civic magic items

[mir]

It seems to me that a number of magic items have a great deal of usefulness to states or cities that can afford them.

Take the Orb of Storms for example. Sure it costs as much as a small keep, but for that price you can control the weather. That means never having to suffer serious drought, flooding, blizzards, hurricanes, or tornados. It means crops get more or less exactly what they need ever year. That by itself has got to be worth the 48,000 GP price tag. But not only that, it can cast storm of vengeance once a month too, if you drop that puppy on the vanguard of an army (or other high value tactical spot), it might be enough to decide a battle.

A Decanter of Endless Water means your castle never has to worry about running out of potable water, plus you can put out fires, maybe run an indoor plumbing system, or power a waterwheel.

A Headband of Intellect and/or a Cloak of Charisma and/or a Periapt of Wisdom could turn a regular monarch into a spectacular one, or turn a spectacular one into a near divine one.

What other items would be of great use for civic purposes?

 

[Chimera]

Lyre of Building is great and extremely useful, but hoo boy, the craft guilds are not going to be happy.

I don't want to be the guy to suggest a Headband of Intellect or Periapt of Wisdom to the ruler who might need one.

Horns of Blasting are great for urban demolition. Except when they explode. (well ok, maybe even then, but not quite what you wanted...)

Daern's Instant Fortress is a great mobile command post for an army.

Mobility items (Wings, Carpets, etc) for government officials, Ministers and Messengers.

Crystal Balls for all sorts of government uses from the tax man to military intelligence.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Pretty much any wand with a buff that effects alot of people has good military applications, such as prayer, haste, bless or even magic weapon (enchant 50 missles per charge and distribute amongst archers). I could see wands of Globe of Invulnerability being particuarly valuable for their ability to render troops with in the casters radius immune to 3rd level or less spells (ie firebal the bane of soldiers).

The mirror of opposition if used trickily and properly could be the perfect counter to an enemies heroes during a battle.

 

[Imperialus]

Civic magic items? Of course a civic would be a magic item... any car would.

 

[Woas]

Everburning torches to light the streets?

Sovereign Glue for building things cheaply?

 

[Sanackranib]

maul of the titans
mattock of the titans
saw of mighty cutting
spade of collosal excavation

and a girdle of giant strenghth to all for thier use

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

A Decanter of Endless Water means your castle never has to worry about running out of potable water, plus you can put out fires, maybe run an indoor plumbing system, or power a waterwheel.

An inexhaustible power supply!

I'll add:

Vorpal Sword: 100% successful executions.

Sphere of Annihilation: Trash/Waste Disposal for the cleanest city in the world.

Rod of Immobility: Door bar

Daern's Instant Fortress: Instant shelter for the commoners without having to take the space & time to build and maintain an expensive keep of mundane materials. The community would have most of the protection of a traditional town near a keep, but would be more prosperous.

Figurines of Wonderous Power or any construct capable of taking orders: plow animals & other positions that may require brute pulling/pushing force.

 

[Andor]

Any golem serves as both a mobile crane and a long haul truck. Logically powerful merchants and shipping guilds should be sopping them up as fast as they can be built.

The decanter of endless water is so powerful that access to them would completely change the face of our world. All the early empires built water control and distribution systems. In DnD the aquaducts get replaced with decanters. Though I suggest the average decanter is actually a 20 ton fountain and statue.

Immovable rods are great for flying scafoldings. Although they are expensive enough thet they are probably just used for emergencies and repairs, as conventional scafolding is vastly cheaper.

A wall of force is the ultimate dam.

Permanent zones of truth in the courts, or perhaps the judges get detect lie items.

Pay the construction guild enough and they can have your castle up tomorrow by bringing in mages with Wall of Stone and Fabricate. Unfortunately DnDs focus on tactical magic means even Elmunchkin couldn't build himself a castle in a day unless he felt like blowing a wish, so this probably wouldn't happen unless A) You have piles of high level wizards in your world or B) You bring in the Invocation rules from D20 Modern to make industrial magic possible or C) You have specialized use per day magic items. An organized society might well commision those.

Thinking about it castle in a day is unlikely. But fortress in a month might be practical through a skillfull combination of magic, labor and magic items. Hmmm.... Anyone want to write up a 5 level General Contractor prestige class?

 

[jdrakeh]

I seem to recall an old Dragon article that covered the impact of magic in this regard, starting with 'tubes of continual light' (read 'flashlights').

 

[Angel Tarragon]

The world that I am putting together currently is steeped in magic, and the tone of it comes close to a modern fantasy world. This thread is of immense value. Thanks for getting the ideas flowing.

Gates: constructions of stone or metal, thees devices are capable of transporting those passing through it to various points across the world. A particular item in posession by those passing through it is attuned to a specific place that deposits the person to the destination the item is attuned to. After one use the item crumbles into dust. Think mass transit to cities. See the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting book for info on gate construction.