Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (
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Clawhound <none@nowhere.com> wrote:
> Keith Davies wrote:
>
>> Overall, even though I didn't read it in depth, and tried to not read
>> the spoily stuff, I'm pleased with it. I think if I were to read the
>> stories then go into the spoily stuff I'd find a pretty good match
>> between them. Green Ronin is generally pretty reliable when it comes to
>> their books and quality.
>>
>>
>> Keith
>
> Oh, yes, they did their work quite well. I've read the series several
> times over the years, so I know what I'm looking for. When I flipped
> through it, everything that I saw was quite faithful to the books.
> Unfortunately, I did not have time to read the magic system, which is
> the part that really intreagues me. This is one of the few "low magic"
> D20 settings out there, and I'd like to see how they solved the problem.
>
> I'm also curious about their masterwork system. I'll definitely have
> to make a note of that.
Summarized:
six levels of above average quality (they don't touch on below average
quality):
.. Fine
.. Excellent
.. Exceptional
.. Superior
.. Masterwork
.. Masterpiece
Each level allows one additional quality. In some cases the same
quality may be taken more than once. Time to craft the item is
multiplied by a constant and a Craft check is made to determine the
actual quality achieved. You might spend 8 times as long but only beat
the normal DC by 7; despite the time spent, it's only an exceptional
item.
cost(sp) rarity DC Time Benefits
Average normal normal +0 x1 -
Fine +500 normal +2 x2 1 benefit
Excellent +1500 +1 +4 x3 2 benefits
Exceptional +3000 +1 +6 x5 3, may double once
Superior +6000 +2 +10 x8 4, may double once
Masterwork +8000 +2 +15 x12 5, x2 twice or x3 once
Masterpiece +10000 +3 +25 x20 6, x2 once, or x2 and x3
The higher the quality, the more famous the item is likely to be. Fine
and Excellent aren't *that* unusual, Masterpiece may be better-known
than the owner -- wielders of a Masterpiece weapon might be considered
footnotes in the weapon's history.
Benefits
[I've elided the descriptive comments and included just the rules.
Assume getting the benefits requires that you wield/wear/use the item as
appropriate for the item]
Accurate (any weapon)
benefit: +1 quality bonus to attack
double: +2 quality bonus to attack
triple: +3 quality bonus to attack
Balanced (any weapon or shield)
benefit: in hand and readied, +1 quality bonus to initiative
double: +2 bonus
triple: +3 bonus
Concealable (any item)
benefit: +4 quality bonus to Sleight of Hand to hide on person
double: +8 bonus
triple: +12 bonus
Crushing (bludgeoning weapon)
benefit: +2 points of nonlethal damage on every hit (quality bonus)
double: +4
triple: +6
Deadly (any weapon)
benefit: increase threat range of x2 critical weapon by 1, last
double: increase threat range of x3 critical weapon by 1, last
triple: increase threat range of x4 critical weapon by 1, last
Decorative (any item)
benefit: +1 quality bonus to Diplomacy checks while displaying ownership
double: +2
triple: +3
Forgery (any item)
benefit: DC to determine this is a fake increased by +4
double: DC to determine this is a fake increased by +8
triple: DC to determine this is a fake increased by +12
Fortified (armor)
benefit: 10% chance critical hit or sneak attack (or ambush) negated
double: 20%
triple: 30%
Guard (any weapon or shield)
benefit: may reduce attack rolls by 1 for +1 deflection bonus to AC;
doubled if item is a shield
double: up to -2/+2
triple: up to -3/+3
Lethal (any weapon)
benefit: +2 quality bonus to rolls to confirm a critical
double: +4
triple: +6
Light (any item)
benefit: functions normally, normal hit points, -10% weight
double: -20% weight
triple: -30% weight
Mastercraft (armor or shield)
benefit: ACP reduced by 1, to a minimum of 0
double: ACP reduced by 2
triple: ACP reduced by 3
Ornate (any item)
benefit: cost multiplier increased by 5. Adds +2 quality bonus to
Diplomacy checks when given as a gift
double: multiplier increased by 10, +4 to Diplomacy when gift
triple: multiplier increased by 15, +6 to Diplomacy when gift
Rugged (any item)
benefit: +2 quality bonus to hardness and Break DC
double: +4
triple: +6
Poisoned (any weapon)
benefit: double number of strikes before poison rubbed off
double: triple
triple: quadrupled
Sharp (slashing or piercing weapon)
benefit: +1 quality bonus to all damage rolls, before multipliers
double: +2
triple: +3
Sturdy (any item)
benefit: +50% hit points ('50% quality bonus to hit points')
double: +100% hit points
triple: +150% hit points
Thick (any armor)
benefit: medium or heavy armor gives DR 1/- vs. melee and ranged weapons
double: light armor gives DR 1/- vs. melee and ranged weapons
triple: any armor gives DR 2/- vs. melee and ranged weapons
Threatening (any item)
benefit: +2 quality bonus to Intimidate checks while displaying
double: +4
triple: +6
Well-craft (any gear)
benefit: +1 quality bonus to one skill when used as intended
double: +2
triple: +3
Examples
[the examples are from the book and have some inconsistencies]
Ash Wand (Masterpiece Bastard Sword)
greatsword with accurate *2, balanced, sharp *3
[conflict in book]
Black Company Banner (Well-Crafted Banner)
banner with well-crafted *2: +2 bonus to Command checks within 30'
[doesn't follow rule; *2 needs Exceptional]
Croaker's Bow (Masterpiece Longbow)
longbow with accurate *3, balanced *2, ornate
Lady's Barrowland Model (Exceptional Map)
Map (model) with well-crafted *2 and sturdy
Lady' Sword (Masterwork Longsword)
longsword with accurate *2, lethal *2, light
Narayan's Bonebreaker (Exceptional Deceiver's Tool)
Deceiver's Tool with ornate *2 and balanced
Officer's Batons (Excellent Clubs)
clubs with crushing and threatening
Patience's Engine (Exceptional Springdal)
Springdal with lethal *2 and poisoned (used nasty paralytic poison)
Raven's Daggers (Superior Daggers
Daggers with balanced *2, concealable, sharp
Shapeshifter's Armor (Masterpiece Half-plate)
'glossy black armor' with thick *3, fortified, ornate, threatening
Tracker's Arrows (Excellent Arrows)
arrows with accurate and deadly
Keith
--
Keith Davies "English is not a language. English is a
keith.davies@kjdavies.org bad habit shared between Norman invaders
keith.davies@gmail.com and Saxon barmaids!"
http://www.kjdavies.org/ -- Frog, IRC, 2005/01/13
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