* * * Wizards Community Thread * * * -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Thread : Custom Item Started at 09-13-04 06:05 PM by Dwarven Beserker Visit at http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=306787 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 1] Author : Dwarven Beserker Date : 09-13-04 06:05 PM Thread Title : Custom Item i thought up an item as a quest reward, can any of u tell me if it is unbalanced, too complicated, or just plain broken? first a little about my character: 7th level dwarven fighter, no kit, 18.50 strength, a warhammer +2 ( modded so it does 2d4 dmg with a weapon speed of 8, because other warhammer just plain blows ) a shield plus 1 and dwarven plate now to the item: Gauntlets of Temporary Giant Strength D6+1 Charges When the power of the gauntlets are evoked, user is granted 19 strength for a duration of 1d2+1 rounds. A charge may be expended to make the duration last an additional 1d2+1 rounds. The player may not be told how many charges the gauntlets have left, and similairily, may not find out by any spell. If all the charges are inadvertantley used, the gloves will lose all magical properties. May be used once every 1d2+2 days. 1d3+1 charges may be restored to the gloves, not exceding a total of 7 charges, regardless of how many it had when the player obtained them, by a < forget the name of the spell, ill just call it a > restore magic spell. thank you in advance for any input or constructive critism, the main reason i thought up this item is because i dont like consumable items ( potions ) and because a girdle or belt of permanent giant strength is a little too good for my character right now. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 2] Author : Kheldren Date : 09-14-04 03:34 AM If anything I would consider these very underpowered! From the weapon speed I assume you are playing 2nd Ed - it's been a long time but I think I remember enough. Of course it all depends on how much magic the party have already, but a normal pair of Gauntlets of Ogre Power would be very reasonable at that level (and to be honest, with an 18:50 str to start with the character is not gaining much) - in fact a Belt of Hill Giant Strength would be OK - and might also be a little dissappointing as a major quest reward for a player. (Of course, this all depends on how much magic you usually distribute.) Now for your item: duration of 1d2+1 rounds - this is not enough to be much use in any serious fight. additional 1d2+1 rounds - 2 charges just to make it almost useful (4-6 rounds)? May be used once every 1d2+2 days - and how do I know if I can use them? may not know charges - expect them to be used up, also why? - it's not as if this item is powerful. charges may be restored - good - but only if the players have the spell. Seriously, given the limit of the enhancement, I suspect I would leave these in my backpack if I had any other magical gloves at all! A limited use combat enhancement item is usually for saving for fights with BBEGs, but the duration of this one is far too short for boss fights. I am sorry - because I really like your ingenuity, and the effort you have gone to here - but I think this item is both too complex and broken (too weak). Even for a low-magic campaign this item is still too much effort for the limited benefits. :( -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 3] Author : diaglo Date : 09-14-04 01:04 PM i like them. but only if there is a ready way to recharge them with say... blood of a giant or ogre or some similar strong creature. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 4] Author : Dwarven Beserker Date : 09-14-04 02:30 PM Sry, my bad in the wording, in an effort to keep these at the regular power level, i meant to say that using once every 1d2+2 days for the 1d2+1 rounds doesnt use a charge, thats the kicker, their a little underpowered, but close to permanent, and have a little extra ability in case if desperately needed, but u have a chance of ruining the gloves for ever, and the quest was the first third of the old school beholder quest. my party of 4. basically 3, one was an npc cleric, beat down a death tyrant with 2 eye stalks missing. Oh yah, we had another npc that got turned to stone first round, plus a research mage that didn't know any offensive magic spells. We got 1500 gold each about, plus a magic item that my dm hasnt decided about yet, I was gonna suggest the gloves, but i wanted other people's input first.. 1500 gold sounds like a lot, but at the cost of magic items, it would buy me about a third of a battle axe plus 2 :( and im nearing the level i could get a fortress, which would also costs a hell of a lot. thnx for the input so far tho guys. Edit: as to the dipping in giant blood to restore charges... maybe modify that a little bit to make it: When dipped in the blood of a giant, or a creature of smilar like, it regains 1d3+1 charges and bestows a strength bonus equal to that of the type of the giant's blood it was dipped in ( ex. dipped in the blood of a titan, it would bestow a strength of 24 to the user.). Please note, a permanency spell must be cast upon it directly after being dipped to permanently modify the strength bonus given, if such a spell is not cast, it will merely regain 1d3+1 charges. i think im making them a little too complicated now, so ill stop, and put the above as optional rules if my dm grants me these gloves. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 5] Author : Hiryu Date : 09-14-04 08:09 PM GREAT work! I think this item is excelently balanced, specially for a 7th level character. As for the recharging, I think it would make more sense to "dip it in the giant's blood" and then cast a small spell on it, such as 1st- level [/i]Strenght, or maybe [i]Enchant an Item if a party wizard has it, arguing the spell is needed in order to tranfer the magical properties of the blood into the gauntlets. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 6] Author : Dwarven Beserker Date : 09-14-04 09:56 PM Thnx for the input, i think the finished item will look like this Gauntlets of Temporary Giant Strength D6+1 Charges When the power of the gauntlets are evoked, user is granted 19 strength for a duration of 1d2+1 rounds. A charge may be expended to make the duration last an additional 1d2+1 rounds. Please note that the item does not expend a charge except when using the additional rounds. The player may not be told how many charges the gauntlets have left, and similairily, may not find out by any spell. If all the charges are inadvertantley used, the gloves will lose all magical properties. May be used once every 1d2+2 days. 1d3+1 charges may be restored to the gloves, not exceding a total of 7 charges, regardless of how many it had when the player obtained them, by dipping the gloves in giant blood and using the enchant item spell. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Downloaded from Wizards Community (http://forums.gleemax.com) at 05-10-08 08:19 AM.