Appendix 4: Access [Archive] - Wizards Community

Appendix 4: Access [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Stormhawk
02-10-07, 09:22 PM This section needs a complete overhaul in my opinion. Opening up item access the way it does here severely limits the meta-orgs in the home regions. In my opinion, item access makes your character more distinguished and represents a story of where you have been. "Where did you get those cool sand goggles?"...the old answer was, "they were a gift for helping Lady Karystine." The new answer is, "yeah, these goggles, I just picked them up from the Sandstorm supplement."

Many meta-orgs offer neat item access that will now be open to everyone. Where do the perks for joining your local meta-org go? How about all the favors that this change now overides. Seriously, this change causes more damage than it does good.

Keep the ARs special, keep the game living like it was originally designed. Say no to full item access.

Rob
pedr
02-10-07, 09:36 PM Um, what do you see in Appendix 4 which gives you access to sand goggles? Sand goggles (which I couldn't see anywhere during a cursory glance at Sandstorm) are not on tables 4-1 (weapons) or 4-2 (armour). So you still don't have Open access to them unless you get campaign documentation making them Open for a character.

Admittedly, favours and meta-org access to the few staple things to which blanket access has been given does remove a few favours - but some will still be useful, particularly the 'NPC will add light fortification or shadow to any one piece of magical armour you own. You must pay the difference in cost' favours are very useful as you can't do that without a favour. The items which are open access are, in my opinion, not suitable for random access: I was planning not to play a character until Greyhawk Ruins because she had access to a Heward's Handy Haversack and, as a Str 7 halfling wizard, this was just too important to pass up. Fortunately she will soon have access, and so I'm free to play her without worrying about how I'll earn 2,000 gp before three adventures are up without severe hardship. Personally, I'd have added PoPs and Mementos Magica, as access to them seems a little to random too, but this list really does help to enable a character to equip herself with the basic adventuring tools she needs at any level without relying on finding the right access with the right character.
cycloptic_squirrel
02-11-07, 12:11 AM The expanded tables are only weapon and armor tables. Things that most would only consider utilizing if they had early access. The magic items are generic enough that getting access to them never really felt that special. While I might (IC) ask where a PC got that cool flaming burst weapon, I wouldn't do the same for a cool +3 longsword.

The only item I might agree with you is the access to the colored metal. I would think that a sword of an off color would be special and unique, insead it becomes something that's cute that anyone with a few dozen gold could acquire. Even a 10% cost increase for a colored item would ensure that colored metal isn't used frivolously, but for RP purposed.

Meta-orgs are for roleplaying, not for access. I fail to see how an organization benifits if half the members are there just to have reliable access to a weapon they want.

Overall, I like the new access. Keep it as is (but reconsider the colored metal).
Mithreinmaethor
02-11-07, 01:38 AM I think that this will allow the meta-orgs to go back to being for flavor and roleplaying. They dont have to give out such special access like so many of them do. And yet they can still be ways into certain PRC's that arent open and arent closed.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Stormhawk 02-10-07, 09:22 PM	This section needs a complete overhaul in my opinion. Opening up item access the way it does here severely limits the meta-orgs in the home regions. In my opinion, item access makes your character more distinguished and represents a story of where you have been. "Where did you get those cool sand goggles?"...the old answer was, "they were a gift for helping Lady Karystine." The new answer is, "yeah, these goggles, I just picked them up from the Sandstorm supplement." Many meta-orgs offer neat item access that will now be open to everyone. Where do the perks for joining your local meta-org go? How about all the favors that this change now overides. Seriously, this change causes more damage than it does good. Keep the ARs special, keep the game living like it was originally designed. Say no to full item access. Rob
pedr 02-10-07, 09:36 PM	Um, what do you see in Appendix 4 which gives you access to sand goggles? Sand goggles (which I couldn't see anywhere during a cursory glance at Sandstorm) are not on tables 4-1 (weapons) or 4-2 (armour). So you still don't have Open access to them unless you get campaign documentation making them Open for a character. Admittedly, favours and meta-org access to the few staple things to which blanket access has been given does remove a few favours - but some will still be useful, particularly the 'NPC will add light fortification or shadow to any one piece of magical armour you own. You must pay the difference in cost' favours are very useful as you can't do that without a favour. The items which are open access are, in my opinion, not suitable for random access: I was planning not to play a character until Greyhawk Ruins because she had access to a Heward's Handy Haversack and, as a Str 7 halfling wizard, this was just too important to pass up. Fortunately she will soon have access, and so I'm free to play her without worrying about how I'll earn 2,000 gp before three adventures are up without severe hardship. Personally, I'd have added PoPs and Mementos Magica, as access to them seems a little to random too, but this list really does help to enable a character to equip herself with the basic adventuring tools she needs at any level without relying on finding the right access with the right character.
cycloptic_squirrel 02-11-07, 12:11 AM	The expanded tables are only weapon and armor tables. Things that most would only consider utilizing if they had early access. The magic items are generic enough that getting access to them never really felt that special. While I might (IC) ask where a PC got that cool flaming burst weapon, I wouldn't do the same for a cool +3 longsword. The only item I might agree with you is the access to the colored metal. I would think that a sword of an off color would be special and unique, insead it becomes something that's cute that anyone with a few dozen gold could acquire. Even a 10% cost increase for a colored item would ensure that colored metal isn't used frivolously, but for RP purposed. Meta-orgs are for roleplaying, not for access. I fail to see how an organization benifits if half the members are there just to have reliable access to a weapon they want. Overall, I like the new access. Keep it as is (but reconsider the colored metal).
Mithreinmaethor 02-11-07, 01:38 AM	I think that this will allow the meta-orgs to go back to being for flavor and roleplaying. They dont have to give out such special access like so many of them do. And yet they can still be ways into certain PRC's that arent open and arent closed.