D&D 5E Who Uses This House Rules?

[the Jester]

I just discovered a house rule I'm using. By which I mean I hadn't really thought about it until I saw it come up on a reddit thread, but it's obvious in retrospect. Anyway, I was wondering who else is using "rust monsters can, indeed, affect magic items" as a house rule.

 

[Paraxis]

They don't affect magical items.

The ability says they don't, and I try to play as close to rules as written as possible.

I wouldn't think of changing it for the listed rust monster that is only CR 1/2 at all, the creature should mostly show up at the early levels where if the characters are lucky enough to have a magic item this should be a moment for the item to shine and show how special it is.

Saying all that, if I were to create a higher hit die, higher CR version of the rust monster or an old favorite the disenchanter, then yes at that point I would have the ability affect magical items. I would take something from 4e and have the destroyed item leave behind some magic dust that reduces the cost of enchanting another replacement item later on.

 

[Wik]

Oh, Hell yes I do! Rust Monsters are one of the most terrifying monsters in the game. If they don't affect magic items, they become one of the most inconviencing monsters in the game.

Plus, I've become convinced that magic items in D&D should mostly be "easy in, easy out". Make sure there are opportunities to destroy all but the most powerful of items. If you do that, players become a bit more careful with them. We have a bard in my current 5e campaign, for example, who rarely uses his Doss Lute, simply out of fear it could get damaged or destroyed.

With Rust MOnsters, though, I'd give magical equipment advantage on the saving throw. I'm not THAT mean.

 

[Jester David]

I like that by default rust monsters don't destroy weapons. That's an excellent baseline.
In my game they'll mess magic weapons up.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

I honestly doubt that it will ever come up. Rust monsters and magic items are each rare enough that I doubt they will interact at all in my game.

 

[Li Shenron]

It's never come up, but since I prefer a game where magic items are rare & special, I wouldn't let them rust or decay as any regular object.

 

[Minigiant]

I don't use rust monsters. They are extinct.

But there is a Rust, a Crack, and a Rot spell common enough that does destroy nonartifact magic items that are metal, stone, or wood respectively.

Bronze items are immune to all three spells.

EDIT:

this is a major plot point.
The mage guild who make magic items put a bounty on rust monster heads as no one would by an item which could be rusted. Rust monsters were hunted to extinction.

But with no rust monsters, there was saturation and devaluation.

So the Iron Mages invented the Rust Ray spell to destroy maigic items.
Then rival guilds tried to corner the market with wood, bone, stone, and crystal items. The Iron Mages invented spells for them too.

 

[BlueBlackRed]

The continued weakening of rust monsters makes me sad.

Someone should make a Greater Rust Monster or Rust Monster Queen that makes the party cry.

 

[epithet]

But a magic sword won't rust. It can lie in the crypt of an ancient king for centuries, and when your paladin picks it up it's still got a keen edge and, under the dust, a surface unmarred by rust. If it doesn't rust, then why would a rust monster be a particular threat to it?

 

[steeldragons]

If it doesn't rust, then why would a rust monster be a particular threat to it?

Mmmmmmagic <jazz hands>