D&D Lore: Why Gauntlets of Ogre Power +2 & Belts of Giant Strength +4 & +6?

[ksbsnowowl]

I've got a player with Gauntlets of Ogre Power +2 who just wants to pay to increase them to +4. I think part of the reason is he has a belt of healing, and doesn't want to use up his belt slot.

I know in 2nd edition there were Gauntlets of Ogre Power, which were less powerful than Girdles of Giant Strength, though they stacked, IIRC.  I'm tempted to enforce the concept of +4 and higher bonuses only being in belts, but will not impose a wealth penalty on the selling of the gauntlets to fund the belt.

But, in giving him my answer, I'd like to tell him more than "it's D&D lore as to why it is that way."  That will still essentially be what I'm telling him, but I'd like to give any backstory on why it is this way.  Anyone know a reason more than what I've already described?

[Halinn]

You could also let him use his hands slot for it. MIC p. 234 has strength bonuses on either arms, hands or waist.

[betrayor]

Agreed,by Magic Item Compendium he can own +4 and +6 Gauntlets,so you don't have to deny him his upgrade....

[Eagle of Fire]

Well... To be frank I can't think of a reason not to allow him to have gautlets of Ogre Power +4 since gauntlets of ogre power +2 already exist in the list.

You mention 2nd edition as an old edition you used to play so I'm going to assume you are right now using 3.0 or 3.5, which I know well. In this case, it is specifically mentioned in the DM book, chapter of magic items that you can add enchantments to items the same way you enchant items. Of course your PC need to have the 'craft woundrous items' feat first and be high level enough to be able to fill the CL of the item he/she want to craft.

In this case, adding +2 strenght to the already existing gauntlets for a total of +4 would simply be the case of calculating the cost of the +2 and +4 item, then deduct the cost of the +2 item from the cost of the +4 item to calculate total cost.

So. To answer your question I'd say that there is not much to back your own argument. It is still your prerogative to refuse if you find this is abusive or too powerful for your game though. Or you could decide to add a rare component in the +4 item recipe, which could in itself be the source of a whole adventure simply to get it. If you do that they they'll basicaly 'earn' the right to the magic item insetad of simply waving their hands and getting it for 'free'.

[Solo]

I'm tempted to enforce the concept of +4 and higher bonuses only being in belts

Why?

[ksbsnowowl]

Agreed,by Magic Item Compendium he can own +4 and +6 Gauntlets,so you don't have to deny him his upgrade....

Ah, good to know.

It was never meant to be a matter of denying it for the sake of denying it.  Rather for the sake of preserving the bit of flavor difference between the gauntlets and the belt, and any D&D lore that might be tied to the separation of the two in the DMG.  But if the MIC basically says "screw it," then whatever.

Not much time for side quests for rare components at the moment.  They're preparing to defend against an on-coming troll army.  It will be a commissioned item, so there's no problem with it being different than normal.  I just probably would only ever put the stock versions (gauntlets +2, belt +4 or +6) as treasure the PC's earn by defeating monsters.

[phaedrusxy]

In 2nd edition, they stacked, and you had to have both to wield the Hammer of Thunderbolts (which is basically Mjolner).

Edit: Ah hell, look, they preserved it (somewhat).

[ksbsnowowl]

In 2nd edition, they stacked, and you had to have both to wield the Hammer of Thunderbolts (which is basically Mjolner).

Edit: Ah hell, look, they preserved it (somewhat).

Even though it's an artifact, the fact that they can stack makes a small part of me more hesitant to allow greater than +2 gauntlets.  Because now we're talking stacking for a total +12 enhancement bonus (rather than +8).

But really, if the artifact ever comes into play (which it might, this is a Norse campaign, after all), it would be around 20th+ level, and at that point, they could (in theory) craft epic belts of giant strength for themselves anyway...

[betrayor]

In 2nd edition, they stacked, and you had to have both to wield the Hammer of Thunderbolts (which is basically Mjolner).

Edit: Ah hell, look, they preserved it (somewhat).

Even though it's an artifact, the fact that they can stack makes a small part of me more hesitant to allow greater than +2 gauntlets.  Because now we're talking stacking for a total +12 enhancement bonus (rather than +8).

But really, if the artifact ever comes into play (which it might, this is a Norse campaign, after all), it would be around 20th+ level, and at that point, they could (in theory) craft epic belts of giant strength for themselves anyway...

Exactly....
A +12 to strength is nothing serious in Epic Levels,they could have much more powerful thing than just that....

[Halinn]

You won't unbalance anything at two digit levels by giving things +4 more strength. +2 to hit and +3 to damage is hardly a huge concern.