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OSR: Only 42 Magic Items. What Should They Be?
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<blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 8386867" data-attributes="member: 92511"><p>Oo! Love this kinda thing...and have been picking around the edges of this kinda thing for my own homebrew for a long time. While 42 is the answer to life, the universe and everything, it is seriously whittling down most OSR-B/X-BECM style Magic Item lists...even at a "Basics" level. Let's see what I can do...</p><p></p><p>First, categories...</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Rings -obviously a must.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Potions -the first level character's best friends.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Scrolls -hmmm...since these are really, predominantly, just spells on parchment I'm kinda thinking these might take the big hit...transit some interesting ones (not just spell scrolls) into the "miscellany" maybe?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Staves/Wands/Rods -not sure all three of these will make the cut, but staves and wands seem to be a must for OSR play.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Armor & Shields, generally, don't need to take up tooooo much space. But we need some.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Weapons -of course...these should probably take up a good chunk.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Miscellaneous Items take of the rest. </li> </ul><p></p><p>So...hmm. Rough....Ok...we're looking for OSR play...O - S - R...</p><p>Rings (5)</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Animal Control</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Invisibility</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Protection +1</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Protection +2</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Resist Fire/Cold (roll d4, evens are Fire, odds are Cold)</li> </ul><p></p><p>Potions (6)</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Healing (roll d4, result x 5 is the number of HP the potion restores)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Diminution</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Growth</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Negate Poison/Antitoxin</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tongues</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Water Breathing</li> </ul><p></p><p>Staves/Wands/Rods (6)</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Wand of Magic Detection</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Wand of Magic Missiles</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Wand of Illusion</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Staff of Healing</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Staff of the Magi</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Rod of Lordly Might</li> </ul><p></p><p>Armor & Shields (5)</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Leather +1</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Chain +1</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Elvin Chain, +2 protection but counts as light armor, i.e. "Thieves can use it"</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Plate +1</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Shield +2</li> </ul><p></p><p>Weapons (10)</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Arrows +1 (roll 2d4 for number found)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Axe +1</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Bow +1 (roll d4, 1-3 short bow, 4 longbow)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Dagger +1</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Dagger +2, returns when thrown</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Hammer +2, Dwarven Thrower</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Javelin of Lightning</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Mace of Disruption</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Sword:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Roll d6: 1 short sword, 2 scimitar, 3-5 longsword, 6 two-handed sword.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Roll d4: 1-2: +1, 3: +2, 4: +1 and +3 vs (roll d4: 1: Undead, 2: Shapechangers, 3: Magic-users, 4: Dragons) </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Roll d20: 1: sword is cursed and its "+'s" are actually "-'s", 2-9: no additional attributes, 10-11: Flaming, 12-14: nothing, 15: Dancing, 16: nothing, 17: Frost Brand, 18: nothing, 19: Holy Avenger, roll of 20 is an Intelligent Sword. (develop additional "table" dX rolls for powers, ego, languages, all of that good OSR Intelligent sword stuff)</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Spear +1</li> </ul><p>Miscellaneous Items (10)</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Amulet of ESP (Detect Thoughts)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Bag of Holding</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Boots of Elvinkind</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Boots of Striding & Springing</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Bracers of Armor/Protection (roll d4, 1-2: +1, 3: +2, 4: +3)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Brooch of Shielding</li> </ul><p>...y'ever notice how many of the original basic magic items all start with a "B" or "C"?...</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Cloak of Elvinkind</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Cloak of Protection +1</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Crystal Ball (roll d4, evens w/Clairaudience, roll of 4 has ESP)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Girdle of Giant Strength (d6, 1 Ogre, 2 Hill giant, 3 Stone, 4 Frost, 5 Fire, 6 Cloud)</li> </ul><p></p><p>That is really hard. Required taking some hard lines, and doesn't allow for some of my favorites...</p><p>BUT is does all add up to 42.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="steeldragons, post: 8386867, member: 92511"] Oo! Love this kinda thing...and have been picking around the edges of this kinda thing for my own homebrew for a long time. While 42 is the answer to life, the universe and everything, it is seriously whittling down most OSR-B/X-BECM style Magic Item lists...even at a "Basics" level. Let's see what I can do... First, categories... [LIST] [*]Rings -obviously a must. [*]Potions -the first level character's best friends. [*]Scrolls -hmmm...since these are really, predominantly, just spells on parchment I'm kinda thinking these might take the big hit...transit some interesting ones (not just spell scrolls) into the "miscellany" maybe? [*]Staves/Wands/Rods -not sure all three of these will make the cut, but staves and wands seem to be a must for OSR play. [*]Armor & Shields, generally, don't need to take up tooooo much space. But we need some. [*]Weapons -of course...these should probably take up a good chunk. [*]Miscellaneous Items take of the rest. [/LIST] So...hmm. Rough....Ok...we're looking for OSR play...O - S - R... Rings (5) [LIST] [*]Animal Control [*]Invisibility [*]Protection +1 [*]Protection +2 [*]Resist Fire/Cold (roll d4, evens are Fire, odds are Cold) [/LIST] Potions (6) [LIST] [*]Healing (roll d4, result x 5 is the number of HP the potion restores) [*]Diminution [*]Growth [*]Negate Poison/Antitoxin [*]Tongues [*]Water Breathing [/LIST] Staves/Wands/Rods (6) [LIST] [*]Wand of Magic Detection [*]Wand of Magic Missiles [*]Wand of Illusion [*]Staff of Healing [*]Staff of the Magi [*]Rod of Lordly Might [/LIST] Armor & Shields (5) [LIST] [*]Leather +1 [*]Chain +1 [*]Elvin Chain, +2 protection but counts as light armor, i.e. "Thieves can use it" [*]Plate +1 [*]Shield +2 [/LIST] Weapons (10) [LIST] [*]Arrows +1 (roll 2d4 for number found) [*]Axe +1 [*]Bow +1 (roll d4, 1-3 short bow, 4 longbow) [*]Dagger +1 [*]Dagger +2, returns when thrown [*]Hammer +2, Dwarven Thrower [*]Javelin of Lightning [*]Mace of Disruption [*]Sword: [LIST] [*]Roll d6: 1 short sword, 2 scimitar, 3-5 longsword, 6 two-handed sword. [*]Roll d4: 1-2: +1, 3: +2, 4: +1 and +3 vs (roll d4: 1: Undead, 2: Shapechangers, 3: Magic-users, 4: Dragons) [*]Roll d20: 1: sword is cursed and its "+'s" are actually "-'s", 2-9: no additional attributes, 10-11: Flaming, 12-14: nothing, 15: Dancing, 16: nothing, 17: Frost Brand, 18: nothing, 19: Holy Avenger, roll of 20 is an Intelligent Sword. (develop additional "table" dX rolls for powers, ego, languages, all of that good OSR Intelligent sword stuff) [/LIST] [*]Spear +1 [/LIST] Miscellaneous Items (10) [LIST] [*]Amulet of ESP (Detect Thoughts) [*]Bag of Holding [*]Boots of Elvinkind [*]Boots of Striding & Springing [*]Bracers of Armor/Protection (roll d4, 1-2: +1, 3: +2, 4: +3) [*]Brooch of Shielding [/LIST] ...y'ever notice how many of the original basic magic items all start with a "B" or "C"?... [LIST] [*]Cloak of Elvinkind [*]Cloak of Protection +1 [*]Crystal Ball (roll d4, evens w/Clairaudience, roll of 4 has ESP) [*]Girdle of Giant Strength (d6, 1 Ogre, 2 Hill giant, 3 Stone, 4 Frost, 5 Fire, 6 Cloud) [/LIST] That is really hard. Required taking some hard lines, and doesn't allow for some of my favorites... BUT is does all add up to 42. [/QUOTE]
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