Cartridge Magic - How do I balance this? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cartridge Magic - How do I balance this? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Scottbert
10-15-07, 12:31 AM Cross-posted since it's a new type of magic item that could have a class based around its creation and use.

http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=938832
Kouk
10-15-07, 01:29 AM Well, there're a few similar items in Complete Adventurer, Alchemical Weapon Capsules.

You sort of put them in a special container on the weapon's business end, and you activate them with a Swift Action (or you can do it without the container, but it takes a Standard Action like applying an oil).

They do things like make your weapon have Flaming for one round, or Ghost Touch for 3 rounds, or silver for 3 rounds etc. If you put the 3 capsule holder on, say, a longsword, you can activate all 3 capsules with one Swift Action (presumably you are smacking them and releasing the contents) to get a Flaming, Frost, Shocking Longsword for one round. You can also put poison in the capsule holder.

Switching out a capsule retainer (the part that holds the capsules) takes a full round action, as does loading a single one. If you want to make full use of a lot of capsules, then load up a couple of 3 capsule retainers and you can switch the entire retainer when you empty one.

Also, I believe in 2nd edition they had stones made by the Netherese (Forgotten Realms) which pretty much stored spells that anyone could use.

But really, how is this so far different than just a magical staff or rod with charges? They are storing set amounts of magical energy, which can do big things.
AngelDust Anderson
10-15-07, 02:03 AM You could make single use items (like oils) based on artificer infusions. There is an infusion that adds energy damage and ones that do other stuff. That could work well. You could make them single-use use activated items in the shape of the weapon capsules from complete adventurer.

By the way, I've been trying to work out the same thing for a while. For my latest game it's a massive conglomerate of everything (Think sliders, with fantasy worlds) and Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha is one of the worlds. That is how we got it working after some thought.

Another possibility would be to have them 1/day to represent how they were being recharged/remade by Shamal at night. That would make the cost less prohibitive but would make people more likely to squander them.
Scottbert
10-15-07, 11:03 PM Main thread updated.
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=938832

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Scottbert 10-15-07, 12:31 AM	Cross-posted since it's a new type of magic item that could have a class based around its creation and use. http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=938832
Kouk 10-15-07, 01:29 AM	Well, there're a few similar items in Complete Adventurer, Alchemical Weapon Capsules. You sort of put them in a special container on the weapon's business end, and you activate them with a Swift Action (or you can do it without the container, but it takes a Standard Action like applying an oil). They do things like make your weapon have Flaming for one round, or Ghost Touch for 3 rounds, or silver for 3 rounds etc. If you put the 3 capsule holder on, say, a longsword, you can activate all 3 capsules with one Swift Action (presumably you are smacking them and releasing the contents) to get a Flaming, Frost, Shocking Longsword for one round. You can also put poison in the capsule holder. Switching out a capsule retainer (the part that holds the capsules) takes a full round action, as does loading a single one. If you want to make full use of a lot of capsules, then load up a couple of 3 capsule retainers and you can switch the entire retainer when you empty one. Also, I believe in 2nd edition they had stones made by the Netherese (Forgotten Realms) which pretty much stored spells that anyone could use. But really, how is this so far different than just a magical staff or rod with charges? They are storing set amounts of magical energy, which can do big things.
AngelDust Anderson 10-15-07, 02:03 AM	You could make single use items (like oils) based on artificer infusions. There is an infusion that adds energy damage and ones that do other stuff. That could work well. You could make them single-use use activated items in the shape of the weapon capsules from complete adventurer. By the way, I've been trying to work out the same thing for a while. For my latest game it's a massive conglomerate of everything (Think sliders, with fantasy worlds) and Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha is one of the worlds. That is how we got it working after some thought. Another possibility would be to have them 1/day to represent how they were being recharged/remade by Shamal at night. That would make the cost less prohibitive but would make people more likely to squander them.
Scottbert 10-15-07, 11:03 PM	Main thread updated. http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=938832