Is there a system where checks are referred to as "tests"? I see "skill test" or variants fairly often.
Hey, I consider all of us fortunate that there aren't any items that say "when this loot drops" or "when your toon uses" or any similar phrasing.
I'm still waiting for...
This epic token can be traded with the valorous quartermaster for either a tanking neck or a dps neck, purple of course, with one meta gem slot...
Is there a system where checks are referred to as "tests"? I see "skill test" or variants fairly often.** spoiler omitted **
If I recall correctly both Shadowrun 4th Edition and the Song of Ice and Fire RPG roll "tests." The SOIAFRPG even has a mechanic where the initial dice you roll for tests are called "test dice."
Some other systems used tests too. Not one of them was any incarnation of d20 as far as I can tell, however.
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Otto-teamster
Aura stront ZAZuration; CL 3rd
Slot Wagon Price 7 Million; Weight 1lb
Description
First used when a Teamster was sickened by the fish, instead of choosing the Lasagna, the Otto-teamster was used to get the wagons there on time.
Appearing as a normal wagon seat, with shadowy filigree, the Otto-teamster is attuned to a wagon after the wagon is left in the white zone for 1 hour. Any longer than this will cause the wagon to be towed.
When the fist sized handle is pulled, the Otto-teamster will inflate into a teamster, guiding the caravan along to its destination (Profession, (Teamster) +10), or for four hours whichever comes first. (Additional time may be added by reinflating the Otto-teamster, though during the inflation, it may become... distracted. After 3 minutes of inflation tthe Otto-teamster will function for another two hours. This may be extended to 4 hours with a smokestick and a successful DC 20 perform (wind instruments) check.
Construction Requirements Craft Epic Comedy, Leslie's implacable deadpan, Hagerty's satisfying blow, Grave's Turkish bath, creator must have a sense of humor; Cost 3.5M
This thread was more fun when it was on topic.
I'd have to agree, but that's entirely because I have no idea what happened.
What was the topic again?
Boy this really shows you just how bad things are that we have to blow off steam like this. :D
My hated phrase is "Appears to be..." Ok I get that every magic item looks like an actual...you know...item, so I don't need to be reminded of what it "appears to be." Why not just say "this is a bed-warmer; this is a tuning fork, this is a chamber pot." Then tell me what makes it different from every other bed-warmer, tuning fork, and/or chamber pot out there.
I put int the and/or because of the nature of some of the swiss army knives we've been getting. Some of them haven't been much more ridiculous than that.
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I've run across several that have something like "creator must be a (whatever)" in the Requirements section. Sometimes this works, but usually it's just puffery.
I like the ones that say what the caster level must be in the requirements section, even though the Caster Level section says it already!
:)
I like the ones that say what the caster level must be in the requirements section, even though the Caster Level section says it already!
:)
That actually has a purpose. The CL listed in the CL section is not a requirement. If it's listed in the requirements section, the creator must have that caster level or else they'll need to increase the DC by +5 to overcome that missing requirement.
That actually has a purpose. The CL listed in the CL section is not a requirement. If it's listed in the requirements section, the creator must have that caster level or else they'll need to increase the DC by +5 to overcome that missing requirement.
And when they are exactly the same?
Then anyone beneath the CL listed in the top section needs to add +5 to the DC to make the item. Anyone at or above the CL in the requirements section does not need to add the +5, since they meet the requirement of the CL. :)
OK, I'll accept that. To me it just makes sense to place the caster level for the item at the minimum needed to have all the feat and spell requirements. Difference in design approach, both fine from their perspectives.
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This FAQ touches on it too, specifically the first part. I could scrounge up a few more resources, but I think that should be sufficient. Hope that helps! :)
Cool! I just took it as a given that the CL should be the minimum. But that does allow for some wiggle room for PC wizards to create items already in the game.
It trips a lot of people up, so no worries!
I have found what I think is the most terribly priced item so far. Without giving it away, it is a neat little trinket (not amazingly original or well written, but not an immediate vote down)that would need to be used nearly seventeen thousand times to pay for itself.
I don't usually even take much notice of price, but this one really jumped out at me.
I made these up with just a regard to word count and tried to exaggerate here and there to add some sarcasm °°
I've also noticed there are a lot of items that have different effects based on the user's alignment. I don't know that I've seen any published items like that, so where did this idea come from?
I've also noticed there are a lot of items that have different effects based on the user's alignment. I don't know that I've seen any published items like that, so where did this idea come from?
I suppose that's what the judges have wanted though. Something that hasn't been done before, and is pulled off well. There are, however, a number of items that have different effects based on alignment. The usual way this appears is that if you're the wrong alignment, you get one negative level.
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I've also noticed there are a lot of items that have different effects based on the user's alignment. I don't know that I've seen any published items like that, so where did this idea come from?
Well, there's always the helm of opposite alignment. And the phylactery of faithfulness. But that's not quite the same, is it?
Darn I was hopping someone would comment on Otto.
Thank the Divine that no one has said it resembles an actual item entered.
It doesn't quite resemble any of them, but it certainly channels a few of 'em :)
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I have seen a few "deus ex machina in a literal can" items. :p
Darn I was hopping someone would comment on Otto.
I had plenty to say about Otto, but nothing worth having the thread shut down for surpassing the PG-13 rating.
Plus, it's difficult to type anything meaningful when laughing that hard.
Ha! I didn't even notice Otto. I especially love the required spells for construction!
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Star Voter Season 6
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Darn I was hopping someone would comment on Otto.
I had plenty to say about Otto, but nothing worth having the thread shut down for surpassing the PG-13 rating.
Plus, it's difficult to type anything meaningful when laughing that hard.
I was worried one of the requirements had crossed a line. ;-)
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I was worried one of the requirements had crossed a line. ;-)
Crossed a line? Have you seen the sucubbus in a grapple thread?
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Crossed a line? Have you seen the sucubbus in a grapple thread?
I was worried one of the requirements had crossed a line. ;-)
Now, see, that was just unfair to those of us at work :)
I posted a bunch of pseudo quotes recently. Not sure if they are what you are referring to, but they were all made up 'quotes' in the vein of what I have seen- not actual quotes.
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While it's not exactly strictly the phraseology that bugs me, I've seen a lot of items that, in addition to whatever effects they have, are also a bag of holding mixed in. A lot of people are trying to sex up their items by adding in extraneously useful effects, I think.
Crossed a line? Have you seen the sucubbus in a grapple thread?
I'm not sure what's funnier in that thread, the innuendo, or the people attempting a serious answer in a thread that had deteriorated after the first post. :)
While it's not exactly strictly the phraseology that bugs me, I've seen a lot of items that, in addition to whatever effects they have, are also a bag of holding mixed in. A lot of people are trying to sex up their items by adding in extraneously useful effects, I think.
I've noticed that, as well as at least a couple that seem- at least to me- to basically duplicate existing wondrous items, but with some "extra" oomph.
In all fairness, we usually at least attempted to have our comments be in some relation to the topic...once in a while the rules.
I am seeing a lot of, It usually looks like this, but often like this or even something else. Some designers are using a lot of word count to tell us that the item can look different depending on who makes it. HINT: Describe it as it is most often going to be found, good DM's will re skin it's appearance if they feel it needs to be different for elves, or dwarves, or nobles, or goblins, or whatever. Also, a lot of words wasted on the "cinematic" of how the item looks as it is doing its magic something else that can be left to the DM.
---Also, a lot of words wasted on the "cinematic" of how the item looks as it is doing its magic something else that can be left to the DM.
Yes. That is one of my biggest gripes.
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Starting to build a great hatred for damage that doesn't follow regular damage rules (as in, it is inexplicably unresistable, unpreventable damage).
---Also, a lot of words wasted on the "cinematic" of how the item looks as it is doing its magic something else that can be left to the DM.Yes. That is one of my biggest gripes.
I'm not going to call it a gripe, just a suggestion to help make better designers. Basic description of the item is good, details beyond that waste your word count and distract from the function of the item. It seems to me a lot of the descriptions are designers trying to show us how cool their items look in play and overlook the more important how they work in play.
After reading the forums and looking at many many items, I know I would not write my submission the same if I were to start now. I cringe when I read a post that says "one of my biggest gripes is...." and realize my item is guilty and the post is valid....
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After reading the forums and looking at many many items, I know I would not write my submission the same if I were to start now. I cringe when I read a post that says "one of my biggest gripes is...." and realize my item is guilty and the post is valid....
This voting has been a powerful learning experience for many. Some of the gripes aren't terrible in and of themselves, but are exposed as weak writing when read over and over and over again.
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Also, a lot of words wasted on the "cinematic" of how the item looks as it is doing its magic something else that can be left to the DM.
Wasting a LOT of words is bad, but I've also noticed that not describing the effects makes an item very boring to read. Some items just don't have enough flavor.