I've been wondering about the distinction between different types of magical items. I can understand why wands, staffs, scrolls, and potions are all distinct types with their own crafting feat. I can also understand why arms and armor might need to be separate from other magic items, although that's more of a stretch. But what makes a ring or a rod so different from a wondrous item? Is it some kind of obscure balance thing I've overlooked? A holdover from a previous edition when it actually mattered?
I've been wondering about the distinction between different types of magical items. I can understand why wands, staffs, scrolls, and potions are all distinct types with their own crafting feat. I can also understand why arms and armor might need to be separate from other magic items, although that's more of a stretch. But what makes a ring or a rod so different from a wondrous item? Is it some kind of obscure balance thing I've overlooked? A holdover from a previous edition when it actually mattered?
I assume Sacred cow and balance.
Rings are basically every slot (meaning no extra cost to make any wonderous magic item instead a Ring). Drawback only 2 rings.
Rods are weird. I'm not sure why not Wonderous. They are basically wonderous items with special rules usually.
Grante, Brew Potion is basically making Wonderous items (Elixers are potions with Craft Wonderous Item) but own feat.
I've been wondering about the distinction between different types of magical items. I can understand why wands, staffs, scrolls, and potions are all distinct types with their own crafting feat. I can also understand why arms and armor might need to be separate from other magic items, although that's more of a stretch. But what makes a ring or a rod so different from a wondrous item? Is it some kind of obscure balance thing I've overlooked? A holdover from a previous edition when it actually mattered?I assume Sacred cow and balance.
Rings are basically every slot (meaning no extra cost to make any wonderous magic item instead a Ring). Drawback only 2 rings.
Rods are weird. I'm not sure why not Wonderous. They are basically wonderous items with special rules usually.
Grante, Brew Potion is basically making Wonderous items (Elixers are potions with Craft Wonderous Item) but own feat.
Well, potions are like spell scrolls for everyone, but an elixir usually works in a way that is not exactly a spell.
Creative Director
|
To a large extent, rings and rods are kept separate because of tradition. They certainly COULD be reclassified as wondrous items, but if they were, the ring and rod sections for wondrous items would be ENORMOUS. By keeping these two in their own categories, since there's so many of them, it just helps to not make one category of magic item too bloated in size compared to other categories.
Rods, also, are unusual in that they often combine the traits of wondrous items and magic weapons, so that's another good reason to separate them.