Using item rarity rules in Eberron - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Using item rarity rules in Eberron

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Vael
Sep 12, 2010 9:48:49 Looking at the new rules for magic items, this seems to me like the perfect place to reintroduce schemas from 3.5. Basically, a schema will function as a required focus item to allow a ritual caster to create uncommon items using the Enchant Magic Item Ritual. A Schema can only be used to create a single type of uncommon item. So one needs the Schema of Rod of the Pactbinder to use the ritual to create Rods of the Pactbinder.
#2
Gilo
Sep 12, 2010 13:53:51 I like the idea of a schema as an optional focus for the Enchant Magic Item Ritual allowing the creation of a specific uncommon magical item.

My only concern is the one-time-use, tho it seem wise from a game balance point of view but the dragonmarked houses are looking for schemas in Xen'drik so they can introduce new mass-production magic.

It could be explained that the houses develop eldrich machines that can generate more then one item out of a given schema and it takes years to develop those eldrich machines (just in case the PCs try to negotiate a deal with a house to exchange the schema for more then one item creation).
#3
Madfox11
Sep 13, 2010 6:03:29 Well, you as a DM control what schemes are found, so you could stick to uncommon items for which it is not problematic if they have multiple items. After all, they still have to pay gold for it.
#4
Vael
Sep 13, 2010 12:55:46 Actually, as a Focus item, I had not intended for the schema to be consumed in the creation of the magic item. Possibly that way for Rare items, but for Uncommons ... given the more magi-tech vibe of Eberron, I'd allow for a higher amount of Uncommon items in the world, most, as you suggest, created by House Cannith through creation forges paired with unearthed Schemas.
#5
m4kitsu
Sep 15, 2010 4:39:22 While I don't think we'll see official rules for this, it's an excellent idea to be implemented as a house rule.

Remember, though, that a schema isn't necessarily for producing better items, it's used for producing items faster, at least as Cannith uses them.

Remember Eberron isn't a "high magic" world where every farmer has a +3 longsword above the mantle and every town has a resident wizard. It's a "wide magic" world where simple, low-level magic items are commonplace and artifice is integrated into everyday life for a lot of people. If anything, big world-shattering uberdoomslayer swords are rarer in Eberron than PoL/standard D&D.

Daine's sword was a fantastically rare and valuable item, and it was just barely magical enough to stop an adamantine dagger. Geth's Aram was maaaybe +3 and it's a thousands-of-years-old artifact of incalculable power. Boranel is said to have owned some of the finest equipment Breland could procure and he had +2 shocking battleaxe (3.5 ed) as his primary. The gatekeeper amulet Geth (or was it Singe? I forget) picked up read to me like a simple divination charm, but Hellcow's gone on record here saying that it was Artifact-level.

That's one of the things I like about Eberron, really. Magical elevators, self-heating teapots and clothes that magically repel dirt are commonplace and airships and orbs of weather control are within the grasp of Khorvairan society, but the Fighter draws his mid-level magical beatstick of choice and everyone else in the street flees in terror because there's no way they can match that kind of firepower.
#6
Hellcow
Sep 16, 2010 17:36:15 I've posted some thoughts on the matter here. With that said, I agree with M4kitsu's basic points. The basic idea of Eberron has always been that low-level magic is more common than in some settings, but that high-level magic remains rare and remarkable. As such, to sum up what I say in the link, I think it's fine for Cannith or other forces (Dhakaani or Valenar smiths, Aereni gleaners, Thranes forging in the font of Flamekeep itself) to be able to produce certain specific uncommon items on demand; but just because Cannith can produce uncommon item X with a schema doesn't mean they can produce uncommon weapon Y, because no one's had the breakthrough of what it takes to make Y yet.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Vael Sep 12, 2010 9:48:49	Looking at the new rules for magic items, this seems to me like the perfect place to reintroduce schemas from 3.5. Basically, a schema will function as a required focus item to allow a ritual caster to create uncommon items using the Enchant Magic Item Ritual. A Schema can only be used to create a single type of uncommon item. So one needs the Schema of Rod of the Pactbinder to use the ritual to create Rods of the Pactbinder.
#2 Gilo Sep 12, 2010 13:53:51	I like the idea of a schema as an optional focus for the Enchant Magic Item Ritual allowing the creation of a specific uncommon magical item. My only concern is the one-time-use, tho it seem wise from a game balance point of view but the dragonmarked houses are looking for schemas in Xen'drik so they can introduce new mass-production magic. It could be explained that the houses develop eldrich machines that can generate more then one item out of a given schema and it takes years to develop those eldrich machines (just in case the PCs try to negotiate a deal with a house to exchange the schema for more then one item creation).
#3 Madfox11 Sep 13, 2010 6:03:29	Well, you as a DM control what schemes are found, so you could stick to uncommon items for which it is not problematic if they have multiple items. After all, they still have to pay gold for it.
#4 Vael Sep 13, 2010 12:55:46	Actually, as a Focus item, I had not intended for the schema to be consumed in the creation of the magic item. Possibly that way for Rare items, but for Uncommons ... given the more magi-tech vibe of Eberron, I'd allow for a higher amount of Uncommon items in the world, most, as you suggest, created by House Cannith through creation forges paired with unearthed Schemas.
#5 m4kitsu Sep 15, 2010 4:39:22	While I don't think we'll see official rules for this, it's an excellent idea to be implemented as a house rule. Remember, though, that a schema isn't necessarily for producing better items, it's used for producing items faster, at least as Cannith uses them. Remember Eberron isn't a "high magic" world where every farmer has a +3 longsword above the mantle and every town has a resident wizard. It's a "wide magic" world where simple, low-level magic items are commonplace and artifice is integrated into everyday life for a lot of people. If anything, big world-shattering uberdoomslayer swords are rarer in Eberron than PoL/standard D&D. Daine's sword was a fantastically rare and valuable item, and it was just barely magical enough to stop an adamantine dagger. Geth's Aram was maaaybe +3 and it's a thousands-of-years-old artifact of incalculable power. Boranel is said to have owned some of the finest equipment Breland could procure and he had +2 shocking battleaxe (3.5 ed) as his primary. The gatekeeper amulet Geth (or was it Singe? I forget) picked up read to me like a simple divination charm, but Hellcow's gone on record here saying that it was Artifact-level. That's one of the things I like about Eberron, really. Magical elevators, self-heating teapots and clothes that magically repel dirt are commonplace and airships and orbs of weather control are within the grasp of Khorvairan society, but the Fighter draws his mid-level magical beatstick of choice and everyone else in the street flees in terror because there's no way they can match that kind of firepower.
#6 Hellcow Sep 16, 2010 17:36:15	I've posted some thoughts on the matter here. With that said, I agree with M4kitsu's basic points. The basic idea of Eberron has always been that low-level magic is more common than in some settings, but that high-level magic remains rare and remarkable. As such, to sum up what I say in the link, I think it's fine for Cannith or other forces (Dhakaani or Valenar smiths, Aereni gleaners, Thranes forging in the font of Flamekeep itself) to be able to produce certain specific uncommon items on demand; but just because Cannith can produce uncommon item X with a schema doesn't mean they can produce uncommon weapon Y, because no one's had the breakthrough of what it takes to make Y yet.