like rings of warmth.

But as you go up in level you eventual acquire a level of heroic status that does more than change your stats, it changes you on a fundamental level. Call it the touch of fate, the favor of the gods, the karmic charging of arcane energy into those creatures who have touched the weave, or whatever a 12 level wizard isn't really playing the same game as a sixth level wizard in both an in game narrative and meta-game sense.

At that point - you have enough mojo to be able to force items to function on your hand even above and beyond the limitations of magical dissonance - thus the ring slot.

It's not that gloves work and rings don't - it's that there are

Hand items - normally gloves but some rings fit too

&

Ring items - normally scraps of braided metal twisted into a shape that reflects the arcane desires of its maker, but other things could work too like a bizarre tattoo or a system of chains that functions as a sort of meta-glove or even a magic finger or talon you cut off of a demon lord and enchanted, doesn't matter.

what does matter is that that same item on the hand of a lesser character functions as either a hand item or no item at all.

 

[Gundark]

Wow the wording on this poll isn't biased or anything

 

[Falling Icicle]

Can't Wear a Ring Until 11th Level?

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drdd/20080123&authentic=true

Rings: This slot has changed quite a bit. A starting character isn’t powerful enough to unleash the power of a ring. You can use one ring when you reach paragon tier (11th level) and two when you’re epic (21st level). And before you get started about how Frodo sure as hell wasn’t epic, let's be clear: the One Ring was an artifact, not a magic item any old spellcaster could make. Artifacts follow their own rules. 3.5 Equivalent: Rings.

I don't like this at all. I have never been fond of level requirements for items.

 

[Oompa]

Hmm i dont really mind this.. at lower levels it shouldnt be all magic items and stuff.. but hey as a dm you can fudge with the level requirements if you want to

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey there!

You can wear a ring before 11th-level, you just can't use a ring before 11th-level.

 

[FourthBear]

Whether I keep this or house-rule this will depend on how rings are implemented. If there are no "minor rings" and ring is now a class of magic items that are powerful by default, then perhaps I might work to make the tier based exclusions make sense. I may also use a compromise: people can only gain benefits from one ring and no rings will be introduced before Paragon levels. The one ring rule doesn't invoke levels and matches the previous two rings limit in previous editions. Then I would introduce an Epic character exception to this one ring rule. This would duplicate the presumably useful game balancing effects that led to the 4e ring rules as given, but require less in the way of level-based explanations. I think Epic characters will be different enough from Heroic that I don't mind that they can play by somewhat different rules.

 

[S'mon]

Hey there!

You can wear a ring before 11th-level, you just can't use a ring before 11th-level.

Hey there Craig! Gimme an email about when you're coming to London! I was thinking of contacting Leisure Games and seeing if they'd like you doing a book signing or similar?

 

[Sitara]

It is a rather silly rule. So much so that I doubt that any amount of justifying theycan do will be enough.

Whats even more retarded is that gm's who want their players to have a magic ring they can use will have to give them artifacts!

 

[Plane Sailing]

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drdd/20080123&authentic=true

I don't like this at all. I have never been fond of level requirements for items.

I've merged this with the existing thread.