Treasure Help!

[Vlos]

Interesting. I especially like the poison needle trap element. The rest of the writeup seems a little excessive for an item which will most likely (especially given it's extreme price vs it's utility) be sold at the first opportunity and never thought of again.

Especially since almost none of the extra information is that useful as an adventure hook...

First, yes it definitly is quiet extensive. But there are several spots for great adventure hooks.

- What if one of the PC's are a lost heir?
- Could lead to find such an heir?
- Vision could be modified to give some indication of where a possible heir is currently being held?

Problem is if only one item of this detail is given in a pile of treasure the PCs would probably hold onto for no other reason because they would probably think it IS important.

It would be cool if more treasure could be this detailed. Question for ya Quickleaf? Is this something you just typed off the top of your head? is it an item from one of your games? or what?

 

[Phaedrus]

Being completely devoid of any creative abilities, I use the tables in Draconomicon to generate art.

 

[Shane_Leahy]

For insperation, check out any of those "How much is this old thing worth" shows that PBS and some history channels are always showing. British ones are better for D&D style art objects.

 

[Tinner]

Since you said this was a former monestary, then I'd include loads of religious iconography. Travelling triptych's made of rare wods, and painted by famous artists back when they were young and needed the patronage of the church.
I'd highly reccomend taking a look at http://www.clevelandart.org/exhibcef/burgundy/html-old2/index.html. I saw the "Dukes & Angels" exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art, and it has fueled countless gaming sessions. Great stuff that would all be appropriate for a ruined monestary.

 

[Knight Otu]

What about illusion art? That is, art that uses illusion as a component?

In a play by post here, I've introduced a parts of a collection of such items, the so-called Dance of Souls:

The Dance of Souls Despaired - a nighttime landscape, with a varying number of spirits floating above it.
The Dance of Souls Perfect -a small silver disk capable of creating the illusion of up to five metallic dancers.
The Dance of Souls Enamored, an exquisite facsimile of a large harp. It could not be played, yet it created the most beautiful musics, while angels, illusionary of course, flew around it.

There have been clear hints that there are more parts, and a few hints that there may be more to the Dance. Anyway, maybe these three can serve as an inspiration.

 

[kanithardm]

A nude painting of an elven princess (Who might now be an elven queen quite happy to make sure the painting doesn't see the light of day).

The adventur hook to blackmail the queen is cool, but my players would just keep it. I'm not kidding.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

An overlooked aspect of art are presentation pieces. That is, art objects that are weapons, but were never made to stand up to the rigors of combat.

Example: a sword made of highly polished engraved, antiqued steel with 24Kt and jeweled inlay, presented as a symbol of office to a provincial governor (and if ever used in combat, has a 33% chance of breaking on a successful hit).

 

[tonym]

Wow, Quickleaf, that was impressive.

Note to self: When players complain that their unimportant treasure needs more creativity and detail, give them the Rhyton of Therxes III and read every word of its description and history, and oblige them to take notes.


Tony M

 

[Arbiter of Wyrms]

What about illusion art? That is, art that uses illusion as a component?

Neat Idea! Thank you and YOINK! For some time, I've been toying with the idea of a gem enchanted with a detailed, persistant illusion of a spellbook. Probably no cheaper or easier than a regular spellbook, but more durable, less subject to alteration, and loaded with flavor. I had never thought about illusions as art before, though.

Being completely devoid of any creative abilities, I use the tables in Draconomicon to generate art.

I had completely forgotten. Thank you

 

[the Jester]

The adventur hook to blackmail the queen is cool, but my players would just keep it. I'm not kidding.

That's fine.

A while back, one of the hauls the pcs got was full of good art objects, and one of them took the big gold holy symbol/belt buckle.