Weapons of Legacy Question

[Nightfall]

Nightfall, why the scepticism? Do you think that it will make the players unhappy or unabalance the game by giving everyone WoL without any drawbacks associated with them?

Olaf the Stout

No just that I figure one player might start saying "Why don't I have a super greatsword?!" when they are just a wizard. That kind of thing. My skeptism is more rooted in the fact I don't trust players. That's all. That plus rules that tend to be very ambigious.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

No just that I figure one player might start saying "Why don't I have a super greatsword?!" when they are just a wizard. That kind of thing. My skeptism is more rooted in the fact I don't trust players. That's all. That plus rules that tend to be very ambigious.

But he'll have a super staff to keep him happy!

Do you think perhaps that there will be some envy amongst the players as to who has the "better" weapon?

Olaf the Stout

 

[Nightfall]

It's entirely possible. I'm just saying I have a health distrust of players. I site my best friend who thoroughly enjoys wargaming and thus is a power gamer. But then again you might not have that friction since it's entirely possible your group is normal.

 

[MerricB]

In my campaign, The Staff of Dragon Tears is currently allowing its wielder to use Detect Magic, Read Magic and Scorching Ray at will (at its wielder's caster level). Then, it also grants various metamagic effects (per rod). I love the staves WoL can create, because the ones in the DMG have always underwhelmed me. (Way too expensive for too little effect)

Cheers!

 

[Olaf the Stout]

That's with the negatives.

They're undecided about the negatives - having -1 to all attacks is a real pain.

However, they *really* like getting the new powers at each level. I don't tell them in advance what they're getting, so the only way to learn is to gain a new level. At that point, I have a bunch of very eager players who want to know what they've got.

There have been no major balance issues because of the items. Or even really any minor ones - the PCs have been able to deal with the perils of the adventures well enough, and the PCs without legacy items haven't been overshadowed by those with.

Cheers!

That's where I don't like the negatives.

Player: Oh look my weapon is now a +2 sword instead of +1

DM: Yeah but you have a -1 BAB penalty

Player: So I get an extra +1 to hit with this weapon but I lose 1 point of BAB. What exactly do I gain from that.

DM: Ummmmm......

Player:

On a slightly different note, how much did you tailor the abilities to the player? Are all the abilities that they gain the most optimal gains for their character? Are they themed? i.e. A staff gaining predominantly cold-based abilities?

Olaf the Stout

 

[Nightfall]

This is also why I prefer to have something else like lose a point of Con say or another attribute to 'power' the item and thus work along side the other abilities.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

In my campaign, The Staff of Dragon Tears is currently allowing its wielder to use Detect Magic, Read Magic and Scorching Ray at will (at its wielder's caster level). Then, it also grants various metamagic effects (per rod). I love the staves WoL can create, because the ones in the DMG have always underwhelmed me. (Way too expensive for too little effect)

Cheers!

Is there some sort of limit to the Scorching Ray? Does the staff have to be recharged? If not I could see that possibly becoming a little unbalanced depending on what level the wielder is.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Nightfall]

Well if Merric says 'no' doesn't mean you can't retailor it to your specifications. Ones that work for both you and the player. Like say it's starts out 1/day at around...3rd level. Then when they reach 8th, 2/day or 3/day. It's your call.

 

[MerricB]

Is there some sort of limit to the Scorching Ray? Does the staff have to be recharged? If not I could see that possibly becoming a little unbalanced depending on what level the wielder is.

Olaf the Stout

No limit per day, but it's something that only became available at 13th level. It's not a problem. At that level, scorching ray is great to have as a back-up spell, but it's Peggy's other spells that really make a difference in play.

Cheers!

 

[Nightfall]

Yeah at 13th level...it's not like scorching ray is gonna do kick butt amount of damage. Well not usually.