Masterwork Thieves tools in 2e?

[chicagowarrior]

Do masterwork thieves' tools exist in 2e, and if so, what benefits to they confer?

Thanks!

[Scott]

I don't know. I don't remember 2E very well.

[geneweigel]

Offhand. I would say no.

"Masterwork" if not in name but in expression of the Gygax DMG concept of "finest quality" is something that I saw emerge around some weak (READ: what Zeb in 2E mentioned as "tight-fisted" [VERSUS Monty Haul]) campaigns. The concept of a non-magic item as an excuse to "reenact history" what they (the cheese DM) thought was better because it was less than magical. (This is what I call the "fumble fail" where the rules break for new lessening that it makes the uncertain DM feel he has control when he's just wrecking game flow by turning heroes into zeros.) .

In regards to tools modifying your rolls, 1993 there was a POLYHEDRON 2E article regarding a magical set of thieves tools that conferred a bonus 10%. It was packed in the back of the article ) and I never used it until the 2E MAGIC ENCYCLOPEDIA came out in 1995 where it appeared unvarnished and I believe I "rolled it up" using the TSR software but it could have came from a real roll out of the book.