Post/Author/DateTime	Post
xpochian 02-22-08, 04:38 AM	i was reviewing this feat for in-game use and noticed something strange: at 3rd level (the minimum level) you can't afford a +1 weapon, but you can at 4th. but ironically, you can only afford a +2 weapon at 7th level - why the levels in between? i don't get why they'd list them and then give them prices that don't equate to the bonus increases of magical weapons. it could be the 24th hour of no sleep, but i don't really understand the need for any listing which doesn't directly allow for the 'purchase' of a weapon upgrade - ie: 4th, 7th & 9th., etc.
Merestil Haye 02-22-08, 08:24 AM	i was reviewing this feat for in-game use and noticed something strange: at 3rd level (the minimum level) you can't afford a +1 weapon, but you can at 4th. but ironically, you can only afford a +2 weapon at 7th level - why the levels in between? i don't get why they'd list them and then give them prices that don't equate to the bonus increases of magical weapons. it could be the 24th hour of no sleep, but i don't really understand the need for any listing which doesn't directly allow for the 'purchase' of a weapon upgrade - ie: 4th, 7th & 9th., etc.At any given level, the gp value of an Ancestral Relic is one half the recommended value of gear for a character of that level. There are several good reasons why the value of the item was not tied to the cost of weapons with increasing market price modifier. First and most obviously, where does it say that the Ancestral Relic feat can only apply to a weapon? Why can't a suit of armour or a shield be an heirloom? Answer : there is no reason whatsoever that the feat can only apply to weapons. However, if it is not a weapon, then scaling by weapon market price modifiers is inappropriate. Secondly, what about fixed price properties? How do you balance them against the market price modifiers? Are they essentially extras? Thirdly, and probably most important, how do you scale the benefit by level? A weapon's cost does not depend on its enhancement bonus, but its market price modifier (we can neglect fixed price modifiers for the moment). So how to scale them? You could scale the enhancement bonus at the rate of Greater Magic Weapon, but the market price modifier doesn't only look at the enhancement bonus. Say that for each two levels the character has he can increase the weapon by a +1 modifier? That just rips apart the low- and mid-level play balance. A 3rd level character can barely afford a +1 weapon and a loincloth. A 4th level character with a +2 weapon is over-equipped. A 10th level character with a +5 sword is over-equipped. It doesn't come back to balance until high levels. All in all, the best way to keep the item in balance wrt the character's level is a monetary valuation. That allows the feat to be applied to weapons or armour without issues.
xpochian 02-22-08, 04:02 PM	At any given level, the gp value of an Ancestral Relic is one half the recommended value of gear for a character of that level. First and most obviously, where does it say that the Ancestral Relic feat can only apply to a weapon? ...and that's why i shouldn't have posted at 5 am. I didn't realize that you could use more than weapons with this! So it could be rings, cloaks or armour too eh? That changes quite a bit. Thanks for your wisdom, I didn't forget the rest, only commented on this as it was the main point I was truly forgetting!
Merestil Haye 02-22-08, 08:09 PM	...and that's why i shouldn't have posted at 5 am. I didn't realize that you could use more than weapons with this! So it could be rings, cloaks or armour too eh? That changes quite a bit.No problem. :) The item must be "of masterwork quality." That at least implies it's restricted to weapon, shield or armour. I for one don't have a problem with it being one or two other types - a ring or a significant item of apparel seems fine to me. Just so long as it's something that can reasonably be seen to be passed down from parent to child. I'd require a good backstory to let anything else pass.
aelryinth 02-23-08, 03:43 PM	Note that an ancestral relic thus becomes one of the few ways in the game that you can stretch the appropriate wealth limit for a character. Because you can sacrifice things at full value to your relic, instead of selling them for half price, your 'share' of treasure effectively is worth double when applied to your relic. It's a nice feat for people who need decent gear and can afford the feat. ===Aelryinth