I wouldnt make bug fuzz about places where we can find items.
After all who would expect The One Ring to be just laying in the mud somewhere in deep cave down under Goblin slum?
Sure it makes more sense if we watch Smeagol tale ... but we dont have that in BG-3 ... so from that perspective it would just be the most powerfull arrefact in the world laying there in the middle of litteral nothing.
Even tho ... cheap fix would be to change that chest into corpse/skeleton of some previous unlucky adventurer.
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As for the magic effect...
Obviously completely disagree with all those peole who just used this topic to complain for bzillionth time about conditions ... personaly i like them ... and just as OP i cheer for their versatility.
As for class specific loot ... cant say im against it, as long as there is some ballance:
Right now we have 9 classes if i remember corectly ... from wich one have 3 items ... one have 1 item ... and 7 have nothing.
Thats hardly ballanced. :-/
What is funny is that that they dont even work with abilities they are empowering ... that Hat is perfect example:
While free heal can seem like effect that never angry anyone ... i dunno how about you but i dont use Bardic Inspiration when my party member gets hurt to heal them... i use it when i either want to ensure they hit, or sucess abilitycheck, or as a prevention to make sure they make saving throw ... and that heal is often wasted.
Cant really say i would mind it, tho it still have its uses ...
But call me old fashioned but i would presume that when artefact is for specific class, and is empowering specific ability ... that it would ACTUALY empowering that ability and its uses.
Like:
Defender Hat add additional +1 when Bardic Inspiration is used for Saving Throw
or
Agressor Hat add additional +1 when BI is used for Attack Roll
or
Skillfull Hat add additinal +1 when BI is used for Ability Check.
Something like that.
Or that Bardic armor that gives you temp HP when you inspire someone (if i remember this corectly) ...
While that is certainly more benefitial ... its benefits goes away once you use Armour of Agathys or have Temp HP boots on your party healer.
And it would be so freaking powerfull and versatike if it would give +1 temp. HP to any effect on wearer instead!
Or those Barbarian gloves that gives Temp. HP when you end your Rage ...
I mean cool shit, Barbarians are raging often so its great to make Rage even better ... problem is that in order to use this item you must willingly end your rage.
So again item is working with specific class ability you must stop using in order to get his benefit.
But there are also good items!
That boots wich add charge to your Bardic Inspiration is perfect!
Shame it dont give you "class specific resource" tho ... to make it more versatile ... (sorcer =sorcery point ... druid = wildshape ... cleric = chanel divinity ... barbarian = rage ... fighter = action surge ... ranger and wizard = spellslot(?) ... rogue nothing i gues
no idea really) and make it useable only out of combat for ballance purposes.
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There is one more thing that kinda bothers me about artefacts tho ... and this seems like as good place as any to mention it.
I often have feeling that item slot and item effect dont corespond well.
(Will add links later its pain format this on phone.)
For example those
Barbarian gloves ...
That effect would fit me better on Helmet (you stopped raging -> you are calm ... therefore head do the work here)
Or on Armor (you got temp. hitpoints -> you are more durable ... armor makes you more durable)
Cant really grasp that concept Gloves having anything to do with either.
Or there are another gloves that give you
free jump when you sprint.
I mean COME ON you do both wirh your legs and feets ... why cant that be boots?
There are also those
Bardic boots.
I mean this isnt exactly wrong ... but unless that Bard play with his feets, its still feels a little weird.