Given the availability of 'Remove Curse' (without houseruling that the spell isnt available) and 'Break Enchantment' I wonder if other GM's include the placement of Cursed Items in their games or how the application of 'Bestow Curse' and 'Bestow Greater Curse' (from the Spell Compendium sourcebook) actually hinders anyone in the longterm.
I do know that Curses are supposed to be unpleasant, but I often find as soon as a charcter discovers they found a cursed weapon or item they all too easily get rid of it - I cant really resrict the use of 'Remove Curse' or 'Break Enchantment' in my game without houseruling it, but in some cases I require the character to make a 'Caster Level Test' to overcome the Cursed Item if I believe the Curse to be a particularly strong or unusual one. Though the 'Bestow Curse' spells are quite useful they tend to be temporary at best and difficult to hide once a character picks up the cursed items and naturally tries to discover what the item is.
I wonder, what sort of stories or thoughts do other GM's especially or other players have encountered. I am also curious to know what others think about the usefulness of Curses in their games.
Ciao.
My GM, in the few times he has used cursed items, has always made it part of the story line. I guess it was just something he used to help the story along maybe. I know if made for some good adventures...
What about Girdles of Masculinity/Femininity? Are they supposed to be cursed objects?
What about Girdles of Masculinity/Femininity? Are they supposed to be cursed objects?
Thanks for reminding me. I have to put one of those in the loot list somewhere in my game. :D
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Although plenty of spells exist to break curses, not many casters prep that "remove curse" at the beginning of the day. Bestow Curse can be NASTY (50% chance to do nothing each round) and easy to apply by clerics in melee combat. If you have to find a safe spot to rest in the middle of hostile territory to swap spells, this one can really ruin your day...
Otherwise, I'm not a big fan of randomly placed cursed loot (except the Girdle of Gender Bender, which a player mistakingly presumed was a Belt of Giant Strength in the old days...)
I usually save the harmful cursed items for a story line and try to avoid the instant kill-type items unless there's an out (such as a necklace of strangulation, etc.)
'Cursed' items CAN be alot of fun, (EG: putting a 'Helm Of Alignment Change' on a Paladin), but they have less to no real impact at higher levels given how easy it is to procure a 'Break Enchantment/Remove Curse', even 'Bestow Greater Curse' from the 'Spell Compendium' sourcebook is removed in exactly the same manner as its more basic cousin without the need of a higher level 'Remove Curse' anywhere in sight - dont get me wrong, 'Break Enchantment' is a terrific spell, and I wouldnt reduce that in any way but I just feel theres no real 'threat' in curses anymore at moderate to high levels because players just remove it the day after without any real problems.
Keep in mind that the Pathfinder version of remove curse and break enchantment are not automatic. You have to beat the caster level or DC of the curse with a caster level check. Depending on the curse, that may not be easy.
Keep in mind that the Pathfinder version of remove curse and break enchantment are not automatic. You have to beat the caster level or DC of the curse with a caster level check. Depending on the curse, that may not be easy.
Thats true, but there are seldom if ever any consequences for failure, and most characters that carry a curse or cursed item are prone to wanting to wait around until the partys spellcasters get rid of the offending curse or item in question. (Dont get me wrong, this time wasting allows the enemy to regroup and reorganise, etc and I do take advantage of any time wasted). Still an annoyance though, theres no limit to how many tries can be made.