101 "Fixers" [Archive] - Wizards Community

101 "Fixers" [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mr_Seth
09-08-07, 02:02 PM We all know him.

That one guy who has his heart set on playing a chaotic neutral character in your lawful good party. And you just know that he'll act more chaotic EVIL than anything else.

The guy who keeps tally of how many NPCs he's offed... and thinks that you don't notice him doing it.

The moron who charges FACE FIRST into every encounter, even though you point out (plainly) that he's a first-level bard, and he's facing the local magistrate, a duelist of worldwide repute.

What can you do? Well... you're in luck, bunky.

This thread is devoted to ideas for "fixers" - magic items, many intelligent, who are designed to curb the habits of psychotic, sociopathic, or idiotic PCs.

Remember - the PCs contribute to your campaign. They don't run it. And you don't have to resort to out-of-game solutions.

~~~~

01 - The Shield of Argim
When encountered in a dungeon, this shield appears to be made of iron, wickedly spiked with a grimacing daemonic face on it, and it registers as overpoweringly evil. Should anyone attempt to wield it, the straps latch themselves onto the victim's arm... and the iron melts away, the evil aura with it. The shield now appears to be an alabaster disc, featureless and shining, with an overpowering good aura. It is intelligent, telepathic, and driven to protect any innocents in the area. The shield will literally drag its wielder into harm's way (quite forcefully - it can hurl itself, and the meatsack it's attached to, 120 feet in a round) to save others.

The Shield does not understand how it's "wielders" can complain of how it treats them... after all, it was created to block attacks. Why shouldn't it's new owner accept his new role? The Shield cannot be sundered or disenchanted, and while it can shrink to a small bar of alabaster in noncombat situations if it wishes, it cannot be removed. The only way to get rid of it is with a Miracle or to embrace the role of defender, taking lethal damage willingly to save an innocent.

~

2 - Bill the Ioun Stone

A bright purple ioun stone shaped like a hollow cylinder, Bill is intelligent - frighteningly so - and has a self-preservation streak a mile wide. He's cynical, sarcastic, and can speak both audibly and telepathically in nine languages. And Bill hates idiots, although he always gets bonded to one.

When Bill is put into orbit around someone's head, he bonds to them; from then on, no force other than a Miracle or Wish can move him more than 50 feet from that person. He can, however, drop down into that person's pack, on a nightstand, et al - he doesn't have to stay orbiting. While Bill is active, he confers a +1 bonus to all saving throws and a +1 to AC. However, whenever the PC does something absolutely idiotic, Bill gives an exasperated squawk, a scream of "MORON!" - or some other synonym thereof - and gives the PC a painful shock. This is usually 1d4 to 1d8 points of non-lethal electrical damage - but if the PC gains protection from a type of energy, he switches to another. A PC will quickly learn to avoid annoying Bill... or will quickly get used to spending large amounts of time unconcious.
Crawdaddy75
09-08-07, 02:08 PM I was gonna say just let the CN-E Pc go ahead and run into harms way. If he dies in combat then it's his own fault. I like you idea though. It can take care a of a problem and probably bring some good comedic actions to the game.
LivingShadow
09-08-07, 02:54 PM So it's semi-cursed to make them act good/within reason? This kind of stuff would be interesting if the PCs could get one on a BBEG.

It does however pose an interesting solution to PC stupidity.
Empirate
09-08-07, 05:24 PM Yeah, a "solution" that is also known by the less handsome name of "railroading". I'd absolutely hate every minute of it. It would probably be enough for me to drop the character or even the game entirely, if I were the player picking up such an item.
In-game solutions to the kind of problems you describe simply do not exist. Face it.
heffroncm
09-08-07, 05:33 PM Yeah, a "solution" that is also known by the less handsome name of "railroading". I'd absolutely hate every minute of it. It would probably be enough for me to drop the character or even the game entirely, if I were the player picking up such an item.
In-game solutions to the kind of problems you describe simply do not exist. Face it.

Is it any different than a Cursed Item that forces a Good character to act Evil?

You should always talk to your players before including Cursed Items. If they are okay with it, then procede with teh ebilness.
Kazuhiro
09-10-07, 10:03 PM I actually like this. The shield would be an irritating thing to be given, and it's rather railroad-y, but Bill the Ioun Stone is hilarious.

I think this is a great idea for a thread. It doesn't have to be just items, either-- it can be plot devices, enemies, traps, NPCs, etc.

Sometimes I use DMPCs to accomplish this. Party needs a do-gooder? Bring in Sonora Demus, the Cleric of Pelor. It's irritating to D&D puritans, but I'm pretty good about my DMPCs. They usually railroad once and then act just like the rest of them.
TheWildKing
09-10-07, 11:08 PM I don't know about you guys, but it always ends up being the CN rogue who gives me the most troubles. You all have heard of the kind, he's the guy who would sooner burn down the tavern than meet the informant in it.

One of my friends always seems to pick the role of Chaotic Jackass, no matter what type of campaign we're playing, and he's almost always a rogue intent on murdering things because he can. So, in our next campaign, I've decided to attempt to curb his insatiable blood lust with

3) Judgment Blade

This short sword gleams with a purifying light, bringing forth darkness for destruction and exemplifying deeds of honor

Haven't worked out exact stats for it yet, but it has to be powerful enough that he will want to wield it over his current weapon. When he first picks it up, just say that he feels that this sword is truly unique, capable of eviscerating his enemies.

The catch is whenever he attacks a sentient being, the blade determines whether or not the would-be target deserves this cut, or if it's just a random commoner who did nothing to earn a blade in his back. If the blade deems the target A)Friendly or B)Innocent, then the sword magically appears back in its sheath without delivering the cut.

Not really railroading, since it is a perfectly usable weapon in combat, and its only purpose is to cut down on needless kills for XP (hey, even commoners are worth something).

Y/N? Looking for suggestions on whether or not to use it
Kazuhiro
09-10-07, 11:23 PM Just make sure it's him who uses it. Oh, and it sounds like you want to make it an Intelligent Item. Intelligent items aren't as tough to use as you might think. Plus, saying "it appears back in its sheath if it deems the target innocent" is slight railroading. Ego vs. Will is just as effective of a method, and it's lessforceful.
TheWildKing
09-10-07, 11:37 PM Thx for the suggestion

As for making sure he uses it, I'll just have some NPC nail it to his hand when he isn't looking :P
Fiery_Overlord
09-11-07, 02:54 AM SO...

FOUR! My addition to this is a slight magical marvel I called:

'Encouragement".
Intelligent Stone of Weight (Loadstone)

This stone appears to be a dark, smoothly polished stone. It reduces the possessor’s base land speed to one-half of normal. Once picked up, the stone cannot be disposed of by any nonmagical means—if it is thrown away or smashed, it reappears somewhere on his person. If a remove curse spell is cast upon a loadstone, the item may be discarded normally and no longer haunts the individual.

Alignment: Lawful Good
Int: 19
Wis: 19
Chr: 10
Communication: Telepathy with wielder, Speaks Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Draconic, and Infernal, Reads all languages as well as uses read magic at will
Senses: 120 ft. darkvision, blindsense, and hearing

All powers function at the direction of the item. Although intelligent items generally follow the wishes of their owner, Encouragement has a special relationship with those it chooses to wield it (Chaotic Evil and Chaotic Neutral characters and less frequent Chaotic Good Character) and uses its powers to discourage further chaos and evil. Activating a power or concentrating on an active one is a standard action the item takes.

Lesser Powers: Zone of Truth 3/day, Faerie Fire 3/day, Has 10 ranks in Knowledge Religion, Has 10 ranks in Spellcraft

Greater Powers: Detect Chaos at will, Detect Evil at will, Detect Thoughts at will.

Special Purpose: Defeat Chaos
Dedicated Power: Can use dimension door on itself and wielder
EGO: 25

Any character whose alignment does not correspond to that of Lawful Good gains two negative level if he or she so much as picks up the item. Although these negative level never results in actual level loss, it remains as long as the item is in hand and cannot be overcome in any way (including restoration spells). This negative level is cumulative with any other penalties the item might already place on inappropriate wielders.

Strong conjuration CL 15th; Must be Lawful Good, Craft Wondrous Item, Craft Construct, Slow, Faerie Fire, Zone of Truth, Detect Chaos, Detect Evil, Detect thoughts, Dimension Door; Price 138,000 gp.

(One Character Build who could make this item: Cloistered Lawful Good Cleric with Fey, Travel and Knowledge Domains could add it to an existing Loadstone.)

Using RAW a PC could make this...
Koldenblue
09-11-07, 06:33 AM I just had a thought about that judgment blade...

What's to stop him from using a normal dagger to kill commoners, and then switching to the judgment blade for killing everything else?

Anyway, I like the approach that murders won't go unnoticed... and even if the guards aren't powerful enough to stop your group, perhaps someone will hire assassins, or even a group of adventurers more powerful than your group. Or if your group is well known for murders, you could have civilians recognize them and refuse to provide goods and services.
TheWildKing
09-11-07, 03:57 PM yeah, that thing about the judgment blade came to me too as i was reviewing the idea. So, I've decided that the blade is intelligent enough to know when it's not being used, and I'll give it a Socrates attitude

Rogue: *switches to regular sword*
Judgment Blade: "Why aren't you using me?" (communicate telepathically)
Rogue: "Oh, this is too trivial for you"
JB: Am I better than the other sword?
R: Yes...
JB: So using me would get the job done faster, right?
R: ...I guess so
JB: Then why aren't you using me?

etc, etc, until the Rogue finally agrees to use JB again

Or just make the blade have an unusual affection for the guy and refuse to leave his hand during combat, there's room to be creative
Disciple_of_Salsa
09-11-07, 10:26 PM 5.
Phillip.
Phillip is a TN cloak of invisibility. He can speak common only, and with a lisp. He is very nervous, and embarrasses easily. He loves company, however, and once put on, he can not be taken off unless by miracle or wish.
When ever his wearer does something embarrassing (does something stupid, is impolite, ect.), he lets out a shriek and activates his invisibility ability.
Disciple_of_Salsa
09-11-07, 10:28 PM 5.
Phillip.
Phillip is a TN cloak of invisibility. He can speak common only, and with a lisp. He is very nervous, and embarrasses easily. He loves company, however, and once put on, he can not be taken off unless by miracle or wish.
When ever his wearer does something embarrassing (does something stupid, is impolite, ect.), he lets out a shriek and activates his invisibility ability, and casts silence, centered on himself.

So, when the chaotic stupid player trys to start a brawl in the tavern, he suddenly dissapears.
TheWildKing
09-11-07, 10:41 PM 5.
Phillip.
Phillip is a TN cloak of invisibility. He can speak common only, and with a lisp. He is very nervous, and embarrasses easily. He loves company, however, and once put on, he can not be taken off unless by miracle or wish.
When ever his wearer does something embarrassing (does something stupid, is impolite, ect.), he lets out a shriek and activates his invisibility ability, and casts silence, centered on himself.

So, when the chaotic stupid player trys to start a brawl in the tavern, he suddenly dissapears.

You, good sir, are the winner, have a cookie :cookie:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mr_Seth 09-08-07, 02:02 PM	We all know him. That one guy who has his heart set on playing a chaotic neutral character in your lawful good party. And you just know that he'll act more chaotic EVIL than anything else. The guy who keeps tally of how many NPCs he's offed... and thinks that you don't notice him doing it. The moron who charges FACE FIRST into every encounter, even though you point out (plainly) that he's a first-level bard, and he's facing the local magistrate, a duelist of worldwide repute. What can you do? Well... you're in luck, bunky. This thread is devoted to ideas for "fixers" - magic items, many intelligent, who are designed to curb the habits of psychotic, sociopathic, or idiotic PCs. Remember - the PCs contribute to your campaign. They don't run it. And you don't have to resort to out-of-game solutions. ~~~~ 01 - The Shield of Argim When encountered in a dungeon, this shield appears to be made of iron, wickedly spiked with a grimacing daemonic face on it, and it registers as overpoweringly evil. Should anyone attempt to wield it, the straps latch themselves onto the victim's arm... and the iron melts away, the evil aura with it. The shield now appears to be an alabaster disc, featureless and shining, with an overpowering good aura. It is intelligent, telepathic, and driven to protect any innocents in the area. The shield will literally drag its wielder into harm's way (quite forcefully - it can hurl itself, and the meatsack it's attached to, 120 feet in a round) to save others. The Shield does not understand how it's "wielders" can complain of how it treats them... after all, it was created to block attacks. Why shouldn't it's new owner accept his new role? The Shield cannot be sundered or disenchanted, and while it can shrink to a small bar of alabaster in noncombat situations if it wishes, it cannot be removed. The only way to get rid of it is with a Miracle or to embrace the role of defender, taking lethal damage willingly to save an innocent. ~ 2 - Bill the Ioun Stone A bright purple ioun stone shaped like a hollow cylinder, Bill is intelligent - frighteningly so - and has a self-preservation streak a mile wide. He's cynical, sarcastic, and can speak both audibly and telepathically in nine languages. And Bill hates idiots, although he always gets bonded to one. When Bill is put into orbit around someone's head, he bonds to them; from then on, no force other than a Miracle or Wish can move him more than 50 feet from that person. He can, however, drop down into that person's pack, on a nightstand, et al - he doesn't have to stay orbiting. While Bill is active, he confers a +1 bonus to all saving throws and a +1 to AC. However, whenever the PC does something absolutely idiotic, Bill gives an exasperated squawk, a scream of "MORON!" - or some other synonym thereof - and gives the PC a painful shock. This is usually 1d4 to 1d8 points of non-lethal electrical damage - but if the PC gains protection from a type of energy, he switches to another. A PC will quickly learn to avoid annoying Bill... or will quickly get used to spending large amounts of time unconcious.
Crawdaddy75 09-08-07, 02:08 PM	I was gonna say just let the CN-E Pc go ahead and run into harms way. If he dies in combat then it's his own fault. I like you idea though. It can take care a of a problem and probably bring some good comedic actions to the game.
LivingShadow 09-08-07, 02:54 PM	So it's semi-cursed to make them act good/within reason? This kind of stuff would be interesting if the PCs could get one on a BBEG. It does however pose an interesting solution to PC stupidity.
Empirate 09-08-07, 05:24 PM	Yeah, a "solution" that is also known by the less handsome name of "railroading". I'd absolutely hate every minute of it. It would probably be enough for me to drop the character or even the game entirely, if I were the player picking up such an item. In-game solutions to the kind of problems you describe simply do not exist. Face it.
heffroncm 09-08-07, 05:33 PM	Yeah, a "solution" that is also known by the less handsome name of "railroading". I'd absolutely hate every minute of it. It would probably be enough for me to drop the character or even the game entirely, if I were the player picking up such an item. In-game solutions to the kind of problems you describe simply do not exist. Face it. Is it any different than a Cursed Item that forces a Good character to act Evil? You should always talk to your players before including Cursed Items. If they are okay with it, then procede with teh ebilness.
Kazuhiro 09-10-07, 10:03 PM	I actually like this. The shield would be an irritating thing to be given, and it's rather railroad-y, but Bill the Ioun Stone is hilarious. I think this is a great idea for a thread. It doesn't have to be just items, either-- it can be plot devices, enemies, traps, NPCs, etc. Sometimes I use DMPCs to accomplish this. Party needs a do-gooder? Bring in Sonora Demus, the Cleric of Pelor. It's irritating to D&D puritans, but I'm pretty good about my DMPCs. They usually railroad once and then act just like the rest of them.
TheWildKing 09-10-07, 11:08 PM	I don't know about you guys, but it always ends up being the CN rogue who gives me the most troubles. You all have heard of the kind, he's the guy who would sooner burn down the tavern than meet the informant in it. One of my friends always seems to pick the role of Chaotic Jackass, no matter what type of campaign we're playing, and he's almost always a rogue intent on murdering things because he can. So, in our next campaign, I've decided to attempt to curb his insatiable blood lust with 3) Judgment Blade This short sword gleams with a purifying light, bringing forth darkness for destruction and exemplifying deeds of honor Haven't worked out exact stats for it yet, but it has to be powerful enough that he will want to wield it over his current weapon. When he first picks it up, just say that he feels that this sword is truly unique, capable of eviscerating his enemies. The catch is whenever he attacks a sentient being, the blade determines whether or not the would-be target deserves this cut, or if it's just a random commoner who did nothing to earn a blade in his back. If the blade deems the target A)Friendly or B)Innocent, then the sword magically appears back in its sheath without delivering the cut. Not really railroading, since it is a perfectly usable weapon in combat, and its only purpose is to cut down on needless kills for XP (hey, even commoners are worth something). Y/N? Looking for suggestions on whether or not to use it
Kazuhiro 09-10-07, 11:23 PM	Just make sure it's him who uses it. Oh, and it sounds like you want to make it an Intelligent Item. Intelligent items aren't as tough to use as you might think. Plus, saying "it appears back in its sheath if it deems the target innocent" is slight railroading. Ego vs. Will is just as effective of a method, and it's lessforceful.
TheWildKing 09-10-07, 11:37 PM	Thx for the suggestion As for making sure he uses it, I'll just have some NPC nail it to his hand when he isn't looking :P
Fiery_Overlord 09-11-07, 02:54 AM	SO... FOUR! My addition to this is a slight magical marvel I called: 'Encouragement". Intelligent Stone of Weight (Loadstone) This stone appears to be a dark, smoothly polished stone. It reduces the possessor’s base land speed to one-half of normal. Once picked up, the stone cannot be disposed of by any nonmagical means—if it is thrown away or smashed, it reappears somewhere on his person. If a remove curse spell is cast upon a loadstone, the item may be discarded normally and no longer haunts the individual. Alignment: Lawful Good Int: 19 Wis: 19 Chr: 10 Communication: Telepathy with wielder, Speaks Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Draconic, and Infernal, Reads all languages as well as uses read magic at will Senses: 120 ft. darkvision, blindsense, and hearing All powers function at the direction of the item. Although intelligent items generally follow the wishes of their owner, Encouragement has a special relationship with those it chooses to wield it (Chaotic Evil and Chaotic Neutral characters and less frequent Chaotic Good Character) and uses its powers to discourage further chaos and evil. Activating a power or concentrating on an active one is a standard action the item takes. Lesser Powers: Zone of Truth 3/day, Faerie Fire 3/day, Has 10 ranks in Knowledge Religion, Has 10 ranks in Spellcraft Greater Powers: Detect Chaos at will, Detect Evil at will, Detect Thoughts at will. Special Purpose: Defeat Chaos Dedicated Power: Can use dimension door on itself and wielder EGO: 25 Any character whose alignment does not correspond to that of Lawful Good gains two negative level if he or she so much as picks up the item. Although these negative level never results in actual level loss, it remains as long as the item is in hand and cannot be overcome in any way (including restoration spells). This negative level is cumulative with any other penalties the item might already place on inappropriate wielders. Strong conjuration CL 15th; Must be Lawful Good, Craft Wondrous Item, Craft Construct, Slow, Faerie Fire, Zone of Truth, Detect Chaos, Detect Evil, Detect thoughts, Dimension Door; Price 138,000 gp. (One Character Build who could make this item: Cloistered Lawful Good Cleric with Fey, Travel and Knowledge Domains could add it to an existing Loadstone.) Using RAW a PC could make this...
Koldenblue 09-11-07, 06:33 AM	I just had a thought about that judgment blade... What's to stop him from using a normal dagger to kill commoners, and then switching to the judgment blade for killing everything else? Anyway, I like the approach that murders won't go unnoticed... and even if the guards aren't powerful enough to stop your group, perhaps someone will hire assassins, or even a group of adventurers more powerful than your group. Or if your group is well known for murders, you could have civilians recognize them and refuse to provide goods and services.
TheWildKing 09-11-07, 03:57 PM	yeah, that thing about the judgment blade came to me too as i was reviewing the idea. So, I've decided that the blade is intelligent enough to know when it's not being used, and I'll give it a Socrates attitude Rogue: switches to regular sword Judgment Blade: "Why aren't you using me?" (communicate telepathically) Rogue: "Oh, this is too trivial for you" JB: Am I better than the other sword? R: Yes... JB: So using me would get the job done faster, right? R: ...I guess so JB: Then why aren't you using me? etc, etc, until the Rogue finally agrees to use JB again Or just make the blade have an unusual affection for the guy and refuse to leave his hand during combat, there's room to be creative
Disciple_of_Salsa 09-11-07, 10:26 PM	5. Phillip. Phillip is a TN cloak of invisibility. He can speak common only, and with a lisp. He is very nervous, and embarrasses easily. He loves company, however, and once put on, he can not be taken off unless by miracle or wish. When ever his wearer does something embarrassing (does something stupid, is impolite, ect.), he lets out a shriek and activates his invisibility ability.
Disciple_of_Salsa 09-11-07, 10:28 PM	5. Phillip. Phillip is a TN cloak of invisibility. He can speak common only, and with a lisp. He is very nervous, and embarrasses easily. He loves company, however, and once put on, he can not be taken off unless by miracle or wish. When ever his wearer does something embarrassing (does something stupid, is impolite, ect.), he lets out a shriek and activates his invisibility ability, and casts silence, centered on himself. So, when the chaotic stupid player trys to start a brawl in the tavern, he suddenly dissapears.
TheWildKing 09-11-07, 10:41 PM	5. Phillip. Phillip is a TN cloak of invisibility. He can speak common only, and with a lisp. He is very nervous, and embarrasses easily. He loves company, however, and once put on, he can not be taken off unless by miracle or wish. When ever his wearer does something embarrassing (does something stupid, is impolite, ect.), he lets out a shriek and activates his invisibility ability, and casts silence, centered on himself. So, when the chaotic stupid player trys to start a brawl in the tavern, he suddenly dissapears. You, good sir, are the winner, have a cookie :cookie: