Community

Just thought I'd throw this out there.

I battle with the over/under powered...as a solution, I've decided to be a stingy DM...I don't give out many items (1 a level)...and I don't give out a lot of gold...However, I created the following items that I give out as quest rewards...The reason I do this is it allows me to infuse more rewards based on the frequency of shards being distributed...and it forces them to be patient/trade/acquire them...they are like crack at our table...Plus, they need someone with arcana to fuse the item for them...which, our wizard will happily do for a small fee...and thus the RPing gets funny...esp since the wizard is Lawful Good and has a fond memory of the last time you killed an innocent on accident...

Lesser Shard of Upgradium
Minor Shard of Upgradium
Shard of Upgradium

2 Lesser = 1 Minor
2 Minor = 1 Shard

players can trade them, etc...

Roll to infuse item:
Arcana Check: Moderate DC using end item level + 5 * each item level above (PC level + 4)
Example:
Level 6 item for a level 4 PC…23 Arcana
Level 9 item for a level 4 PC…30 Arcana
Level 10 item for a level 4 PC…36 Arcana
Fail:
Narrow Failure (failure of 1-2 below target roll):
Shard gets nicked and becomes a Minor and a Lesser
Failure:
Shard becomes a Lesser
Massive Failure (generally only on a natural 1 or failure of more than 15):
Shard destroyed, Item loses 1 level

Success:
Narrow or Normal Success:
Item is upgraded 1 level
Massive Success (natural 20 or success of more than 15):
Same as success, but recover Minor Shard