The problem of keeping magic items scarce...

[Sandain]

So these adventurers are quite famous, and its quite common knowledge they have a lot of priceless magical items?

If I got 5 of the best fighters and most dangerous men/women in the world and gave them some picasso's, a few million carat diamonds, some rare metal from an asteroid, and a million in cash - and let them travel the world with it in thier backpacks while spreading rumors about it everywhere they went - how long would they last?

I think your PC's may not understand your world, and the risks they are taking. There are reasons valuable items are always locked away under heavy security.

 

[Kraydak]

So these adventurers are quite famous, and its quite common knowledge they have a lot of priceless magical items?

If I got 5 of the best fighters and most dangerous men/women in the world and gave them some picasso's, a few million carat diamonds, some rare metal from an asteroid, and a million in cash - and let them travel the world with it in thier backpacks while spreading rumors about it everywhere they went - how long would they last?

I think your PC's may not understand your world, and the risks they are taking. There are reasons valuable items are always locked away under heavy security.

Real world =/= DnD. The most skilled, best equiped guys on Earth could get sniped by a geriatric drunkard (it would take fairly epic bad luck, true, but possible). A lvl 20th lvl DnD party could take on literally every single EL 5 creature on their home planet at the same time and win (yes, they would have use teleportation type magics to rest and recharge). In fact, they wouldn't merely be able to win, they would be expected to win.

It is true that players usually don't bother detailing their personal security. I feel this is generally a decent player/DM "If you agree not to gank us, we don't have to spend multiple game sessions planning out detailed security protocols. Everyone wins!" type deals.

 

[S'mon]

D&D doesn't work like that. You kill an orc, you have his 100 silver pieces...

...D&D is venture-capitalism with democratic overtones and a dollop of egalitarianism masquerading around as late-medieval European feudalism. Trying to make it anything else is lipstick on a pig.

You can make D&D a feudal game quite easily though, via the following mechanism:

1. The orc doesn't have 100 sp.
2. But when PC kills orc, the lord gifts the PC goods to the value of 100 sp.

If wealth comes from the lord, not the orcs, the PCs will be tied into the feudal system.

Likewise, don't have cities where you can buy magic items. Magic items come from the lord, as gifts (not contracted payment).

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Likewise, don't have cities where you can buy magic items. Magic items come from the lord, as gifts (not contracted payment).

So, where's the lord getting those items?

Commerce existed even in the depths of the Dark Ages.

Brad

 

[hong]

So, where's the lord getting those items?

Cities are respawn points for items, just as dungeons are respawn points for XP.

Hey, it works for me.

 

[Remathilis]

Cities are respawn points for items, just as dungeons are respawn points for XP.

Hey, it works for me.

And that's why I love you (plantonically) hong.

I'll go get a stick...

 

[Raven Crowking]

So, where's the lord getting those items?

In this paradigm, the lord has the right to restrict and control the manufacture of said items, so item creators work directly for the lord.....or are outlaws. The items of outlaw creators may be confiscated by the lord, and the creator put to death.


RC

 

[hong]

You can make D&D a feudal game quite easily though, via the following mechanism:

1. The orc doesn't have 100 sp.
2. But when PC kills orc, the lord gifts the PC goods to the value of 100 sp.

If wealth comes from the lord, not the orcs, the PCs will be tied into the feudal system.

I keep reading that as "the LORD", as opposed to "the lord". Maybe it's a manna thing.

 

[gizmo33]

I keep reading that as "the LORD", as opposed to "the lord". Maybe it's a manna thing.

I'd bet the players in my campaign would worship any NPC that dispensed magic items. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see some human sacrifice.

 

[Raven Crowking]

I keep reading that as "the LORD", as opposed to "the lord". Maybe it's a manna thing.

Are you playing Testament?