ParanetOnline
The Dresden Files => DFRPG => Topic started by: JediDresden on April 23, 2011, 04:50:47 PM
-
In the game I have been playing in (and now bowed out of, I turned my PC into an NPC) I discovered that I had a family heirloom that helped with defensive magic vs. outsiders. It was used once in the climax of the adventure. That is a prety narrow use item, so I was wondering if it should be a focus item or and enchanted item.
My first thought was to base it on Madge's ring in the focus items section of the book. But if it does not come up as much story wise would it be better to design it as an enchanted item with a fixed number of uses a session?
Any ideas?
-
What is the NPC? Wizard? or something else?
-
Sorry. Wizard appentice, at the time, now as an NPC - a full wizard.
-
We have a Wizard apprentice in my game who has a Winter Court artifact, and an Aspect related to it. However, since Refresh is such a premium for spellcasters, we built it as an Enchanted Item (using his normal focus item slots) instead of an Item of Power. It is rules-legal, but plot-sketchy, thematically, because it is (plotwise) not something he "built." That said, if it is ever taken away, it would "free" those focus item slots.
So, at the end of the day, your Wizard *could* be using those Focus Item slots for other Enchanted Items, so for simple balance purposes, it would seem alright to me to make this family heirloom an Enchanted Item. Plus, it is limited in its per-day uses, but if necessary, the caster can spend a Mental Stress point to give an additional use. It is also the cheapest way to do it. Plus, the Warden swords act the exact same way (someone else built it, but for game balance reasons, it is taken as an Enchanted item instead of an Item of Power). Which would make it technically breakable.
But the "pure" plot solution would be for it to be an Item of Power. Which also means the item is not breakable. And since this is an NPC already, spending the Refresh is not necessarily a problem.
-
I would just set it up the way you want it and then don't worry about whether it's an enchanted item or a focus item. If it comes in to play, great, if not then it was never an issue to begin with. Bad guys cheat, your NPC can have as many of either items as he wants.
-
Bad guys cheat, your NPC can have as many of either items as he wants.
The last time my character became an NPC they could play the piano and starred in a crazy musical where ape ruled man. Really though, they don't even follow the pyramids for skills and focuses. Never trust NPC sheets.
Also don't trust your GM. It might be a trick to make you say 'outsider' in game and get you beheaded.
-
Thanks Guys.
I think I will go with an enchanted item.
As a player character he had this family heirloom but did not know what it did and at the big finalle in my last session with the group the GM revealed its power as we were fighting the Big Bad Guy who was an outsider. I retired my character as a PC because I could no longer play with the group because of time restrictions, but I want to maybe use him as an NPC in a game I hope to run in the future.
This helps me decide what direction to take him.
-
We have a Wizard apprentice in my game who has a Winter Court artifact, and an Aspect related to it. However, since Refresh is such a premium for spellcasters, we built it as an Enchanted Item (using his normal focus item slots) instead of an Item of Power. It is rules-legal, but plot-sketchy, thematically, because it is (plotwise) not something he "built." That said, if it is ever taken away, it would "free" those focus item slots.
Canonically, there was only one Wizard out there knocking out all the Warden's Swords. I think (disclaimer: it is Monday morning, I'm exhausted and I don't have my books) those were put on most of the NPC sheets in the way you listed here.
-
They were, and they're in the Suggested Enchanted Items bit, too.
-
Hooray for semi-reliable memory then!