Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Jhaelen 06-20-04, 04:37 PM	While I like the idea behind the optional material components presented on page 91-92 I think they are grossly overprized. Take for example the Narstone: for 500gp you get a 20% chance to grant a summoned creature a +1 bonus to AC for one casting. Does anybody think this is worth 500gp? To be honest, I wouldn't even consider to pay anything at all for an enhancement that doesn't work with a chance of 100%. If I sacrifice any money at all to boost one of my spells, I'd really want to be sure it is boosted when it actually matters! To make matters worse, since an Eberron campaign will mostly involve lower level casters, there simply is no spell that would be worth boosting in such a way...
therazoreater 06-20-04, 04:45 PM	I think they would be cool as treasure, if you didn't have to pay for it it wouldn't seem that bad. However the price does seem steep, I've always thought that "optional components" should allow you to use them with a variety of spells with the effects dependant upon which spell your using it for. Example: Eye of a Dragon (Use the component to gain one of the following:) +1 caster level for any divination spell or +2 to the save DC for any spell effect that causes blindness or +2 to the save DC for any spell that causes a curse Not the most thought out example but you get the point.
Kesh 06-20-04, 07:25 PM	Well, it seems pretty clear to me. They're horribly expensive, so how do you make them useful? Get 'em yourself. :cool: Seriously! Adventurers could be hired to gather these components for a wizard in Sharn, to be paid a substantial amount for them. Then, of course, the wizard turns around and sells them in his shop at this ridiculous markup to apprentices who don't know any better. ;)
AvonRekaes 06-20-04, 08:51 PM	Yeah, I think the exhorbitan prices reflect a push in the "go get them yourself" direction. However, I don't think it would be TOO bad if you allowed an optional material component to remain intact if it doesn't effect the spell. For example, Narstone has a 20% chance of granting +1 AC to any summoned creature. If you fail the d% roll, then your 500 gp chunk of Narstone remains. It's still pretty expensive for something that can only function once, and may not even do so when you really want it to.
Jhaelen 06-21-04, 06:57 AM	Originally posted by Kesh Well, it seems pretty clear to me. They're horribly expensive, so how do you make them useful? Get 'em yourself. :cool: Seriously! Adventurers could be hired to gather these components for a wizard in Sharn, to be paid a substantial amount for them. Then, of course, the wizard turns around and sells them in his shop at this ridiculous markup to apprentices who don't know any better. ;) Well, that's exactly the point: You'd never buy or use them yourself. You'd always want to sell them to someone who'd be willing to buy them from you. But why would anyone want to buy them from you? Noone will, unless there is some kind of demand. Things usually don't sell for a high price without a reason - well, okay, there might be some excentric collectors...
Dex The King 06-21-04, 11:45 AM	You could make them cheaper. If Narstone costs 500 gp and only works 20% of the time, then make it cost 20% of 500 gp, so 100 gp. Just a thought.
Lordik 06-21-04, 05:19 PM	I think you can just made Narstone endless. All time when it used it have 20% chance but there is no limits for use