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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Snarf Zagyg" data-source="post: 9377736" data-attributes="member: 7023840">So a quote from [USER=1788]@DarkCrisis[/USER] in the thread announcing the new PHB had me thinking..."I mean, you can use AD&D magic items in 5E games. Nothing really stops you."AD&D magic items! Oh yeah! Now, obviously, AD&D had magic items. I mean, you couldn't clear out a dungeon without tripping over the Long Swords +1. But in addition to the ubiquitous +1 Long Sword, AD&D had a number of really cool magic items....but what was the coolest magic item? And what was the coolest magic item that AD&D had that isn't in 5e?And and what was the coolest magic item that AD&D had that is in 5e, but has been nerfed into 5e-ness?There are two categories of magic items that we can consider when we are thinking about magic items, obviously!1. Artifacts (and relics).2. All the other magic items.I think you need to start by differentiating out those two, after all, it just isn't fair to include Artifacts (and relics) with all the other goodies, is it? It's like when you are trick-or-treating, and one house has the full-size candy bars. Yeah, those are the artifacts.Of course, the other problem is that artifacts had variable powers, so while the Invulnerable Coat of Arnd was always going to make you immune to physical attacks (and so on), it would also have 10 abilities that were completely different from table to table.Because of that, we have to exclude Artifacts. Which pains me, because my second-favorite item in the game (after the Head of Vecna) was, of course, the Teeth of Dahlver-Nar. Nothing like smiling with someone else's teeth!Also, unfortunately, we have to exclude so-called UNUSUAL SWORDS. Sorry, no smarty-pants swords that are intelligent, have an alignment, and are probably going to drive you to kill those bards already (which you were going to do anyway, right?).So, what do you think? What are some of the OP items in AD&D?Snarf's List of OP AD&D Magical Items, Top 10, No Particular Order1. The Holy Trinity. Long before your local corporations pivoted to video and preached synergy, AD&D was all about the synergy. The Holy Trinity of AD&D was the Hammer of Thunderbolts, the Gauntlets of Ogre Power, and A Girdle of Storm Giant Strength. Why? Because if you had these three items, the hammer went to +5, got double damage dice, all gauntlet bonuses, all girdle bonuses, and would strike dead any giant that it hit. Wait, wut? Yeah. +5/+5 .... +3/+6 .... +6/+12   This means that you were +14 to hit, +23 to damage, and double damage dice. 2. Scarab of Protection. Hear me out. It's not the +1 vs. spells. It's that it allows you to save against anything that would not allow a save! Sure, it set the save at 20, but it allowed you to pull in bonuses for that. It also protected you from level drain, so there's that. 3. Rod of Absorption. Allows you to instantly identify spells being cast and the level, and determine if you absorb them, and then use those levels to case your own spells. 4. Ring of Regeneration. Can't stop, won't stop. Or, to quote Crank, the PC died, but he got better. Sure, not as big a deal in 5e, but in 1e?5. Mirror of Mental Prowess. Scry any place, including other planes. Read the thoughts of those you see. Use it as a portal to go to places. Oh, and it will answer questions for you. 6. Sphere of Annihilation. Okay, no one was stupid enough to try and use it, right? 7. Helm of Brilliance. Causes 1-6 damage to undead. Makes all swords into swords of flame (in addition to their other properties), allows you to produce flame, double-strength fire resistance. Also? 40 light spells, 30 fireballs, 20 walls of fire, and 10 prismatic sprays.  .... just don't fail on magical fire. 8. Rug of Welcome. If you don't know, look it up. 9. Robe of Scintillating Colors. Neutralize all the opponents, all the time. Okay, fine, maybe you prefer the robe of eyes. But that's no fun.10. Horn of Blasting. Surprised. Expected the Staff of the Arch Magi? Well, this is powerful and fun. And? It's a HORN.Anyway, share your favorite items (or your favorites uses for items) in the comments.</blockquote>

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