What's your magic level preference?
- Thread starter d20Dwarf
- Start date
We've always played a medium to high magic campaign and just recently we started a very low magic campaign (where a +1 sword is something of legend) and i have to say I absolutely love it. All temporary magic items (wands, potions, scrolls) are just as plentiful as ever. But any permanent magic item (such as a +1 sword or a cloak of resistance) is almost unheard of.
The population makes up for the lack of magic by finding mundane ways to provide better equipment. Like barbed arrows that do d10, but are only good for less than 30 feet. Or elven studded leather that provides a bonus to hide/move silently in the forest. Of course even these mundane items are hard to find and only the best craftsman can create them.
To make this possible, its expensive to learn some spells, XP costs have been added to certain spells (like scry) so they are not overused, and the XP cost to make magic items is significantly increased.
The population makes up for the lack of magic by finding mundane ways to provide better equipment. Like barbed arrows that do d10, but are only good for less than 30 feet. Or elven studded leather that provides a bonus to hide/move silently in the forest. Of course even these mundane items are hard to find and only the best craftsman can create them.
To make this possible, its expensive to learn some spells, XP costs have been added to certain spells (like scry) so they are not overused, and the XP cost to make magic items is significantly increased.
Last edited:
I like magic to be rare, but powerful. Awe-inspiring in general. Incredible magical events and objects can exist, but they are of legendary status and only a rare few come in to contact with these things. Foul sorcerers and dark priest-cultists are spoken of in hushed whispers and feared even by powerful heroes. Kind of like how it was back in the Wierd Tales pulp era -- Conan, Clark Ashton Smith, etc.
Last edited:
Victim
First Post
In terms of overall power, I like the average level of magic. However, I don't like how characters become dependent on their stuff. Li mu Bai (the guy from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, except with my bad spelling) doesn't need a magic item to fly, he can fly because of his special Wudan training. I'd have liked to see more support for that level of "skill." For example, character X doesn't have Boots of Speed because he doesn't need them. Though he can't keep it up for long, he can move with amazing speed without magic. Same effect, different description.
Aust Diamondew
First Post
I'm a powergamer (though I do love roleplaying) no question about it. However I believe magic is a munchkin newbs way to powergame, real powergamers use feats skills and nifty spell combos.
Therefore I like average and low magic settings.
Therefore I like average and low magic settings.
Viktyr Gehrig
First Post
Victim said:
I've been trying to figure out ways of adding that Wuxia element without using levels of Psychic Warrior. I've seen suggested simply that everyone gets to fly at 10th level and most people have a level or two in Monk-- but that doesn't feel right.
I'm thinking maybe you could just give every character a few Hero points (from 4CTF) every level, to use on a carefully-selected group of powers-- perhaps with those abilities determined by class-- and then simply tone down or completely eschew the use of magic items in the game. Of course, this would take a bit of power away from the spellcasters, since creating magical items is one of their better class abilities...
Psychotic Dreamer
First Post
Personally I can enjoy pretty much whatever magic level is set infront of me. Although if I had to choose one.... I'd go with where magic items are some what rare, but are fairly powerful.
