Alternative to Sacrifice of Experience points [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alternative to Sacrifice of Experience points [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ZivvixxTinkerMage
02-16-05, 05:05 PM I dont understand the whole sacrificing experience points to create magic items. And the same for loosing a familliar. How can this be translated to a semi-realistic thing. For me XP loss ruins the willful suspension of disbelief. f a WOTC guy reads this, is ther e any hope to a book that discusses alternatives to XP loss in item creation?

Also, could someone explain how level loss translates to something semi-realistic. like it as a game ability of some powerful monsters but i dont understand how it translates either

locoguesantes@yahoo.com
Aracor
02-16-05, 05:10 PM It's simple. Think of it as investing a part of yourself into the item that you're creating. And a familiar has a bond with you stronger even than a husband or wife, it's very nearly a part of you. And yes, that's going to affect you if it dies.

~Aracor
Santrilla
02-16-05, 06:20 PM XP is one of the most abstract concepts in D&D. It's sort of like the humanist concept of self-actualisation; various events in your life lead to a better sense of self-confidence, of understanding of the world and of yourself. It's a general state of 'self-knowing'. The less atheistic of us might consider it as development of your 'soul'.

Magic item creation, and the more powerful spells, represent a generic mental and spiritual draining of the user. Think of XP as 'soul energy'; powerful magic consists of a fundamental altering of the universe and some form of energy has to be provided for this reaction to occur. So, you put a bit of your 'self' into the equation.

Side-note: you can put your email address in your profile. You don't have to put it at the end of your posts. :)
mvincent
02-16-05, 06:46 PM The XP loss makes sense to me (you are investing part of your power in an item), and is one of the few areas that D&D seems more realistic (to me) than other games I prefer. But if you dislike it, I think you could just pay GP instead (25 GP = 1 XP), and I'm sure there are other methods.

Really though, the XP price is a lot smaller than you think, and is totally worth the money you save. Plus (according to the rules) you should be getting more XP if you're lower level than the other players, so you likely won't be far behind them.

More importantly, your equipment isn't figured in when calculating XP from CR's... meaning you'll have an easier time accumulating XP if you expend them on making magic items.

Also note: you can't actually lose a level by making a magic item, since you can only burn XP down to the start of your last level acquired.
Obscure One
02-16-05, 07:33 PM XP is one of the most abstract concepts in D&D. It's sort of like the humanist concept of self-actualisation; various events in your life lead to a better sense of self-confidence, of understanding of the world and of yourself. It's a general state of 'self-knowing'. The less atheistic of us might consider it as development of your 'soul'.

Magic item creation, and the more powerful spells, represent a generic mental and spiritual draining of the user. Think of XP as 'soul energy'; powerful magic consists of a fundamental altering of the universe and some form of energy has to be provided for this reaction to occur. So, you put a bit of your 'self' into the equation.

Hmmm, never thought of it that way, it always seemed like some random abstract game component till now.
:lightbulb
runestar
02-17-05, 05:22 AM I think losing xp when crafting items is like giving up a part of yourself, perhaps the item crafted contains a fragment of your very soul/essense, it supposedly shows the passion you used in making the item.
runestar
02-17-05, 05:24 AM I think losing xp when crafting items is like giving up a part of yourself, perhaps the item crafted contains a fragment of your very soul/essense, it supposedly shows the passion you used in making the item.

In game terms, it was just an attempt to prevent people with too much cash from abusing the system. One could just craft a billion wands, then animate them with magic to hover around him and zap anyone at will. Suddenly, you are your own mobile artillery platform. Who wants to go up against somebody with that kind of firepower at his fingertips? Xp actually serves as a mitigating factor.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ZivvixxTinkerMage 02-16-05, 05:05 PM	I dont understand the whole sacrificing experience points to create magic items. And the same for loosing a familliar. How can this be translated to a semi-realistic thing. For me XP loss ruins the willful suspension of disbelief. f a WOTC guy reads this, is ther e any hope to a book that discusses alternatives to XP loss in item creation? Also, could someone explain how level loss translates to something semi-realistic. like it as a game ability of some powerful monsters but i dont understand how it translates either locoguesantes@yahoo.com
Aracor 02-16-05, 05:10 PM	It's simple. Think of it as investing a part of yourself into the item that you're creating. And a familiar has a bond with you stronger even than a husband or wife, it's very nearly a part of you. And yes, that's going to affect you if it dies. ~Aracor
Santrilla 02-16-05, 06:20 PM	XP is one of the most abstract concepts in D&D. It's sort of like the humanist concept of self-actualisation; various events in your life lead to a better sense of self-confidence, of understanding of the world and of yourself. It's a general state of 'self-knowing'. The less atheistic of us might consider it as development of your 'soul'. Magic item creation, and the more powerful spells, represent a generic mental and spiritual draining of the user. Think of XP as 'soul energy'; powerful magic consists of a fundamental altering of the universe and some form of energy has to be provided for this reaction to occur. So, you put a bit of your 'self' into the equation. Side-note: you can put your email address in your profile. You don't have to put it at the end of your posts. :)
mvincent 02-16-05, 06:46 PM	The XP loss makes sense to me (you are investing part of your power in an item), and is one of the few areas that D&D seems more realistic (to me) than other games I prefer. But if you dislike it, I think you could just pay GP instead (25 GP = 1 XP), and I'm sure there are other methods. Really though, the XP price is a lot smaller than you think, and is totally worth the money you save. Plus (according to the rules) you should be getting more XP if you're lower level than the other players, so you likely won't be far behind them. More importantly, your equipment isn't figured in when calculating XP from CR's... meaning you'll have an easier time accumulating XP if you expend them on making magic items. Also note: you can't actually lose a level by making a magic item, since you can only burn XP down to the start of your last level acquired.
Obscure One 02-16-05, 07:33 PM	XP is one of the most abstract concepts in D&D. It's sort of like the humanist concept of self-actualisation; various events in your life lead to a better sense of self-confidence, of understanding of the world and of yourself. It's a general state of 'self-knowing'. The less atheistic of us might consider it as development of your 'soul'. Magic item creation, and the more powerful spells, represent a generic mental and spiritual draining of the user. Think of XP as 'soul energy'; powerful magic consists of a fundamental altering of the universe and some form of energy has to be provided for this reaction to occur. So, you put a bit of your 'self' into the equation. Hmmm, never thought of it that way, it always seemed like some random abstract game component till now. :lightbulb
runestar 02-17-05, 05:22 AM	I think losing xp when crafting items is like giving up a part of yourself, perhaps the item crafted contains a fragment of your very soul/essense, it supposedly shows the passion you used in making the item.
runestar 02-17-05, 05:24 AM	I think losing xp when crafting items is like giving up a part of yourself, perhaps the item crafted contains a fragment of your very soul/essense, it supposedly shows the passion you used in making the item. In game terms, it was just an attempt to prevent people with too much cash from abusing the system. One could just craft a billion wands, then animate them with magic to hover around him and zap anyone at will. Suddenly, you are your own mobile artillery platform. Who wants to go up against somebody with that kind of firepower at his fingertips? Xp actually serves as a mitigating factor.