Looking for magic items with 'quirks'

[Mistah J]

I'm sort of in the same situation, where I'm trying to design weapons that aren't the same, boring +2 whatevers that you find in every game. To that end, I'm also trying to make some items that have quirks and drawbacks.

Well, let me help:


FREEZING KNIFE
Aura strong evocation; CL 12th
Slot none; Price 7,002 gp; Weight 1lb.
DESCRIPTION
This blue-tinged knife is a +1 dagger. As a swift action it can be activated to deal extra damage as follows:
Round 1 (activation): none
Round 2: +1d4 cold damage
Round 3-5: +2d4 cold damage
Round 6: +1d4 cold damage
Round 7: none Once activated, the cycle of extra damage cannot stop and will continue even if the weapon is dropped or put away. On the 7th round the wielder may activate the knife again, turning it into the 1st round of the new cycle.
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Magic Arms and Armour, Chill Metal; Cost 3,501 gp

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

There was a thread earlier this year that covered similar ground...

http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/271464-i-need-some-useless-magic-items.html

Ack- the_orc_within beat me to it.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Cloak of Elf Kind: Wearing this cloak makes you be extra nice to elves of all kinds-and vice versa- giving a +6 to social interactions involving the wearer and elves. To Fey who like elves, the wearer will seem more elflike, giving him a +2 bonus to interactions with them, but to those who dislike elves, the bonus turns into a -2 penalty.

 

[Sigurd]

Sharpening Stone

This fine quality stone is a foot long and about 2 inches wide. Man is it sharp! It works quickly but at every use the character must roll a d20. On a fumble the character cuts himself for 1d6 of damage.

The stone may be used as a small sized shortsword.


Drum of Annoyance - this drum is actually louder for those who don't like the music.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Sharpening Stoned: this whetstone gives any edged weapon a superfine edge...but also makes the sharpener incredibly mellow. For the next combat, the weapon is considered to have the Keen property, but the wielder has a -2 to initiative and saves vs charms, enchantments and illusions.

 

[Jibletnation]

An intelligent magical shield that can automatically block one attack every day, but must be thanked immediately afterward or it will become a cursed shield that makes the wearer EASIER to hit and can't be removed until thanked sincerely.


A weapon which is only magical to certain races/genders. (a suave longsword who is only magical for women, or a bow which is only magical for elves etc)

A helmet that grants 360 vision, dark vision and blindsight, but the wearer must choose to be mute or deaf.

a ring of warmth that gives an aura of warmth, that melts snow, ice etc within the aura.

A sword that gives a free critical , but the wielder must spend surges or take a con penalty to themselves on the blade (for the weapon damage) before the blade will become magical.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

a ring of warmth that gives an aura of warmth, that melts snow, ice etc within the aura.

Lets switch that up just a bit: a ring of warmth that gives an aura of warmth, that draws heat from the environment, causing chilling, snow, ice etc at a 10' radius outside the aura.

 

[Mistah J]

Thanks everyone for your ideas!

Taking them, I created the following:

- A ring of minor acid resistance that causes the wearer to speak and understand only Terran (a language none of the PCs know).
- Bracers of Armour +4 that have the weight and ACP of chainmail.
- A sustaining spoon that makes gruel so spicy it takes a DC 15 Fortitude save to keep it down.
- A ring of protection +2 made from tarnished brass. It must be shone everyday (taking 1 hour) or else the magic fades to +1 and then +0 the day after that (needing 2 hours of polishing to fix).
- A cloak of elvenkind that makes the wearer more elf like: They grow 2 inches, their ears get pointy and their eyes change shape and colour to look more like an elf. This effect can only be removed with remove curse


So, once again, thanks for your feedback, it helped a lot. I already have players who are looking at some of these items and are seriously considering using them despite the drawbacks.

Fun times!

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Just because you're satisfied- and Huzzah for that!- we can't simply let this fun thread die, right?

Potion of Minor Acid Resistance: this pink potion makes the imbiber immune to acid effects for 4 hours. It also lets that person receive sustenance from anything he can chew or drink. (Yes, that is a DC Comics reference.)

 

[Grymar]

An idea that I read off a blog and am currently trying to flesh out a bit...

A bloodthirsty short sword. It looks rusty and nearly broken. Functions as a -1 weapon to hit and damage. Once it tastes blood, however, it shifts to a +1 weapon. The next hit is does it becomes a +2 weapon. So on until it is a +5.

The downside is that if it doesn't taste blood quickly after being drawn, it starts draining blood from the weilder.