12 Zodiac Artifacts [Archive] - Wizards Community

12 Zodiac Artifacts [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
MOD3004
05-29-07, 10:05 PM I've recently began a campaign where my players have too save the world by collecting 12 Zodiac Artifacts from around the world and then combine them on an alter of the gods to go fight the BBEG and save the world. This is going to be a long overarching quest, with many side quests and alternate things throughout the campaign. Now I'm having a small sort of problem, or um rather large one. I need help creating each artifact and its appropriate abilities.

Now so far it hasn't been a problem as my players have just started the campaign and the only artifact they have come across so far is a Ring Gate of Gemini. Do any of you out there have ideas and such for the other artifacts?
Theskippingman
05-29-07, 10:12 PM The "zodiac" signs actually correspond to the twelve (actually, 13, one barely visible) constellations that the Sun appears to pass through as the Earth orbits it. What kind of meaning could they have in a fantasy setting?
Domriso
05-29-07, 10:15 PM Alright, post the basics of the zodiac here an I can create some artifacts. Just a basic description should be enough.
MOD3004
05-29-07, 11:04 PM Here is some info on the Zodiac for those interested.

http://www.starlightastrology.com/signsindex.htm
Johnny_Angel
05-30-07, 04:10 AM The "zodiac" signs actually correspond to the twelve (actually, 13, one barely visible) constellations that the Sun appears to pass through as the Earth orbits it. What kind of meaning could they have in a fantasy setting?

Look up some information on Final Fantasy Tactics. It had a story revolving around the concept of "Zodiac Knights."
Araes
05-30-07, 04:53 AM Being a manipulated derivative of the name myself, Aries seems like it would be natural as a weapon or perhaps full set of war gear for a warrior. A gladius would evoke the natural roman legionairre feeling.

Taurus might be interesting as a something evoking the feeling of a forge and stalwartness. Perhaps a forge hammer of the titans.

Sagitaurus is a pretty clear choice for some type of archery artifact. Bows would be the most logical choice, and perhaps one that rewards certain types of character traits in its owner - generosity, ect...
Apupunchau
05-30-07, 07:22 AM You may want to figure out how your are going to split up the stuff between your party. If you have 3, 4 or 6 people in your party then it's easy each person will get 4, 3 or 2 items. If it's a number that 12 is not divisible by them the split will be a little uneven. Since the part is going to use this to fight you BBEG then (let's use 4 PCs as an example) You'll want at least 4 of the items to be weapons figure out which four signs will give weapons appropriately themed to each character (ie. as stated above Sagitaurus giving a bow for an archer). Then choose four more to give signs to have items that boost the players Armor (These do not just need to be suits of armor. Shileding rings or such may also be appropriate maybe a hardend exoskeleton from Scorpio) and then the last four items will be items that enhance upon the powers of the idividual (spell enhancements for wizards, maybe a Gemini item for a monk or warrior that allows him to create a duplicate of himself).

So lay out the Zodiac Signs and maybe give us some information about your party and their abilities and personalities and then it will be easier to come up with some Items that not only match a Zodiac theme but also match your characters.
Darth Sephiroth
05-30-07, 08:53 AM If you want to tie the Zodiac into your campaign more than just the artifacts, consider making Birth Feats for your characters with each sign giving bonus'. You could easily give them to the characters and they could even work as Traits rather than feats making them basically mini-templates.

I've been using a Chinese Zodiac series of Birth feats in my Canta campaign that I granted one to each player with a random distrobution with a d12.

Anyway, Leo could give the user immunity to fear and produce a fearless aura or something.
Light_Colonel
05-30-07, 11:47 AM Not sure how powerful you want them to be, but here are a few ideas....

I am breaking them into low-power and high-power:

Aquarius - Decanter of Endless Water (Low)
- Waters of Aquarius (High)
As Decanter of Endless Water plus:

1 minute per day, the waters of the Decanter become Holy Water
10/day heal as if by Cure Serious Wounds potion
1/week Raise Dead or Resurrection or True Resurrection. (or something similar)

Pisces - (add later)

Aries - Ring of the Ram (low)
- Ring of Aries (high)
As Ring of the Ram but increase STR and Damage, give more or infinite charges, alternately lower number of charges but have them replenish every morning.

Taurus - Figurine of Wondrous Power (low)
- Statue of Taurus (high)
As a Figurine of Wondrous Power, this figure turns into a Gorgon under the users command for 10 minutes per day. Size/HD/etc. Can be scaled for any level of power.

Cancer - Apparatus of Kwallish (low)
- Machina ex Cancer (high)
As Apparatus, however it is larger, holds more people, does more damage, maybe has magical weapons and attacks and heals itself.

Leo - Lion Shield (low)
- Shield of Leo (high)
As Lion shield, but but does more damage, gives wielder Pounce.

Virgo - (add later)

Libra - (add later)

Scorpio - +1 Chitin Armor (Stormwrack) with built in +1 Scorpion Claws (Sandstorm) (low)
- Armor of Scorpio (high)
As above, but increase +value of items, possibly adding Fortification or other abilities, possibly give ability to Shapechange to Giant Scorpion form?

Sagittarius - (add later)

Capricorn - (add later)
Darth Sephiroth
05-30-07, 05:13 PM Perhaps with the Shield of Leo use Lions Roar as a SLA instead or in addition to
MOD3004
05-30-07, 09:39 PM Thanks for all the help so far guys. I really like the ideas that are coming forth and have yet another suggestion. What if the artifacts were like the Set items in the Magic Item compendium?
Apupunchau
05-30-07, 11:11 PM Sure each of the signs are set up to one of the four elements giving your four sets of three items each designed for which elements they represent. Pisces, Scorpio and Cancer are Water Signs, Aquarius, Libra and Gemini are Air Signs. Capricorn, Virgo and Taurus are Earth Signs. Sagittarius, Leo and Aries are Fire Signs. Also all the signs have one of three astrological qualities; Cardinal (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn), Fixed (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius) and Mutable (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces). So you can use either of those two ideas to make item sets or combine both.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
MOD3004 05-29-07, 10:05 PM	I've recently began a campaign where my players have too save the world by collecting 12 Zodiac Artifacts from around the world and then combine them on an alter of the gods to go fight the BBEG and save the world. This is going to be a long overarching quest, with many side quests and alternate things throughout the campaign. Now I'm having a small sort of problem, or um rather large one. I need help creating each artifact and its appropriate abilities. Now so far it hasn't been a problem as my players have just started the campaign and the only artifact they have come across so far is a Ring Gate of Gemini. Do any of you out there have ideas and such for the other artifacts?
Theskippingman 05-29-07, 10:12 PM	The "zodiac" signs actually correspond to the twelve (actually, 13, one barely visible) constellations that the Sun appears to pass through as the Earth orbits it. What kind of meaning could they have in a fantasy setting?
Domriso 05-29-07, 10:15 PM	Alright, post the basics of the zodiac here an I can create some artifacts. Just a basic description should be enough.
MOD3004 05-29-07, 11:04 PM	Here is some info on the Zodiac for those interested. http://www.starlightastrology.com/signsindex.htm
Johnny_Angel 05-30-07, 04:10 AM	The "zodiac" signs actually correspond to the twelve (actually, 13, one barely visible) constellations that the Sun appears to pass through as the Earth orbits it. What kind of meaning could they have in a fantasy setting? Look up some information on Final Fantasy Tactics. It had a story revolving around the concept of "Zodiac Knights."
Araes 05-30-07, 04:53 AM	Being a manipulated derivative of the name myself, Aries seems like it would be natural as a weapon or perhaps full set of war gear for a warrior. A gladius would evoke the natural roman legionairre feeling. Taurus might be interesting as a something evoking the feeling of a forge and stalwartness. Perhaps a forge hammer of the titans. Sagitaurus is a pretty clear choice for some type of archery artifact. Bows would be the most logical choice, and perhaps one that rewards certain types of character traits in its owner - generosity, ect...
Apupunchau 05-30-07, 07:22 AM	You may want to figure out how your are going to split up the stuff between your party. If you have 3, 4 or 6 people in your party then it's easy each person will get 4, 3 or 2 items. If it's a number that 12 is not divisible by them the split will be a little uneven. Since the part is going to use this to fight you BBEG then (let's use 4 PCs as an example) You'll want at least 4 of the items to be weapons figure out which four signs will give weapons appropriately themed to each character (ie. as stated above Sagitaurus giving a bow for an archer). Then choose four more to give signs to have items that boost the players Armor (These do not just need to be suits of armor. Shileding rings or such may also be appropriate maybe a hardend exoskeleton from Scorpio) and then the last four items will be items that enhance upon the powers of the idividual (spell enhancements for wizards, maybe a Gemini item for a monk or warrior that allows him to create a duplicate of himself). So lay out the Zodiac Signs and maybe give us some information about your party and their abilities and personalities and then it will be easier to come up with some Items that not only match a Zodiac theme but also match your characters.
Darth Sephiroth 05-30-07, 08:53 AM	If you want to tie the Zodiac into your campaign more than just the artifacts, consider making Birth Feats for your characters with each sign giving bonus'. You could easily give them to the characters and they could even work as Traits rather than feats making them basically mini-templates. I've been using a Chinese Zodiac series of Birth feats in my Canta campaign that I granted one to each player with a random distrobution with a d12. Anyway, Leo could give the user immunity to fear and produce a fearless aura or something.
Light_Colonel 05-30-07, 11:47 AM	Not sure how powerful you want them to be, but here are a few ideas.... I am breaking them into low-power and high-power: Aquarius - Decanter of Endless Water (Low) - Waters of Aquarius (High) As Decanter of Endless Water plus: 1 minute per day, the waters of the Decanter become Holy Water 10/day heal as if by Cure Serious Wounds potion 1/week Raise Dead or Resurrection or True Resurrection. (or something similar) Pisces - (add later) Aries - Ring of the Ram (low) - Ring of Aries (high) As Ring of the Ram but increase STR and Damage, give more or infinite charges, alternately lower number of charges but have them replenish every morning. Taurus - Figurine of Wondrous Power (low) - Statue of Taurus (high) As a Figurine of Wondrous Power, this figure turns into a Gorgon under the users command for 10 minutes per day. Size/HD/etc. Can be scaled for any level of power. Cancer - Apparatus of Kwallish (low) - Machina ex Cancer (high) As Apparatus, however it is larger, holds more people, does more damage, maybe has magical weapons and attacks and heals itself. Leo - Lion Shield (low) - Shield of Leo (high) As Lion shield, but but does more damage, gives wielder Pounce. Virgo - (add later) Libra - (add later) Scorpio - +1 Chitin Armor (Stormwrack) with built in +1 Scorpion Claws (Sandstorm) (low) - Armor of Scorpio (high) As above, but increase +value of items, possibly adding Fortification or other abilities, possibly give ability to Shapechange to Giant Scorpion form? Sagittarius - (add later) Capricorn - (add later)
Darth Sephiroth 05-30-07, 05:13 PM	Perhaps with the Shield of Leo use Lions Roar as a SLA instead or in addition to
MOD3004 05-30-07, 09:39 PM	Thanks for all the help so far guys. I really like the ideas that are coming forth and have yet another suggestion. What if the artifacts were like the Set items in the Magic Item compendium?
Apupunchau 05-30-07, 11:11 PM	Sure each of the signs are set up to one of the four elements giving your four sets of three items each designed for which elements they represent. Pisces, Scorpio and Cancer are Water Signs, Aquarius, Libra and Gemini are Air Signs. Capricorn, Virgo and Taurus are Earth Signs. Sagittarius, Leo and Aries are Fire Signs. Also all the signs have one of three astrological qualities; Cardinal (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn), Fixed (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius) and Mutable (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces). So you can use either of those two ideas to make item sets or combine both.