Arcane Focus? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Arcane Focus? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
phounix
03-01-07, 08:44 AM Hey there, I'm starting soon on a new campaign.
The world where I will play in is a low magical world, meaning that there are almost no permanant magical items. So Caft Magical items isn't allowed in my campaign.

That's no problem, but I'm looking for a feat for the parties wizards:
This feat must give the Wizard a special staff (Eldrich staff or wizards staff in some sort), like the one Merlin or Gandalf has.
This staff functions then as a sort of Arcane focus.

I was thinking about the following, so tell me what you think about it:

Arcane Focus:
You have a specialy crafted item (staff, medalion,...) that serves as a focus for your spell casting abilities
Prerequisites: Arcane Caster Level 1st
Benefit: While you are holding the Item in your hands you benefit from the following:
-Add +1 to the Difficulty of all saving throws of all the spells you cast.
-You get a +1 bonus on caster level checks to overcome spell resistance
-You get a +1 bonus on attack rolls for all spell that require an attack roll.
Special: The construcion of an Arcane Focus must be done by yourself, requires a Spellcraft check (DC 15), and costs 1000 gp worth of rare or presious materials (gems, darkwood, gold, silver,...). The Item may not be a weapon, the only exception is the quarterstaff. A masterwork quaterstaff gives and additional +1 bonus with touch attacks.

Improved Arcane Focus:
The use of your Arcane focus becomes more powerfull.
Prerequisites: Arcane Caster Level 8th
Benefit: The benefits of your Focus is increased by +1.
Special: Upgrading your Arcane Focus must be doen by yourself, requires a Spellcraft check (DC 25), and costs an additional 1000 gp of rare or presious materials (gems, darkwood, gold, silver,...).
jaelis
03-01-07, 09:34 AM That sounds a little problematic to me. If you're in a very low magic campaign, then the effectiveness of spells will be relatively high anyway. In a normal game, there a very few ways to improve the save DC of spells, while there are many ways to improve a creature's save bonuses. Even so, casters are generally considered to be the strongest characters at mid to high levels.

But if you're in a low-magic game, save-improving items will be rare, while your focus idea would make DCs uniformly higher. I would predict that this will make the game even more imbalanced.
tarkin
03-01-07, 10:31 AM I would drop it's power significantly.

Probably by making the item descriptor specific.

i.e.

While you are holding the Item in your hands you benefit from the following:
-Add +1 to the Difficulty of all saving throws of all the [Fire]spells you cast.
-You also get a +1 bonus on caster level checks to overcome spell resistance for [Fire] spells.
-You get a +1 bonus on attack rolls for all [Fire] spells that require an attack roll.
phounix
03-04-07, 02:19 AM Sorry it took so long to answer, but thanks for the ideas.
I just fond some usefull material on the D&Dsite in the form of a Rune Staff. This is what I was looking for. So I thinck I will have to wait until I get the Magic Item compendium. This means that I will have to reconsider using a Low Magic World.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
phounix 03-01-07, 08:44 AM	Hey there, I'm starting soon on a new campaign. The world where I will play in is a low magical world, meaning that there are almost no permanant magical items. So Caft Magical items isn't allowed in my campaign. That's no problem, but I'm looking for a feat for the parties wizards: This feat must give the Wizard a special staff (Eldrich staff or wizards staff in some sort), like the one Merlin or Gandalf has. This staff functions then as a sort of Arcane focus. I was thinking about the following, so tell me what you think about it: Arcane Focus: You have a specialy crafted item (staff, medalion,...) that serves as a focus for your spell casting abilities Prerequisites: Arcane Caster Level 1st Benefit: While you are holding the Item in your hands you benefit from the following: -Add +1 to the Difficulty of all saving throws of all the spells you cast. -You get a +1 bonus on caster level checks to overcome spell resistance -You get a +1 bonus on attack rolls for all spell that require an attack roll. Special: The construcion of an Arcane Focus must be done by yourself, requires a Spellcraft check (DC 15), and costs 1000 gp worth of rare or presious materials (gems, darkwood, gold, silver,...). The Item may not be a weapon, the only exception is the quarterstaff. A masterwork quaterstaff gives and additional +1 bonus with touch attacks. Improved Arcane Focus: The use of your Arcane focus becomes more powerfull. Prerequisites: Arcane Caster Level 8th Benefit: The benefits of your Focus is increased by +1. Special: Upgrading your Arcane Focus must be doen by yourself, requires a Spellcraft check (DC 25), and costs an additional 1000 gp of rare or presious materials (gems, darkwood, gold, silver,...).
jaelis 03-01-07, 09:34 AM	That sounds a little problematic to me. If you're in a very low magic campaign, then the effectiveness of spells will be relatively high anyway. In a normal game, there a very few ways to improve the save DC of spells, while there are many ways to improve a creature's save bonuses. Even so, casters are generally considered to be the strongest characters at mid to high levels. But if you're in a low-magic game, save-improving items will be rare, while your focus idea would make DCs uniformly higher. I would predict that this will make the game even more imbalanced.
tarkin 03-01-07, 10:31 AM	I would drop it's power significantly. Probably by making the item descriptor specific. i.e. While you are holding the Item in your hands you benefit from the following: -Add +1 to the Difficulty of all saving throws of all the [Fire]spells you cast. -You also get a +1 bonus on caster level checks to overcome spell resistance for [Fire] spells. -You get a +1 bonus on attack rolls for all [Fire] spells that require an attack roll.
phounix 03-04-07, 02:19 AM	Sorry it took so long to answer, but thanks for the ideas. I just fond some usefull material on the D&Dsite in the form of a Rune Staff. This is what I was looking for. So I thinck I will have to wait until I get the Magic Item compendium. This means that I will have to reconsider using a Low Magic World.