Results 1 to 10 of 15
Thread: Magic items in BR
-
06-02-1998, 05:13 PM #1Gary V. FossGuest
Magic items in BR
Magic items are relatively scarce in the Cerilia. Now, I'm not
complaining. I rather like the lack of magic items. It appeals to me
not only as an opportunity for better role-playing and gaming skill, but
as a contrast to the other settings out there that seem to have magic
items crawling out of the woodwork. But I've been thinking that the
rationalization for the lack of magic items is a little faulty.
Generally, the relatively small number of wizards is the explanation for
the lack of magic, but I'm not so sure this holds up. Here's my
reasoning:
1. Priests. There's still plenty of priests running around on
Cerilia. In fact, I get the feeling that there are more of them in BR
than in other campaign worlds. I could be wrong about this. I just get
that feeling from the amount of temples and the influence that priests
have as regents that makes them seem more prolific to me. Sure, it
takes priests longer to create a magic item (unless they are using realm
magic (see #3)) but there should be just as many priestly created magic
items laying around as in any other setting. In fact, maybe a little
more. Given the lack of mages, wouldn't priests stand in to compensate
a bit by spending more of their time creating these incredibly valuable
and sought after magic items?
2. Elves and dwarves. Racially created magic items seem just as rare on
Cerilia as human created ones, which doesn't really make much sense to
me. Sure, there are fewer demi-humans lounging about. (Or are there?
Elves and dwarves are almost always a minority of the population in D&D
settings. I don't have any population numbers lying around, but I don't
think there are really THAT many fewer on Cerilia than elsewhere.)
These races can crank out magic items just as well as their counterparts
in other settings, so there should be just as many +1 arrows and bows,
boots and cloaks of elvenkind, etc. lying around as anyplace else. In
fact, maybe a little more. Again, given the lack of human mages,
wouldn't elven mages (who should represent a more "normal" percentage of
their population as they are not required to be blooded in order to
become mages, plus they have an unlimited maximum level in BR) kick in
and create a few more magic items? Wouldn't dwarven smiths turn out
more magical weapons and armor from their forges for the same reason?
3. Realm magic. Realm magic is a really good way to create magic
items. If a mage has access to a huge amount of magical power, why
can't they channel that energy into the creation of magic items in a way
that characters from other settings are unable to? If I recall from my
copy of the BoP (do you believe I STILL don't have my copy of the BoM
yet?) there are means of doing this. A character running around with
access to a Temple 7 or Source 5 should be able to create magic items
much more effectively than a character in another setting without such
access. I would think they would create more items.
4. Magicians. This is kind of a side note here. What sparked this
message was the way I see the magician class being under exploited in
the BR setting. It is more difficult to become a magician rather than a
wizard, but I don't think that would mean there would be so few of
them. It seems like every BR product has a wizard or two in it, but
relatively few have a magician. (There's no need to list them, I know
they are out there, I'm just saying I don't see nearly as many of them
as I would think should appear.) There are a few illusionist spells
that are permanent. Permanent Illusion and Simulacrum come to mind.
Shouldn't there be more of these in the setting?
- -Gary
-
06-02-1998, 05:53 PM #2Pieter A de JongGuest
Magic items in BR
At 10:13 AM 6/2/98 -0700, Gary V. Foss wrote:
>Magic items are relatively scarce in the Cerilia. Now, I'm not
>complaining. I rather like the lack of magic items. It appeals to me
>not only as an opportunity for better role-playing and gaming skill, but
>as a contrast to the other settings out there that seem to have magic
>items crawling out of the woodwork. But I've been thinking that the
>rationalization for the lack of magic items is a little faulty.
>Generally, the relatively small number of wizards is the explanation for
>the lack of magic, but I'm not so sure this holds up. Here's my
>reasoning:
>
You know, this business of Cerilia being relatively magic/magic item low is
one of the more inconsistent points of the setting. In the basic boxed set,
the NPC's presented have relatively powerful magic items. For example,
guilder Kalien with a short sword +4 and bracers of defense ac4. He's a 4th
level theif for gods sake. This is not underequipped even for the (best)
Forgotten Realms. However, in many places the setting is described as low
magic (with immortal elves, realm magic, and battle magic).
>1. Priests. There's still plenty of priests running around on
>Cerilia. In fact, I get the feeling that there are more of them in BR
>than in other campaign worlds. I could be wrong about this. I just get
>that feeling from the amount of temples and the influence that priests
>have as regents that makes them seem more prolific to me. Sure, it
>takes priests longer to create a magic item (unless they are using realm
>magic (see #3)) but there should be just as many priestly created magic
>items laying around as in any other setting. In fact, maybe a little
>more. Given the lack of mages, wouldn't priests stand in to compensate
>a bit by spending more of their time creating these incredibly valuable
>and sought after magic items?
>
Yes, priests create magic items, but only at the discretion of the gods. I
don't have the books with me, but I can't recall a god of crafting/making
things. The pantheon seems much more devoted to moral/mental concepts than
physical creation.
>2. Elves and dwarves. Racially created magic items seem just as rare on
>Cerilia as human created ones, which doesn't really make much sense to
>me. Sure, there are fewer demi-humans lounging about. (Or are there?
>Elves and dwarves are almost always a minority of the population in D&D
>settings. I don't have any population numbers lying around, but I don't
>think there are really THAT many fewer on Cerilia than elsewhere.)
>These races can crank out magic items just as well as their counterparts
>in other settings, so there should be just as many +1 arrows and bows,
>boots and cloaks of elvenkind, etc. lying around as anyplace else. In
>fact, maybe a little more. Again, given the lack of human mages,
>wouldn't elven mages (who should represent a more "normal" percentage of
>their population as they are not required to be blooded in order to
>become mages, plus they have an unlimited maximum level in BR) kick in
>and create a few more magic items? Wouldn't dwarven smiths turn out
>more magical weapons and armor from their forges for the same reason?
>
This is a big one. In particular, elves are immortal. This means that upon
going from 16th level (minimum level for permanent item creation) to 18th
level, they can use Wish to make item permanent. Being immortal, they don't
worry about aging effects, as opposed to the constitution loss from
permanency. Also, human magic item creation is limited by wizards who reach
these levels being old, and dying soon. Once an elf reaches this level, he
just keeps on going. Remember, that basically, the higher level you are the
harder you get to kill in AD&D.
>3. Realm magic. Realm magic is a really good way to create magic
>items. If a mage has access to a huge amount of magical power, why
>can't they channel that energy into the creation of magic items in a way
>that characters from other settings are unable to? If I recall from my
>copy of the BoP (do you believe I STILL don't have my copy of the BoM
>yet?) there are means of doing this. A character running around with
>access to a Temple 7 or Source 5 should be able to create magic items
>much more effectively than a character in another setting without such
>access. I would think they would create more items.
>
The BoM doesn't actually have that much to say on the subject unfortunately,
but realm magic should have a serious influence on the creation of magic items.
>4. Magicians. This is kind of a side note here. What sparked this
>message was the way I see the magician class being under exploited in
>the BR setting. It is more difficult to become a magician rather than a
>wizard, but I don't think that would mean there would be so few of
>them. It seems like every BR product has a wizard or two in it, but
>relatively few have a magician. (There's no need to list them, I know
>they are out there, I'm just saying I don't see nearly as many of them
>as I would think should appear.) There are a few illusionist spells
>that are permanent. Permanent Illusion and Simulacrum come to mind.
>Shouldn't there be more of these in the setting?
>
Yes, there should be more of the permanent illusion spells used in the
setting (there are probably large numbers of them used in old elven ruins?).
But as far as creating magic items, I don't think magicians will have much
impact as they can access neither Enchant an Item (6th level,
non-illusion/divination) or permanency (8th level, non-I/D)
>-Gary
>
>************************************************* **************************
>>'unsubscribe birthright' as the body of the message.
>
Pieter A de Jong
Graduate Mechanical Engineering Student
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
-
06-02-1998, 07:38 PM #3The Olesen`sGuest
Magic items in BR
I agree with what you have all been saying.
BR should not lack magical bows, arrows, cloaks, and long/short swords
(elven items) or Axes and platemail (Dwarwen items).
BR should lack Magical Rapiers,Cutlasses, 2hd Swords, Harpoons, Bastard
and Broad Swords, Claytmores, and all non-plate armor. These are all
human weapons and armors and why would en elf use his powers to enchant
an "unnatural weapon of the destructive humans"?
A little side note: a deck of Many Things is esspecially dangerous in
BR. Especially "Ruin"(look it up).
Non-BR:"Oh, boo hoo I lost a little keep and 2 acres!"
BR: "Ahh, I lost seven provinces, over twenty holdings, and 15 GBs!!!!"
-
06-03-1998, 01:45 AM #4
- Join Date
- Jan 2003
- Posts
- 317
- Downloads
- 0
- Uploads
- 0
Magic items in BR
>Yes, there should be more of the permanent illusion spells used in the
>setting (there are probably large numbers of them used in old elven ruins?).
>But as far as creating magic items, I don't think magicians will have much
>impact as they can access neither Enchant an Item (6th level,
>non-illusion/divination) or permanency (8th level, non-I/D)
Well, following the release of Spells&Magic, these spells belong to the
"Universal" school, which basically replaces Lesser Divination. Any
wizardly-magic user has access to universal, regardless of whether s/he is
an elementalist, an invoker, an alchemist (I think), a magician, a true
mage, whatever.
-
06-03-1998, 03:07 AM #5Dragon3125@aol.coGuest
Magic items in BR
In a message dated 6/2/98 2:02:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
pad300@mail.usask.ca writes:
-
06-03-1998, 03:29 PM #6Pieter A de JongGuest
Magic items in BR
At 08:45 PM 6/2/98 -0500, Shade wrote:
>>Yes, there should be more of the permanent illusion spells used in the
>>setting (there are probably large numbers of them used in old elven ruins?).
>>But as far as creating magic items, I don't think magicians will have much
>>impact as they can access neither Enchant an Item (6th level,
>>non-illusion/divination) or permanency (8th level, non-I/D)
>
>Well, following the release of Spells&Magic, these spells belong to the
>"Universal" school, which basically replaces Lesser Divination. Any
>wizardly-magic user has access to universal, regardless of whether s/he is
>an elementalist, an invoker, an alchemist (I think), a magician, a true
>mage, whatever.
Actually, I would dispute such a contention from one of my PC's. The idea
behind magicians is that non-blooded mortal bodies/souls simply cannot
handle channeling large amounts of mebhaigal. Therefore they are restricted
from casting spells above 2nd level in schools other than illusion and
divination (used to be greater divination (above 4th level divination
spells)). Given that universal is not one of these 2 schools and IIRC
includes spells such as teleport w/o error, I cannot see magicians having
unlimited access to such a school. Spells such as teleport w/o error
require the channeling of far to much mebhaigal.
Pieter A de Jong
Graduate Mechanical Engineering Student
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
-
06-03-1998, 03:32 PM #7darkstarGuest
Magic items in BR
Shaun Hodgson wrote:
> So I guess what I'm saying is "Who has time to make a Staff of the
> Magi, when there are 2 or 3 other wizards just itching to get their
> hands on my sources?"
>
I would have to agree with this. In my pbem game I allow Wizard regents
to create magical items and so far not one has done so. They have all
been too busy with other things to spare at least three months to create
a magical item.
- --
Ian Hoskins
e-Mail: hoss@box.net.au
Homepage: http://darkstar.cyberserv.com
ICQ: 2938300
-
06-04-1998, 08:40 PM #8veryfastperson@juno.comGuest
Magic items in BR
>Also remember that acording to the most recent update of the rules you
>only
>have a 5% chance of losing a point of Constitution for casting
>Permanency
i didn't know this. where are these new updates found? i have always been
under the assumption that the caster WILL lose a point of constitution
from casting Permenancy. are the new updates in the PHB, DMG, or
something else?
Help would be greatly appriciated :)
Thanks,
Erik
P.S. on a side note, not having anything to do with this topic, but does
anyone know about Gen Con? i mean, i have always wanted to go, but being
18, and in New York sorta puts a damper on my transportation. but if
someone knows when, where, and all that stuff, i would love to know.
Thanks again!
>************************************************* **************************
>To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@mpgn.com with the
>line
>'unsubscribe birthright' as the body of the message.
>
__________________________________________________ ___________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
-
06-04-1998, 08:55 PM #9TriztGuest
Magic items in BR
On 02-Jun-98, Gary V. Foss (GeeMan@linkline.com) wrote about [BIRTHRIGHT] -
Magic items in BR:
- ->1. Priests. There's still plenty of priests running around on
- ->Cerilia. In fact, I get the feeling that there are more of them in BR
- ->than in other campaign worlds.
I would say that FR has alot more priests than BR. The amount of priests isn't
in any way connected to how many magical items they may produce, it's their
level. I would say that 90% of all priests are level 0 and 9% of them of such
low levels that they can't create any magical items. The rest may be able to
create magical items, but then comes the question, do they have time for this,
as it can take wery long time to make those.
- ->2. Elves and dwarves. Racially created magic items seem just as rare on
- ->Cerilia as human created ones, which doesn't really make much sense to
- ->me.
There haven't been much information released about the cerilian demihumans,
who knows wha t they may hide in their treasure vaults, maybe magic
boomsticks? who know? You have to think that demihumans protects their macigal
items quite much, as if they fall in the wrong hands it may implay the end for
them, so they send out parties to recover everything which has been lost (on
battle fields or by thieft).
- ->3. Realm magic. Realm magic is a really good way to create magic
- ->items. If a mage has access to a huge amount of magical power, why
- ->can't they channel that energy into the creation of magic items in a way
- ->that characters from other settings are unable to?
Ususally there is a greater risk creating powerful magical items or using a
more potent magical source while creating one. The risk of loosing consitution
while creating a normal permament magical item makes a wizard to think atleast
twice before trying, what do you think they do if they can risk their own life
while creating a powerful magical item.
- ->4. Magicians. This is kind of a side note here. What sparked this
- ->message was the way I see the magician class being under exploited in
- ->the BR setting.
You are right as long as you only look at the PC's, the player can freely
choose if her character will bee blooded or not and therefore can choose to
play a wizard. But think about the "population" in Cerilia, it's more common
that someone has those "ability scores" which are requered to become magician
than to be blooded and be able to become a wizard.
If you want to increase the amount of magical items without unbalacing the
game, then use charged items instead of permanent items. Let say the PC's
finds a ring of flying with 5 charges, then the players would use it only when
really needed instead of using it always.
//Trizt of Ward^RITE
--------------------
E-Mail: trizt@iname.com URL: http://www.ukko.dyn.ml.org/~trizt/
Nick : Trizt IRC: irc.kuai.se:5278 Channel: #Opers
MUD: callandor.imaginary.com 5317
--------------------
-
06-04-1998, 09:04 PM #10The Olesen`sGuest
Magic items in BR
Erik M Samhammer wrote:
>
> >Also remember that acording to the most recent update of the rules you
> >only
> >have a 5% chance of losing a point of Constitution for casting
> >Permanency
>
> i didn't know this. where are these new updates found? i have always been
> under the assumption that the caster WILL lose a point of constitution
> from casting Permenancy. are the new updates in the PHB, DMG, or
> something else?
>
> Help would be greatly appriciated :)
>
> Thanks,
> Erik
As far as I knew one would always lose a constitution poit from casting
permanency EXEPT when using it on magical items (like this it is only 5&
chance). See Create Magical Item spell (i think).
Thread Information
Users Browsing this Thread
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Similar Threads
-
Magic Items: Cursed Items
By Arjan in forum MainReplies: 0Last Post: 11-05-2011, 01:01 AM -
Magic Items: Intelligent Items
By Arjan in forum MainReplies: 0Last Post: 11-05-2011, 01:01 AM -
Magic Items: Wondrous Items (Rules)
By Arjan in forum D20 system reference documentReplies: 0Last Post: 05-20-2007, 10:58 AM -
Magic Items: Intelligent Items (Rules)
By Arjan in forum D20 system reference documentReplies: 0Last Post: 05-20-2007, 10:57 AM -
Magic Items: Cursed Items (Rules)
By Arjan in forum D20 system reference documentReplies: 0Last Post: 02-23-2007, 12:04 AM
Bookmarks