Particle_Man
Explorer
What, aside from the DMG, are the sources for lesser powers, greater powers, special purposes and special purpose powers for intelligent magic items?
Intelligent Item Powers - other powers?
- Thread starter Particle_Man
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Sejs
First Post
When in doubt, fake it.
Lesser powers look to be either 10 ranks in a skill (possessed by the item), the item can cast a 1st-2nd level spell 3/day, or the item can use a 0th-1st level spell continually (usually a detection of some kind).
Greater powers are more along the lines of up to a 4th level spell 1/day, up to a 3rd level spell 3/day, or a lower level detection spell at will.
I remember intelligent items used to be able to grant their user a particular feat when the item was in use (such as a sword granting its wielder Combat Reflexes), but that was back in 3e. Though that may still be an option if you wished to explore it.
Special purposes are anything, really. No particular guidelines needed. Special purpose powers should be appropriately badass. The listed ones should be an indication, particularly keeping in mind that as long as the item is being used in persuit of its purpose, their use is basically unlimited.
An example: Gloomrazor
Gloomrazor is an Keen Sword of Subtlety, sacred to the FR deity Shar. The sword itself exists for one and only one end - to corrupt, guide, or turn those who wield it toward the worship of the Lady of Night. Like its mistress, it is both subtle and patient. The weapon is possessed of a neutral evil alignment and a powerful ego, though despite both it will often sublimate its own opinions in favor of the wielder, letting them think they are in control while simultaneously offering subtle guidance toward Gloomrazor's ultimate goal.
Gloomrazor has a 17 intelligence, a 10 wisdom, and a 17 charisma. The weapon can communicate via Speech or Telepathy, and is fluent in Common, Undercommon, Celestial, and Abyssal. It percieves with 120' normal and darkvision, and standard-range hearing.
The item has 3 lesser powers, one greater power, a special purpose, and a special purpose power. It allows its wielder to see through normal and magical darkess out to a range of 60' (lesser); the user can cast a Rope Trick spell 3/day by slashing at empty air, the space created is at whatever height and orientation the weapon was swung at, lasts for 3 hours, and does not require a rope (lesser); and Gloomrazor itself is possessed of 10 ranks in Diplomacy, telepathically lending aid to its user in social situations... or using them against the wielder himself when appropriate (lesser). Additionally, the weapon is constantly under the effects of a Nondetection spell (caster level 10th, the weapon is counted as having cast the spell itself), and can extend the benefits of said protection to its wielder as it so chooses. Additionally, unlike normal Nondetection, Gloomrazor is fully capable of allowing select information that would have otherwise been concealed to be revealed on a case-by-case basis. For example, it could allow itself to be Identified, but choose to conceal the fact that it's intelligent, and so on. (Greater).
As already mentioned, Gloomrazor exists to bring people to the worship of Shar. This is its special purpose. In persuit of this goal, it is capable of using the Modify Memory spell at will on any target within 50', including the wielder. The will save DC to resist this effect is 19 (4th level spell, +3 charisma mod, and a +2 bonus for the item effectivly having the Shadow Weave Magic feat). The weapon, not the user, chooses when and how to deploy this ability, though Gloomrazor is itself almost certain to lie about this fact if asked.
...Bam. There you go. Instant intelligent item, and almost nothing it can do was off the list.
Lesser powers look to be either 10 ranks in a skill (possessed by the item), the item can cast a 1st-2nd level spell 3/day, or the item can use a 0th-1st level spell continually (usually a detection of some kind).
Greater powers are more along the lines of up to a 4th level spell 1/day, up to a 3rd level spell 3/day, or a lower level detection spell at will.
I remember intelligent items used to be able to grant their user a particular feat when the item was in use (such as a sword granting its wielder Combat Reflexes), but that was back in 3e. Though that may still be an option if you wished to explore it.
Special purposes are anything, really. No particular guidelines needed. Special purpose powers should be appropriately badass. The listed ones should be an indication, particularly keeping in mind that as long as the item is being used in persuit of its purpose, their use is basically unlimited.
An example: Gloomrazor
Gloomrazor is an Keen Sword of Subtlety, sacred to the FR deity Shar. The sword itself exists for one and only one end - to corrupt, guide, or turn those who wield it toward the worship of the Lady of Night. Like its mistress, it is both subtle and patient. The weapon is possessed of a neutral evil alignment and a powerful ego, though despite both it will often sublimate its own opinions in favor of the wielder, letting them think they are in control while simultaneously offering subtle guidance toward Gloomrazor's ultimate goal.
Gloomrazor has a 17 intelligence, a 10 wisdom, and a 17 charisma. The weapon can communicate via Speech or Telepathy, and is fluent in Common, Undercommon, Celestial, and Abyssal. It percieves with 120' normal and darkvision, and standard-range hearing.
The item has 3 lesser powers, one greater power, a special purpose, and a special purpose power. It allows its wielder to see through normal and magical darkess out to a range of 60' (lesser); the user can cast a Rope Trick spell 3/day by slashing at empty air, the space created is at whatever height and orientation the weapon was swung at, lasts for 3 hours, and does not require a rope (lesser); and Gloomrazor itself is possessed of 10 ranks in Diplomacy, telepathically lending aid to its user in social situations... or using them against the wielder himself when appropriate (lesser). Additionally, the weapon is constantly under the effects of a Nondetection spell (caster level 10th, the weapon is counted as having cast the spell itself), and can extend the benefits of said protection to its wielder as it so chooses. Additionally, unlike normal Nondetection, Gloomrazor is fully capable of allowing select information that would have otherwise been concealed to be revealed on a case-by-case basis. For example, it could allow itself to be Identified, but choose to conceal the fact that it's intelligent, and so on. (Greater).
As already mentioned, Gloomrazor exists to bring people to the worship of Shar. This is its special purpose. In persuit of this goal, it is capable of using the Modify Memory spell at will on any target within 50', including the wielder. The will save DC to resist this effect is 19 (4th level spell, +3 charisma mod, and a +2 bonus for the item effectivly having the Shadow Weave Magic feat). The weapon, not the user, chooses when and how to deploy this ability, though Gloomrazor is itself almost certain to lie about this fact if asked.
...Bam. There you go. Instant intelligent item, and almost nothing it can do was off the list.
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Particle_Man
Explorer
I don't wanna fake it. I am lazy!
So, are there any published sources of extra powers for intelligent items that I can buy? Is this some sort of untapped niche that no publisher or writer has conceived of?
So, are there any published sources of extra powers for intelligent items that I can buy? Is this some sort of untapped niche that no publisher or writer has conceived of?
Nyeshet
First Post
Sejs, that was an excellent Intelligent Item write up!
As for the question, no, I do not think that WotC or Dragon or etc have expanded the options for Intelligent items since the re-writing of the DMG for 3.5e.
Personally, I think the entire setup is too restrictive. Why should a potent item automatically have multiple languages, senses, and means of communication? The idea of a high level Intelligent item that has great power but cannot see or directly communicate - having to use empathy or perhaps something as simple as an on-off or color-changing glow to communicate is thematically interesting. How does it know whom it can trust? If the item is Good perhaps it could be tricked by an Evil wielder (UMD, I guess, with a synergy from Bluff if applicable, maybe). What about a low-mid level Intelligent Item that is able to telepathically speak in 10 languages and has multiple senses but no other powers (except, perhaps, some ranks in a few social and knowledge skills)? The current template more or less requires the item have some other powers, &/or means of sensing its environment, &/or communicating with others. I'd rather make up the items as needed or as interesting for the situation and campaign.
As for the question, no, I do not think that WotC or Dragon or etc have expanded the options for Intelligent items since the re-writing of the DMG for 3.5e.
Personally, I think the entire setup is too restrictive. Why should a potent item automatically have multiple languages, senses, and means of communication? The idea of a high level Intelligent item that has great power but cannot see or directly communicate - having to use empathy or perhaps something as simple as an on-off or color-changing glow to communicate is thematically interesting. How does it know whom it can trust? If the item is Good perhaps it could be tricked by an Evil wielder (UMD, I guess, with a synergy from Bluff if applicable, maybe). What about a low-mid level Intelligent Item that is able to telepathically speak in 10 languages and has multiple senses but no other powers (except, perhaps, some ranks in a few social and knowledge skills)? The current template more or less requires the item have some other powers, &/or means of sensing its environment, &/or communicating with others. I'd rather make up the items as needed or as interesting for the situation and campaign.
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