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Old 02-08-2014, 10:27 PM   #1
scc
 
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Default Why Does GURPS Hate Enchanting So Much?

OK, while there have been many threads that talk about the enchanting system as presented, and some that even offer to fix it.

This is different, I'm asking WHY GURPS is set up that way.
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Old 02-08-2014, 10:33 PM   #2
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Default Re: Why Does GURPS Hate Enchanting So Much?

Because its default assumption is that roleplaying your character is more important than charting how much cool gear he can produce in the party's downtime?

Why do people act like this is a big deal? You want more enchanting, knock one or two zeroes off the cost. Boom, done.
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Old 02-08-2014, 10:47 PM   #3
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Default Re: Why Does GURPS Hate Enchanting So Much?

The actual problem doesn't tend to be the cost, but rather the TIME it takes to make something
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Old 02-08-2014, 10:52 PM   #4
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Default Re: Why Does GURPS Hate Enchanting So Much?

Quote:
Originally Posted by scc View Post
The actual problem doesn't tend to be the cost, but rather the TIME it takes to make something
Are there other games where enchantments are fast and useful and cheap?
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Old 02-08-2014, 10:52 PM   #5
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Default Re: Why Does GURPS Hate Enchanting So Much?

Quote:
Originally Posted by scc View Post
The actual problem doesn't tend to be the cost, but rather the TIME it takes to make something
The default enchanting times mean low inflation. If you want more magic items use one of the many otions discussed on the forums or as he suggested reduce the cost.
Enchantment time is based on the energy cost, alter that and you can make them faster if you like.
1000 energy becomes 100 or even 10 or whatever multipler you want.
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Old 02-08-2014, 10:53 PM   #6
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Default Re: Why Does GURPS Hate Enchanting So Much?

Perhaps if the limitation wasn't time, but unusual backgrounds and otherwise unnecessary skills (e.g., Craft Armor unusual background, and high levels in the Smith/Iron, to be able to craft permanent armor enchantments).

Edit: Or go the RPM route. Enchanted items cost character points. If you don't spend the points, the enchantment "wears off" over time.
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Last edited by Pragmatic; 02-08-2014 at 11:05 PM.
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Old 02-09-2014, 01:39 AM   #7
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Default Re: Why Does GURPS Hate Enchanting So Much?

Quote:
Originally Posted by scc View Post
The actual problem doesn't tend to be the cost, but rather the TIME it takes to make something
I think this is because of game world considerations. The default is GURPS is that the PC arenīt special, but that everything they can do, other people can do as well. And if enchanting was quick and easy, and you think that through, you will end up with a game world swamped by an abundance of magical items. This works well for some game worlds (say, GURPS Technomancer), but not so well for most fantasy worlds.
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Old 02-09-2014, 01:57 AM   #8
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Default Re: Why Does GURPS Hate Enchanting So Much?

Making enchanting easier would also unbalance everything in fantasy games. Every player character would have enchanted weapons, armors, shields... with huge bonuses!

In fantasy novels or movies (as well as in fantasy roleplaying games), magic items are supposed to be quite rare and even to be a reward for adventuring and facing danger - not something that the characters can get just by telling the GM: "We stay at home a couple of months to enchant our equipment..."

And, eventually, most adventures would end with: "OK, we've got a new problem... Let's try to design the magical item which solve it!" rather than: "OK, we've got a new problem... Let's thing about a clever solution and a good strategy to handle it."

Brief, letting player characters enchant all what they want when they want it would annihilate the interest of almost every adventure.
A terrible monster is attacking the player characters' village. What is frightening with it is that it can't be hit by ordinary weapons... The player character, who are living their very first adventure, will have to find an old farmer who knows a legend about a magical sword hidden somewhere in haunted caves... "OK, guys! We don't have to go in these stupid haunted caves. Let's stay home and enchant our own weapons!"
That's why no fantasy roleplaying game make enchantment easy and fast. Even Harry Potter has to buy his magic wand and broomstick, and can't afford to buy dozens, despite of being rich.

Last edited by Gollum; 02-09-2014 at 02:14 AM.
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Old 02-09-2014, 02:12 AM   #9
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Default Re: Why Does GURPS Hate Enchanting So Much?

As it is, enchanting is simply not an option for players. The fact that such a large body of rules exist merely to taunt gamers for what no character they ever make could do can be quite irritating.
Here, spend a bunch of points to learn a bunch of spells of no other use and MAYBE have a single awesome item if you're lucky and succeed at a years long expensive endeavor.
I see no point whatsoever.

Edit: That comes off far more negatively than I intend. It's just that I can't conceive of how anyone could play an enchanter, let alone want to.
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Last edited by Flyndaran; 02-09-2014 at 02:21 AM.
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Old 02-09-2014, 02:13 AM   #10
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Default Re: Why Does GURPS Hate Enchanting So Much?

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Originally Posted by jeff_wilson View Post
Are there other games where enchantments are fast and useful and cheap?
D&D 3rd edition (and its relatives) has enchantments that are fast and useful and reasonably priced relative to PC wealth. Most game systems either don't permit enchanting at all, or make it fast enough to be a rational choice for PCs.
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