Ok, we know that the 16-pt pattern swords were given to the various elders who have them by Oberon.  Now, what about those 8 point swords, though?

Why is it that some of the characters who have 8 point weapons (Eric, Gerard, etc) don't even have conjuration or the like, while other characters with conjuration, or item-hogs like Julian, do not have 8-point items?

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPundit;261679Why is it that some of the characters who have 8 point weapons (Eric, Gerard, etc) don't even have conjuration or the like, while other characters with conjuration, or item-hogs like Julian, do not have 8-point items?

I'm confused, you probably refer to a version of the princes character sheets but it's not clear which one. I can't see why you want necessarly to to tie items of power and conjuration. I mean, ok, I can picture a conjuror character concept where the guy would specialize in creating magic gizmos and what not. But there are quite a few enchanted artefacts we don't know the origin (spikard anyone ?). So if one of my players woud like to acquire some magic item in the middle of a campaign my only requirement is for him to spend the points for it. We can figure out a reason, a mini story of how his PC got in touch with the object. I mean Corwin finds magic prothesis at most corners of Tir Na Nogth, it couldn't be that difficult...

Quote from: RPGPundit;261679Why is it that some of the characters who have 8 point weapons (Eric, Gerard, etc) don't even have conjuration or the like, while other characters with conjuration, or item-hogs like Julian, do not have 8-point items?

Because they were all made that way at chargen. As far as I recall, items purchased at chargen don't really require an explanation.

Though a backstory helps flesh out characters, especially if they have high-point abilities like an 8 or 16 point item.

Also, I don't recall where it is said that Oberon gives Pattern Swords away. Corwin mentions that him acquiring Grayswandir is a tale all on its own, which suggests that yes, big point items should be important and as part of character creation, I would expect a backstory for such items.

Even with conjuration, one can only conjure 4 point abilities or powers. Julian's Pattern conjuration allows for more powerful item creation.

Quote from: Trevelyan;261848Because they were all made that way at chargen. As far as I recall, items purchased at chargen don't really require an explanation.

Only that in terms of PCs, it would. You can't buy an item with any power worth more than 4 points, allegedly.

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPundit;264041Only that in terms of PCs, it would. You can't buy an item with any power worth more than 4 points, allegedly.

True, but when the original question included wondering why NPCs without conjuration had 8 point items but some NPCs with conjuration and/or lots of items didn't...

To put it another way, the point values assigned to the different NPCs are entirely arbitrary, and the presense of an 8 point sword might mean nothing other than that Erick had a few points left to burn and thought that Eric, as a master swordsman, should have something a bit more special to stick into people but didn't feel the same way about Julian.

That may very well be the case, Trevelyan, but it is also unacceptable as an IN-setting answer.  So now is time to put your imagination-hat on, and start trying to figure out the STORY of how Erick would have gotten such a sword.

RPGPundit

It was daddy's way to piss off corwin

Except, if anything, if it was a gift from Oberon it would have been "daddy's way to piss off Eric", by giving him a sword that's better than anything you can get in the universe, but is STILL inferior to Corwin's sword, which has the motherfucking pattern in it.

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPundit;264041Only that in terms of PCs, it would. You can't buy an item with any power worth more than 4 points, allegedly.

Is there a rule I missed somewhere ? I can't remember any limit on item cost in the character creation.

Yes, there is, although I'm too lazy to go search for it.

That's quite weird : many traits you can use to build power items cost more than 5 points. Or worse : some multiply the global cost ! I can't see how a wimpy 4 points limit can be worked out inside this system.

Quote from: boulet;266317Is there a rule I missed somewhere ? I can't remember any limit on item cost in the character creation.

There's not an overall cost limit, so for example, I could spend 16 points for an item with 4pt damage, 4pt armor, 4pt speaking and 4pt speed, for example; but there is a limit to the point values of any single power that item has; so I couldn't (without some kind of special condition and GM permission) construct a sword that did 16pt damage.

RPGPundit

Although, in game, I could find (and pay for) such a weapon, or learn a power allowing me to create (and eventually pay for) such items

Yes, in theory. Though in practice either is very difficult.

RPGPundit