Why Put magic Items in The PHB?

[delericho]

The behemoth of the PHB is the magic section. 135 pages in total, 108 of which are separate spell descriptions. I figure you could easily trim 50 pages, maybe more. So many of the spells are unnecessary, and have their own little rules.

I dunno, that's a lot of spells being cut. Especially if we now have 30 levels rather than 10 to populate. You are absolutely right, though, that there are a significant number of unnecessary spells - I just don't know if it's that high. And I haven't counted, but I would be surprised if there were too many Ranger- or Paladin-only spells in the book (there are quite a few Druid-only ones).

 

[Scribble]

I dunno, that's a lot of spells being cut. Especially if we now have 30 levels rather than 10 to populate. You are absolutely right, though, that there are a significant number of unnecessary spells - I just don't know if it's that high. And I haven't counted, but I would be surprised if there were too many Ranger- or Paladin-only spells in the book (there are quite a few Druid-only ones).

Same amount of spells, just broken up amongst more levels.

so 1st level 3.5 would be 1 and 2 in 4e. (or at least my guess...)

Some of the spells will become permanent abilities (that probably get better over time..) and then cut out some of the repetitive mechanics different flavor type spells...

Wizard won't need a bunch of mini attack spells, because he has a permanent blast... why bother wasting a slot on another mini blast just for say, a +1, when the one you can already do is permanent...

 

[Doug McCrae]

And they're doing away with buffs.

 

[UndeadScottsman]

I'm a little confused on that one?

From a game rules standpoint, they keep harping on the fact that you don't need magic items because the classes have the power [salespeak]the math works without them.[/salespeak] So doesn't that mean magic items are, for the most part, supposed to be fun treasure items?

I mean, I know most players already have a DMG, and know what the items are already... But still... Doesn't it take a little of the fun out of things if they already know what everything is? (Especially for the new players and their sense of wonder...)

Even though they've been talking about making magic items less necessary, they still fully acknowledge that magic items are still popular rewards for questing and killing monsters. They may not be necessary, but they'll still be useful and desirable.

 

[Scribble]

Even though they've been talking about making magic items less necessary, they still fully acknowledge that magic items are still popular rewards for questing and killing monsters. They may not be necessary, but they'll still be useful and desirable.

Yeah... I'm not saying whyb not get rid of them altogether... Just why are they in the PHB... If they're "rewards," shouldn't they be with the rest of the rewards?

I'm wondering if they change the way you can do things, as opposed to allowing you to do things...

 

[Doug McCrae]

Yeah... I'm not saying whyb not get rid of them altogether... Just why are they in the PHB... If they're "rewards," shouldn't they be with the rest of the rewards?

Oh yeah, you mean stick em where the feats, skill increases, extra spells, and new powers are?

 

[Mouseferatu]

And they're doing away with buffs.

Actually, what they said is that buffs have been dramatically reworked/reinvisioned. I don't think they said they're gone.

 

[Gentlegamer]

Oh yeah, you mean stick em where the feats, skill increases, extra spells, and new powers are?

Those aren't rewards, those are choices available through character advancement. The type of system you allude to would be more like the HERO system, where characters may pay character points for permanent items of gear/gadgets/magic, etc.

 

[Scribble]

Oh yeah, you mean stick em where the feats, skill increases, extra spells, and new powers are?

Those are rewards?

 

[Scribble]

Actually, what they said is that buffs have been dramatically reworked/reinvisioned. I don't think they said they're gone.

I wonder if they'll be in the permanent pool for Wizards? (Seemed like it with the dragon fight...)

Making it slightly less appealing for a Wizard to burn his slots for buff spells?

Maybe the Buff spells will be reworked to be per day?

If the goal is to cut out fight fight, sleep sleep fight fight sleep sleep... then per day would work better.

Less of a drawl to sleep and regain spells just so you have a buff for the next fight...