Why the Complication?

[Tequila Sunrise]

Specifically with item magic items. Why can potions of above 3rd spell level not be brewed? Why craft wand AND craft staves, rather than 'craft charged item'? Why do certain common items exclude each other by both taking up the same item space? (Periapts of Wisdom are common for any divine caster, but take up the same space as Amulets of Natural Armor which is common for everybody. Cloaks of Charisma are standard for any Charisma-caster, but they conflict with Cloaks of Resistance which are standard for everybody.)

Do all of these rules exist simply because of tradition or are there balance issues that I'm not seeing?

 

[pawsplay]

Well, wearing three cloaks is kind of dumb.

 

[Stalker0]

Check out Arcana Evolved. Monte Cook agreed with you, and made new crafting rules that do just as you describe.

 

[Seeten]

Gauntlets of Ogre Power, Belt of Storm Giant Strength, thus by tradition, were those slots made strength enhancing. Its a sacred cow, for sure.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

Monte Cook agreed with you...

That makes me happy

 

[Bad Paper]

Monte Cook said that the 3rd-level cap for Brew Potion, the 4th-level cap for Craft Wand, etc, are all simply for flavor. To break them would not unbalancing at all (as with monks' and paladins' prohibition against multiclassing). In my campaign, I allow things like a potion of restoration if the creator has both Brew Potion and Craft Wondrous Item.

 

[The Human Target]

Mostly tradition and arbitrary rulings really. Also some flavor issues.

Though not being able to create a potion of wish may be a balance thing.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

Thanks everyone!

I just had an idea: The PCs are preping for a big battle with BBEG.

PCs: Okay, so we have Mo the cleric to true res us later if we go down but what if Mo goes down?
Mo: I got it covered! Everyone take one of these nifty potions and we're good to go!

 

[Crothian]

Do all of these rules exist simply because of tradition or are there balance issues that I'm not seeing?

The wonderious items would be way to long if they had all the different combinations of items and magic. That's why there are the create magical items guidelines so one can have a cloak of resitance and boots of charisma at the same time!!

 

[pawsplay]

And, dude, those boots are so totally cute.