Why Forge Ring when you can Craft Wondrous?

[Arnwyn]

I believe Monte Cook stated on his website that the item categories were because of the categorization in past editions. Rods and rings could have been done mechanically as wonderous but having them be their own charts on the magic items tables separate from the old "miscellaneous magic items" was a little sacred cow holdover they just didn't want to change for D&D. Later he made his alternate categorization system of categorization by function instead of form in Arcana Unearthed where a permanent ring uses the same feat as a permanent amulet.

That's a very strange assertion for Monte to make, if true - since the change they made for 3e really resulted in a change and not a "sacred cow" holdover (since items with the same function in 2e, for example, could have been in multiple forms).

An unfortunate decision by the 3e designers, which Monte seems to have rectified (very well indeed, I might add) in Arcana Unearthed. I agree wholeheartedly with Tarrasque Wrangler in that it would have been a great variant to include in WotC's Unearthed Arcana.

 

[reiella]

Is there some hidden advantage to Forge Ring (requiring 12th level) over Craft Wondrous Items (which you can get as early as 5th)? It just seems that Forge Ring should be more attractive in some way.

It gets nice and more confusing if you use Psionics, as there is no forge psionic ring feat, it's folded under the Craft Universal Item feat (Which mirrors Craft Wonderous Item).

Of course, I've been leaning heavily towards the EQ manner of item crafting (Trade Skills create the 'base' item, and you take feats to either change the bonus type or add new bonuses).

 

[Wippit Guud]

Somehow, The One Ointment or The One Bag or The One Boot doesn't have as much panache...

Player 1: Hey man! We found the One Ointment?

Player 2: How can you tell? We didn't identify it.

Player 1: Well, 30% of all magic items have an indifying factor to them... check this out!

Player 2: Hmmm... Preparation H..... is THAT was that stuff is?

 

[Hjorimir]

A lot of good insight here. I think I will go with folding Forge Ring in with Craft Wondrous Items (while still requiring the creator to be 12th level). Thanks all.

 

[Trainz]

Forge ring allows you to have two slotted items of the same type on your person (i.e. you can have two rings functioning happily alongside each other), where in all other cases you can have only a single item in any given slot.

I humbly beg to differ.

Forge Ring fills two slots.

Craft Wondrous fills... let's see:

Head, Phylactery, Goggles, Cloak, Amulet, Robe, Shirt, Vest, Bracers, Bracelet, Gloves, Belt, Boots.

13 slots.

Go with Craft Wondrous.

 

[jester47]

One ointment to rule them, one ointment to find them, one ointment to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

Gotta agree with you there... a ring sounds so much more sinister.

yeah, it has a kind of "ring" to it...

A.

 

[Staffan]

I humbly beg to differ.

Forge Ring fills two slots.

Craft Wondrous fills... let's see:

Head, Phylactery, Goggles, Cloak, Amulet, Robe, Shirt, Vest, Bracers, Bracelet, Gloves, Belt, Boots.

13 slots.

Go with Craft Wondrous.

The thing is that the two Ring slots are interchangable. Any given Wondrous Item can only be used in one of the Wondrous slots (barring silliness about putting bracers on the legs), while a ring can be used either on the left or the right hand.

Still, making rings a special feature of wondrous items once you're 12th level isn't a bad idea (and making staves a special feature of wands the same way).

 

[reiella]

The thing is that the two Ring slots are interchangable. Any given Wondrous Item can only be used in one of the Wondrous slots (barring silliness about putting bracers on the legs), while a ring can be used either on the left or the right hand.

Still, making rings a special feature of wondrous items once you're 12th level isn't a bad idea (and making staves a special feature of wands the same way).

Also interestingly enough, not consistant with 3.0 Psi Universal Items.

3.0 PsiHB shows a number of items (torcs) which can be worn in different locations at no cost change.