Five Rs of Item Hunting
Inspired by Kenneth Hite's classic guide to monster-hunting, here are five tips for effectively locating and dealing with magic items and other special objects of desire. The skills and spells listed are suggestions. If a player or character can devise other tactics to apply in this strategy, they are encouraged to do so.
Research
Discover everything you can learn about the item, with the goal of locating and obtaining the item.
- Related skills: Hidden Lore, History, Occultism, Research.
- Related spells: Divination.
Reconnaissance
Locate the item. Once located, get an idea of what it will take to obtain the item.
- Related skills: Area Knowledge, Current Events, Electronics Operation (Surveillance), Forensics, Observation.
- Related spells: Mage Sight, Seek Machine, Seek Magic, Seeker, Trace.
Retail
Can the item be purchased or obtain through similar means? Legal and financial paperwork may be required.
- Related skills: Diplomacy, Intelligence Analysis, Fast-Talk, Merchant.
- Related Spells: Charm, Suggestion
Recovery
Obtain the item in as low-key manner as possible.
- Related skills: Archeology, Filch, Forced Entry, Hideout, Intimidation, Lockpicking. Smuggling.
- Related spells: Locksmith, Teleport Other.
Repair
Determine the item's function and repair it if necessary. Store item safely until use is required.
- Related skills: Electronics Repair, Engineering, Mechanic, Thaumatology, Weird Science.
- Related spells: Analyze Magic, History, Machine Speech, Rebuild, Repair, Reveal Function, Schematic.