Thoughtbot360
2007-08-08, 03:43 AM
Magic items. They cost experience points, making it illogical that a wizard would open a shop that regularly sells them; however, without them, the PCs are lunch for monsters that should be the appropriate CR. They are the singularly most complicated part of D&D, and the primary reason that a PC would need to carry around enough gold to pay the wages of the peasantry of entire kingdoms for many years. And some people want to try to make a game that doesn't require excessive magic items, or use an economy that prohibits a "Magic Shop", ultimately forcing them to crossbred fantasy gaming with Modernd20. (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/d3yU9VbXd8DxiiVgD8k.html)
So why (fluff-wise) should they exist?
Well, in a world where there have been many well-known wizards (as opposed to secret covens of wizards that are in hiding so they don't get burned at the stake for being wizards) like the Vancian-style magic that the core D&D rules use, there are many spells invented by historical wizards. In fact, a certain charm might be lent to a homebrew world that involves excavating ruins (read: Dungeons) explicitly for any forgotten magical knowledge.
A spellbook is a dead mages' "Legacy."
So, why shouldn't he also create a few items as well, especially before retirement? The exact type of items depends on what he wants to create the item for but heres a few ideas:
Most obviously, he might make a wand to cast a spell he regularly uses, so as to conserve spells-per-day. (Heck, a wand of 3rd-level or above Magic missile is a must for any newbie wizard, well worth the cost of the xp and the Craft Wand feat of making it yourself if nobody is selling them.), but wands run out of charges and don't make good treasure if they've been used heavily.
Wondrous items are more interesting because they can actually help non-magical people with multiple practical things. [I]Decanters of endless water[I/] are a good example. Magical weapons and armor help out warriors and adventurers, but don't really have any purpose beyond that. However, its possible that a high-level wizard might make say, some +1 weapons for his guards or various trappers to overcome a monster's damage reduction or battle incorporeal creatures (or enemy mages that have turned themselves ethereal); mind you the mages that do this would be making very underpowered gear (for their level) to skimp on the costs (even if they don't know they are spending XP, they are likely counting the GP that go into magic item creation).
Potions and Scrolls however, being one-time deals, are unlikely to be left around.
For whatever reason the caster in question made any of the magic items listed above, once they are created, any number of things could happen to them. Found an Orc chief weilding a +1 Longsword? He ambushed one of the afore mentioned guards the high-level wizard made the swords for in bulk, and claimed it as a trophy. A layered Ring of Protection/Invisibility laying on the ground of a Beholder's lair? Some Wizard (or the assassin he made it for) got disentigrated by said Beholder and it never noticed (nor could make use of, no hands and all that) the ring. A flying Carpet used by the Bandit leader? Dude wanted to impress the king......500 years back, but the bandits found the ruins of kings old castle and took the rug....along with everything else that was left behind when the tarrasque rampaged right through the castle.! And then, theres tax collectors that might well take old magic items as payment (perhaps increase taxes if you wish to keep the item....) just have the right dragon or troll or Doppleganger waylay said tax collector and WHAM! They get the item.
So, maybe magic items can pop up in the weirdest of places.
ugh...I've killed too much time, its gratting (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5q3TG5yCG0) 4:43 in the morning....
So why (fluff-wise) should they exist?
Well, in a world where there have been many well-known wizards (as opposed to secret covens of wizards that are in hiding so they don't get burned at the stake for being wizards) like the Vancian-style magic that the core D&D rules use, there are many spells invented by historical wizards. In fact, a certain charm might be lent to a homebrew world that involves excavating ruins (read: Dungeons) explicitly for any forgotten magical knowledge.
A spellbook is a dead mages' "Legacy."
So, why shouldn't he also create a few items as well, especially before retirement? The exact type of items depends on what he wants to create the item for but heres a few ideas:
Most obviously, he might make a wand to cast a spell he regularly uses, so as to conserve spells-per-day. (Heck, a wand of 3rd-level or above Magic missile is a must for any newbie wizard, well worth the cost of the xp and the Craft Wand feat of making it yourself if nobody is selling them.), but wands run out of charges and don't make good treasure if they've been used heavily.
Wondrous items are more interesting because they can actually help non-magical people with multiple practical things. [I]Decanters of endless water[I/] are a good example. Magical weapons and armor help out warriors and adventurers, but don't really have any purpose beyond that. However, its possible that a high-level wizard might make say, some +1 weapons for his guards or various trappers to overcome a monster's damage reduction or battle incorporeal creatures (or enemy mages that have turned themselves ethereal); mind you the mages that do this would be making very underpowered gear (for their level) to skimp on the costs (even if they don't know they are spending XP, they are likely counting the GP that go into magic item creation).
Potions and Scrolls however, being one-time deals, are unlikely to be left around.
For whatever reason the caster in question made any of the magic items listed above, once they are created, any number of things could happen to them. Found an Orc chief weilding a +1 Longsword? He ambushed one of the afore mentioned guards the high-level wizard made the swords for in bulk, and claimed it as a trophy. A layered Ring of Protection/Invisibility laying on the ground of a Beholder's lair? Some Wizard (or the assassin he made it for) got disentigrated by said Beholder and it never noticed (nor could make use of, no hands and all that) the ring. A flying Carpet used by the Bandit leader? Dude wanted to impress the king......500 years back, but the bandits found the ruins of kings old castle and took the rug....along with everything else that was left behind when the tarrasque rampaged right through the castle.! And then, theres tax collectors that might well take old magic items as payment (perhaps increase taxes if you wish to keep the item....) just have the right dragon or troll or Doppleganger waylay said tax collector and WHAM! They get the item.
So, maybe magic items can pop up in the weirdest of places.
ugh...I've killed too much time, its gratting (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5q3TG5yCG0) 4:43 in the morning....