Is anyone else a little bit underwhelmed by some of the prestige awards? For instance, would anyone ever buy a 750 gp potion (e.g. Oil of Magic Vestment +1)? Or a Wand of Scare? Or a Wand of Enthrall? Actually, I think all of the wands are pretty weak except for the Wand of Silent Image.
Agree or disagree?
It depends on the amount and type of magic items (and even money) being found in the events.
Chad
Yes, yes it does.
It depends on the amount and type of magic items (and even money) being found in the events.
Chad
I don't know what kind of magic items (and even money) that might be found in an event that would make a Wand of Scare or an Oil of Magic Vestment +1 worth buying. I suppose that if you got really huge amount of money per adventure (much more than the 3.5 wealth-by-level guidelines), you might buy them if you ran out of good items to buy.
Is the idea that monetary rewards are going to be quite high?
Rather than extremely high monetary awards, I would favor fewer magical awards. I don't miss the days of carrying around a binder full of certs for Living City events (actually, I never had that many, but I didn't enjoy watching others carry them around). In that situation, it might also become prudent to spend hard-earned cash on what seems a suboptimal item.
Chad
Rather than extremely high monetary awards, I would favor fewer magical awards. I don't miss the days of carrying around a binder full of certs for Living City events (actually, I never had that many, but I didn't enjoy watching others carry them around). In that situation, it might also become prudent to spend hard-earned cash on what seems a suboptimal item.
See, I'd look at it the other way. If good items are few and far between, wouldn't it be better to save all of my money for when a decent item actually comes along?
Consider the Wand of Scare. It's particularly bad because of the 6HD limitation on Scare; it effectively comes with a built-in expiration date, so you have to use it whole bunch of times in the (small?) period from when you can afford it to when it becomes useless (and gets sold).
The Oil of Magic Vestment +1 is a bit different; everyone has access to +1 armor and shields, so you can have a permanent bonus for a 33% increase in price. Of course, a monk or wizard could get some benefit out of it, but surely there has to be other things for them to buy (stat boosters, scrolls, weapons, whatever) other than spending 750 gp for a temporary +1 to AC.
I guess I'll just have to see what kind of treasure comes up in the actual adventures. Maybe it'll be so bad that I'll be begging for access to a Wand of Scare!
Yeah, it's hard to say. I've not looked, but are those prices based on the ones in the DMG? Could it be possible that scenario treasure will be less expensive, accounting for it actually being found while adventuring?
Chad
Hogarth,
I took it as a sign that they are aware of the dangers of mudflation, and are taking a cautious approach. My own sensibilities lead me to believe that you're always going to have access to better stuff from successful scenarios than the factions are going to be able to provide you.
That being said, some of the faction loot is bizarre, and questionable in terms of value.
No doubt changes will abound as everyone gains experience with this sort of thing.
Creative Director
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Although I wasn't a part of the process of selecting prestige awards for the factions, I suspect that some of the awards are serving a dual role. First, they're awards for doing good by your faction. Second, they're building your faction's personality. Take the Cheliax awards, as an example; lots of sneaky, mind control, fire themed stuff in there, whereas over on the Andoran side you've got a lot of leadership, protective, military stuff.
Therefore, a character with a lot of prestige awards is, by default, equipped thematically to his or her faction.
That too makes a lot of sense.
Chad
Therefore, a character with a lot of prestige awards is, by default, equipped thematically to his or her faction.
A) A thematically appropriate item doesn't have to be a white elephant. In fact, if a thematically appropriate item isn't very good, characters won't buy it and that hurts the theme instead of helping it (IMO).
B) Some of the themes are a bit tenuous at best. If I heard a faction had a wand of Scare, a potion of Barkskin and a scroll of Bear's Endurance as prestige awards, I would have no idea which faction that was supposed to be.
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I think if you wanted to focus a theme the best way to do that would be in the descriptions of the items, Qadiran cloaks of resistance and Andoran ones would be very different in appearance.
Also Qadiran +1 weapons would be of a different sort than Andoran or Cheliax (Scimitars vs Longswords for example)
I think if you wanted to focus a theme the best way to do that would be in the descriptions of the items, Qadiran cloaks of resistance and Andoran ones would be very different in appearance.
Also Qadiran +1 weapons would be of a different sort than Andoran or Cheliax (Scimitars vs Longswords for example)
Exactly -- items that have some kind of special twist would be much more interesting, IMO. Like an Osirian 'Pschent of Resistance +1' that can cast Hide from Undead once per day, or that sort of thing.
Well, we'll see how the current crop of awards works out. I wonder if there'll be a bunch of Chelaxian clerics (for the access to a Periapt of Wisdom), Osirian fighters (Gauntlets of Ogre Strength), Taldorian bards & paladins (Cloak of Charisma), etc.
While I'm listening to your feedback, I'd like to encourage everyone to start the season and play for a while before murdering us over Potions of Magic Vestment. :-)
Although I wasn't a part of the process of selecting prestige awards for the factions, I suspect that some of the awards are serving a dual role. First, they're awards for doing good by your faction. Second, they're building your faction's personality. Take the Cheliax awards, as an example; lots of sneaky, mind control, fire themed stuff in there, whereas over on the Andoran side you've got a lot of leadership, protective, military stuff.
Therefore, a character with a lot of prestige awards is, by default, equipped thematically to his or her faction.
And what he said. :-)
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Is anyone else a little bit underwhelmed by some of the prestige awards? For instance, would anyone ever buy a 750 gp potion (e.g. Oil of Magic Vestment +1)? Or a Wand of Scare? Or a Wand of Enthrall? Actually, I think all of the wands are pretty weak except for the Wand of Silent Image.
Agree or disagree?
Well, since you can't craft them or be guaranteed of purchase, the awards give you a selection of items that let you operate along the principles/goals of your faction and get some quirky items that might be useful.
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And what he said. :-)Although I wasn't a part of the process of selecting prestige awards for the factions, I suspect that some of the awards are serving a dual role. First, they're awards for doing good by your faction. Second, they're building your faction's personality. Take the Cheliax awards, as an example; lots of sneaky, mind control, fire themed stuff in there, whereas over on the Andoran side you've got a lot of leadership, protective, military stuff.
Therefore, a character with a lot of prestige awards is, by default, equipped thematically to his or her faction.
Unfortunately, the Taldorian gear just doesn't have the same "umph" the rest of the gear has. Charisma gear just doesn't shine as much when you're playing somebody with absolutely no social graces.
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RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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Unfortunately, the Taldorian gear just doesn't have the same "umph" the rest of the gear has. Charisma gear just doesn't shine as much when you're playing somebody with absolutely no social graces.And what he said. :-)Although I wasn't a part of the process of selecting prestige awards for the factions, I suspect that some of the awards are serving a dual role. First, they're awards for doing good by your faction. Second, they're building your faction's personality. Take the Cheliax awards, as an example; lots of sneaky, mind control, fire themed stuff in there, whereas over on the Andoran side you've got a lot of leadership, protective, military stuff.
Therefore, a character with a lot of prestige awards is, by default, equipped thematically to his or her faction.
Sure all of the prestige gear is not going to be good for all characters, but the Taldorian gear being charisma focuses goes to reinforce that Taldors make good bards and diplomats. Bards, clerics, sorcerors and paladins would all benefit directly from these items. As for other character classes, these items help them play against type. Want to be a diplomatic fighter, take cross class ranks, skill focus (diplomacy) and a few Taldorian charisma booster items. It makes playing that kind of fighter easier for Taldors than, say Chelaxians.
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Unfortunately, the Taldorian gear just doesn't have the same "umph" the rest of the gear has. Charisma gear just doesn't shine as much when you're playing somebody with absolutely no social graces.
It's true that the Taldan gear has Charisma as its primary stat focus, but it should also be noted that their gear list includes boots of speed. Nobody else gets that item on their list, and it's one of the sweetest items in the game for a combat character. I suspect that upon using them for a while, the gear lists may turn out to be more balanced than you think.