Are these new items balanced? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Are these new items balanced? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Morwen
08-08-07, 09:51 PM Hi :)

I'm currently running a campaign in which the 16th-level party is in the process of completing a trial/quest of sorts. The reward is going to be one custom item for each PC, and I'm wondering if the items are at least moderately balanced with eachother.

The party consists of:
- Human Dragon Shaman
- Human Beguiler
- Human TWF Fighter
- Lesser Earth Genasi Frenzied Berserker
- Lesser Aasimar Cleric

And the item stats are currently as follows:
- Heavy Mace +3 (STR +2 sacred, CON +2 sacred, CHA +2 sacred, Darkvision 60 ft. When you strike a foe with the mace, it becomes a bane weapon against that foe's type for 10 minutes)

- Vest (INT +2 sacred, DEX +2 sacred, CHA +2 sacred, Darkvision 60 ft. When you first put on the item, choose 3 6th-level or lower spells from the Sor/Wiz spell list. You can cast each of those spells 3/day using your own spell slots)

- Helm (STR +2 sacred, DEX +2 sacred, Darkvision 60 ft. Continuous haste)

- Loincloth (armor slot; STR +4 sacred, WIS +2 sacred, +2 sacred bonus on Will saves, 3/day opponent rerolls miss chance against you [no more than once per round])

- Full Plate +3 (STR +2 sacred, WIS +2 sacred, CHA +2 sacred, turn undead as if you were 4 levels higher)
terrashand
08-09-07, 01:44 AM I like them all.

Questions/Comments:

Heavy Mace: If I hit an Orc and then hit a Animal is it Bane against both or just the latter?

Vest: Is pretty cool. What about making it just 1/day for each of the 3 instead of using your own slots.

Helm: Needs another stat bonus...the rest all have 3.

Loincloth: Does it provide any AC? even magical?

Full Plate: Pretty cool.
Morwen
08-09-07, 08:46 AM Thank you :)

Heavy Mace: My thoughts was that it would change the bane to only be against the new foe.

Vest: That's an idea.. Perhaps I'll let the player choose.

Helm: I guess I can give it CON +2 in addition :)

Loincloth: I was considering giving it something like a +6 sacred bonus to AC, but the character in question totally disregards AC, so it would basically not matter (he has something like 13 or so AC now). The character relies on his cloak of displacement, so I opted for the reroll miss chance ability instead of providing an AC bonus :)
Dalthbar
08-09-07, 08:50 AM The full plate seems a bit underpowered to me. Sure the higher turn level is cool, but not as cool as continual haste (IMO).

Why not allow him to do a "quickened turning" (turn attempt as a quickened action) once per day in addition to what's listed?

I figure if turning is so important in this game as to give the character a +4 level bonus when turning that not having to spend a standard action doing it will be a huge benefit to this character.
JadeSpider9643
08-09-07, 09:09 AM the fullplate does seem quite a bit behind the rest of the loot powerwise. Although like Dalthbar said, it's different if there's a substantial amount of undead to turn.

I'd be careful with that vest, as i read the description you can choose 3 new spells to have access to each time you put it on? I'd definitly require an atuning period. probably a week. Although if it's just the very first time you wear it and then you're personally locked in to that selection forever...then it'd be fine as is.
risner
08-09-07, 11:35 AM - Heavy Mace +3 (STR +2 sacred, CON +2 sacred, CHA +2 sacred, Darkvision 60 ft. When you strike a foe with the mace, it becomes a bane weapon against that foe's type for 10 minutes)

Sacred isn't a valid option for item based ability modifiers.
If they were valid, they would likely be 2x or 3x cost.

The weapon's Bane ability would be at least 3x cost of bane.

This item would be a +3+2*3 = +9 weapon with 12,000 *1.5 (D.V.) + 2*2*3*2,000*1.5 + 2*2*3*2,000*1.5

So roughly +9 weapon + 90,000 gp = 162,000 + 90,000 = 252,000 gp

Or roughly a proper item for a level 21st level character (25% of wealth by level) and exceeds the value of a 15th level character's total wealth.

In other words, your items are probably way way way overpowered for a 15th level party.
Morwen
08-09-07, 05:17 PM Although if it's just the very first time you wear it and then you're personally locked in to that selection forever...then it'd be fine as is.

That was my intention, yes :)

I'll give the wearer of the Full Plate the additional ability to perform a Quickened Turning once per day. Thanks for the suggestion, Dalthbar :)

As for the items' cost, they'll each be minor artifacts, and will potentially be difficult to sell. They'll still naturally be powerful for the characters.. What would you suggest to bring them closer in line to what a 16th-level party should have?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Morwen 08-08-07, 09:51 PM	Hi :) I'm currently running a campaign in which the 16th-level party is in the process of completing a trial/quest of sorts. The reward is going to be one custom item for each PC, and I'm wondering if the items are at least moderately balanced with eachother. The party consists of: - Human Dragon Shaman - Human Beguiler - Human TWF Fighter - Lesser Earth Genasi Frenzied Berserker - Lesser Aasimar Cleric And the item stats are currently as follows: - Heavy Mace +3 (STR +2 sacred, CON +2 sacred, CHA +2 sacred, Darkvision 60 ft. When you strike a foe with the mace, it becomes a bane weapon against that foe's type for 10 minutes) - Vest (INT +2 sacred, DEX +2 sacred, CHA +2 sacred, Darkvision 60 ft. When you first put on the item, choose 3 6th-level or lower spells from the Sor/Wiz spell list. You can cast each of those spells 3/day using your own spell slots) - Helm (STR +2 sacred, DEX +2 sacred, Darkvision 60 ft. Continuous haste) - Loincloth (armor slot; STR +4 sacred, WIS +2 sacred, +2 sacred bonus on Will saves, 3/day opponent rerolls miss chance against you [no more than once per round]) - Full Plate +3 (STR +2 sacred, WIS +2 sacred, CHA +2 sacred, turn undead as if you were 4 levels higher)
terrashand 08-09-07, 01:44 AM	I like them all. Questions/Comments: Heavy Mace: If I hit an Orc and then hit a Animal is it Bane against both or just the latter? Vest: Is pretty cool. What about making it just 1/day for each of the 3 instead of using your own slots. Helm: Needs another stat bonus...the rest all have 3. Loincloth: Does it provide any AC? even magical? Full Plate: Pretty cool.
Morwen 08-09-07, 08:46 AM	Thank you :) Heavy Mace: My thoughts was that it would change the bane to only be against the new foe. Vest: That's an idea.. Perhaps I'll let the player choose. Helm: I guess I can give it CON +2 in addition :) Loincloth: I was considering giving it something like a +6 sacred bonus to AC, but the character in question totally disregards AC, so it would basically not matter (he has something like 13 or so AC now). The character relies on his cloak of displacement, so I opted for the reroll miss chance ability instead of providing an AC bonus :)
Dalthbar 08-09-07, 08:50 AM	The full plate seems a bit underpowered to me. Sure the higher turn level is cool, but not as cool as continual haste (IMO). Why not allow him to do a "quickened turning" (turn attempt as a quickened action) once per day in addition to what's listed? I figure if turning is so important in this game as to give the character a +4 level bonus when turning that not having to spend a standard action doing it will be a huge benefit to this character.
JadeSpider9643 08-09-07, 09:09 AM	the fullplate does seem quite a bit behind the rest of the loot powerwise. Although like Dalthbar said, it's different if there's a substantial amount of undead to turn. I'd be careful with that vest, as i read the description you can choose 3 new spells to have access to each time you put it on? I'd definitly require an atuning period. probably a week. Although if it's just the very first time you wear it and then you're personally locked in to that selection forever...then it'd be fine as is.
risner 08-09-07, 11:35 AM	- Heavy Mace +3 (STR +2 sacred, CON +2 sacred, CHA +2 sacred, Darkvision 60 ft. When you strike a foe with the mace, it becomes a bane weapon against that foe's type for 10 minutes) Sacred isn't a valid option for item based ability modifiers. If they were valid, they would likely be 2x or 3x cost. The weapon's Bane ability would be at least 3x cost of bane. This item would be a +3+23 = +9 weapon with 12,000 1.5 (D.V.) + 2232,0001.5 + 2232,0001.5 So roughly +9 weapon + 90,000 gp = 162,000 + 90,000 = 252,000 gp Or roughly a proper item for a level 21st level character (25% of wealth by level) and exceeds the value of a 15th level character's total wealth. In other words, your items are probably way way way overpowered for a 15th level party.
Morwen 08-09-07, 05:17 PM	Although if it's just the very first time you wear it and then you're personally locked in to that selection forever...then it'd be fine as is. That was my intention, yes :) I'll give the wearer of the Full Plate the additional ability to perform a Quickened Turning once per day. Thanks for the suggestion, Dalthbar :) As for the items' cost, they'll each be minor artifacts, and will potentially be difficult to sell. They'll still naturally be powerful for the characters.. What would you suggest to bring them closer in line to what a 16th-level party should have?