tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3342640173817458901.post4347517293426586820..comments2023-09-21T10:30:10.699+02:00Comments on Square Fireballs: The Magic Item reset (I): Why I hate magic itemsPericohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12414348870266960204noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3342640173817458901.post-20630778951845088332012-03-01T17:39:52.459+01:002012-03-01T17:39:52.459+01:00I don't have a full fix for the feat bloat iss...I don't have a full fix for the feat bloat issue, but I've definitely been giving it a lot of thought. I have a project for a complete revamp of 4E feats, but that will take a ton of work, and I'm not even halfway yet. <br /><br />Anyway, my alternate feat system, if I ever get to complete it, would follow these design principles:<br /><br />- Cut the taxes: There would be no feats for expertise, focus, improved defenses or extended critical ranges. The numerical bonuses currently granted by these feats would be given for free to all PCs.<br /><br />- Two feat tiers: I would create two feat categories: "greater feats" and "lesser feats". A PCs feats would be split evenly between both categories (likely granting a lesser feat in levels where you get a utility power, and a greater feat in those levelts where you don't). Greater feats would include cool combat-related stuff, while the lesser feat slots would let you take weaker stuff like Skill focus or Linguist, which are trap options under the current framework.<br /><br />- Siloing: I love how multiclass feats work under the current system. They are very strong and interesting feats, but you can only take one of them. This means that picking a multiclass is a highly interesting decision for a player. It also has the advantage that you can have 40+ awesome multiclass feats in the game without incurring in major power creep. I would take this principle one step further, creating a lot (likely betwen 5 and 10) of feat categories, each of which would only let you choose one among several(hopefully) powerful and cool options.<br /><br />- Generic options: The current model of specific feats for each class build, race, and combination thereof, is unsustainable. In order keep the number of feats within reasonable limits, I would need to remove class and racial feats. To replace class feats, I'm thinking of using feat categories that are restricted to characters of a certain role or power source (granting benefits directly tied to that role or source). Racials are more tricky, but I'd like to have generic feats that interacted with racial powers, racial utility powers, and perhaps other features like racial skills or proficiencies. A few feats linked to character origin (fey, natural, shadow) might also work, here.Pericohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12414348870266960204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3342640173817458901.post-12525020543424849652012-02-28T23:58:41.196+01:002012-02-28T23:58:41.196+01:00I really liked this, and I'm going to start us...I really liked this, and I'm going to start using it in my new games. My question, though, is if you had a fix for the feat bloat?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3342640173817458901.post-23186848028724544342011-07-16T08:16:19.122+02:002011-07-16T08:16:19.122+02:00Awesome! I just recently bought Essentials and was...Awesome! I just recently bought Essentials and was really puzzled once I figured out that there just are no more magic items available. I couldn't make it through the first level without fudging loot rolls!<br /><br />This is just what I needed. It would be very cool to see it compiled into a single document. I especially like that you haven't messed with the rules much. Just dropping a new set of magic items in is straightforward enough.Joonashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05519735433233432410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3342640173817458901.post-68444192175835763022011-05-26T15:04:44.992+02:002011-05-26T15:04:44.992+02:00Thanks, I had missed a couple of articles. It'...Thanks, I had missed a couple of articles. It's done now :)Pericohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12414348870266960204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3342640173817458901.post-303848985646985922011-05-26T14:59:39.902+02:002011-05-26T14:59:39.902+02:00Hey, you need to update this index with the links ...Hey, you need to update this index with the links to the newer articles!Claudio Fredahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17767216612280966603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3342640173817458901.post-32221175629030283292011-04-25T16:02:01.312+02:002011-04-25T16:02:01.312+02:00I completely agree. One of the biggest offenders ...I completely agree. One of the biggest offenders is the myriad of charge-boosting items, as it's gotten to the point where unless you're a multi-attacker the only way to keep up in the DPR race is to spec for charging. Booooring. <br /><br />Someone on the WotC forums recently posted a Gouge-wielding WIZARD that put out impressive striker-level DPR when charging. The Wizard is functionally the complete opposite of this type of character, which just goes to show how specific items sets can completely overshadow the functionality of an entire class.<br /><br />Personally I don't think that the various damage boosters (Horned Helm, Vanguard Weapon, Surprising Charge, etc.) should stack, and the Bade of the Berserker should only provide a bonus to defense vs. OAs when charging, not make you immune to them altogether. Charging should be a good option, but it shouldn't overshadow PCs that choose not to go that route.Brian Slabyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05333048710667620592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3342640173817458901.post-74022712868986173522011-04-23T01:05:14.227+02:002011-04-23T01:05:14.227+02:00Oh man. Between this and Save Versus Death's u...Oh man. Between this and Save Versus Death's upcoming Fourthcore Armory, 4e items are about to have a friggin' renaissance. Looking forward to it!<br /><br />(Unfortunately, feats need pretty much the same treatment, for the same reasons...)SabreCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04504781586824397505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3342640173817458901.post-77705570472747739912011-04-22T15:49:50.640+02:002011-04-22T15:49:50.640+02:00I'm looking forward to this. I concur that ma...I'm looking forward to this. I concur that magic items in 4e are not handled all that well.dwarf74https://www.blogger.com/profile/12736643592510342193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3342640173817458901.post-56564923415463197602011-04-22T10:41:02.300+02:002011-04-22T10:41:02.300+02:00I am really looking forward to thisI am really looking forward to thisAndráshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18029096265502575391noreply@blogger.com