This was actually inspired by Semli's thread wanting a handy unrestricted item.
If you look at the average drops on quests, consumable devices are mostly class unrestricted items, although there are a fair few good spell devices restricted to wilderness classes.
The Gem Mine for example has some extremely powerful unrestricted spell effect drops like Combust devices. When everyone is equipped with magical "idiot weapons" and potion stocks, a caster starts to look like a convenience, not a necessity. Unless of course you need them for a DR-busting Magic Weapon.
What I'd like to see are more scrolls, and more arcane devices restricted to be wizard/sorc only, not bard. Yes, it's *me* hating on Bards :P. But, the point is they can use any crafted wand and most arcane scrolls anyway. I'd love to see stuff that would default to mage classes, allowing them a good acquired consumable pool, especially to counter melee consumable pools in PVP.
We've had a recent mage shortage (IMO, maybe just on GMT times) and it's true that melee chars can quickly rack up massive supplies, whereas for mage drops, there's only one 3-6 quest that's a serious source.
For example:
Abjurer's Rod
Empowered with a store of abjurative magic able to strip the protective spells from a foe, this device can be activated at one of three power settings.
5 charges
Lesser Dispel (3) 1 charge/use
Dispel Magic (10) charges/use
Lesser Spell Breach (9), 5 charges/use.
Wizard/Sorcerer Only
Arcane Escape Rod
Useful for the mage in a hurry to escape an angry axeman or group of ravening orcs, these rods are popular among adventurous arcanists
15 charges
Slow (5) 5 charges/use
Web (3) 2 charges/use
Expeditous Retreat (5) 1 charge/use
Wizard/Sorceror only
Surprisingly, I am in favour.
Lesser spell breach is a little overpowered though.
I like that Arcane Escape Rod. Cool idea.
Completely in favor,
though I would advise that there be a counter measure installed to avoid Level X fighters/Level 1 Wizards/Sorcs using it.
Just my two cents, because we'd see a number of spellswords who don't even have the 11 INT needed for spells, but somehow can use rods and such.
Well, scrolls of LSB drop on the L3-6 quest and I was modelling it on the Fear Rod (No restrict, L4 spell). Maybe it is, but it's meant to counter blurchugging and give an opening.
Ftr X Wiz 1-3 is a lot less powerful than doing it with bard, which can pull pretty much that trick with the various powerful Bard items that have some great buffs.
Having a few more items that aid as emergency firepower would be handy for any mage. Lightning Wands are good but I've only seen them as a rare drop on one quest. It'd be nice to see them and Missile wands more common. Even Hold Person or Colourspray 2-5 charge devices.
Also I forgot to mention, but these should have an inflated UMD score like items such as the Dispel wand and Bard items have, to prevent UMD spam.
QuoteAlso I forgot to mention, but these should have an inflated UMD score like items such as the Dispel wand and Bard items have, to prevent UMD spam.
Oh fine, just rip out my heart and step on it.
I think this is sensible and think it would be a nice addition to limit many of the magical items we have now, or new items as described, to mages (not bards) .