Class-Specific items? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Class-Specific items? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Necropolitan
11-18-06, 08:55 PM This is an idea I've been playing with for awhile.

Why don't we make up Class-Specific Armors and devices?

There is precidence out the wazoo in the ocean of Wonderous Items in the wolrd; Mage Robes, Amulet's of Mighty Fists; the list goes on.

So why not make up speicalized armors for classes, or tools only they can use? It makes sense for some classes more then others; Mage Robes could be an interesting non-magical item that provide different bonuses to perhaps AC, or a save or resistence agaisnt a ceritan thing.

Such as for example; Mage Robes of Wyrmskin. Fire Resistence 5.

Little mundane items that just give a bit more spice and flair to the classes, and make it more fun to make stacked Custom Magical items, since everyone loves that.

Anyone else played with this idea?
StevenO
11-19-06, 11:23 AM No class specific items should be used. You may however use items tied to certain abilities that may only be found in few (or even one) classes.

With all the different base classes and PrCs it doesn't make much sense to restrict an item to one class. If you say your Mage Robes can only be used by Wizards why is that and does it mean other arcane casters like the Sorcerer or Wu Jen can't use it as well? If tied to the Arcane Casting ability it could work and be clear who can and can't use it. Here are a few possible restrictions that could have a magic item favoring one class type over another:

BAB - Item only functions for someone who displays enough martial ability.
Spellcasting possibly by level and type
Skill Level - perhaps the item only wants to be used by the masters
Class Abilities - some items add to sneak attack damage but only if you already have it.

Realistically you could restrict access to magic items just like PrC use Prereqs to restrict access.
Dheran
11-19-06, 09:30 PM StevenO is right; no class-specific items should be used. The problem is that WotC has created a few items that are class-specific. For example, there's the Holy Avenger sword (for Paladins) and the Sparring Dummy of the Master (for Monks). This of course leads to interesting discussions about whether the Use Magic Device skill will let you trick such items into working for you as if you were a member of the required class. If the answer is yes, that's a boon to Rogues, Warlocks, and other classes who rely on UMD.
runestar
11-19-06, 09:37 PM I don't like the idea of class specific items, since it can readily be abused to result in cost savings. For example, if my fighter is going to have an amulet of armour+5 anyways, what's to stop him from declaring it fighter-specific and receiving a discount on the market price? Same goes for all his other eq.

It's a drawback that's not really a drawback in the first place, IMO.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Necropolitan 11-18-06, 08:55 PM	This is an idea I've been playing with for awhile. Why don't we make up Class-Specific Armors and devices? There is precidence out the wazoo in the ocean of Wonderous Items in the wolrd; Mage Robes, Amulet's of Mighty Fists; the list goes on. So why not make up speicalized armors for classes, or tools only they can use? It makes sense for some classes more then others; Mage Robes could be an interesting non-magical item that provide different bonuses to perhaps AC, or a save or resistence agaisnt a ceritan thing. Such as for example; Mage Robes of Wyrmskin. Fire Resistence 5. Little mundane items that just give a bit more spice and flair to the classes, and make it more fun to make stacked Custom Magical items, since everyone loves that. Anyone else played with this idea?
StevenO 11-19-06, 11:23 AM	No class specific items should be used. You may however use items tied to certain abilities that may only be found in few (or even one) classes. With all the different base classes and PrCs it doesn't make much sense to restrict an item to one class. If you say your Mage Robes can only be used by Wizards why is that and does it mean other arcane casters like the Sorcerer or Wu Jen can't use it as well? If tied to the Arcane Casting ability it could work and be clear who can and can't use it. Here are a few possible restrictions that could have a magic item favoring one class type over another: BAB - Item only functions for someone who displays enough martial ability. Spellcasting possibly by level and type Skill Level - perhaps the item only wants to be used by the masters Class Abilities - some items add to sneak attack damage but only if you already have it. Realistically you could restrict access to magic items just like PrC use Prereqs to restrict access.
Dheran 11-19-06, 09:30 PM	StevenO is right; no class-specific items should be used. The problem is that WotC has created a few items that are class-specific. For example, there's the Holy Avenger sword (for Paladins) and the Sparring Dummy of the Master (for Monks). This of course leads to interesting discussions about whether the Use Magic Device skill will let you trick such items into working for you as if you were a member of the required class. If the answer is yes, that's a boon to Rogues, Warlocks, and other classes who rely on UMD.
runestar 11-19-06, 09:37 PM	I don't like the idea of class specific items, since it can readily be abused to result in cost savings. For example, if my fighter is going to have an amulet of armour+5 anyways, what's to stop him from declaring it fighter-specific and receiving a discount on the market price? Same goes for all his other eq. It's a drawback that's not really a drawback in the first place, IMO.