Something I have always wondered about...

[angharad_gam]

 Is why, in RPGs, you can usually only wear two magic rings at the same time. I wear eight rings as a matter of course, and could wear more, except I have never found any small enough to fit my pinky fingers (leaving aside plastic kiddie rings). And that's without getting into the mediaeval practice of wearing rings on the first finger joint as well as on the knuckle. Why would an adventurer not want to maximise their advantage by piling on as many magic rings as possible? A couple of reasons spring to mind:

1. Wearing rings that do not fit you very well (as would likely be the case if you had a random collection looted from various dubious sources) could make it more difficult to use a weapon properly. Speaking from experience, if a ring is too loose it pinches quite a bit if you try to get a firm grip on something,  especially something hard. Still, this shouldn't stop mages or maybe  even archers.
2. Magical interference. You might think the ring of attack and the ring of defense, and the ring of charisma, and the ring of perspicacity will work exactly as advertised, but when you put them on  together what actually happens is that you turn an unpleasant shade of green and become highly attractive to termites. 

Of course,  the real reason is that it's just a pain to keep track of...

Comments

[reverancepavane]

When you say RPG you really are just talking about D&D (and later editions at that). The Fantasy Trip for example, decides that the limit is five magic items, each of which can have up to five enchantments. On13th Age you can have a magic item for each level. And you'll probably get it for free as part of level advancement.

One of the nice things about Nyambe, Green Ronin's rather nice take on a 3E pseudo-Africa. is it introduced other types of rings. Including earrings, nipple rings, ... and other types of rings. Additionally rings were considered fundamentally feminine and could be combined with the masculine rod to make a much more potent combined magical item.

Personally I allow people to wear as many bits of magic jewellery as they like. But then most magical jewellery has a default enchantment that functions automatically and doesn't need to be intentionally invoked in my game.

And with computer RPGs you generally have slots in which magic items are conveniently inserted. If you are using nice graphics rather than a list of items you really are quite limited in what you can equip.

I's say the main reason in tabletops is power limitation. Although synergistic effects are fun, a talented player will find a way to make use of the fact youturn an unpleasant shade of green and become highly attractive to termites, and it is really a pain keeping track of those Order O(n) alternatives.

[angharad_gam]

I was mainly thinking of computer RPGs, since I've been playing so much Dragon Age lately. In those games you are limited to two rings, a necklace and a belt. But the world is actually awash in magical items, and you can find yourself at the end of the day with a pocket full of magic rings, but still only able to wear two. I suppose another approach would be the Tolkienesque one, where magic rings are both extremely rare and extremely powerful.

[reverancepavane]

In those games you are limited to two rings, a necklace and a belt.

And don't forget, with chance-found magic items it is very difficult to find accessories that won't clash with the rest of your outfit.

[angharad_gam]

Urgh, don't even get me started on how hard it is to loot clothing that matches your eyeshadow...