Side Effects

So, you've picked out all of your enchantments and found that the item won't hold them.  You can increase the EP potential of your item by adding various side effects to the item. If you're feeling particularly masochistic, you can give your item some side effects with no powers just to make life hard for yourself. Some side effects are an annoyance, some can be pretty deadly. One thing to keep in mind is that you can't give an item side effects which cancel out one or more of the powers. For example, you can't give an item a "Feather Weight" power and an "Extra Weight" side effect (but you can add "Feather Weight" and then soul bind an critter which has an "Extra Weight" side effect). In the table that follows you'll find the name of the side effect, the conditions under which it operates, how many extra EP's you get for the effect and my comments from my use of the side effect.

Side Effect Conditions EP Bonus Comments
Soul Bound

When item breaks

varies - see Soul Bound Tables

Creature that is bound is released and comes looking for you.  Some souls cost additional money to bind.  See Soul Bound Tables for amounts, if any.
Item Deteriorates

all of the time

3000

Deterioration takes place while the item is equipped and you are in the condition that accelerates deterioration.  Items do not appear to deteriorate while on your wagon and while not equipped.

in sunlight

1500

in holy places

500

User takes damage

in sunlight

6000

Want to find out what it's like to be a vampire without messing with vampire hunters?  Take both.

in holy places

1000

Health Leech

when used

4000

The item bites you when you use it or unless you use it.  Pick your favorite form of pain.

unless used daily

500

unless used weekly

200

Bad Reactions From

humanoid

120

Modifies reaction roll when you try to talk the critter out of killing you.

animals

80

daedra

120

Extra Weight While in personal inventory or wagon

100

Item weighs 4x normal (some souls will add this disadvantage - adding "Feather Weight" BEFORE the soul binding disadvantage will negate it - if soul bound first, the "Feather Weight" advantage will not be available)
Weakens Armor

700

-5 all around. Very nasty, especially for classes which have serious armor restrictions.
Bad Reputation With

commoners

1000

Apparently modifies the reaction roll from members of the appropriate faction when you try to deal with them outside the dungeon.  Does not change your rep in the factions.txt file.  Fairly safe if you unequip and drop the item before talking to anyone.

merchants

1000

scholars

1000

nobility

1000

underworld

1000

everybody

5000

Low Damage versus

undead

800

At higher levels, when your chance of running into rats, bats, spiders, etc. is reduced, low damage vs. animals is a very safe side effect.

daedra

900

humanoid

1000

animals

1200