5e by default and (my homebrew setting specifically) is low-magic relative to the default setting of Faerun. In search for a way for characters customise/create new magic items as well as create a money sink – something needed in 5e – I resurrected residuum from 5e.
Using a ritual to disenchant gives you residuum equivalent to the lowest value in gp of the item you disenchanted. To upgrade an item you need to use the enchant ritual spell and spend enough residuum to meet the difference in gp value of your current item to your new item based on rarity. So if your current item is Common (worth 50 gp) and you want to upgrade it to Uncommon (worth 500gp) you will need 450 gp worth of residuum and a spellcaster/ritual to do it:
- Grey for all non-magical items.
- White for Common.
- Green for Uncommon.
- Blue for Rare
- Purple for Very Rare.
- Orange for Legendary
Disenchant Magic Item
Enchant Magic Item
Residuum
Residuum is the magical substance that results from using the Disenchant Magic Item ritual on an item. It’s a fine, silvery dust that some describe as concentrated magic, useful as a generic component for rituals. In some exotic locales, residuum is traded as currency, measured by weight and carried in small metal vials. It’s a convenient way to transport large sums of wealth; 10,000gp worth of residuum weighs as much as a single gold piece and takes up only slightly more space, so 1 pound of residuum is worth 500,000 gp and fits in a belt pouch.