Magic Item Creation in Eberron [Archive] - Wizards Community

Magic Item Creation in Eberron [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
dorpond
02-13-06, 09:19 AM I have a question on the Eberron economy and trade side of things.

When visiting towns, cities or capitols, are there many who can and will upgrade your weapons or is there more selling of existing items?

I guess what I would like to know is:
Is it common to find people who can take your +3 long sword and upgrade it to a +5 Vorpal Longsword or is that pretty uncommon? Or are those types of weapons more commonly for sale so adventurers would need to pay full price instead of the difference?

I guess I am just curious on the economy side of Eberron and the dragon marked individuals who might be making these items.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks!
DarkWarriorKarg
02-13-06, 09:37 AM Rp-wise and IMO, those would be commission items, 50% paid up-front, 50% on receipt.

You would need to find the 15th level magewright to make the longsword +5 ( I forget the requirement for vorpal... but I don't recommend wasting GP on this nerfed special ability)

for those saying "but why would they take the time out to help smelly adventurers", by the time you could afford such an upgrade, you will be one of the few people in the world with near-legendary status. It would be an honour to construct the blade used by the mighty hero [insert name].

So, I would recommend looking at the Dragonshard that deals with populations. There is at least 1 such magewright in Sharn. Chances are there are a few more, mostly in the employ of House Cannith.
Tom McCarthy
02-13-06, 10:09 AM It's been a while since I reviewed Eberron demographics, but generally I've allowed +1 and +2 items to be easily found for sale or enchantments of that kind to be easily purchased.

But if Sharn, the biggest and most cosmopolitan city in the world, has maybe one or two wizards and sorcerors capable of enchanting a blade to +4, then I think it's safe to say the players won't easily find many people who'll upgrade their sword to +4. The city's most powerful spellcasters will be busy doing other things, or asking for favours and quests in return.

Maybe the highest level magewright will be able to enchant the blade for just money, but even then, he's one man in a city of 200,000. Getting an appointment to see him may take osme time.
JohnnyONeal
02-13-06, 04:58 PM You can just apply the DMG gold piece limit rules, but I add a few tweaks. In any city larger than a village, it's actually easier to find low-level magic items for sale (and artificers to upgrade items). In anything smaller than a metropolis, it's actually harder to find high-level magic items. In the big cities, anything goes.

I also generally provide various "Q"-esque characters for my adventurers. In one campaign, after their usual human wizard item-maker got killed, they had to go seek out an swarven artificer in Stormreach who specializes in stripping the essence out of items brought in from Xen'drik. As a DM, I try to facilitate item upgrades and such (without making it seem like there's a big Magic Mart out there for all their puchasing needs).
Naudachu
02-13-06, 05:33 PM You can just apply the DMG gold piece limit rules, but I add a few tweaks. In any city larger than a village, it's actually easier to find low-level magic items for sale (and artificers to upgrade items). In anything smaller than a metropolis, it's actually harder to find high-level magic items. In the big cities, anything goes.

How much do you have the artificer usually charge? The difference in price? What if you had another magic item that the artificer could pull the essence of to make up the difference? Or even just transfer a +1 chain shirt Medium size to Small size? Of course you'd have to provide the Small masterwork chain shirt. But it really costs them nothing, but time. What is that service worth?
ekomega
02-13-06, 06:45 PM In my campaigns, I say no items can be purchased over CL 9. That sets a good limit for armor and weapon enhancements, etc (+3). Occasionally I let this slide a little (like allowing a CL 10 item). I know these aren't the minimum caster levels to make the item, but it's an easy way to deal with it. Since S:CoT says there are like 5 wizards of 9th level in Sharn, that's where I set it.

This way, if the PCs want to get better stuff than they can buy, they can go adventuring for it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
dorpond 02-13-06, 09:19 AM	I have a question on the Eberron economy and trade side of things. When visiting towns, cities or capitols, are there many who can and will upgrade your weapons or is there more selling of existing items? I guess what I would like to know is: Is it common to find people who can take your +3 long sword and upgrade it to a +5 Vorpal Longsword or is that pretty uncommon? Or are those types of weapons more commonly for sale so adventurers would need to pay full price instead of the difference? I guess I am just curious on the economy side of Eberron and the dragon marked individuals who might be making these items. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!
DarkWarriorKarg 02-13-06, 09:37 AM	Rp-wise and IMO, those would be commission items, 50% paid up-front, 50% on receipt. You would need to find the 15th level magewright to make the longsword +5 ( I forget the requirement for vorpal... but I don't recommend wasting GP on this nerfed special ability) for those saying "but why would they take the time out to help smelly adventurers", by the time you could afford such an upgrade, you will be one of the few people in the world with near-legendary status. It would be an honour to construct the blade used by the mighty hero [insert name]. So, I would recommend looking at the Dragonshard that deals with populations. There is at least 1 such magewright in Sharn. Chances are there are a few more, mostly in the employ of House Cannith.
Tom McCarthy 02-13-06, 10:09 AM	It's been a while since I reviewed Eberron demographics, but generally I've allowed +1 and +2 items to be easily found for sale or enchantments of that kind to be easily purchased. But if Sharn, the biggest and most cosmopolitan city in the world, has maybe one or two wizards and sorcerors capable of enchanting a blade to +4, then I think it's safe to say the players won't easily find many people who'll upgrade their sword to +4. The city's most powerful spellcasters will be busy doing other things, or asking for favours and quests in return. Maybe the highest level magewright will be able to enchant the blade for just money, but even then, he's one man in a city of 200,000. Getting an appointment to see him may take osme time.
JohnnyONeal 02-13-06, 04:58 PM	You can just apply the DMG gold piece limit rules, but I add a few tweaks. In any city larger than a village, it's actually easier to find low-level magic items for sale (and artificers to upgrade items). In anything smaller than a metropolis, it's actually harder to find high-level magic items. In the big cities, anything goes. I also generally provide various "Q"-esque characters for my adventurers. In one campaign, after their usual human wizard item-maker got killed, they had to go seek out an swarven artificer in Stormreach who specializes in stripping the essence out of items brought in from Xen'drik. As a DM, I try to facilitate item upgrades and such (without making it seem like there's a big Magic Mart out there for all their puchasing needs).
Naudachu 02-13-06, 05:33 PM	You can just apply the DMG gold piece limit rules, but I add a few tweaks. In any city larger than a village, it's actually easier to find low-level magic items for sale (and artificers to upgrade items). In anything smaller than a metropolis, it's actually harder to find high-level magic items. In the big cities, anything goes. How much do you have the artificer usually charge? The difference in price? What if you had another magic item that the artificer could pull the essence of to make up the difference? Or even just transfer a +1 chain shirt Medium size to Small size? Of course you'd have to provide the Small masterwork chain shirt. But it really costs them nothing, but time. What is that service worth?
ekomega 02-13-06, 06:45 PM	In my campaigns, I say no items can be purchased over CL 9. That sets a good limit for armor and weapon enhancements, etc (+3). Occasionally I let this slide a little (like allowing a CL 10 item). I know these aren't the minimum caster levels to make the item, but it's an easy way to deal with it. Since S:CoT says there are like 5 wizards of 9th level in Sharn, that's where I set it. This way, if the PCs want to get better stuff than they can buy, they can go adventuring for it.