Ring of Gaxx - Page 2

karlosovic · 01-26-2003, 10:49 AM

sound like you were talking about the one ring there Butterfingers

Butterfingers · 01-26-2003, 12:21 PM

No, I aint talking about The One Ring.

In BG, magical rings fall from the sky like candy from a pinata. This is really not how it should be.

Like Ioun stones, rings are created by channeling and then containing a living essense. Like the Ring of Gaxx for example. IIRC, nine mages were slain and their life force bound into the ring. ALL magic rings are like this. Some, like the Ring of Holiness, has a small portion of the life force of a God bound into it. ALL magic rings in the D&D universe still hold a sense of awareness from the life forces bound within. They have a strong sense of self preservation, and the really strong ones can even resist being put on by somebody they do not feel is worthy. ALL rings have some small ability to continue their own existence. They slip off fingers. They get lost. They have strange ways of finding new masters that they like. Even the humble Ring of Protection is like this. No magic ring should be taken lightly. Some rings are a force of potent evil, and, would not take to kindly being put to use by good characters. And some rings are a powerful force of good. Some rings are neither. They might only serve a character as long as it interests them, and, when they feel the time is right, move on to find a new master. Some rings, like a Ring of Regeneration, is only barely aware, the essense of the creature contained within might not be smart enough to manipulate events, like a troll for example. But by the process of creation it self, a ring does gain some greater power. If a Ring of Regeneration is worn by a known troll slayer, he might find one day that the ring reverses it self and is causing his wounds to bleed a little bit more then they should. Many creatures bound to rings are not happy at all to be bound. Ioun stones are different. The creature or person bound within is a willing participant. The same is not always said for rings. Some times yes, some times no.

Some rings are even preditory. Like a Ring of Skill Mastery. A wise character well versed in lore will only wear such a ring for dire circumstances. The problem is, you never know when you might be sucked into the ring and your skills added within. Thieves, warriors, wizards, clerics, all of whom will find the ring useful, providing many powerful boosts to all their skills, seldom realize the ring is so powerful because it has fed on so many souls. Sure, wearing the ring might make you the greatist thief or warrior in the land, but, how many thieves and warriors were drawn into the ring to give you that sort of power? And one day, while wearing the ring, you too will be sucked inside. It is never a matter of if, only a matter of when. Most characters lack the will power or the wisdom to resist the ring and almost always wind up putting it on. And one day, POOF! No saving throw, no chance to rescue you from your fate, you are gone forever. Another preditory ring is the Ring of Life Preservation. When you are about to die, it will save you. Might be once or twice, might be a dozen times. If you are disentigrated, it will save you. If you are turned to stone, it will save you. It prevents death of any form. But one day, sooner or later, it takes payment and feeds on your soul.

Sadly, none of these great roleplaying elements are actually in the game. People can have all sorts of powerful artifacts with no consequences what so ever.

SixOfSpades · 01-27-2003, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Butterfingers:
Because wearing any sort of magic ring is chancy at best. Wearing two of them on the same hand could be problematic. ... And they might not like sharing a hand with another ring. This goes back to PnP days.

And yet, one can wear magic Gloves with magic Rings, and the two enchantments will not conflict in the slightest. The system has made an attempt to be realistic, but its insufficiencies still must give us pause.

Butterfingers · 01-27-2003, 07:21 PM

Well, most gloves are only slightly enchanted. A living essence is seldom used in the creation of such a mundane item.

There are some exceptions though. I agree with you though Six. The system only works if you try not to think to much about it.

01-26-2003, 10:49 AM	#11
karlosovic Drizzt Do'Urden Join Date: December 1, 2002 Location: Newcastle, Australia Age: 47 Posts: 636	sound like you were talking about the one ring there Butterfingers __________________ Sunglasses of Coolness +2<br /><br />Cernd: \"It is with great pride and pleasure that I accept this Most Valuable Player award....\"<br />(from the genius of Six of Spades)

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01-26-2003, 12:21 PM	#12
Butterfingers Drizzt Do'Urden Join Date: November 30, 2002 Location: Five Flagons Inn Posts: 633	No, I aint talking about The One Ring. In BG, magical rings fall from the sky like candy from a pinata. This is really not how it should be. Like Ioun stones, rings are created by channeling and then containing a living essense. Like the Ring of Gaxx for example. IIRC, nine mages were slain and their life force bound into the ring. ALL magic rings are like this. Some, like the Ring of Holiness, has a small portion of the life force of a God bound into it. ALL magic rings in the D&D universe still hold a sense of awareness from the life forces bound within. They have a strong sense of self preservation, and the really strong ones can even resist being put on by somebody they do not feel is worthy. ALL rings have some small ability to continue their own existence. They slip off fingers. They get lost. They have strange ways of finding new masters that they like. Even the humble Ring of Protection is like this. No magic ring should be taken lightly. Some rings are a force of potent evil, and, would not take to kindly being put to use by good characters. And some rings are a powerful force of good. Some rings are neither. They might only serve a character as long as it interests them, and, when they feel the time is right, move on to find a new master. Some rings, like a Ring of Regeneration, is only barely aware, the essense of the creature contained within might not be smart enough to manipulate events, like a troll for example. But by the process of creation it self, a ring does gain some greater power. If a Ring of Regeneration is worn by a known troll slayer, he might find one day that the ring reverses it self and is causing his wounds to bleed a little bit more then they should. Many creatures bound to rings are not happy at all to be bound. Ioun stones are different. The creature or person bound within is a willing participant. The same is not always said for rings. Some times yes, some times no. Some rings are even preditory. Like a Ring of Skill Mastery. A wise character well versed in lore will only wear such a ring for dire circumstances. The problem is, you never know when you might be sucked into the ring and your skills added within. Thieves, warriors, wizards, clerics, all of whom will find the ring useful, providing many powerful boosts to all their skills, seldom realize the ring is so powerful because it has fed on so many souls. Sure, wearing the ring might make you the greatist thief or warrior in the land, but, how many thieves and warriors were drawn into the ring to give you that sort of power? And one day, while wearing the ring, you too will be sucked inside. It is never a matter of if, only a matter of when. Most characters lack the will power or the wisdom to resist the ring and almost always wind up putting it on. And one day, POOF! No saving throw, no chance to rescue you from your fate, you are gone forever. Another preditory ring is the Ring of Life Preservation. When you are about to die, it will save you. Might be once or twice, might be a dozen times. If you are disentigrated, it will save you. If you are turned to stone, it will save you. It prevents death of any form. But one day, sooner or later, it takes payment and feeds on your soul. Sadly, none of these great roleplaying elements are actually in the game. People can have all sorts of powerful artifacts with no consequences what so ever.

01-27-2003, 07:21 PM	#14
Butterfingers Drizzt Do'Urden Join Date: November 30, 2002 Location: Five Flagons Inn Posts: 633	Well, most gloves are only slightly enchanted. A living essence is seldom used in the creation of such a mundane item. There are some exceptions though. I agree with you though Six. The system only works if you try not to think to much about it.

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