Item Slots in PF:RPG

[Ryan Fontana]

OK, so Im going through the process of porting my Eberron campaign to the PF:RPG system. In order to make sure all is well before I begin the PC converting process, I figured Id do some of my party NPCs. In carrying over their gear I have been stymied by the switches between the two systems.

For instance, our NPC cleric had previously been been able to simaltaneously take advantage of a Periapt of Wisdom, Cloak of Charisma and a Phylactery of Undead Truning. In the conversion, I have the option to put both Cha and Wis in the same item, albeit at a higher expense, but then I lose the phylactery...

Am I missing something? Is there a list or rule I have missed?

[tergiver]

You're right about the Wisdom + Charisma items.

Phylacteries seem to be their own slot, although the phylactery of faithfullness is listed as a slotless item. The SRD does break out phylactery, but it breaks out gloves and gauntlets separately so we can't rely on that.

If they are head items, maybe it's time to move phylacteries to the neck slot? Google seems to indicate that they're classically amulets, but then they'll conflict with amulets of natural armor.

[KaeYoss]

Weren't phylacteries always amulets?

Anyway, though you have to pay extra for the Headband Of Wise And Pretty At Once, that would leave the neck slot free for the phylactery.

[Ryan Fontana]

Well, why not lok at just what one adventurer could wear at any givem time, body part by body part:

On the head a given adventurer should be able to wear a headband underneath any of the other items (crowns, circlets, hats, helmets and phylacteries). I would imagine a phylactery to be akin to the Jewish Tefillin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tefillin), thus disallowing one from wearing a phylactery while also wearing any additional head item other than a headband.

On the face it would seem that the current arrangement makes sense as it would be hard to wear a lens or goggles while also wearing a mask.

The only issue I have with neck slots are medals and and badges. Neither of these seem to make sense to be forced into the neck slot. To me they would seem to be better fitted into a single slot on armors. The should be no other overlap allowed here.

Shoulders make sense as is, and don't really need any updating.

The differentiation between body and torso slots makes sense, as does the overlap of effects.

Arms and hands should be seperated out, and in fact it would seem likely that they too should be able to have some overlap. If my shirt still helps me under my armor, why cant my gloves help me from under my gauntlets? Bracelets seem to me to call for a completely seperate slot from armbands or bracers, don't they?

Everything else seems fine as is.

So... what the hell am I getting at?
I would seperate out items by a second category in addition from their body slot: clothing, armor and jewelry. So:

Head:
Armor: helmet
Jewelry: phylactery, circlets and crowns
Clothing: hats* and headbands

Face
Armor: n/a
Jewelry: goggles, lenses, masks, spectacles, third eyes
Clothing: n/a

Throat
Armor: n/a
Jewelry: Amulets, broaches, medallions, necklaces, pendants, periapts, scarabs and torcs
Clothing: collars and scarfs

Shoulders
Armor: n/a
Jewelry: n/a
Clothing: capes, cloaks, mantles, shawls

Body
Armor: all armors
Jewelry: badges and medals
Clothing: robes

Torso
Armor: n/a
Jewelry: n/a
Clothing: shirts, vests, vestments and tunics

Arms
Armor: n/a
Jewelry: armbands
Clothing: bracers

Hands
Armor: gauntlets
Jewelry: bracelets
Clothing: gloves

Waist
Armor: n/a
Jewelry: n/a
Clothing: belts, girdles and sashes

Feets
Armor: n/a
Jewelry: n/a
Clothing: boots, sandals, shoes ans slippers

[tergiver]

KaeYoss wrote:

Weren't phylacteries always amulets?

In previous editions I thought so, but the phylactery of faithfulness specifically says it's tied around the forehead, so I generalized from there.

Ryan Fontana, I'm much more inclined to strip a couple of slots away than add any. You have eight fingers and two thumbs, but can only use one ring at a time. There's a certain lack of heroism inherent in wearing a hat, a headband, and a tiara simultaneously.

There's still no limit to the number of magic items you can have, thanks to slotless and combined items.

[The Wraith]

Ryan Fontana wrote:

For instance, our NPC cleric had previously been been able to simaltaneously take advantage of a Periapt of Wisdom, Cloak of Charisma and a Phylactery of Undead Truning. In the conversion, I have the option to put both Cha and Wis in the same item, albeit at a higher expense, but then I lose the phylactery...

Well, nothing prevents you to create your own magical items with their own body slots. I mean, if a player is willing to use up three body slots for a Headband of Intellect, Medallion of Wisdom, and Cloak of Charisma, I would allow it. The rules are still there (well, actually in the Alpha 3, not in the Beta... but I assume they are the same; if not, sorry for my mistake) (but they are in the SRD, anyway...), and the body slot affinity can allow an enhancement to Wisdom in the Amulet slot (protection, DISCERNMENT) without an extra cost. Of course, your Cleric or Druid has no space for that nice Amulet of Natural Armor +5... (maybe put it into a Ring ?)

What I mean is, of course is nice to have a lot of premade Magic Items (they are usually more balanced that homebrewed versions), but shifting an existant bonus from a slot to another is not the same than, for example, creating a Ring that grants Greater Invisibility (!!! woe to the enemy of the invisible rogue !!!)
So, IMHO, if your players want to keep the old magic items (less gold-expensive, more slot-expensive) I think that this would be fine.
I, for example, have never used/sold/let my players found a Gauntlet of Ogre Power (Str+2), always Belts of Strength (+2,+4,+6)...