Sockets and IC

H

I'm just wondering how people explain the new socketed items in IC terms. What I mean is that "socketed" seems flawed to me if only for the fact that if it's only valuable because it has a socket, nothing's really stopping a craftsman from putting a socket in another item, realistically speaking. But I see the word "socketable" used more often, and I'm partly wondering why that is.

On the other hand, "socketable" gives it a more magical connotation, maybe in that it has a special magical property that "binds" the gems to it (where a simple socket would make it hold the pretty gem but do nothing otherwise). Anyway, just wondering what people think on this.

Perhaps the word 'Attunement' could be used?

For example, a dagger with a green title. It is a mundane weapon, yes, but it can be attuned to be empowered with a gem, making it semi-magical.
That aside, the term 'socket' is more to that people know it's got special features.

suzicoa

But someway to dscribe the dagger with open sockets is needed…

I suggest "magically prepared"

Dwarven_Mirth

Aren't the socket items mostly 'gems'? Why not simply say the weapon/amulet/whatever has a setting for a gem but you haven't found the right one so it's empty?

Erkenbrande

I really like the empty setting for a gem idea!

Shea

In the posters I had for the Dracart Items, I think I described them something like: "There appears to be insets for gems in various places on this whatever" or "Small pounces woven into the armor suitible for putting gems into"

H

That's why I made this thread, really: if they're just grooves, what would stop an artisan from carving some in any old item? Unless the DMs envision this as a possibility, the characters have to operate with the assumption that the green items' (and only these) sockets are suitable for gems, and therefore somehow special.

That's the question: special how?

Magical attunement is a good one, I find, but not to remove too many options I was just asking the other ways people can explain them in IC terms.

BableFish

I don't see the problem.

So what if an artisan could add sockets to an item? if they did, it would then have a green description and be socketable. The ones you find, have had this done to them.