The Economics of Magic Items (RE: Naked Adventurers)

[Kugar]

I like the Living Greyhawk rule with 'Signature Items' An item special to the character should not be destroyed during simple adventuring when that was not the point of the adventure. Having a random Gnoll sunder the archer's bow because you feel vindictive isn't cool (stealing it after a fumble is another story). Blowing a reflex save hurts enough, but loosing your Grandfather's Grandfather's Grandfather's Swords just adds insult to injury. Plus magnets are cool to destroy. Make the PCs sweat when they see the Forsaken pitfighter demolish a poor guys weapon and shield before the PCs are pushed in the area. That's the way a overpowered relic should meet it's end not on the wrong end of a fireball thrown by a welp of a mage.

Kugar

 

[LightPhoenix]

All mocking aside, the 7.5 billion figure is still ridiculous, even if is purely chicken-based. Suppose there are 999 other commodities out there competing for recognition. I can't imagine there being many more . . . so there's only 7.5 MILLION chickens instead of 7.5 billion. I think there's still a problem here . . .

Except for not everything in the village has a cost of 2 cp.

I figure the GP limit also includes things like cattle, horses, and the like. Hell, a simple house is listed as 1000 gp.

To be honest, I think this is a non-issue. If you insist on drawing these sorts of silly conclusions, that's fine. I personally don't see a problem with this number, as long as you make the logical conclusion that a village's total value represents the sum total of everything in the village. Last I checked that wasn't 7.5 million chickens.

 

[radferth]

item saves

If one wants to make the items get trashed a bit more often in third edition, I would sugest using the standard rule, but applying it whenever a character fails an appropriate save, rather than only on a one. Maybe make a 1 place several items at risk, but in any case keep it simple.

 

[Agback]

Re: Re: damaging equipment concept furthered

Finally, mundane items should technically go before magic, but this is going to leave a lot of naked adventures covered with magic items.

That's not a problem, is it? We aren't on network TV, and we don't have to hire expensive body doubles.

Regards,


Agback

 

[Plane Sailing]

One bizarre 3e disconnect - the idea that on the one hand magic items are only damaged if the wearer rolls a 1 on his save... and on the other hand big red dragons expressely avoid using their breath weapon on enemies "because it will destroy all their treasure".

My personal take on the issue? I bring amount of damage into the equation, by extending the "massive damage" rule to equipment. Depending upon the type of construction (cloth/metal/wood/glass) and the energy attack form items have to make saves if they (or their owner) takes 30 damage in one go (if vulnerable) or 60 damage in one go (otherwise). As simple examples, typically cloth is considered vulnerable to fire, metal is vulnerable to sonic, wood is vulnerable to lightning.

The basic issue then becomes not whether the hero makes his save or not, but how much damage they ultimately recieve. Saving against colossal dragons breath and still taking 120 points damage may destroy much of your items. Failing a save with a 1 against burning hands will not.

Cheers,

 

[Grommilus]

as for items taking damage from area attacks... You do realise that hit points are an abstraction, and that if your level 10 fighter gets hit for 30 points of fire damage, where as you would be saying that he is now nakked, i would be saying that if he's nakked, how did he live? Flesh is pretty vulnerable to fire... So the point is, he's a hero, we wasn't burned alive (hence he wassn't hurt all that badly 30 points to a level 10 fighter usually doesn't even clobber him) because Hit points are an abstraction. I like the rule that you make a save if you critically fail a reflex check, as this shows that, even tho you are a hero, you still messed up.
Notice on the chart for items to make saves, the very first times are your shield (cause ya rolled a one, ya just threw up your arms and said AHHHHH!), Armor (cause ya didn't have a shield so you turned your back to it and said MOMMY), helmet (fell off your head as you were cringing), item in hand (you dropped it as you dove for cover), cloak (see armor), yadda yadda. =)

Grom