Artifacts.

[Alexander123]

Do you use artifacts for RP or for a mechanical benefit? Personally I don't think artifacts were made for the purpose of providing a mechanical benefit but were rather made for RP reasons. What do you think?

 

[Sekhmet]

I've done both, actually. Homebrew artifacts for flavour, core artifacts for mechanical benefit during extreme circumstance, that then happened to rid itself of it's new possessors.

 

[Sorrowdusk]

The problem with artefacts is...does everyone get one? I mean there probably wont be that many artefacts in a campaign-so who gets to use it? If its something like a sword or a weapon, only one person will get to use the "awesome-sauce" artefact, if its mechanically beneficial.

 

[Ranes]

I think artifacts make for great McGuffins, as evidenced by the Head of Vecna.

 

[Sorrowdusk]

That was a cruel, cruel joke.
I still dont know what made them think it would work.

 

[MrFaust]

I like to throw a couple of artifacts into my campaigns from time to time just for the fun of it. They not only aid the players but add to the role play value. Though I would only give one out if they had gone through great efforts and I would reward them fittingly or if they learned about it from somewhere and sought it out. Just be careful of giving them something over powered for their level, could unbalance the game.

 

[SkredlitheOgre]

The game I'm running is sort of "Warehouse 13 for Pathfinder," where I have the group going from place to place to find magic items and artifacts and retrieve them, storing them in a portable hole until they can return to base and let their boss deal with the artifact.

In the last session, one of the artifacts was taken from the group (it's an amulet that causes craving for flesh of the same race the holder is and eating that flesh turns them into a wendigo). Of course, that will come back later, but they are currently about to find Part 2 of the Rod of Seven Parts. Should make for good times.

 

[the Jester]

I prefer my artifacts to be very old school in style, where you get tempted into using them for their great power but then decide to keep the One Ring after you and your buddies get to the end of your Destiny Quest. Or maybe it decides to keep you.

 

[Alexander123]

I like to throw a couple of artifacts into my campaigns from time to time just for the fun of it. They not only aid the players but add to the role play value. Though I would only give one out if they had gone through great efforts and I would reward them fittingly or if they learned about it from somewhere and sought it out. Just be careful of giving them something over powered for their level, could unbalance the game.

Generally I try to have artifacts which have no actual mechanical benefit or very little mechanical benefit as an aid to role-playing. I also try to make sure that the players don't actually keep the artifact but part with it in some RP fashion.