I need ideas for an "artifact"

[Storminator]

In my paragon game, Goblins of Eberron, I'm giving every PC an artifact. The player and I work together to define the powers and fluff and how it gets worked into the game.

Well, except one player. He's pretty casual and pretty busy IRL, so he doesn't really contribute outside of game day. So I need to come up with something good for him.

He's playing a bugbear slayer, with the Mythic Slayer paragon path. He's fond of using the Murderizing skill in skill challenges. He's a pretty scary dude. I've taken to saying things like "when the human scare their children with stories of the boogieman, they're thinking of Rhasgar".

So my idea is to turn these "mythic" stories into his "artifact". So what kind of mechanical benefits can I plausibly attach to these stories for the character? [MENTION=42582]pemerton[/MENTION]?

PS

 

[pemerton]

Hey [MENTION=305]Storminator[/MENTION]!

Just some ideas:

An item bonus to Intimidate - especially if he's not CHA-oriented by default, it might give him a boost there. If he's really not CHA/Intimidate-oriented, then in addition a power that adds to Intimidate (say a daily boost till end of encounter, or an encounter power that allows a reroll) could help too.

Then you could look at a daily power, a bit like Turn Undead, that lets him do a STR-based close blast push (as a minor) or psychic damage + push (as a standard) - I'm going blast rather than burst because it's his terrifying visage!

Something that lets him add psychic damage to his attack as a free action, plus immob as a [fear] effect, provided the target can see and hear him, could work too.

Are any of these along the right sorts of lines?

 

[Storminator]

Those are good starts! I like the blast attack. He traded in a Power Strike for a burst attack, so another area effect would help him.

He's got a great untrained Stealth check, which he's used often. I'm thinking of adding in something that plays off that too. Hmmmm maybe I'll just give him a fey-step style teleport - he's just there! when you don't expect it.

PS

 

[sabrinathecat]

Think of a character from a previous campaign (esp previous edition), and use something from that as the basis for the weapon. Or maybe something from one of the boss monsters.
How about an encounter cburst1 attack that does 1W+prone? "Knock 'em Down" type deal. Borrow a couple powers from other classes, and as concordance builds, he can unlock new item encounters and dailies.

 

[Kinak]

He's got a great untrained Stealth check, which he's used often. I'm thinking of adding in something that plays off that too. Hmmmm maybe I'll just give him a fey-step style teleport - he's just there! when you don't expect it.

My favorite for this is actually lifted from some bugbear flavor in Pathfinder. Basically, they choose a victim and nobody can perceive them except the victim.

To make it work properly for a PC, just make sure that it only works within a certain distance of the victim and the effect is broken if they damage anyone other than the victim.

Cheers!
Kinak

 

[Storminator]

That is pretty awesome [MENTION=6694112]Kinak[/MENTION]. Just the sort of thing I was looking for. I'll have to be careful about the design, because I'm sure my players will instantly be looking for the skill challenge angle.

PS

 

[Kinak]

That is pretty awesome @Kinak . Just the sort of thing I was looking for. I'll have to be careful about the design, because I'm sure my players will instantly be looking for the skill challenge angle.

It's a tricky effect to get right. I think it works best if you keep the focus on the victim.

For example, if it can't be reused until the victim dies. Maybe if they get away, enough time or a ritual can clear the connection.

Cheers!
Kinak

 

[pemerton]

My favorite for this is actually lifted from some bugbear flavor in Pathfinder. Basically, they choose a victim and nobody can perceive them except the victim.

I'll have to be careful about the design, because I'm sure my players will instantly be looking for the skill challenge angle.

One of the MM3 starspawn has a power that is the inverse of this - the victim becomes marked by an enemey, and everyone but that enemy becomes invisible to the victim.

 

[Balesir]

He's got a great untrained Stealth check, which he's used often. I'm thinking of adding in something that plays off that too. Hmmmm maybe I'll just give him a fey-step style teleport - he's just there! when you don't expect it.

I think you can do some nice, neat stuff with relatively 'light' powers with stealth - for example:

- Property: gain +X to speed when in dim light or darkness.

- Property: you don't suffer the "moving more than 2" penalty for movement if in dim or no light.

- Encounter Power: become invisible as a minor action if in dim or no light until the end of your next turn or you make an attack.

All these boost stealthy movement without the "escape bonds" schtick of teleport, and make good "minor powers" to add to an artifact. The "invisibility" is potent not just for making surprise attacks, but also for remaining stealthy while crossing areas with no cover at all. Couple these up with a power that makes a 'pool' of dim light in a close burst and it could be really fun...

 

[TwoSix]

Daily power: As a move action, step into an area of dim or no light. You immediately teleport into a area of dim or no light that is with 5 miles and is located either under a child's bed or in a child's closet.