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<blockquote data-quote="(un)reason" data-source="post: 5738186" data-attributes="member: 27780"><p><strong><u>Dragon Magazine annual 1998 </u></strong></p><p></p><p></p><p>part 6/8</p><p></p><p></p><p>Bazaar of the Bizarre: For a second time here, they decide to eschew the usual magic for a collection of purely mundane items. They really are pushing the tolerance of their readers. Ok, it's more affordable than the magic stuff, but really, we want the shinies. It's quite a long one too, so it looks like this is going to be another tedious page-filler. </p><p></p><p>Angon are serrated, crossbarred spears that seem good against armies and large creatures. Another fairly realistic example of trying to customise existing weapons for specific situations that D&D doesn't represent too well. </p><p></p><p>Ordinary Bracers are useful too! Another slightly amusing reminder that mundane items were doing this stuff hundreds of years before D&D got in on the act. </p><p></p><p>Bronzewood Portals are reinforced doors that impose a penalty on attempts to break in. In a place full of adventurers, this is always going to attract repeat customers. </p><p></p><p>Charcloth Tin is full of really flammable paper. This makes starting fires in cold, wet miserable conditions a lot easier. Another valuable one for low level adventurers. </p><p></p><p>Dagger Sashes are one we've seen before in plenty of illustrations, but not formalised into mechanics. An array of little sheathes designed for quick throwing. Just strap it on and you're ready to make several ranged attacks per round. </p><p></p><p>Double Bows are another one we've seen before. Bloody gnomes. In fact, compared to the 6-shooter crossbow, these aren't too impressive. Screw this. </p><p></p><p>Double Mail is like katanas. Chain-mail made tougher by having two points of connection per link? Seems a bit spurious. If it was that easy, why isn't it the standard? I don't know. </p><p></p><p>Draw-Mouth Quivers are another item designed for more convenient access in case of an unexpected fight. It's amazing how often item manufacturers don't think about real world in-the-field issues when designing stuff. </p><p></p><p>Dwarven Stone Scrolls are designed to protect important information. Open them wrong, and they explode, hurting you and destroying the stuff inside. Have fun trying to solve this one. </p><p></p><p>Fineplates are a pointless portmanteau. We already know you can add cost onto practical items almost infinitely by increasing the ornateness. This is not really needed. </p><p></p><p>Galda oil works well in both lanterns and for cooking. Well, it certainly reduces stress for adventurers. A ruined meal from a wrong ingredient will have everyone cranky, especially if supplies are running low. </p><p></p><p>Gnomish Neckpurses are another faintly ridiculous but practical device by everyone's favourite irritating shortarses. This is one that could well work in reality. After all, what airport security thinks to check the hairband? Not that I plan on smuggling anything in the near future, of course. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> </p><p></p><p>Gorgetal is neck armour, to protect you against strangulation and called shots. Another one that seems like it could have it's roots in reality. Like armoured codpieces, protecting vulnerable areas is a good idea too many people forget. </p><p></p><p>Gullet Guardians do the same for your lower abdomen. Wear them under your clothing, and people will just think you're a little fat. I think I can take that without any worry. </p><p></p><p>Honey Dust is just a mundane perfume. Yawnarama. I think this goes a bit too far into pointless setting-building. </p><p></p><p>Ipp Candles drive away bugs. Like bracers, we've seen several magical variants on this, while the mundane, real version remains relatively obscure. Everyone goes for the magical solution first, despite the extra expense. </p><p></p><p>Jalzanda Oils give you a good night's sleep. Take too much, and you'll appear dead to the world. Just the thing for those tragic Romeo and Juliet style misunderstandings. </p><p></p><p>Laceleather Pantaloons try and give a reasonable explanation for why any adventurer would wear ridiculous clothing like Alias's trousers. I'm not buying it. You wear something with that many little gaps in the wilderness, and next thing you know, there's a spider setting up camp by your crotch. No thank you. </p><p></p><p>Luminous Paste is another mundane solution to a problem normally dealt with by magic. Glow-in-the dark runes? No problem. Just need the right tree extract. </p><p></p><p>Pace Beads allow you to engage in more accurate mapping without wasting too much time on tape measures. Once again with the simple useful tricks. </p><p></p><p>Padded Leather Armor is another fairly obvious bit of technological advancement. Make the leather and chain bits of your protection modular, and you have more freedom to vary your precise level of protection based on danger and temperature. Couldn't this stuff be made standard as well? </p><p></p><p>Reedmace Shafts are used to make arrows in marshy areas where proper wood is scarce and valuable. They don't work as well as regular arrows, but burn easily once properly dried. I guess you have to make the best of what you've got. </p><p></p><p>Rhizian Shield Harnesses are another twinky trick to let you both fight two-handed and still benefit from a shield. Like the Athasian Tortoiseshell blades, this'll take quite a bit of extra training, which'll hopefully pay off and let you be a smug flashy git who both has their cake and eats it. </p><p></p><p>Santal Wood Incense freshens up the foulest dungeon or your money back. I really couldn't make this <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> up. I suspect a joke round the table that the writer decided to run with. </p><p></p><p>Santolin is a pretty and all round useful fabric. Another attempt to create culture for an existing world that is unlikely to be taken up and become official. </p><p></p><p>Silver Tissue is much the same, only even more so. Pretty elven-woven stuff that's tremendously rare? Before you know it, everyone'll have some. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite7" alt=":p" title="Stick out tongue :p" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":p" /> </p><p></p><p>Talwucs see the people of Oerth reinvent the mackintosh. Great, now they can have flashers as well <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite7" alt=":p" title="Stick out tongue :p" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":p" /> Who's going to remember this silly name? </p><p></p><p>Tamal Leaves see them include a culturally integrated variant on chewing tobacco as well. Filthy habit. I want no part of it. :spits: </p><p></p><p>Walking Sticks also get an examination with a bunch of variants, including the usual concealed weapons and smuggling devices. You can also putt a whole bunch of triggered spells in them which can get pretty brutal. Probably cheaper than the normal way of enchanting rods and staves too. Once again, we see how you can run rings around the official methods by careful rules-lawyering and profit tremendously.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="(un)reason, post: 5738186, member: 27780"] [B][U]Dragon Magazine annual 1998 [/U][/B] part 6/8 Bazaar of the Bizarre: For a second time here, they decide to eschew the usual magic for a collection of purely mundane items. They really are pushing the tolerance of their readers. Ok, it's more affordable than the magic stuff, but really, we want the shinies. It's quite a long one too, so it looks like this is going to be another tedious page-filler. Angon are serrated, crossbarred spears that seem good against armies and large creatures. Another fairly realistic example of trying to customise existing weapons for specific situations that D&D doesn't represent too well. Ordinary Bracers are useful too! Another slightly amusing reminder that mundane items were doing this stuff hundreds of years before D&D got in on the act. Bronzewood Portals are reinforced doors that impose a penalty on attempts to break in. In a place full of adventurers, this is always going to attract repeat customers. Charcloth Tin is full of really flammable paper. This makes starting fires in cold, wet miserable conditions a lot easier. Another valuable one for low level adventurers. Dagger Sashes are one we've seen before in plenty of illustrations, but not formalised into mechanics. An array of little sheathes designed for quick throwing. Just strap it on and you're ready to make several ranged attacks per round. Double Bows are another one we've seen before. Bloody gnomes. In fact, compared to the 6-shooter crossbow, these aren't too impressive. Screw this. Double Mail is like katanas. Chain-mail made tougher by having two points of connection per link? Seems a bit spurious. If it was that easy, why isn't it the standard? I don't know. Draw-Mouth Quivers are another item designed for more convenient access in case of an unexpected fight. It's amazing how often item manufacturers don't think about real world in-the-field issues when designing stuff. Dwarven Stone Scrolls are designed to protect important information. Open them wrong, and they explode, hurting you and destroying the stuff inside. Have fun trying to solve this one. Fineplates are a pointless portmanteau. We already know you can add cost onto practical items almost infinitely by increasing the ornateness. This is not really needed. Galda oil works well in both lanterns and for cooking. Well, it certainly reduces stress for adventurers. A ruined meal from a wrong ingredient will have everyone cranky, especially if supplies are running low. Gnomish Neckpurses are another faintly ridiculous but practical device by everyone's favourite irritating shortarses. This is one that could well work in reality. After all, what airport security thinks to check the hairband? Not that I plan on smuggling anything in the near future, of course. :) Gorgetal is neck armour, to protect you against strangulation and called shots. Another one that seems like it could have it's roots in reality. Like armoured codpieces, protecting vulnerable areas is a good idea too many people forget. Gullet Guardians do the same for your lower abdomen. Wear them under your clothing, and people will just think you're a little fat. I think I can take that without any worry. Honey Dust is just a mundane perfume. Yawnarama. I think this goes a bit too far into pointless setting-building. Ipp Candles drive away bugs. Like bracers, we've seen several magical variants on this, while the mundane, real version remains relatively obscure. Everyone goes for the magical solution first, despite the extra expense. Jalzanda Oils give you a good night's sleep. Take too much, and you'll appear dead to the world. Just the thing for those tragic Romeo and Juliet style misunderstandings. Laceleather Pantaloons try and give a reasonable explanation for why any adventurer would wear ridiculous clothing like Alias's trousers. I'm not buying it. You wear something with that many little gaps in the wilderness, and next thing you know, there's a spider setting up camp by your crotch. No thank you. Luminous Paste is another mundane solution to a problem normally dealt with by magic. Glow-in-the dark runes? No problem. Just need the right tree extract. Pace Beads allow you to engage in more accurate mapping without wasting too much time on tape measures. Once again with the simple useful tricks. Padded Leather Armor is another fairly obvious bit of technological advancement. Make the leather and chain bits of your protection modular, and you have more freedom to vary your precise level of protection based on danger and temperature. Couldn't this stuff be made standard as well? Reedmace Shafts are used to make arrows in marshy areas where proper wood is scarce and valuable. They don't work as well as regular arrows, but burn easily once properly dried. I guess you have to make the best of what you've got. Rhizian Shield Harnesses are another twinky trick to let you both fight two-handed and still benefit from a shield. Like the Athasian Tortoiseshell blades, this'll take quite a bit of extra training, which'll hopefully pay off and let you be a smug flashy git who both has their cake and eats it. Santal Wood Incense freshens up the foulest dungeon or your money back. I really couldn't make this :):):):) up. I suspect a joke round the table that the writer decided to run with. Santolin is a pretty and all round useful fabric. Another attempt to create culture for an existing world that is unlikely to be taken up and become official. Silver Tissue is much the same, only even more so. Pretty elven-woven stuff that's tremendously rare? Before you know it, everyone'll have some. :p Talwucs see the people of Oerth reinvent the mackintosh. Great, now they can have flashers as well :p Who's going to remember this silly name? Tamal Leaves see them include a culturally integrated variant on chewing tobacco as well. Filthy habit. I want no part of it. :spits: Walking Sticks also get an examination with a bunch of variants, including the usual concealed weapons and smuggling devices. You can also putt a whole bunch of triggered spells in them which can get pretty brutal. Probably cheaper than the normal way of enchanting rods and staves too. Once again, we see how you can run rings around the official methods by careful rules-lawyering and profit tremendously. [/QUOTE]
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