DUmb Monsters and Magic Items

[trentonjoe]

What magic items could ANYTHING figure out how to use?

Specifically, I advanced a darkmantle (BTW this may be favorite new 3E monster) to large size and 10 HD. I figure if this thing got THAT big it had to acquire some loot along the way.

Could it figure out a ring? A necklace? Something else?

 

[Conaill]

What magic items could ANYTHING figure out how to use?

Specifically, I advanced a darkmantle (BTW this may be favorite new 3E monster) to large size and 10 HD. I figure if this thing got THAT big it had to acquire some loot along the way.

Could it figure out a ring? A necklace? Something else?

Int 2? No chance! Also notice that the Darkmantle listing says "Treasure: None". It doesn't collect any "loot" because the concept is meaningless to it.

Unless someone were to intentionally outfit it with some specific magical items, of course... I believe Savage Species and/or Masters of the Wild have some items that can be used by animals. I seem to remember a necklace that increases the damage die for natural weapons, for example.

 

[jgsugden]

It has an intelligence of 2. Things with an intelligence of 2 are only capable of using 'automatic' items that require no activation (unless they are specially trained ... see handle animal).

As you advance it in hit dice, you should give it some extra ability score points (1 / 4 hit dice). If you put both of those into intelligence, it would be at a 4 at 10 HD. That would be sufficient to handle most magic items that do not involve class abilities or other special features (ie; wands, scrolls, holy swords, etc ...)

 

[James McMurray]

IF you want to give it gear, have it have once been captive to someone who tried to raise it and teach it tricks (like jumping through hoops and killing foes). In order to teach it more tricks they invested in a collar of intelligence +2. Unfortunately, it got just smart enough to realize that it didn't have to hang around and take any crap anymore.

Now it has the collar and one or two other utility items that the former owner gave it.

 

[trentonjoe]

Thanks for the advice guys!

 

[Sir Whiskers]

What magic items could ANYTHING figure out how to use?

Specifically, I advanced a darkmantle (BTW this may be favorite new 3E monster) to large size and 10 HD. I figure if this thing got THAT big it had to acquire some loot along the way.

Could it figure out a ring? A necklace? Something else?

In general, I think you're players will have a serious problem with you designing creatures with animal intelligence using any kind of item. There are a few ways around this (the creature just happened to eat someone with a magic ring, so it gets the benefits until the ring passes naturally), but they smack too much of GM fiat to me. I would think an experienced adventurer would look for the loot in the creature's discards, not around its neck or such.

Maybe not the way you want to go with this, but if you want to make the encounter different, consider using templates. If you have the pdf, the Book of Templates Deluxe has an Enchanted template that I really like - it's easy to rationalize and gives a few decent abilities to a creature without making it overpowered. If you want to be really nasty, give it the Metallivore template - it essentially makes the creature into a rust monster!

 

[trentonjoe]

In general, I think you're players will have a serious problem with you designing creatures with animal intelligence using any kind of item.

I think so as well. What I am questioning is would a creature have an item?


I think wands get used, a ring of protection is had.

My cat knows what she likes, if she had a collar that made her feel better I am fairly certain she would wear it.

Maybe it is just symantics.

What I am really looking ofr is a good magic item to equipt a darkmantle with.

 

[LGodamus]

I think so as well. What I am questioning is would a creature have an item?


I think wands get used, a ring of protection is had.

My cat knows what she likes, if she had a collar that made her feel better I am fairly certain she would wear it.

Maybe it is just symantics.

What I am really looking ofr is a good magic item to equipt a darkmantle with.

can your cat put on her own collar?

 

[trentonjoe]

can your cat put on her own collar?

I wish the xmas picture of her with a tinsel necklace came out. She was awfully cute.

I guess that is a good point though.

SO at 3 int creatures can dress themselves, at 2 they cannot?

 

[hong]

As a starting point, I'd say that anything that requires a standard action to activate is probably out.