Re: A look at defense values (maxes?)

["Sean L. McLane" <zodo@laf.cioe.com>]

<major -snip->

> From steve@ns1.cioe.com Wed Jun 24 15:26:28 1998
> Subject: Re: A look at defense values (maxes?)
>
> Change the system to favor the creation of these items... make
> weapon chant rank 1 like minibolt... 1d6 autohit, or a temporary
> +1 to hit/damage. *shrug* Something has to change or the magic item
> distribution would become even more artificial.
>
> 						-Steve
>

This has been a pet peeve of mine for a while now, and I've not really
said anything about it because I knew that it would be futile to do so. 
Hopefully, with this mailing list, set up for rational discussion of items
in the campaign that we all love (of course we love it, or else we wouldn't
have kept playing for so long), I might be able to bring up this issue
that has been nagging at me.

Ever since we first had a system for players to create magic items, there
have been a number of changes to that system, each one to make it harder
for the players to make Magic items. It has devolved to a point where it
is hardly economical to create a magic item. Hundreds, if not thousands
of items exist that are impossible to make under the current system, and
of those that are possible, a great many would require more resources and
experience than any sane person would be willing to expend for the minimal
return. By making it nigh impossible for players to do something worthwhile
with magic item creation, it has been made improbable for the items to 
exist at all. If it is desired that players not make permanent magic Items,
then don't provide the system. Do some other Deus ex machina (gods know 
there's enough of it already in the campaign) for the creation of permanent
items, like something that certain high level priestesses of A'tena do.
Since Priestesses of A'tena are NPCs only (with almost no dispute from 
players or GMs on that so far), players would never have the means to 
create permanent items, and there would be a more rational explanation in
game as to why such items exist.

(as a brief tangent, It is curious that on a world as magic-heavy as 
Jaern is, there is no God of Magic)

In any case I've rambled too much. Before we argue any points further, 
we should keep in mind that Dan has expressed EXTREME hesitancy to 
implement any changes in the system, so we might want to determine whether
it is worth our effort to even bother expending the energy to make the
arguments before doing so, lest we find out that after hammering something
out, Dan is just going to Veto it.

As always, I welcome responses on these issues.

Sean L. McLane    |     I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed,
zodo@laf.cioe.com |         briefed, debriefed, or numbered.
                                My life is my own!
                                        -The Prisoner