[Scott Hebert]

Another interesting thing about Clams.

Can you name a Water nation that can't use Astral Pearls well?

Atlantis - Water, Astral
R'lyeh - Water, Astral
Base Pythium - Astral, Water
Mictlan - lots of stuff, Water, Astral
etc.

About the only one is Caelum, and it doesn't preclude a Pretender that can make Clams.

Part of the problem with Clams is that the output (pearls) are directly useful to those nations best able to make them. It's not just an indirect benefit.

As a counterexample, if the Clams made, say, Air gems, a lot fewer nations would profit from them. (Caelum would turn into a big winner, though.) Not suggesting a change to the product, just a look at the other influences.

To me, Astral Magic is overpowered, and Water Magic is underpowered, so it's not hard to see in the least why an item that converts Water Gems to Astral Pearls is considered overpowered.

Bayushi Tasogare