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Now that I've spent some real time looking through the core rulebook's list of magic items (I normally GM so I typically use it as reference), there are definitely some 3.5 things I consider nonsense that still made it through in to Pathfinder. I have adopted a rant-like style to poke some humor and hopefully you will see my viewpoint of what is silly. The "chakra" concept of 3.5 is still here as slots, and many of them are really just begging for abuse by high-level characters who craft magical items.
Here are the slots:
Armor: suits of armor.
Belts: belts and girdles.
Body: robes and vestments.
Chest: mantles, shirts, and vests.
Eyes: eyes, glasses, and goggles.
Feet: boots, shoes, and slippers.
Hands: gauntlets and gloves.
Head: circlets, crowns, hats, helms, and masks.
Headband: headbands and phylacteries.
Neck: amulets, brooches, medallions, necklaces, periapts, and scarabs.
Ring (up to two): rings.
Shield: shields.
Shoulders: capes and cloaks.
Wrist: bracelets and bracers.
Here are my thoughts:
The Body slot should be removed and Druid's vestments should be Chest slot.
The body slot drives me bonkers. There are 9 noncursed items in the book that fit in the body slot. Eight of them are Robes. 1 is Druid's Vestments, which give one more wild shape/day. I don't really understand why you should be able to wear Robes of the Archmagi and Hide Armor of Heavy Fortification, much less Full Plate. It would not be a big imbalance if robes took the armor spot, and keeping both invites abuse by high-level crafters stacking abilities into both spots. The Druid's Vestments, which clearly are clothes worn over the top of armor, is the only one that I think should go with armor. Make Druid's Vestments a chest slot item.
Still not convinced? Look at this:
9 items in the core rulebook can fit in this slot. There are FOUR more that are cursed items. Two are robes. That makes sense. The other two? Full Plate. If you carefully read the rules, and look at Armor of Rage, I could have a character that would want that armor and another set of armor as well.
Yes, my paladin could be wearing two sets of Full Plate. One set she thinks is Full Plate +2 (and it is), and the other is a set of Full Plate that she thinks is Armor of Command, but is actually Armor of Rage. MY PALADIN CAN WEAR TWO SETS OF FULL PLATE. Why is that not wrong?
The Chest slot should be reworked.
This thread started with looking at a Handy Haversack and I wondered why it was an unslotted item. It is a very useful item; I argue that it is a necessary item for mid- to high-level adventurers, and it does not occupy the chest slot? Pathfinder did away with a back slot and has shoulders instead. Where do back items go? Is that not the back of the chest? Are the TMNT Shells of Heavy Fortification unslotted items?
Why is there an entire slot devoted to THREE items in the core rulebook? They are: Mantle of Faith, Mantle of Spell Resistance, and Vest of Escape. Mantles are described as being worn on the outside of normal clothing or armor, so perhaps this is similar to a heavy tabard or a religious person's ceremonial garb (think holy vestments). It sounds a whole lot like Druid's Vestments, but those, alas, are body slot, even though the description is nearly identical (worn over the armor).
The list above says that Chest slot is for mantles, shirts, and vests, but only 2 mantles exist and 1 vest. Druid's Vestments isn't a vest, apparently, but more like a mantle, except it is not a mantle, even though it is religious (nature). What is a mantle again? Here you go: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantle_%28clothing%29. OK, I understand now. Mantles aren't religious vestments, but an overcoat. Is that why it is a Body slot item? I bet NPCs get mad at me because when I have to pay for something, I have to push aside the folds of my cloak and my vestments and my robe to get to my Handy Haversack that's worn outside of my Armor(thank goodness). But somehow, I still manage to procure anything as a move action.
OK I understand. Druid's Vestments aren't really vestments, they are like mantles, and mantles are clearly not cloaks because cloaks are shoulder items and mantles are not. Clearly, Druid's Vestments/Not Mantles are Body slot items. Mantles of Faith--which ARE Religious Vestments, are not Body slot vestments and are thus Chest slot items.
I would have worn a shirt instead, but alas, there are no magical shirts in the core rulebook. At least I know what slot they are. CHEST. I emphasize that because you can't wear a shirt under your vest or mantle. Well, actually you can, but it loses its magic for some reason that only the developers of 3.0 understand while my Druid's Vestment/Mantle of Faith/Cloak of the Bat/Wildwood Fullplate-wearing druid gets off scott-free.
General Helm confusion--perhaps Head and Headband should be the same slot.
Perhaps game mechanics demand separate magical item slots for these items. I am still confused about helms and other head items though. Although suits of full plate and any heavy armor (even light armor) comes with some sort of helm, when you get a magical set, you can apparently throw it away because either:
a) The magical helm does not stack with your Helm of Underwater Action, or
b) Helms that come with magical armor are nonmagical.
In any case, you do not lose armor class for taking off a helm, so I suppose that all helms are purely for ornamental reasons.
Proof that helm does not offer protection: http://www.downloadmunkey.net/images/blood-raven-captain.jpg
UR doing it wrong:
King Arthur: Obvious use of a helm and a crown. Only one is magical, Art! http://www.flamingfun.com/files/478/kingbike.jpg
UR doing it right:
Generic knight: Obvious use of a coif (helm) and a headband. http://historyshop.piratemerch.com/images/knight_headband_100992.jpg
The Shoulders slot should be renamed Cloak slot and Wings of Flying should be changed to Chest slot.
So, let's see if I have this straight: I can wear two sets of full plate along with my robes, mantle, and wings of flying, but I can't wear wings and a cloak?
I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I had writing it.
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This is worth consideration (and a fun read) but maybe you're requiring too much exactness from the system?
If you have a player who would earnestly argue that she could wear two sets of platemail because of the RAW, then your game has a poor sense of simulation. As a DM I'd rather just say 'no' than rewrite a corner of the rules to say it for me.
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This is worth consideration (and a fun read) but maybe you're requiring too much exactness from the system?
If you have a player who would earnestly argue that she could wear two sets of platemail because of the RAW, then your game has a poor sense of simulation. As a DM I'd rather just say 'no' than rewrite a corner of the rules to say it for me.
LOL, I would never do it and never allow it in one of my games. I just wanted to point out some sillyness in the rules RAW, and some simple suggestions to clean up some of the problems.
In addition, I don't see a need to have so many different types of similar slots that have overlapping function, especially since there are so few examples of items that can even be in those slots. It would not surprise me that no additional chest slot items exist for Pathfinder (only) material right now.
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Adding a pants slot presents a worrying problem:
It adds incentive for people to sunder your pants.
I have a couple of chest slot items in homebrew that I use... magical tabards for example.
Also keep in mind that any item can be repurposed to a different slot for 150% of the original price. The Boots of Teleportation can become a Vest of Teleportation and a Ring of Protection +2 can become a Helmet of Protection +2 if you wanted.
Adding a pants slot presents a worrying problem:
It adds incentive for people to sunder your pants.
I think this would make the game at least 75% more amazing. Especially with my sundering character.
Besides, then we could have Pantaloons of Charisma +4, Leather Pants of Resistance +3, Fancy Pants of Soul-Trapping, Silk Pajamas of Escape, and Leiderhosen of Yodeling, why would you NOT have any of those?
"ALL I WANT IS A DECENT PAIR OF +5 PANTS!!!"
Solomon Grundy want +5 pants too
Will save or be sickened?Everyone is forgeting the loincloth slot.
I have a +5 lioncloth of draftiness and flashing.....
Anyone that comes within 30ft of you must make a will save or you become, sickened and frightened until they leave the area, a character that passes it's save is fascinated.
Also, you could do ...
JAZZ PANTS!
*jingle*
Also keep in mind that any item can be repurposed to a different slot for 150% of the original price. The Boots of Teleportation can become a Vest of Teleportation and a Ring of Protection +2 can become a Helmet of Protection +2 if you wanted.
I know that adding new properties to a slotted item costs x1.5, but where are you getting that as a cost to create for a different slot?
I've always assumed the difference between say a cloak of resistance, an amulet of resistance, and boots of resistance was aesthetic.
I don't really understand why you should be able to wear Robes of the Archmagi and Hide Armor of Heavy Fortification, much less Full Plate.
Also keep in mind that any item can be repurposed to a different slot for 150% of the original price. The Boots of Teleportation can become a Vest of Teleportation and a Ring of Protection +2 can become a Helmet of Protection +2 if you wanted.I know that adding new properties to a slotted item costs x1.5, but where are you getting that as a cost to create for a different slot?
I've always assumed the difference between say a cloak of resistance, an amulet of resistance, and boots of resistance was aesthetic.
IIRC, there was an additional cost for making items that used the "wrong" slot, but I don't think such rule is present in PF.
IIRC, there was an additional cost for making items that used the "wrong" slot, but I don't think such rule is present in PF.Also keep in mind that any item can be repurposed to a different slot for 150% of the original price. The Boots of Teleportation can become a Vest of Teleportation and a Ring of Protection +2 can become a Helmet of Protection +2 if you wanted.I know that adding new properties to a slotted item costs x1.5, but where are you getting that as a cost to create for a different slot?
I've always assumed the difference between say a cloak of resistance, an amulet of resistance, and boots of resistance was aesthetic.
I've not seen it anywhere in 3 or 3.5 either. It's always been additional cost to make an item that doesn't use a slot (x2), but I can't recall ever seeing additional cost for slot variance.
From a systems standpoint, one wonderous item slot is equal to another, as all are limited.