Boots of Striding and Springing

[trentonjoe]

I am not sure if this should go here or the Rules forum but I'll try here first.

One of my players wants boots of Striding and springing for his 7th level monk. I had seen this before and had a bad experience.

A similar character had them and was jumping over 20 foot fences and stuff. Most of the guys I played with at the time (and the owner of the boots) thought the boots were a little out of hand and alot ridiculous. So the monk sold the boots and we moved on.

Now, a new guys wants them. My initial reaction was to tell him to desire something else. Now, I am not so sure. I guess time heals all wounds or something.

Has anyone else had experience with these things? Good, bad? Is a monk with a 100 movement unbalancing for 6,000 gp?

All comments welcome!

 

[Crothian]

THe utility of these items is just amazing. Most people believe that anything all characters would want is a bad item. I can't think of a character that wouldn't want these boots. Even my Dwarven Defender had a pair. He could get to the best placew to make his defensive stance so easily, it was great.

There are really 3 options:
1) allow them at 6k
2) not allow them at all
3) allow them at an inflated price

Personally, i like to up the price to around 10k.

 

[Taren Nighteyes]

I understand your concern/questions. I had similar experiences.

In the end, I've house ruled the boots as follows.

Base movement with any armour penalties (Example - human in platemail = move of 20) * 2 for the boots of striding and springning + class related movement bonuses.

A monk that could move 50 (30 base move + 20 as a monk) would move at 80 with the boots (30 * 2 + 20)

Now there is a Dragon magazine article dealing with the boots and the limitations put on them....I believe it said the fastest anyone could move due to the Boots of Striding and Springing was 100. If the monk could move 80 without the boots, the boots would bring him to a 100 max, not 160.

I, however, prefer my house rule.....it just seems more "fair" to me.


Taren Nighteyes

 

[Neo]

I am not sure if this should go here or the Rules forum but I'll try here first.

Has anyone else had experience with these things? Good, bad? Is a monk with a 100 movement unbalancing for 6,000 gp?

All comments welcome!

Just put them in a dungeon with a low roof, and lots of short corridors with many turns and you'll keep them firmly grounded and at a sensible speed

 

[Neo]

alternatively you could give the bad guys the "Grease" spell, that could prove amusing

 

[Victim]

While everyone would prefer Boots of striding and sprining compared to normal boots, compared to other boots there's acceptable tradeoffs. For many characters, Boots of Speed will be more effective, and thus cost slightly more. Of course, combining them is an option.

If your players freaked over people jumping over 20 ft walls (20 ft high = fence?), what to they think of fly, invisibility, dimension door, etc?

Fast movement can also get a character killed. "Hey watch me charge 160 ft into the badguys." "Ow, Ow, Ow." "Where are you guys? I need some back up." Meanwhile, the rest of the party is still trying to get in range.

EDIT: dumb spelling/typo

 

[ConcreteBuddha]

The Boots of Striding and Springing do not stack with a monk's fast movement past 9th level. Fast Movement is a supernatural ability and the boots only stack with normal movement.

I believe that's in the FAQ or Sage Advice or something...

A 15th level Monk either uses the boots and his "normal" fast movement from 8th level (50ft. X 2 = 100 ft.) or his "supernatural" fast movement from 15th level (80 ft.)

Do I think this is overpowered? No. That 6,500 gp could have gone towards Boots of Haste or Wings of Flying...

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

I agree Taren, the boots on a monk would fall under a clause of the doubled double rule.

If the monk's normal move is 60, it can be expressed as base *2.

Since base *2 *2 would be *3 under any other circumstance, then the monks movement with BSS would be 90. Still very good, but not as powerful as move 120.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Winged Boots give Flying for 2 hours per day at 12k. That gives the Monk a 90' movement, Jump becomes irrelevant, and he can taunt his enemies from 100' feet up.

6k for the Boots of Striding that is about right.

If the Fly spell has not ruined your campaign, I think a little jumping and running around is not a big deal.

 

[Rashak Mani]

I personally as a DM didnt like these Boots... the price is right thou... but when many PCs have these boots and especially monks it becomes a little ridiculous. They can get in and out of very strange situations... spellcaster that seem to be out of reach are easily targeted.

They spoil a lot of DM planning.... but for 2000k more you get boots of speed which thou good only for 10 rnds give you a significant combat advantage.