[Shameless pdf plug] When magic items strike back!

[Napftor]

Don't treat them right, and they might just come back to haunt you! There's a nifty little pdf I wrote (yeah, this is a shameless plug thread) called Substandard Magic Items that I wrote for Ronin Arts here: Substandard Magic Items

Here's the official blurb: "This PDF takes the concept of scroll mishaps and applies it to magic items in general. Scroll mishaps occur when a user tries to cast a spell beyond his current ability (i.e. when his reach exceeds his grasp, although the opportunity is there for success). Substandard magic items come at this from the other direction – competent spellcasters use shortcuts and inferior components to arrive at a cheaper, yet fallible, magic item. These casters have the ability to create a normal item yet they either cannot or choose not to.

This PDF includes rules for creating, using, and identifying substandard magic items. Whether you're in a rush the next time you craft a magic wand or the DM sneaks an inferior suit of magic armor into the next pile of treasure the rules in this PDF can lead to fun, sometimes disastrous results."

With substandard items, there is a chance of a backfire depending on the item's caster level. If a backfire is rolled (this is a percentage chance), the effect depends on the aura strength and prominent school of magic of the item. For example...

"Faint illusion: The user’s lips glow with a dull green radiance. Whenever he speaks, others only hear nonsense sounds. The user hears these sounds atop his own words but everyone else hears everything from bells and whistles to barnyard animals. This effect lasts for 1d4 hours. Besides being a nuisance, the user must also succeed a Concentration check (DC 10 + spell level) to cast a spell with a verbal component properly."

Is it just me, or are DMs always on the lookout for something to give the PCs a little zinger? No more need a carefully crafted monster be blown away by a wand of fireballs]. If you're looking for a product that has magic items straddling the line between wild and cursed, then this pdf is for you.

While I'm plugging away, I might as well mention that a new Freeport adventure I penned is also up for sale from Green Ronin (see sig) and a sourcebook for undead is being released shortly from Adamant Entertainment. The latter is entitled Dread Codex and features many monsters, spells, and magic items with a necromantic bent culled from OGC and updated where necessary to 3.5 rules. The monsters are a special treat as they feature sample treasures and a section called "In Your Campaign" where ideas are given to widen the creature's applications in your game.

OK, enough plugging.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

You know, that's a pretty good idea. I may look into this one! Thanks for the plug!

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I like the idea of this book. One question for you as author: does it have any mechanics for figuring out the substandard aspects and the potential risks if you find one of these items? I would not want the party to feel like I am completely screwing them if they get one of these items, use it because it seems good, and then fails at the most inopportune moment (which is inevitably when it would happen). First time, I might get away with it, but after they know these types of items exist, they will probably be cautious and want to know what the risks are of using an item.

 

[Templetroll]

I once gave out an intelligent sword that had Heal 2/day. The ranger who got it decided to train his wardog and a warg pup by taking on a nest of Stirges. Early in the fight hs cleared the animals of stirges and sent them away, taking on the nest alone. He was below half his hits and told the sword, "Now would be good for that heal."

The sword replied, "No."

The player's jaw dropped, much like I expected the character's did. "What do you mean, 'No.'?"

The sword said, "That wouldn't be heroic."

The fight got more intense for the character from that point.

He killed the stirges all with 4 hits left.

 

[yennico]

The sword said, "That wouldn't be heroic."

I like that sword. Perhaps the creator of the sword has bound a soul of a paladin in the sword.

 

[Napftor]

I like the idea of this book. One question for you as author: does it have any mechanics for figuring out the substandard aspects and the potential risks if you find one of these items? I would not want the party to feel like I am completely screwing them if they get one of these items, use it because it seems good, and then fails at the most inopportune moment (which is inevitably when it would happen). First time, I might get away with it, but after they know these types of items exist, they will probably be cautious and want to know what the risks are of using an item.

There are mechanics only for figuring out if it indeed is a substandard item or not (various Spellcraft and Knowledge checks depending on situation). But as for determining what those effects might be, well, the PC will just have to see!

 

[fafhrd]

One of my pet peeves is parties who don't identify their stuff, expecting me to figure out all the bonuses and such. Would you say it's easy to port your rules for non-IDed items?

 

[Napftor]

One of my pet peeves is parties who don't identify their stuff, expecting me to figure out all the bonuses and such. Would you say it's easy to port your rules for non-IDed items?

I suppose so. To be honest, I never thought about it that way. You're right, though, in that I as DM would be annoyed at figuring out the bonuses for them. I'll wet your whistle with this: There are 3 ways (not including identify) for a spellcaster to figure out if an item is substandard or not--1. in-action observation; 2. on-site identification; 3. identification under controlled examination.

If my mechanics aren't exactly what you're looking for, I'm sure with a little tweaking you'd hit upon something satisfactory. And, for $1.50, what can ya lose by having a look?!

 

[fafhrd]

Thanks Napftor. I was primarily interested in whether your mishaps would work as a consequence for the use of non-identified items, but now that you mention it, possible alternatives to the identify spell sounds great as well. You've got money!

EDIT: Reading through it now and it's great. Lots of ideas here.

 

[Napftor]

Thanks Napftor. I was primarily interested in whether your mishaps would work as a consequence for the use of non-identified items, but now that you mention it, possible alternatives to the identify spell sounds great as well. You've got money!

EDIT: Reading through it now and it's great. Lots of ideas here.

I guess they would work for that too. Sorry about the miscommunication. I'm glad you decided to have a look at it and are enjoying it. Feel free to post comments or suggestions here or email me (dmbretb AT comcast DOT net).