Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Vaalingrade Ashland 05-03-06, 11:11 PM	I've been energized into going up against a bunch of my style concerns tonight, so lets get to this one, shall we? The DMG kind of implies that all charged items below 4th level are stored in dinkly little sticks. This works find for most offensive spells, but for things like detect thoughts and identify or mount... it just doesn't do it for me. So this thread is for coming up with alternative forms for wands to take -- we're going to assume there is no real balance reason that they have to be sticks. I'll go first: Identify: A flat ebony dais about a foot in diameter upon which the item to be ID'd is placed. Detect Thoughts: A small, round nub that is touched to the user's temple when used. Mount: whistle that 'calls' the horse.
ClementWillowbreaker 05-04-06, 12:03 PM	The Complete Arcane has suggestions for alternate manifestations of magic items, that maintain the same restrictions. So a wand can be any object that you have hold in your hand to use with a word. The dais is nice...but a touch bit sedentary... I really like the nub and whistle. Spell-trigger coins, stones, pendants (not for wearing, more like tree ornaments), and strips of paper/cloth leap to mind.
Seeker95 05-04-06, 01:34 PM	I think this is a great idea. At first it didn't strike me as being very "alternate" only because I never really paid attention to the wording of the description of a wand to such a detail. I have mentally inserted "usually" in the baton description, so when I went back and read it again in response to this thread, I had the wake-up call. A 1' dais is not sedentary. Just keep it in your handy haversack and pull it out when you need it. Here are a few other suggestions for wand of: 2nd level detect thoughts: a copper piece locate object: a magnifying glass continual flame: a matchbox shatter: a tuning fork knock: either a key or a small mallet 3rd level phantom steed: a figurine or a jockey whip tongues: a dictionary heroism: a blue ribbon tiny hut: an umbrella wind wall: a pinwheel illusiory script: a pen invisible sphere: a snowglobe gentle repose: a piece of amber keen edge: a whetstone water breathing: a hollow reed 4th level remove curse: a horseshoe or a salt shaker secure shelter: an umbrella arcane eye: a monoscope / spyglass shout: a cheerleader cone illusionary wall: a brick bestow curse: a cracked mirror stone shape: a chisel (ran out of time before my appointment)
ClementWillowbreaker 05-04-06, 05:44 PM	detect thoughts: a copper piece Probably the best item idea I have seen all week.