That's a really dumb bear

i like what Liv did. it means you cant get masterwork weapons right away. you cant do anything with you untill 4th level anyway so this makes you level up some before you have access to them. makes sense to me and the smith sounds surprised that you actually went ahead and did it.

 

save the masterwork items!

I'm just reflecting on the fact that that mission forces the player to be allowed to use masterwork weapons only when it has already magic weapons, so masterwork ones becomes less usefull, they have less role in the game and they becomes good only for being enchanted (except mast.com.bows).
Instead a party should start with basic equipment, then use masterwork weapons and armors, then have them enchanted or replace them with magic weapons, not the opposite.
I still belive that the smith should already have 3 or 4 masterwork items in the shop inventory before completing the mission.
Think that: you get the quest for the meadows from the high-cleric when you enter homelet fort he first time, but I think it is nearly impossible (even if I never tried) to kill the giant before cleaning the moathouse. So, when you go for the giant, the party at least has the +1 holy longsword, the staff of striking +2 and will find the magic elven chain and the cloack of elvenkind beofre comming back to the smith. They are powrful pices of equipment. You may argue that a player that uses a party of 5 or 8 will still needs them, true.... but I still belive that getting magic items in the early stages of the game is too easy and, when the player has the moneys to get the masterwork ones, he already has so many magic stuff that he won't wish the masterwork ones anymore. Myabe I should stop playing in solo and make a party again, but I prefer to wait Liv 2.0, then edit some thing and then test the game with a party.

 

Agreed...

...I found it to be a lot more challenging my first go 'round when I didn't craft anything, and had to use what I could find in order to win.

 

Sorry Allyx, but magic items may be empowered as well. The need of the smith selling masterwork items is to create the necessary step between non-magical and magical gear and to fill those "areas" of the game were there are not magical items that a party may want accordingly with his party customization.
Anyway, I agree with the fact that making the "discount" option would be a too long work, infact I prefer more a situation where the smith sells some masterwork weapon (3 to 5) and then accepts to make them on request only after the giant's head, only when the party prooves to be worthy. After all, it is just a small correction.
Cya later.....