Leech Item Feat from AoM? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Leech Item Feat from AoM?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Sysane
Apr 11, 2005 11:35:18 Does anyone find the power of the Leech Item feat a bit over powered standard campaign use?

(and yes, I realize its purely a variant rule)
#2
cam_banks
Apr 11, 2005 11:41:09
Does anyone find the power of the Leech Item feat a bit over powered standard campaign use?

Didn't you bring this up before? The feat works best in Age of Mortals campaigns, together with the rules for magic failing and so forth. It really isn't best used in the current era. I've never used it, but I do know some groups who have and complained because one of the players is abusing it. I'll have to have another look at it sometime and see what (if any) changes are needed, but as I said in general it's an era-specific thing.

Cheers,
Cam
#3
Sysane
Apr 11, 2005 11:51:56
Didn't you bring this up before? The feat works best in Age of Mortals campaigns, together with the rules for magic failing and so forth. It really isn't best used in the current era. I've never used it, but I do know some groups who have and complained because one of the players is abusing it. I'll have to have another look at it sometime and see what (if any) changes are needed, but as I said in general it's an era-specific thing.

Cheers,
Cam

Yeah, I did. I had another KoD session last night and the wizard in the party has the feat. He yet again managed stun me by devastating a fiendish Wyvern and later a group of ogres.

He has a +6 Int mod which is partly the reason why this feat is being used to "great effect".

I'm curious if there has been any official errata or efforts to fix or adjust this feat?

I'm part at fault as well, and agree with you Cam that this feat may have been better kept for a AoM campaign with the wanning of magic vs a KoD/current one.
#4
cam_banks
Apr 11, 2005 12:06:24
I'm curious if there has been any official errata or efforts to fix or adjust this feat?

Nope. Honestly, if you think your player is hosing your game with the feat, you need to rein it in somewhat. Tell him you're not sure it's working out right, that the era of play doesn't really handle it properly, and that you want to tweak it a little or remove it entirely. See what happens. He will probably be very upset, but then taking away a sure-fire winning play strategy is often difficult.

Cheers,
Cam
#5
Sysane
Apr 11, 2005 12:15:55
Nope. Honestly, if you think your player is hosing your game with the feat, you need to rein it in somewhat. Tell him you're not sure it's working out right, that the era of play doesn't really handle it properly, and that you want to tweak it a little or remove it entirely. See what happens. He will probably be very upset, but then taking away a sure-fire winning play strategy is often difficult.

Cheers,
Cam

I'd hate to strip him of it entirely, but will make an effort to try and tweak it a bit.

Any suggestion you, or anyone else, may have would be greatly appreciated
#6
Sysane
Apr 11, 2005 15:10:40 Here's something I'm considering. Thoughts?

Leech Item [Metamagic]
You are capable of leeching the magic from a magic item in order to increase the effectiveness of your spells.
Prerequisite: Intelligence 13+
Benefit: You can drain a magic item a number of magic potential points in order to increase your effective spellcaster level up to a maximum of two. In doing so, you drain the item of 1d8 points of its magic potential per increased spellcaster level of the spell. At 8th level, you can choose to increase your effective spellcaster level up to three, but the item is instead drained 3d8 points of its magic potential. At 15th level, you can increase your effective spellcaster level by four, but the item is drained 4d8 points of its magic potential. This energy must be used to cast a spell the following round; otherwise the energy is wasted.
Leeching an item is considered a move-equivalent action that does not provoke an Attack of Opportunity.
#7
neuro
Apr 11, 2005 19:07:40 I dont think that the feat its over powered, if you think the amount of money that you need to keep it going in every fight, the regeneration rate of the points, the fact that magic items are hard to find and the points needed to keep the item working it doesnt seems over powered.

One of my players have used it in conjuntion with reserves of strenght, playing as a war mage, now thats abuse :surrender, and if you think in the fact that you can drain your enemies items (of course with a touch attack, AoO ans such), even in that way i dont find it overpowered, just be sure not to swarm them with goblins every time because the wizard will destroy then in a glimpse.

I like the way magic works on dragonlance because with that feats, spells, and prestige clases you can bulid very powerful wizards as they are meant to be.
#8
Sysane
Apr 12, 2005 8:48:24
I dont think that the feat its over powered, if you think the amount of money that you need to keep it going in every fight, the regeneration rate of the points, the fact that magic items are hard to find and the points needed to keep the item working it doesnt seems over powered.

Amount of money? You don't need to spend money in conjuction with this feat last time a checked. Points are hardly a factor as well once you get a decent item. A PC could drain an item worth 1000stl all day an never even come close to draining it below 1/4 its total potential. And never mind if the PC has multiple magic items.

I think the feat I posted above is a good fix. That way people with high Int mods aren't suddenly pumping the caster level by +5 and it drains at a higher and random amount. PCs would now have to be a little more aware and concerned about draining the item past 1/4 its potential before the item "shuts down".
#9
zombiegleemax
Apr 12, 2005 11:42:06 Well, you must remember that the feat was designed for a period when sorcerers and mystics had something like -10 caster level. That's a crapload. Your fireball just suddenly went from 10d6 to 1d6. Yours 5 magic missiles are down to one. Your inflict spell is bearly better than a simple longsword. It would suck to be a caster during the early Age of Mortals without this feat. I would definatley limit it during the latter days of the AoM, especially since I always felt that casters didn't like to Leech, they just did it because they had to. And anyhow, how'd the dude get +6 Int mod! That's a 22 or 23! Even as a Silvanesti or Irda, that's a bunch. What level is he?!
#10
Sysane
Apr 12, 2005 13:04:55
how'd the dude get +6 Int mod! That's a 22 or 23! Even as a Silvanesti or Irda, that's a bunch. What level is he?!

7th level Silvanesti Red Robe who received a +1 Int after passing his test. He had a 20 Int from the start.
#11
neuro
Apr 12, 2005 23:57:13
Amount of money? You don't need to spend money in conjuction with this feat last time a checked. Points are hardly a factor as well once you get a decent item. A PC could drain an item worth 1000stl all day an never even come close to draining it below 1/4 its total potential. And never mind if the PC has multiple magic items.

I think the feat I posted above is a good fix. That way people with high Int mods aren't suddenly pumping the caster level by +5 and it drains at a higher and random amount. PCs would now have to be a little more aware and concerned about draining the item past 1/4 its potential before the item "shuts down".

Well you are wrong maybe thats why you think that the feat its overpowered
because a item with a price of 1000stl has at most 2 points, and it "heals" one point per day.
#12
Sysane
Apr 13, 2005 7:51:39
Well you are wrong maybe thats why you think that the feat its overpowered
because a item with a price of 1000stl has at most 2 points, and it "heals" one point per day.

I realize that. What I'm saying is that it doesn't require a caster to spend money which is what your post implied with this statement:

if you think the amount of money that you need to keep it going in every fight,

#13
neuro
Apr 14, 2005 20:12:55 Well is not spending but its not an infinite source of power, how many spells do you cast per fight and how many points are you willing to spend knowing the fact that they heal at 1 point per day, even your +5 weapon will suffer, and not every player has that kind of item.

I dont find it overpowered because you cant use it that much, if you use it for damage its not that efective because every spell has a limit of damage and the caster lvl doesnt raise the DC; if you use it for time effects its very likely extend spell and if you want it to be "just like extend" it will cost you too much points, maybe more than you can afford, and finally if you use it for overcoming SR its a gift from the gods ^^.

Also i think that if you have a very powerful PC its a big chance to give your characters more intense battles and having a ton of fun, just raise the CR of your encounters, that way the player wont be like "i had the most powerful character in the world and you take it away from me " .

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Sysane Apr 11, 2005 11:35:18	Does anyone find the power of the Leech Item feat a bit over powered standard campaign use? (and yes, I realize its purely a variant rule)
#2 cam_banks Apr 11, 2005 11:41:09	Does anyone find the power of the Leech Item feat a bit over powered standard campaign use? Didn't you bring this up before? The feat works best in Age of Mortals campaigns, together with the rules for magic failing and so forth. It really isn't best used in the current era. I've never used it, but I do know some groups who have and complained because one of the players is abusing it. I'll have to have another look at it sometime and see what (if any) changes are needed, but as I said in general it's an era-specific thing. Cheers, Cam
#3 Sysane Apr 11, 2005 11:51:56	Didn't you bring this up before? The feat works best in Age of Mortals campaigns, together with the rules for magic failing and so forth. It really isn't best used in the current era. I've never used it, but I do know some groups who have and complained because one of the players is abusing it. I'll have to have another look at it sometime and see what (if any) changes are needed, but as I said in general it's an era-specific thing. Cheers, Cam Yeah, I did. I had another KoD session last night and the wizard in the party has the feat. He yet again managed stun me by devastating a fiendish Wyvern and later a group of ogres. He has a +6 Int mod which is partly the reason why this feat is being used to "great effect". I'm curious if there has been any official errata or efforts to fix or adjust this feat? I'm part at fault as well, and agree with you Cam that this feat may have been better kept for a AoM campaign with the wanning of magic vs a KoD/current one.
#4 cam_banks Apr 11, 2005 12:06:24	I'm curious if there has been any official errata or efforts to fix or adjust this feat? Nope. Honestly, if you think your player is hosing your game with the feat, you need to rein it in somewhat. Tell him you're not sure it's working out right, that the era of play doesn't really handle it properly, and that you want to tweak it a little or remove it entirely. See what happens. He will probably be very upset, but then taking away a sure-fire winning play strategy is often difficult. Cheers, Cam
#5 Sysane Apr 11, 2005 12:15:55	Nope. Honestly, if you think your player is hosing your game with the feat, you need to rein it in somewhat. Tell him you're not sure it's working out right, that the era of play doesn't really handle it properly, and that you want to tweak it a little or remove it entirely. See what happens. He will probably be very upset, but then taking away a sure-fire winning play strategy is often difficult. Cheers, Cam I'd hate to strip him of it entirely, but will make an effort to try and tweak it a bit. Any suggestion you, or anyone else, may have would be greatly appreciated
#6 Sysane Apr 11, 2005 15:10:40	Here's something I'm considering. Thoughts? Leech Item [Metamagic] You are capable of leeching the magic from a magic item in order to increase the effectiveness of your spells. Prerequisite: Intelligence 13+ Benefit: You can drain a magic item a number of magic potential points in order to increase your effective spellcaster level up to a maximum of two. In doing so, you drain the item of 1d8 points of its magic potential per increased spellcaster level of the spell. At 8th level, you can choose to increase your effective spellcaster level up to three, but the item is instead drained 3d8 points of its magic potential. At 15th level, you can increase your effective spellcaster level by four, but the item is drained 4d8 points of its magic potential. This energy must be used to cast a spell the following round; otherwise the energy is wasted. Leeching an item is considered a move-equivalent action that does not provoke an Attack of Opportunity.
#7 neuro Apr 11, 2005 19:07:40	I dont think that the feat its over powered, if you think the amount of money that you need to keep it going in every fight, the regeneration rate of the points, the fact that magic items are hard to find and the points needed to keep the item working it doesnt seems over powered. One of my players have used it in conjuntion with reserves of strenght, playing as a war mage, now thats abuse :surrender, and if you think in the fact that you can drain your enemies items (of course with a touch attack, AoO ans such), even in that way i dont find it overpowered, just be sure not to swarm them with goblins every time because the wizard will destroy then in a glimpse. I like the way magic works on dragonlance because with that feats, spells, and prestige clases you can bulid very powerful wizards as they are meant to be.
#8 Sysane Apr 12, 2005 8:48:24	I dont think that the feat its over powered, if you think the amount of money that you need to keep it going in every fight, the regeneration rate of the points, the fact that magic items are hard to find and the points needed to keep the item working it doesnt seems over powered. Amount of money? You don't need to spend money in conjuction with this feat last time a checked. Points are hardly a factor as well once you get a decent item. A PC could drain an item worth 1000stl all day an never even come close to draining it below 1/4 its total potential. And never mind if the PC has multiple magic items. I think the feat I posted above is a good fix. That way people with high Int mods aren't suddenly pumping the caster level by +5 and it drains at a higher and random amount. PCs would now have to be a little more aware and concerned about draining the item past 1/4 its potential before the item "shuts down".
#9 zombiegleemax Apr 12, 2005 11:42:06	Well, you must remember that the feat was designed for a period when sorcerers and mystics had something like -10 caster level. That's a crapload. Your fireball just suddenly went from 10d6 to 1d6. Yours 5 magic missiles are down to one. Your inflict spell is bearly better than a simple longsword. It would suck to be a caster during the early Age of Mortals without this feat. I would definatley limit it during the latter days of the AoM, especially since I always felt that casters didn't like to Leech, they just did it because they had to. And anyhow, how'd the dude get +6 Int mod! That's a 22 or 23! Even as a Silvanesti or Irda, that's a bunch. What level is he?!
#10 Sysane Apr 12, 2005 13:04:55	how'd the dude get +6 Int mod! That's a 22 or 23! Even as a Silvanesti or Irda, that's a bunch. What level is he?! 7th level Silvanesti Red Robe who received a +1 Int after passing his test. He had a 20 Int from the start.
#11 neuro Apr 12, 2005 23:57:13	Amount of money? You don't need to spend money in conjuction with this feat last time a checked. Points are hardly a factor as well once you get a decent item. A PC could drain an item worth 1000stl all day an never even come close to draining it below 1/4 its total potential. And never mind if the PC has multiple magic items. I think the feat I posted above is a good fix. That way people with high Int mods aren't suddenly pumping the caster level by +5 and it drains at a higher and random amount. PCs would now have to be a little more aware and concerned about draining the item past 1/4 its potential before the item "shuts down". Well you are wrong maybe thats why you think that the feat its overpowered because a item with a price of 1000stl has at most 2 points, and it "heals" one point per day.
#12 Sysane Apr 13, 2005 7:51:39	Well you are wrong maybe thats why you think that the feat its overpowered because a item with a price of 1000stl has at most 2 points, and it "heals" one point per day. I realize that. What I'm saying is that it doesn't require a caster to spend money which is what your post implied with this statement: if you think the amount of money that you need to keep it going in every fight,
#13 neuro Apr 14, 2005 20:12:55	Well is not spending but its not an infinite source of power, how many spells do you cast per fight and how many points are you willing to spend knowing the fact that they heal at 1 point per day, even your +5 weapon will suffer, and not every player has that kind of item. I dont find it overpowered because you cant use it that much, if you use it for damage its not that efective because every spell has a limit of damage and the caster lvl doesnt raise the DC; if you use it for time effects its very likely extend spell and if you want it to be "just like extend" it will cost you too much points, maybe more than you can afford, and finally if you use it for overcoming SR its a gift from the gods ^^. Also i think that if you have a very powerful PC its a big chance to give your characters more intense battles and having a ton of fun, just raise the CR of your encounters, that way the player wont be like "i had the most powerful character in the world and you take it away from me " .