In my recent modern game, the group got wealthy and wanted to buy magic items, so I created an adventure where they found a vendor in Greece. Once they saved him from the danger du jour, I let them see his wares. Amid the magic flaming pistols with infinite ammo and the tattoo needles that could provide stat buffs and the trenchcoats that deflected blades and bullets, were a few useless items.
The pocketbook. Small enough to fit into a breast pocket, this magic item let you place any one other book on it. It would then absorb that book, and allow whoever carried the pocketbook to be able to instantly reference any information in the absorbed book. It didn't allow comprehension of things beyond you, and it couldn't translate for you, but it was a great way for a lazy priest to fake perfect knowledge of the Bible.
The glamour pin. It makes the wearer look like a million bucks, constantly. You always look like you're a movie star, with a make-up team and quality lighting available for every situation. They gave it to Rebel Billionaire Sir Richard Branson.
The comfy chair. A recliner that cost as much as a Humvee, this chair was the pinnacle of what you would want a chair to be. It cleaned itself, had warm seats and it could vibrate, but it was already so comfortable that you wouldn't really need that for anything other than a novelty. It was big enough that you could, with just the right amount of fuss, fit two lovers in it. You could sleep in it, but it always knew when you needed to wake up for an appointment. It could magically shrink to the size of a wallet so you could carry it with you, and if you had it in your pocket, it would make any seat you sat in much more comfy.
The PC gunslinger decided to get this in lieu of some other, combat-useful gear, because it sounded like something no sane rich man would pass up. He enjoyed the hell out of that thing, sleeping in it while the rest of the party were stuck on motel beds or airplane seats or cold abandoned buildings in Chicago.
Then, with the world only days from apocalypse, the group ended up in the fey court with Titania and Oberon, trying to barter for passage to a forbidden island. The gunslinger became enamored at the sight of one of Titania's bodyguards -- a woman in supple, skin-tight full plate that covered every inch of her body, with a pair of swords that floated beside her. There was a keyhole on the visor that covered her face, and their guide told him that she was a sword maiden from Scandinavia, and that anyone who saw her face would have power over her, but only the person with the key could open her armor. Titania was using the woman almost as a slave.
The gunslinger wanted that key.
During the negotiations with Titania and Oberon, it became clear that the two of them were having marital strife, stemming in part from the fact that after centuries, she just wasn't interested in sex anymore, because she had already tried everything. The gunslinger offered Oberon the comfy chair, in exchange for one small favor.
The next morning, a package was delivered to the small hut where the gunslinger was sleeping, and a few minutes later the swordmaiden arrived, having been sent to bring the sincerest thanks of Titania and Oberon. The gunslinger played it smooth, promising to set her free if she wanted, but offering her a chance to go on an adventure that would be remembered in epic sagas for the rest of time. Then he unlocked her mask and gave her her own key, thus gaining the love of a beautiful warrior woman.
He still kinda missed the comfy chair, though.
