I may have written myself into a corner...

[Gnome]

My group freed a noble djinn, and earned 3 boons from him. It wasn't conventional wishes, exactly, but the same idea. The group debated asking for a ship, so the Genie offered a magical ship the size of a model ship that expands when a command word is spoken, and contracts when the word is spoken backwards.

For the second boon, they asked for a one-shot item to help them get out of a tough scrape, so they got a figurine of an air elemental that can be used once to help in a fight.

For the third boon, they asked for wealth, and since the party is only second level, I didn't want to hand out overwhelming amounts of treasure, so I had the Genie instead offer a magical ring to the party of unknown properties, but guaranteed to not be cursed. The party agreed, and took the ring instead of wealth.

The only problem is that I don't know what kind of ring to say that it is when they get it identified. It's not my goal to cheat the party - I'd like it to turn out to be something they think is cool.

Two things, though: I want it to be an item that doesn't make a PC too powerful in combat, and I'd like it to be something that can somehow benefit the whole party, not just the person who gets to wear it.

Any suggestions from the creative folks here? If it helps, the party is 2nd-level, and this is a high-magic and high-fantasy game. The party consists of a elf barbarian, a half-elf rogue, a half-orc druid, a halfling sorcerer, and a gnome bard. Oh,a nd we are playing using the Pathfinder rules.

I'm not afraid of making-up a new ring type, btw ... and I also toyed with the idea of making the ring intelligent, if I can come-up with a basic idea for what it could do.

 

[Andor]

How about a ring that let's them cast a few useful spells a day? Something like Leomunds Tiny Hut, Hero's feast, and mass endure elements. That way the whole party benefits. If you want to make it cooler than normal throw in a couple of level-effect spells and key it off the ring-bearers level. That way you could even let it toss a fireball or two a day since a 2d6 fireball is not that big a deal.

 

[roguerouge]

Two options:

1. make it an eternal ring (like MiC's eternal wands) that scales with the caster's arcane might, storing two spells/day of one level lower than the highest level spell he can cast. Scaleable, neat, unique.

2. Artifact that requires quests to unlock its powers.

 

[ruemere]

Interesting challenge. The other gifts are already worth a lot, especially for 2nd level characters, however, if you'd like to add some wealth, how about one of the following:

- Ring of Peddler - +4 to all haggling related tests
- Ring of Fool's Gold - all coins touched by the ring turn to gold until next dawn (illusion)
- Ring of Gambler's Luck - whenever engaged in gambling activities, the odds are changed in your favor by 10%
- Ring of Friendship - whenever one of your friends within earshot finds herself in danger, you may, as a free action, shout a warning granting +4 to any surprise check and any save check rolled during surprise round (friends are to be treasured, after all)

regards,
Ruemere

 

[fba827]

how about one of those group-themed artifacts (from DMG2 if you have access to it) BUT you don't have to make it all artifact-y if you don't want (just strip it down to basics if you didn't want an artifact).

As an example:
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/intheworks_dmg2.pdf

And just call it a ring.

Or if you didn't want it to be artifact-y, call it a ring and drop all the concordance stuff and just stick with the basic stat block.

 

[Rechan]

The ring is a portable portal.

You take the ring off, say the command word, and it expands to a 4' hoop. Put it against something, and you now have a hole.

The hole takes you to a Hall of Sages. There, lots of smart epople are gathered. They have Wealth... of knowledge. PCs can use this as a place to find out any sort of lore or knowledge they need that could be found in any sort of book.

 

[FireLance]

Don't give the item specific powers. Instead, give the item a theme and let the players decide how the item works for them individually. As they gain levels, they can even alter or add to the powers. For example, if you give the item the theme of wealth, maybe the thief gets a bonus to Pick Pocket checks when he wears it, while the cleric opts for it to allow him to detect or locate treasures. The wizard might decide that when he wears it, it allows him to cast spells that require expensive material components below a certain cost for free, while the fighter uses it to prevent others from taking his items away, getting a bonus against disarm checks and pick pocket attempts.

 

[malkav666]

how about one of those group-themed artifacts (from DMG2 if you have access to it) BUT you don't have to make it all artifact-y if you don't want (just strip it down to basics if you didn't want an artifact).

As an example:
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/intheworks_dmg2.pdf

And just call it a ring.

Or if you didn't want it to be artifact-y, call it a ring and drop all the concordance stuff and just stick with the basic stat block.

I believe the OP said they were playing PF/3.x. I think the article you linked is for 4e D&D.

As to the Op's request, here is my shot at it:

Ring of Bling

Properties:

1.) Scaling ring of protection. Deflection bonus is equal to the wielder's character level divided by 4 (rounded up). You can cap this if you want to limit the power of the ring. I recommend capping it somewhere in the +3 to +5 range.

2.)Intelligent magical item with an expansive knowledge of lost treasures. It's primary goal is to guide its wielder to those treasures. It cannot speak, but it can provide visions, and empathetic communication with it's wielder. I am unsure as to what it's ego/int/cha should be, but I don't imagine it will need high scores to accomplish it's goals. I think most players would be on board with hunting down lost treasures.

This second function should not be a dominating factor of play. But it should come up every few levels, perhaps seeding a quest that may lead the group to some wealth. This allows for two things: It gives you a tool to seed any adventure site you want as a DM, and it gives the players the option of going on side quests. May not seem like a big deal at first, but it can come in real handy when your group is stagnating or needs a break from the main arc.

I would use the visions, and empathy very vaguely, so that the group has to search out answers if they want the loot. Intentional vagueness will also more than likely get the whole group in on the hunt. If it turns out you were too vague, you can always toss another clue in the form of another communication from the item, or an outside source.

Hope you figure out what you need.

love,

malkav

 

[Cadfan]

They asked for wealth. When paying for common lodgings or food, the wearer of the ring can pull out from his pocket sufficient small coins of the appropriate currency to pay. The money it creates is real, but it creates it in such a small amount that it can't really affect the overall economy or make anyone truly rich. But it does mean that the wearer of the ring will never have to sleep on the streets or go hungry.

This obviously works better in a low money campaign.

 

[Deset Gled]

Make the ring intelligent, and give it (limited) powers of a class that the part lacks. For example, if the party has no bard, give the ring a few ranks in Bardic Knowledge and have it help give local lore the wearer when helpful. If you have no rogue, have it grant trap finding abilities. If you have no nature based character, have it give info about animals they encounter and wilderness survival skills. What is your party makeup, anyway?