Alignments, Magic Items, and Dilemmas [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alignments, Magic Items, and Dilemmas [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Samusic
07-20-05, 05:31 AM So, I'm a chaotic good ranger, 6th level. Or, at least, I used to be. In one of the adventures my character went on, he found a magical deck of cards that had various effects based on which cards were chosen. Some mediocre effects, some really bad, and some really good. I chose two cards. The first changed me to lawful good and the second allowed me to have any one major magic item I wanted.

Now, firstly, I'm not extremely familiar with the all the magic items in D&D. I need a little help deciding one what items would be good for such a character, though I do plan on checking out the DMG. Secondly, I really really do not want to be lawful good. That just doesn't seem to fit with the kind of character I envisioned to begin with. Only way I can see playing this character that way is to have him be a bounty hunter, or to work for the government as a spy, assassin, whatever.

Thirdly, my character recently found a small pack of wolves. The mother is huge and the cubs are medium. He befriended them and discovered their usefulness in combat, as they can use an ice breath attack, along with their obvious strength. Is there anything I could get that could help them cope in any environment other than their natural environment (snowy and cold)?

Some suggestions would definitely be helpful concerning these matters! :D
Jaid
07-20-05, 11:42 AM Ah, the Deck of Many Things... how often has it changed the face of adventuring parties the world over... just be happy your soul didn't get sucked into the void or something crazy like that (i've had characters draw both the Void and The Donjon... and once, almost half the party got one or the other... man, did that ever bite =P)

for the wolves (i presume you don't really want me to tell you what the actual name for that type of critter is) you should be fine with an item that grants endure elements.

as far as changing alignments, you could always find someone who can cast atonement... iirc, that would allow you to change alignment easily. well, relatively easily, anyways.
Zherog
07-20-05, 01:29 PM Changing alignment really shouldn't have any effect on your character except for the purposes of detection spells. Actions determine alignment, not the other way 'round. If you continue to play your character as you have been, and your DM agrees that qualifies as CG, then eventually your alignment will shift on its own.
AlexVADnD
07-20-05, 01:47 PM If you are no longer Chaotic-aligned, can you still be a Ranger?
Zherog
07-20-05, 01:59 PM Ranger has no alignment restrictions.
Zorminster
07-20-05, 02:04 PM hehe, deck o many things. much love. IIRC then the magic item has a 50,000 GP cap dosnt it?

Bow of speed (price as +3 mod) gives you an additional attack when you make full round attacks

Oathbow (25,600 gp) once per day allows you to swear an oath to kill a target. Against that specific target you get +5 enchancement (attack and dmg) and an additional 2d6 damage (and your crit becomes x4). You have to actually kill that target though, until you do (or 7 days elapses) you get -1 with other weapons

Ring of protection +5

Rod of absorption - this absorbs spell energy (up to 50 levels worth) negating the effects (oh btw, the spells must target YOU, not AOE) and allows you to use stored energy to cast your spells. Its like a battery sorta though- you can pull in 50 levels worth of energy total. Discharging spell levels takes from the total- for instance-
You absorb a 9th level spell, and then use that to cast a 6th level of your own. The rod can absorb 41 more spell levels (even though you discharged 6) and still has 3 spell levels left for your use.

Don't have my wondrous item list with me, you prolly can't score a ring of three wishes though.
mvincent
07-20-05, 03:28 PM the second allowed me to have any one major magic item I wanted. Normally for a DoMT, this should be a randomly determined major magic item, but if your DM gave you the option of *any* item, the most expensive items from the core rules would probably be a suit of armor or an intelligent sword (with all the trimmings, both seem to top out at around 550k gp )

Is there anything I could get that could help them cope in any environment other than their natural environment (snowy and cold)? Winter wolves can exist fine outside of snowy environments, they are just more vulnerable to fire is all. (note though: these creatures tend to be evil). The Slayer's Guide to Winter Wolves (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=72) or somesuch could give you more detail though.
mvincent
07-20-05, 03:37 PM hehe, deck o many things. much love. IIRC then the magic item has a 50,000 GP cap dosnt it?I don't see that in the rules. They just say:
"Gain a major magic weapon."
(the item would normally be determined randomly, but a cap of 50k, and allowing the player to chooses sounds more fun). I've also seen the 50k gp cap elsewhere though (In Return to Temple of Elemental Evil, for instance).
Samusic
07-20-05, 06:25 PM Hmm, thanks for the suggestions. I also saw something called a solar bow. It basically is a bow of slaying for whatever you're targeting. They have to make the save or die and if they do make the save, they take something like 5d6 points of damage. That ring you said I probably wouldn't be able to get sounds cool, though. Ring of three wishes?
Vaalingrade Ashland
07-20-05, 07:59 PM Heh... You could choose a helm of opposite alignment...
Samusic
07-22-05, 03:49 AM Hmmm, you think I could choose a ring of three wishes as I've heard suggested? What restrictions are placed on Wish, anyway? Could I wish for a few items?
Jaid
07-22-05, 10:14 AM wish (in 3.5) can be used to wish for magic items, but you must supply double the amount of XP required to craft the item. there is some debate as to how exactly wish as cast from an item works in relation to item creation though (that is, does the original caster have to pay the extra XP, or can the user pay the extra XP?)

you can also wish for up to 25,000 GP of non-magical stuff i believe. (hmmm... interestingly enough... i think grafts qualify as non-magical... well now, this is interesting... weird the stuff that occurs to you sometimes, isn't it?)
Samusic
07-27-05, 04:38 AM Well, I got the major magical weapon (turns out that I was mistaken, I could choose a weapon, not an item). I was able to score a Luck Sword of Three Wishes! It's a +2 short sword that gives a +1 to all your saves, allows you to reroll any roll once per day, and it is charged with three wishes. After you use the wishes the shortsword still continues to give you all the benefits. Great, huh? What do you think about that?

Also, one of the players got a keep. Well, another one of the characters found a mirror and amulet that teleports you to wherever the mirror is. In this case, where we found it - the Spine of the World Mountain. The character that got a keep chose to have his keep there, and a keep was carved out of the mountain! Now, these three ice breathing dogs I befriended pretty much live within the castle walls. So I've pretty much made them my pets. I'm going to try to buy (or wish for) three collars with Endure Elements cast on them so that they can come adventure with me as companions. Is it possible to wish for three of those with one wish? If not, can I wish for money, and how much can I wish for?
Vaalingrade Ashland
07-27-05, 01:04 PM I think you can wish for around 25kgp.

Regardless, sounds like a fun campaign. Kudos to your DM.
Puca
07-27-05, 01:35 PM Changing alignment really shouldn't have any effect on your character except for the purposes of detection spells. Actions determine alignment, not the other way 'round. If you continue to play your character as you have been, and your DM agrees that qualifies as CG, then eventually your alignment will shift on its own.
Im sorry, but if this were true, then effects that change your alingment would have no real effect at all.
I agree that you can start a character and say, "Im lawful good!" but play like chaotic good. At which point, your DM has a little chat with you and the alignment is changed on your character sheet: Your behavior has defined your alignment.

But the above situation is NOT like that. You have been subject to a magical effect which has altered your nature, your beliefs, and to some degree maybe your peraonality. You HAVE to roleplay as the new alignment. The DM HAS to make you do so.

To say that you could ignore a magical effect like this is analogus to saying you could ignore the effects of a charm spell because you dont like the guy.
Samusic
07-27-05, 01:46 PM Oh, yeah, don't worry. I asked around for how to play a lawful good character without losing who the character is. My character now carries around a sheet that says what he believes and how he thinks he should act in a given situation,

"So I don't have to make something up on the fly. That just wouldn't be right. See? For instance, here: I try not to let my friends die."

Human Sorcerer: "Am I included in that?"

Me: "Yes, see?"

Half Orc Barbarian: "Well, what about me?"

Me (Elven): "..."

Half Orc Barbarian: "Well?"

Me: "..."

Half Orc Barbarian: "Gimme that!"

Anyway, so I can wish for up to 25,000 gold?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Samusic 07-20-05, 05:31 AM	So, I'm a chaotic good ranger, 6th level. Or, at least, I used to be. In one of the adventures my character went on, he found a magical deck of cards that had various effects based on which cards were chosen. Some mediocre effects, some really bad, and some really good. I chose two cards. The first changed me to lawful good and the second allowed me to have any one major magic item I wanted. Now, firstly, I'm not extremely familiar with the all the magic items in D&D. I need a little help deciding one what items would be good for such a character, though I do plan on checking out the DMG. Secondly, I really really do not want to be lawful good. That just doesn't seem to fit with the kind of character I envisioned to begin with. Only way I can see playing this character that way is to have him be a bounty hunter, or to work for the government as a spy, assassin, whatever. Thirdly, my character recently found a small pack of wolves. The mother is huge and the cubs are medium. He befriended them and discovered their usefulness in combat, as they can use an ice breath attack, along with their obvious strength. Is there anything I could get that could help them cope in any environment other than their natural environment (snowy and cold)? Some suggestions would definitely be helpful concerning these matters! :D
Jaid 07-20-05, 11:42 AM	Ah, the Deck of Many Things... how often has it changed the face of adventuring parties the world over... just be happy your soul didn't get sucked into the void or something crazy like that (i've had characters draw both the Void and The Donjon... and once, almost half the party got one or the other... man, did that ever bite =P) for the wolves (i presume you don't really want me to tell you what the actual name for that type of critter is) you should be fine with an item that grants endure elements. as far as changing alignments, you could always find someone who can cast atonement... iirc, that would allow you to change alignment easily. well, relatively easily, anyways.
Zherog 07-20-05, 01:29 PM	Changing alignment really shouldn't have any effect on your character except for the purposes of detection spells. Actions determine alignment, not the other way 'round. If you continue to play your character as you have been, and your DM agrees that qualifies as CG, then eventually your alignment will shift on its own.
AlexVADnD 07-20-05, 01:47 PM	If you are no longer Chaotic-aligned, can you still be a Ranger?
Zherog 07-20-05, 01:59 PM	Ranger has no alignment restrictions.
Zorminster 07-20-05, 02:04 PM	hehe, deck o many things. much love. IIRC then the magic item has a 50,000 GP cap dosnt it? Bow of speed (price as +3 mod) gives you an additional attack when you make full round attacks Oathbow (25,600 gp) once per day allows you to swear an oath to kill a target. Against that specific target you get +5 enchancement (attack and dmg) and an additional 2d6 damage (and your crit becomes x4). You have to actually kill that target though, until you do (or 7 days elapses) you get -1 with other weapons Ring of protection +5 Rod of absorption - this absorbs spell energy (up to 50 levels worth) negating the effects (oh btw, the spells must target YOU, not AOE) and allows you to use stored energy to cast your spells. Its like a battery sorta though- you can pull in 50 levels worth of energy total. Discharging spell levels takes from the total- for instance- You absorb a 9th level spell, and then use that to cast a 6th level of your own. The rod can absorb 41 more spell levels (even though you discharged 6) and still has 3 spell levels left for your use. Don't have my wondrous item list with me, you prolly can't score a ring of three wishes though.
mvincent 07-20-05, 03:28 PM	the second allowed me to have any one major magic item I wanted. Normally for a DoMT, this should be a randomly determined major magic item, but if your DM gave you the option of any item, the most expensive items from the core rules would probably be a suit of armor or an intelligent sword (with all the trimmings, both seem to top out at around 550k gp ) Is there anything I could get that could help them cope in any environment other than their natural environment (snowy and cold)? Winter wolves can exist fine outside of snowy environments, they are just more vulnerable to fire is all. (note though: these creatures tend to be evil). The Slayer's Guide to Winter Wolves (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=72) or somesuch could give you more detail though.
mvincent 07-20-05, 03:37 PM	hehe, deck o many things. much love. IIRC then the magic item has a 50,000 GP cap dosnt it?I don't see that in the rules. They just say: "Gain a major magic weapon." (the item would normally be determined randomly, but a cap of 50k, and allowing the player to chooses sounds more fun). I've also seen the 50k gp cap elsewhere though (In Return to Temple of Elemental Evil, for instance).
Samusic 07-20-05, 06:25 PM	Hmm, thanks for the suggestions. I also saw something called a solar bow. It basically is a bow of slaying for whatever you're targeting. They have to make the save or die and if they do make the save, they take something like 5d6 points of damage. That ring you said I probably wouldn't be able to get sounds cool, though. Ring of three wishes?
Vaalingrade Ashland 07-20-05, 07:59 PM	Heh... You could choose a helm of opposite alignment...
Samusic 07-22-05, 03:49 AM	Hmmm, you think I could choose a ring of three wishes as I've heard suggested? What restrictions are placed on Wish, anyway? Could I wish for a few items?
Jaid 07-22-05, 10:14 AM	wish (in 3.5) can be used to wish for magic items, but you must supply double the amount of XP required to craft the item. there is some debate as to how exactly wish as cast from an item works in relation to item creation though (that is, does the original caster have to pay the extra XP, or can the user pay the extra XP?) you can also wish for up to 25,000 GP of non-magical stuff i believe. (hmmm... interestingly enough... i think grafts qualify as non-magical... well now, this is interesting... weird the stuff that occurs to you sometimes, isn't it?)
Samusic 07-27-05, 04:38 AM	Well, I got the major magical weapon (turns out that I was mistaken, I could choose a weapon, not an item). I was able to score a Luck Sword of Three Wishes! It's a +2 short sword that gives a +1 to all your saves, allows you to reroll any roll once per day, and it is charged with three wishes. After you use the wishes the shortsword still continues to give you all the benefits. Great, huh? What do you think about that? Also, one of the players got a keep. Well, another one of the characters found a mirror and amulet that teleports you to wherever the mirror is. In this case, where we found it - the Spine of the World Mountain. The character that got a keep chose to have his keep there, and a keep was carved out of the mountain! Now, these three ice breathing dogs I befriended pretty much live within the castle walls. So I've pretty much made them my pets. I'm going to try to buy (or wish for) three collars with Endure Elements cast on them so that they can come adventure with me as companions. Is it possible to wish for three of those with one wish? If not, can I wish for money, and how much can I wish for?
Vaalingrade Ashland 07-27-05, 01:04 PM	I think you can wish for around 25kgp. Regardless, sounds like a fun campaign. Kudos to your DM.
Puca 07-27-05, 01:35 PM	Changing alignment really shouldn't have any effect on your character except for the purposes of detection spells. Actions determine alignment, not the other way 'round. If you continue to play your character as you have been, and your DM agrees that qualifies as CG, then eventually your alignment will shift on its own. Im sorry, but if this were true, then effects that change your alingment would have no real effect at all. I agree that you can start a character and say, "Im lawful good!" but play like chaotic good. At which point, your DM has a little chat with you and the alignment is changed on your character sheet: Your behavior has defined your alignment. But the above situation is NOT like that. You have been subject to a magical effect which has altered your nature, your beliefs, and to some degree maybe your peraonality. You HAVE to roleplay as the new alignment. The DM HAS to make you do so. To say that you could ignore a magical effect like this is analogus to saying you could ignore the effects of a charm spell because you dont like the guy.
Samusic 07-27-05, 01:46 PM	Oh, yeah, don't worry. I asked around for how to play a lawful good character without losing who the character is. My character now carries around a sheet that says what he believes and how he thinks he should act in a given situation, "So I don't have to make something up on the fly. That just wouldn't be right. See? For instance, here: I try not to let my friends die." Human Sorcerer: "Am I included in that?" Me: "Yes, see?" Half Orc Barbarian: "Well, what about me?" Me (Elven): "..." Half Orc Barbarian: "Well?" Me: "..." Half Orc Barbarian: "Gimme that!" Anyway, so I can wish for up to 25,000 gold?