Symbiont Questions

[Darbius Maximus]

First and foremost, can weapon or armor style symbionts be enchanted?

[Tonymitsu]

I wouldn't think so.  They aren't items.  They're just creatures that take up a magic item slot.

[Captnq]

Symbionts enhance a character’s abilities in much the same way as magic items, but they are not as readily available. Symbionts can be found and recovered as treasure, or encountered as creatures and acquired that way. Because of their disturbing nature, the unique difficulties of stocking such creatures, and the general fear of aberrations, symbionts are never available on the open market. With enough searching (and a willingness to deal with many dangerous and deceptive creatures), a character might find a symbiont for sale. The work required to find and acquire a symbiont should, in most cases, equate to a short adventure or side quest. Because symbionts affect a character’s abilities like equipment does, their power level is measured in gold pieces.

So, yeah. They're living equipment. Go to town.

[Darbius Maximus]

Symbionts enhance a character’s abilities in much the same way as magic items, but they are not as readily available. Symbionts can be found and recovered as treasure, or encountered as creatures and acquired that way. Because of their disturbing nature, the unique difficulties of stocking such creatures, and the general fear of aberrations, symbionts are never available on the open market. With enough searching (and a willingness to deal with many dangerous and deceptive creatures), a character might find a symbiont for sale. The work required to find and acquire a symbiont should, in most cases, equate to a short adventure or side quest. Because symbionts affect a character’s abilities like equipment does, their power level is measured in gold pieces.

So, yeah. They're living equipment. Go to town.

Thank, also screen-capped for reference *hugs this amazing community*

[Chemus]

I can't say that I agree with Captnq; magic weapons and armor must be masterwork in order to be enchanted permanently, and symbionts aren't MW. Additionally, symbionts are given a GP value because they affect a character's power much like equipment does, not because they actually are equipment. So this post is the 'ymmv' caveat. As Mr. Nicholson once said, "...so natural, only your undertaker DM* knows for sure."

*Jack didn't say this part, I'm just putting letters in his mouth here. Just so you don't get the wrong impression. You know how it is. Yeah. Yep. Mm-hmm.

[Captnq]

When I was researching augmentation, basically I got the impression that the intent was to make them Intelligent magic items. Which they are. When you look at the GP values, that's how they calculated them. Except that they are all squishy and blood sucking and stuff.

The problem is that the update was in Eberron but then they nixed 3rd to roll out 4th and Symbiotes never got finished.

You know, I should get back to Augmentation and finish the Symbiote section. Meh. Going to finish the Erudite handbook first.

[Tonymitsu]

When I was researching augmentation, basically I got the impression that the intent was to make them Intelligent magic items. Which they are. When you look at the GP values, that's how they calculated them. Except that they are all squishy and blood sucking and stuff.

The problem is that the update was in Eberron but then they nixed 3rd to roll out 4th and Symbiotes never got finished.

You know, I should get back to Augmentation and finish the Symbiote section. Meh. Going to finish the Erudite handbook first.

I never did the math on it, but I could roll with this.

That would mean further enchanting them would be a simple matter of adjusting the cost accordingly, and that their Ego score would likewise increase.

[Darbius Maximus]

When I was researching augmentation, basically I got the impression that the intent was to make them Intelligent magic items. Which they are. When you look at the GP values, that's how they calculated them. Except that they are all squishy and blood sucking and stuff.

The problem is that the update was in Eberron but then they nixed 3rd to roll out 4th and Symbiotes never got finished.

You know, I should get back to Augmentation and finish the Symbiote section. Meh. Going to finish the Erudite handbook first.

I never did the math on it, but I could roll with this.

That would mean further enchanting them would be a simple matter of adjusting the cost accordingly, and that their Ego score would likewise increase.

Yes except the end I was trying to meet became moot because THE LIVING BREASTPLATE IS AN ARTIFACT! Unless one of you can find a way to give artifacts a gold value I think this thread became somewhat moot

[Unbeliever]

I wouldn't be annoyed if someone wanted to, e.g., enchant a Tentacle Whip with various weapon enchantments.  That makes perfect sense to me.  It is, in part at least, a weapon.  Hell, I'd also probably not be all that annoyed if someone wanted to ask for ways to beef up symbionts since they are not all that well supported and have a nice "price these like magic items" limiting logic to them.  And, the idea that they are living equipment also seems sensible, although they don't suck up slots, so that should be taken into account.

However, Captnq's quote doesn't imply what he says it does.  It's very dodgy to cite that as if it's a justification.  By that logic, you could enchant a magic item location -- it "enhances your character's abilities in much the same way as a magic item does" and it's "power level is measured in gold pieces."  You just let me know when you get a +3 Vorpal Frog God's Fane up and running ...