Magic items - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Magic items

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
davesaunders
Dec 14, 2008 0:29:43 s there a "easy" way to turn edition 3 magical items into edition 4 rules. Some things are kinda obvious but I think because maybe since edition 4 doesn't have as many books yet. I asked this before but this is a rules question.

What I mean is, my Shining South book for instance has a weapon power called "Exhausting". It makes people exhausted when they get hit with it. Is there an easy way to take edition 3 powers from weapons and armor and turn them into edition 4 ones? Some of them are obvious like Flame for instance but some like "Exhausting" get tricky. Is there a chart that someone made maybe.?
#2
kerym_ammath
Dec 14, 2008 7:37:17 Sorry, but I don't think so.

Of course transferring one to the other is not really difficult, assuming we obey a couple of rules. Any bonuses are fixed in the +1-+6 range, no stat buffing or draining, and exceptional abilities are generally per encounter or daily.

As far as the Exhausting weapon feature, I would consider using the Dessicating Weapon from Adventurer's Vault p. 67. It has an interesting mechanic, and could easily be reflavored into what you want. The addition of some sort of daily power might bring it even closer to what you are looking for. I don't know enough about your game to make any suggestions beyond this, since your idea of what is and is not balanced will surely differ from mine. Hopefully this gives you a good starting point.
#3
rauric
Dec 14, 2008 8:46:30 There is a weapon that weakens AC with each hit and it is cumulitive until a Save Ends it. Perhaps the effect can be used on the Fort Defense instead.
#4
kerym_ammath
Dec 14, 2008 8:56:13
There is a weapon that weakens AC with each hit and it is cumulitive until a Save Ends it. Perhaps the effect can be used on the Fort Defense instead.

Thats what Dessicating weapon does. :D
#5
rauric
Dec 14, 2008 9:36:48 Well there ya go. ;)
#6
Diffan
Dec 14, 2008 10:41:46
s there a "easy" way to turn edition 3 magical items into edition 4 rules. Some things are kinda obvious but I think because maybe since edition 4 doesn't have as many books yet. I asked this before but this is a rules question.

....

Is there a chart that someone made maybe?

I think it would have to be done on a item by item level. The way magical items work in 4e, I don't think there can be a table and still consider the conversion balanced.

For example, take the Battle Bridal from the Magic of Faerun/Magic Item Compendium books. You gain a +10 competence bonus to your Ride checks and your treated as having the Mounted Combat feat. If you already have Mounted Combat, you are instead treated as having the Ride-By-Attack feat.

How would this convert into 4e? I'd say it grants you the benefit of the Mounted Combat feat and if you alreaedy have that feat, then any numerical bonus the mount grants to it's rider, add a +2 bonus to that number.
#7
lord_karsus
Dec 14, 2008 23:25:27 -There's no "universal easy formula", if that's what you're looking for.
#8
Diffan
Dec 15, 2008 6:47:15
-There's no "universal easy formula", if that's what you're looking for.

Too bad too, would've made conversions easier on me.

A similar question I had about magic items in 4e was can weapons/armor have multipul enchancements on them? If so, how would you figure out the level of the item, how much $$ it would cost, etc....?
(Probably not the best forum for it, but we're on the same subject)
#9
kerym_ammath
Dec 15, 2008 7:25:18 I would say probably not, or at least I have not seen any such examples. My guess would be that it would need to be an artifact.
#10
lord_karsus
Dec 15, 2008 10:41:38
Too bad too, would've made conversions easier on me.

-That's the problem I hear decried the most (Asides for the cries of 4e being WoW, 4e not supporting roleplaying, and 4e not having any opinions)- The system itself is pretty close to 3e, based on the d20 system. It's just different enough not to be able to inherently change things based on feel, and that, having no formula to translate things from 3e into 4e makes things a bigger pain in the butt. Though, formulas aren't always that great. The formula that was used to update my d6 Star Wars character into a d20 Star Wars character handicapped him a great deal, as compared to what he used to do.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 davesaunders Dec 14, 2008 0:29:43	s there a "easy" way to turn edition 3 magical items into edition 4 rules. Some things are kinda obvious but I think because maybe since edition 4 doesn't have as many books yet. I asked this before but this is a rules question. What I mean is, my Shining South book for instance has a weapon power called "Exhausting". It makes people exhausted when they get hit with it. Is there an easy way to take edition 3 powers from weapons and armor and turn them into edition 4 ones? Some of them are obvious like Flame for instance but some like "Exhausting" get tricky. Is there a chart that someone made maybe.?
#2 kerym_ammath Dec 14, 2008 7:37:17	Sorry, but I don't think so. Of course transferring one to the other is not really difficult, assuming we obey a couple of rules. Any bonuses are fixed in the +1-+6 range, no stat buffing or draining, and exceptional abilities are generally per encounter or daily. As far as the Exhausting weapon feature, I would consider using the Dessicating Weapon from Adventurer's Vault p. 67. It has an interesting mechanic, and could easily be reflavored into what you want. The addition of some sort of daily power might bring it even closer to what you are looking for. I don't know enough about your game to make any suggestions beyond this, since your idea of what is and is not balanced will surely differ from mine. Hopefully this gives you a good starting point.
#3 rauric Dec 14, 2008 8:46:30	There is a weapon that weakens AC with each hit and it is cumulitive until a Save Ends it. Perhaps the effect can be used on the Fort Defense instead.
#4 kerym_ammath Dec 14, 2008 8:56:13	There is a weapon that weakens AC with each hit and it is cumulitive until a Save Ends it. Perhaps the effect can be used on the Fort Defense instead. Thats what Dessicating weapon does. :D
#5 rauric Dec 14, 2008 9:36:48	Well there ya go. ;)
#6 Diffan Dec 14, 2008 10:41:46	s there a "easy" way to turn edition 3 magical items into edition 4 rules. Some things are kinda obvious but I think because maybe since edition 4 doesn't have as many books yet. I asked this before but this is a rules question. .... Is there a chart that someone made maybe? I think it would have to be done on a item by item level. The way magical items work in 4e, I don't think there can be a table and still consider the conversion balanced. For example, take the Battle Bridal from the Magic of Faerun/Magic Item Compendium books. You gain a +10 competence bonus to your Ride checks and your treated as having the Mounted Combat feat. If you already have Mounted Combat, you are instead treated as having the Ride-By-Attack feat. How would this convert into 4e? I'd say it grants you the benefit of the Mounted Combat feat and if you alreaedy have that feat, then any numerical bonus the mount grants to it's rider, add a +2 bonus to that number.
#7 lord_karsus Dec 14, 2008 23:25:27	-There's no "universal easy formula", if that's what you're looking for.
#8 Diffan Dec 15, 2008 6:47:15	-There's no "universal easy formula", if that's what you're looking for. Too bad too, would've made conversions easier on me. A similar question I had about magic items in 4e was can weapons/armor have multipul enchancements on them? If so, how would you figure out the level of the item, how much $$ it would cost, etc....? (Probably not the best forum for it, but we're on the same subject)
#9 kerym_ammath Dec 15, 2008 7:25:18	I would say probably not, or at least I have not seen any such examples. My guess would be that it would need to be an artifact.
#10 lord_karsus Dec 15, 2008 10:41:38	Too bad too, would've made conversions easier on me. -That's the problem I hear decried the most (Asides for the cries of 4e being WoW, 4e not supporting roleplaying, and 4e not having any opinions)- The system itself is pretty close to 3e, based on the d20 system. It's just different enough not to be able to inherently change things based on feel, and that, having no formula to translate things from 3e into 4e makes things a bigger pain in the butt. Though, formulas aren't always that great. The formula that was used to update my d6 Star Wars character into a d20 Star Wars character handicapped him a great deal, as compared to what he used to do.