SQUEE! The rust monster revealed!

[Keefe the Thief]

And people without access to the item disenchant ritual can use the monster as a kind of "magic item conversion machine" - plots spring to mind. Ahhh, inspiration.

 

[Derren]

And people without access to the item disenchant ritual can use the monster as a kind of "magic item conversion machine" - plots spring to mind. Ahhh, inspiration.

Considering that rustmonsters are 5 times as effective as the ritual I wouldn't limit that to people who can't use it.

 

[darjr]

Well, assuming the rust monster does not get away....

 

[Abisashi]

Well, assuming the rust monster does not get away....

I laughed out loud when I pictured adventurers in their under-clothes chasing down a rust monster in order to recover they gear they thought they were so smart to use the monster to recycle.

 

[Justin D. Jacobson]

Seriously, why even bother having the rust monster if it's just a momentary inconvenience?

Because inconveniences are interesting from a strategy standpoint; uber-screwage is just plain not fun. It's trying to strike a balance and, imo, hitting it square on the nose.

 

[Rechan]

Because inconveniences are interesting from a strategy standpoint; uber-screwage is just plain not fun. It's trying to strike a balance and, imo, hitting it square on the nose.

And can be used in a tactical situation without making it impossible or overly hard.

For instance, werewolves are vulnerable to silver. Werewolves hunt down rust monster, use it to eat silver weapons. Rusty can only eat one silver weapon per encounter, so it doesn't make the werewolves super hard, but it does present a challenge.

That, and the degrading attack value of the weapon is a problem when they try to attack the werewolves.

 

[ProfessorCirno]

Because inconveniences are interesting from a strategy standpoint; uber-screwage is just plain not fun. It's trying to strike a balance and, imo, hitting it square on the nose.

Rust monsters were hardly "uber-screwage." You act like they sent out GIANT CLOUDS OF RUST GAS in miles long radius. What they were was a way to shake up an encounter. Go up against a rust monster? You keep your distance and make sure it ALSO keeps it's distance.

Now, you don't do anything different. The rust monster is now just another easy encounter. No need to change up your tactics, except maybe to purposefully feed it magic items you don't want before killing it. It is, ultimately, entirely forgettable.

Some people think a rust monster piggy bank is a cool idea. I think it's kinda stupid.

 

[Fenes]

So every adventurer should have some pet rust monsters stowed somewhere for the case he finds a weapon with an enchantment he doesn't like (Yes, I know, bad DM) he just feeds it to a rustmonster and can now make whatever he wants with minimal gold loss.
Why sell for 20% when you have a rust monsters?

Isn't there a beast master class or path lined up somewhere?

 

[DandD]

Yeah, in Martial Powers I.

Although the animal companion rather works harmlessly, and most enemies don't have magical items that affect their stats in the 4th edition (or if they do, it's already incorporated, by the game moderator's discretion).
At paragon and epic tier, nobody is going to fear the rust monster. That means all plans to hold the city of brass ransom with a herde of rust monster have to be revised.

 

[Fenes]

I was more thinking about the consequences of using rust monsters as magic converters/multipliers, if that ring to half the costs for rituals works.