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Message: <blockquote data-quote="billd91" data-source="post: 5024052" data-attributes="member: 3400">That's my general take on it too. I can empathize with WotC wanting to design a game in which players can build their characters exactly how they want to. I can also empathize with them wanting to add in an easier magic item building subsystem. But it really does have unpleasant downstream effects. Quirky items that PCs used to get through horde placement get turned into cash to get stuff more regularly useful (the Big 6).Back in 1e, you could sell your magic gear, sure. The DMG had prices for that. But it wasn't so easy to turn that back around into new magic gear by the rules. Getting the big 6 (or big 3-4 considering there were no amulets of natural armor and the rings of protection/cloaks of resistance did double-duty, and magic users didn't want a girdle of giant strength) was still desirable, but not such an easy strategy to pursue. Most PCs came away with 3 (weapon, armor, ring/cloak of protection) eventually and ended up having to be satisfied with the level of the magic they got - or went on quest to get better ones.Most often, you sold magical gear to get the money you needed to train up a level or save up for a castle.Simple magic item creation in 3.0 commoditized magic too much. And 4e hasn't exactly improved on that because it hasn't fundamentally changed that idea. The numbers have been fiddled with. That's all. But what's the solution? I can think of a few ideas.1) Don't build assumptions about what magic PCs have into your challenge ratings or appropriate-level monster defenses. No need to keep up - no need to go with upgrade after upgrade. People will still want the upgrades to a certain extent, but won't feel they're so "mandatory". 4e may have relatively weak magic, but they're still built into the expectations of the system.2) Make consumable magic fairly easy to make but permanent magic harder. Wondrous Items at 3rd level? I think NOT! In 1e/2e, 11th level was the norm when magic users started getting Enchant an Item.</blockquote>

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