D&D General Weapons should break left and right

[Hussar]

There is no "screw over" or "nerf" happening here. Nothing in the language written says or implies that you just stick there with no need to balance. Now, if required ability checks to simply stay on while it is moving, that could be seen as a nerf.

Here's the thing. If an item grants an exception to common sense, it explicitly says it in the language. The broom doesn't say that it works how you want it to work, so it doesn't. You don't get to just add in stuff that isn't written. As written it isn't a combat item, it's just a transportation item.

Are you going to call it "screwing over" or a "nerf" if I tell a player that their Horseshoes of Speed won't work unless affixed to the bottom of the horse's hooves? Because it doesn't say bottom.

How else would you affix horseshoes? To the top of the hoof? And, even if you did, what difference would it make? Since when does where you happen to nail a horseshoe in matter?

You feel that brooms should be limited, but boots are not. So. Okay. No one chooses brooms. They simply choose boots. Whoopee. You've managed to shift the players from one incredibly boring, insipid choice to an equally boring, insipid choice. I guess that a success?

 

[AlViking]

And.... now you get my point. By the rules, there is zero reason not to do this. There is zero reason to not buy a broom of flying over any other flying magic item. Sure, you can keep adding in restrictions, in which case the players just switch to boots. Ok, that's not really solving the issue is it? The issue is that players will always choose the most prosaic, practical item over any other consideration. All adding in restrictions does is make another equally boring option the better choice.

So what's the alternative? There's nothing in the rules stopping a character from adding a platform to the broom and surfing 24x7. The surfboard was a bit facetious but nothing stops a saddle from being added.

I think the item is vastly overpowered for it's level and lack of attunement if I don't add what I think are reasonable restrictions. Which is what I explain to my players.

So what's your point other than the game sucks or I'm playing the game wrong?