Cursed Items Useful? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cursed Items Useful? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Psyyk
07-28-05, 12:20 PM Hi there, I had a question. Can you curse an item so it never leaves your possesion even though it has no other ill effects? Example: I want to have my Flaming +2 Holy sword cursed so it can't be stolen or removed from me. Could I have that done and how much does it cost to have an item cursed?

Also, are there any other useful curses?
Puca
07-28-05, 12:49 PM How is a weapon can never be lost or stolen a cursed? And from your description, it might not even be subject to a disarm attempt?

Now, if you couldnt set the weapon down, or even sheathe it, that would be a curse, especailly if it was always flaming. Youd have the obvious benefits you describe, but some serious disadvantages as well.

Pricing a non-standard effect like that, you have to find some analogus spell effect, or just go with your gut.

My gut says about 10,000 gp. If your DM makes it a habit to steal your favorite items, the value might go up.
Psyyk
07-28-05, 12:55 PM I mean cursed in the way that some weapons will only allow you to weild them. I think the backbiter spear does this. It would allow you to sheathe it but whenever you found yourself in a combat situation you would have to use the weapon in question. I'm not certain how it would work with disarm attempts. Any suggestions?
Klytus
07-28-05, 01:46 PM This is power-gaming. A curse, by definition, hinders you. If the item conveys an advantage of some kind, it is not a curse. A -2 sword is cursed not simply because of its negative combat value, but because you must use it in a fight. I would rule that if you were ever disarmed of this weapon in combat, the cursed would mysteriously reappear in your hand when you went to draw a new weapon.

What you are describing sounds like the Called power for armor (you say a command word and the armor appears upon you) applied for a weapon. You drop it/it gets disarmed, just say the word, and its in your hands again.
Talmariel
07-28-05, 02:01 PM I see little reason why you couldn't "curse" the item to never leave your possession. However, bear in mind that a curse is no different than any other ability as far as the creator would be concerned. The reason market values for cursed items are so low is because they aren't valuable, not because they're cheaper to make. While this isn't explicitly stated, I believe it is perfectly reasonable to assert that a curse costs the same to create as any other effect of equivalent power. You'd have to find a spell that does roughly the effect you're after, or agree on an effective spell level for such a power with your DM.

If you're after a discount for your item, I'd sooner suggest you require an alignment or class, using the sidebar rules in the item creation section of the DMG. That way your item could be stolen, but it'd be useless to anyone that doesn't meet the criteria.
Jaid
07-28-05, 02:54 PM if you know what it is _before_ you use it, dust of choking and sneezing happens to be one of the most amazing items in existence.
Pei-Pe
07-28-05, 03:51 PM If you just want an item that always comes back if it is taken against your will then you want an enchantment similair to teleport object with a contingency like ability. probably around 45,000 to 55,000 gold since it can only return and not take you somewhere else.

if you want an item that someone will over look and not try to take, then something along the lines of sanctuary or most likely antipathy an 8th level cleric spell.
Talmariel
07-28-05, 05:13 PM Antipathy would be my nomination for the effect. That or sympathy, to basically say the object is bound to the posessor. :)
DevilKiller
07-28-05, 05:20 PM if you know what it is _before_ you use it, dust of choking and sneezing happens to be one of the most amazing items in existence.
Actually, this stuff seems like a pretty good argument against allowing PCs to intentionally create cursed items. It is crazy powerful.
shades of eternity
07-28-05, 05:30 PM helm of opposite alignment can be a great recruiding device to adjust bad guys attitudes :D
Talmariel
07-28-05, 05:48 PM Try explaining it to the barkeep who won't allow weapons in his pub. :)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Psyyk 07-28-05, 12:20 PM	Hi there, I had a question. Can you curse an item so it never leaves your possesion even though it has no other ill effects? Example: I want to have my Flaming +2 Holy sword cursed so it can't be stolen or removed from me. Could I have that done and how much does it cost to have an item cursed? Also, are there any other useful curses?
Puca 07-28-05, 12:49 PM	How is a weapon can never be lost or stolen a cursed? And from your description, it might not even be subject to a disarm attempt? Now, if you couldnt set the weapon down, or even sheathe it, that would be a curse, especailly if it was always flaming. Youd have the obvious benefits you describe, but some serious disadvantages as well. Pricing a non-standard effect like that, you have to find some analogus spell effect, or just go with your gut. My gut says about 10,000 gp. If your DM makes it a habit to steal your favorite items, the value might go up.
Psyyk 07-28-05, 12:55 PM	I mean cursed in the way that some weapons will only allow you to weild them. I think the backbiter spear does this. It would allow you to sheathe it but whenever you found yourself in a combat situation you would have to use the weapon in question. I'm not certain how it would work with disarm attempts. Any suggestions?
Klytus 07-28-05, 01:46 PM	This is power-gaming. A curse, by definition, hinders you. If the item conveys an advantage of some kind, it is not a curse. A -2 sword is cursed not simply because of its negative combat value, but because you must use it in a fight. I would rule that if you were ever disarmed of this weapon in combat, the cursed would mysteriously reappear in your hand when you went to draw a new weapon. What you are describing sounds like the Called power for armor (you say a command word and the armor appears upon you) applied for a weapon. You drop it/it gets disarmed, just say the word, and its in your hands again.
Talmariel 07-28-05, 02:01 PM	I see little reason why you couldn't "curse" the item to never leave your possession. However, bear in mind that a curse is no different than any other ability as far as the creator would be concerned. The reason market values for cursed items are so low is because they aren't valuable, not because they're cheaper to make. While this isn't explicitly stated, I believe it is perfectly reasonable to assert that a curse costs the same to create as any other effect of equivalent power. You'd have to find a spell that does roughly the effect you're after, or agree on an effective spell level for such a power with your DM. If you're after a discount for your item, I'd sooner suggest you require an alignment or class, using the sidebar rules in the item creation section of the DMG. That way your item could be stolen, but it'd be useless to anyone that doesn't meet the criteria.
Jaid 07-28-05, 02:54 PM	if you know what it is _before_ you use it, dust of choking and sneezing happens to be one of the most amazing items in existence.
Pei-Pe 07-28-05, 03:51 PM	If you just want an item that always comes back if it is taken against your will then you want an enchantment similair to teleport object with a contingency like ability. probably around 45,000 to 55,000 gold since it can only return and not take you somewhere else. if you want an item that someone will over look and not try to take, then something along the lines of sanctuary or most likely antipathy an 8th level cleric spell.
Talmariel 07-28-05, 05:13 PM	Antipathy would be my nomination for the effect. That or sympathy, to basically say the object is bound to the posessor. :)
DevilKiller 07-28-05, 05:20 PM	if you know what it is _before_ you use it, dust of choking and sneezing happens to be one of the most amazing items in existence. Actually, this stuff seems like a pretty good argument against allowing PCs to intentionally create cursed items. It is crazy powerful.
shades of eternity 07-28-05, 05:30 PM	helm of opposite alignment can be a great recruiding device to adjust bad guys attitudes :D
Talmariel 07-28-05, 05:48 PM	Try explaining it to the barkeep who won't allow weapons in his pub. :)