[Unchained] Scaling Items in RoW

[remoh]

After reading the Unchained Magic rules, I was struck by an idea for using them in RoW. As other threads have complained, the PCs do not have a lot of places to buy/sell treasure. By adding a few character specific Scaling items, you can reduce this need. I figure either when they get the mantle or release the Hut, they can be gift with these items.

That said, it would mean reducing the treasure for the rest of the AP by half or so. Any thoughts? Ideas?

For those that did not get Unchained, a Scaling item is worth 30%, 15% or 5% of a character's WBL. Rather than needing to be replaced, it increases in power each time a character levels.

[Axiem]

Well, naturally the Crystal Tiara is a must have.

This is a good idea, I think. We're on book 6 now, and my party has rarely remembered to make use of their summonable Merchant.

[Rycaut]

thread necro....

I am planning on doing exactly this - however my plan is to introduce the scaling items by substituting them for items otherwise found in the books already if the fit with the PCs. Some I may give to NPCs - and I'm going to try to find an item to give to each PC eventually but may stagger when I give them the items to work them in naturally into the story.

For example if we had a paladin I think that initial cold iron longsword the party can get could turn into a scalable item.... may actually see if I can rework that into an item that works well for the PC who has that weapon - and when it starts to get stronger as they go up in level let them in on the surprise... otherwise I think I may modify what a Sacred Avenger does to fit my party a bit closer (the PC who may use it is a Cavalier/Cleric so close enough to a paladin albeit not lawful good)

and indeed the Crystal Tiara is definitely a great fit. I'm also planning on emphasizing the Fey as a force in the story heavily (with them seeking to get Baba Yaga for their own purposes and with good fey potentially helping the party and evil fey seeking to eliminate or corrupt the party) so many of the scalable items that also have a strong fey flavor may be great fits.

As a GM I really like the scalable items that have abilities that can scale from relatively low levels al the way up to level 20 - in general I think these are the best of the scalable items - for example Legacy Arrow seems like a fun item to give to an archer. Handy at low levels (and even capable of being used creatively - i.e. shooting it and then using the ability to track it to find the target if the target is trying to hide..) but at higher levels it certainly becomes a pretty solid and potent item.

However unless I build some of my own I am worried that the scalable items from the book (only the one set of them as far as a I can tell?) won't have relatively equal value to different members of the party (i.e. I don't think I can find all baubles or all prizes and someone getting a wonder will be getting eventually a far more valuable and powerful item...

any suggestions?

[Mark Seifter]

Rycaut wrote:

thread necro....

I am planning on doing exactly this - however my plan is to introduce the scaling items by substituting them for items otherwise found in the books already if the fit with the PCs. Some I may give to NPCs - and I'm going to try to find an item to give to each PC eventually but may stagger when I give them the items to work them in naturally into the story.

For example if we had a paladin I think that initial cold iron longsword the party can get could turn into a scalable item.... may actually see if I can rework that into an item that works well for the PC who has that weapon - and when it starts to get stronger as they go up in level let them in on the surprise... otherwise I think I may modify what a Sacred Avenger does to fit my party a bit closer (the PC who may use it is a Cavalier/Cleric so close enough to a paladin albeit not lawful good)

and indeed the Crystal Tiara is definitely a great fit. I'm also planning on emphasizing the Fey as a force in the story heavily (with them seeking to get Baba Yaga for their own purposes and with good fey potentially helping the party and evil fey seeking to eliminate or corrupt the party) so many of the scalable items that also have a strong fey flavor may be great fits.

As a GM I really like the scalable items that have abilities that can scale from relatively low levels al the way up to level 20 - in general I think these are the best of the scalable items - for example Legacy Arrow seems like a fun item to give to an archer. Handy at low levels (and even capable of being used creatively - i.e. shooting it and then using the ability to track it to find the target if the target is trying to hide..) but at higher levels it certainly becomes a pretty solid and potent item.

However unless I build some of my own I am worried that the scalable items from the book (only the one set of them as far as a I can tell?) won't have relatively equal value to different members of the party (i.e. I don't think I can find all baubles or all prizes...

Roughly two prizes equal a wonder and three baubles equal a prize, so you could give one PC a wonder, one PC three baubles and a prize, etc. Does that help?

[Rycaut]

It may help though there aren’t enough baubles. (One idea is to make scaling items that are stat boost items or I may just also adopt scaling bonuses for those to avoid crafting just focused on them). However I really wanted items that have fun stories and flavor vs just mechanical benefits.

[Rycaut]

Starting to seed the scaling items now - going to rule that without an owner many of them don’t reveal their full capabilities and only do so over time (so detection on them may only reveal minor magic if any) but I’ll see what the players do - as the PCs go up in levels I may spring the scaling items upon them. Probably going to also flavor some as fey gifts (or in some cases tied to the mantle) which should make them interesting yet also mysterious.