Tome of Artifacts

[grodog]

OK, OK, you guys sold me---it's on my GenCon shopping list

 

[Nightfall]

Good now we need to get about 2,000 more people so we can get a second printing and possibly Tome of Artifacts II!

 

[Michael Dean]

Oops, looks like I'm late to the party again! Dittoes for everything said above; I bought it when it first came out and it is by far one of the best purchases I've made, not just this year, but for my d20 collection period. I love running D&D/Indiana Jones-type adventures and this was perfect for it. I have it alongside my original copy of TSR's Book of Artifacts and it's a better product, really, other than the original has many of the iconic artifacts that us old-timers grew up with. So, good job, Mouse.

 

[Nightfall]

Mike,

I know. It's way better than any old Apparatus of Kwalish.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

How similar is this book, say to Weapons of Legacy. I assume it doesn't have all the feat mechanics that WoL has (at least I'm hoping not), but does it have the concept of the item getting stronger as you do?

And is it like the 2E Book of Artifacts where the artifacts started doing bad things to you, like changing your alignment, the more you used it?

How powerful are the artifacts in general? Are they all campaign shaking items or are some a little less obtrusive in a campaign (kind of like a magic item with a little extra flavour)?

Olaf the Stout

 

[Mouseferatu]

I have it alongside my original copy of TSR's Book of Artifacts and it's a better product, really, other than the original has many of the iconic artifacts that us old-timers grew up with.

Wow. Given the quality of the old Book of Artifacts (which was, of course, our inspiration), that's about the highest praise you could possibly have offered. Thank you.

 

[Mouseferatu]

How similar is this book, say to Weapons of Legacy. I assume it doesn't have all the feat mechanics that WoL has (at least I'm hoping not), but does it have the concept of the item getting stronger as you do?

Nope. The artifacts do what they do. There are, however, a few artifacts that have abilities only higher-level characters can (or are likely) to access, but these are the exceptions, not the rule.

And is it like the 2E Book of Artifacts where the artifacts started doing bad things to you, like changing your alignment, the more you used it?

Every artifact has a downside or a curse; that's part of the nature of artifacts. Some are more severe than others, however, and not all of them are necessarily directed at the user per se.

How powerful are the artifacts in general? Are they all campaign shaking items or are some a little less obtrusive in a campaign (kind of like a magic item with a little extra flavour)?

The book has plenty of both. Some are indeed world/campaign, but others are, while unique and quite flavorful, not any more overtly powerful than a potent "normal" magic item.

 

[Nightfall]

Unlike weapons of legacy, not all of them have power progression. Some of the weapon artifact do (like Eldros' Panoply) do in fact go up in power (much like set items), but only one I'm aware of that levels with you is the Bastard of Exalted Deeds.

There are no feat requirements (usually) but some have unusual activation in terms of you might need to spill blood to get them going.

It's very much like AD&D/2nd edition D&D. Book of Artifacts. There are some that can screw with your character, but those are generally the evil ones. Bastard of Exalted Deeds is kind of the exception (along with Eldros' Panoply), but hey that's why I like it! Not all change your alignment but some can. Some can also do massive harm to you, your friends, your friends' friends, and so on. (What, you thought blowing the Horn of the Apocalypse would make you cool some how?!)

A good number are indeed campaign starters/breakers. But there are some (like the King's Pepper Grinder) that can be considered "strange magic items" that might be useful down the road. Most though, are artifacts. That means they are either starters of campaigns or enders. Some can be both. Most though are pretty fun to read and consider using. Trust me, even if you hate EVERY SINGLE one, Olaf, the appendix in the back for creating your own artifacts is worth at least 25% of the book's cost. That and the complied mechanics aren't too bad either.

Plus, if you want a REAL beer and pretzels game, go with my thought, the Siege Hound of Dhula'zar versus the Juggernaut of Shaddar Khan. Your players (if they are fans of old Godzilla/kaiju monsters) will love you for it.

Ari,

Just curious have you and C.A tried my suggestion?

 

[Mouseferatu]

Just curious have you and C.A tried my suggestion?

We've certainly considered it--you'll find the idea mentioned in the Introduction and the Juggernaut entry, under the plot seeds--but no, we haven't actually rolled it out.

 

[Nightfall]

Ari,

I was aware of that and I wanted to try it out...but I wanted to know if you and C.A. did it first.

Cause I wanted the score card.

I'm betting on the Juggernaut. How about you?