D&D magic items in a literary work

[Quasqueton]

Hell, I'd have my hero taking it out, flipping it a couple times, and kissing it before placing it back in its special pouch after every major encounter.

How many times have you seen D&D PCs do this? Or is it "Oh, good. I put it in my backpack." And then that's the last time it's mentioned in game.

Sure, you can *make* a minor D&D magic item seem like something important in a literary story, but you could do the same thing with a completely mundane "luck stone".

Quasqueton

 

[jsewell]

would/should you in a literary work?

Literary is the key term. If you want your work to be taken seriously, you'd have to describe how strong the armor is, not simply state, 'Boris donned his +4 Breast Plate.' Listen to Patryn's advice.

 

[Buttercup]

If I were to write a novel (unlikely) I would absolutely not write D&D fiction. That being the case, about the only magic item on the list that I can see including would be the lucky stone. I think if I included any other magic items, they would probably be pretty subtle and maybe would only be magical for a certain person. But more likely I'd have powerful characters instead of powerful items.

Now that I think of it, the lucky stone would be the interesting if it turned out to be just a plain old stone, and the person to whom it belonged was lucky in his or her own right--perhaps through some sort of magical power.

 

[Quasqueton]

Literary is the key term. If you want your work to be taken seriously, you'd have to describe how strong the armor is, not simply state, 'Boris donned his +4 Breast Plate.' Listen to Patryn's advice.

I'm not suggesting including a numerical game mechanic, "+2 breast plate". Patryn hasn't said anything about that either. And I'm not looking for advice, just discussion.

I'm talking about whether +2 breast plate is worth mentioning as a specific and "magical" item in a literary work. In D&D, +2 breast plate is really not all that great. You could play a year of D&D and never realize the barbarian in the party had magical armor. So is such an invisible ability worth mentioning outside of a character sheet.

Quasqueton

 

[Victim]

I'd certainly make a note of actively used items. However, passive items can be ignored or just brushed aside fairly easily. In many cases, getting a +1 to saves from an item isn't going to be relevant. Just saying the hero has some enchanted gear covers alot of ground and doesn't lock you down too much.

 

[jerichothebard]

I know you "can" describe them in a literary fashion. My question is: would/should you in a literary work?

In the LotR books, might Gimli have a +1 axe, or Legolas a +1 bow, or Aragorn +1 chain armor? Might Tolkien simply not mentioned them as not being important in the grand story.

Considering that he mentioned several magic swords, magic staffs, "elvin" rope and cloaks, and an assortment of highly magic rings, I think he might mention them - if they were important. Certainly there is reason to think that, in fact, Legolas does have a magic bow, since Tolkien went on at great length about the gifts received from the elves, and IIRC, that was one of them...

 

[jsewell]

I'm not suggesting including a numerical game mechanic, "+2 breast plate". Patryn hasn't said anything about that either. And I'm not looking for advice, just discussion.

I'm talking about whether +2 breast plate is worth mentioning as a specific and "magical" item in a literary work. In D&D, +2 breast plate is really not all that great. You could play a year of D&D and never realize the barbarian in the party had magical armor. So is such an invisible ability worth mentioning outside of a character sheet.

Quasqueton

Oh... ok. Then I think it would depend on the foes your Barbarian were facing.

 

[Raloc]

I'd likely mention the sword only.