Post/Author/DateTime	Post
wereooze 11-03-04, 10:17 PM	DM: A search of the necromancer's tower uncovers 4500 gold pieces, a Shield +2, and a 1700Gp gem encrusted ring. Player: Another gem encrusted ring? Who buys all this crap? Who buys gem encrusted crap indeed! An oft-ignored (until now) treasure table in D&D has been 'Art Object'. This is well and good, except the DMG fails to embellish much, and many DM's are left handing-out three pieces of "art": Gem encrusted rings, Golden statues, and Elvish tapestries. If you run a 'Hack n' Slash' game, I suppose that would be just fine. Kill, Loot, and do it again next week. But for those of us who run more elaborate campaigns, we have all new ways of (psychologically) torturing PCs :devil: . We have horse thieves, taxes, entire legions of undead to threaten helpful NPC villages... But always have Hero's enjoyed the valuable 'Gold piece'. But now I suggest you put even more of the BBEG's total treasure value into 'Art Objects'. After all... Do you own stuff, or do you own nothing and have all your money in a shoebox?:smirk: Yes, most of us BUY stuff. Playstations, couches, Mail-Order-Brides, compact disks, towels, cars, motorbikes, deer rifles. And since we buy stuff, we must assume most BBEG's like to spend money too (except possible dragons who sleep on mounts of gold and still cut coupons). Since BBEG's tend to be wealthy, intelligent types; they will spend money on 'Art Objects'..... Because plasma TV's haven't been invented yet. BUT!, say the DM's, we dont know what Art Objects are! Thats OK. Just think of any object, and chances are there are super-expensive items that do the exact same thing, but people buy anyway: $2000 pens, $1,000,000 stereos, BMW's, etc etc Why more ART? Because A: Its harder to haul out of the dungeon B: PC's now have to find an Art-Dealer to sell it to C: Its funny to see what PC's "collect" themselves. Fumbuck the 1/2-Orc barbarian: "This is my mahogany davenport with solid brass accents and a polished marble top. It was hand-carved by halfings in the village of HappyFunLand and I found it in the possession of an Ogre-Mage who's skull I smashed with a hammer. Would you like to see my collection of ceramic rustmonster miniatures or maybe my Electrum dwarvish-whiskey shotglass set?" Other Character: :twitch: Introducing Wereooze's Fine Art aka. The Dunegon Decorators Collection.. to stock a BBEG lair with, or add spice to your campaign world! :king: (based on Table 7-6:Art Objects of DMG 3.0 ). Inspired by a copy of The Home Decorators Collection that showed-up with todays junk mail. 10gp *ceramic figurine/statuette. about 6" long and hand-painted. Can be of anything: rustmonsters w/ pink bows, beholders, orc-Hobos. Be sure that any statue type (such as Orc hobo or rustmonster) as an entire series of statues by a famous ceramic statue designer that the PC can collect. (collecting rare statuettes can make for interesting side-quests and annoy fellow PC's) *Scrimshaw. Ivory with design etched onto it. Usually boats & nautical themes as it is a popular hobby with whalers. Put scrimshaw on regular items to make them worth more treasure room... like pocket knife handles. *Electrum whiskey glasses (emblazoned with the name of a famous tavern) *Gold body jewelry * 55gp. *hand-crafted chairs (pair), in Teak, Walnut, or Mahogany. Certain to be comfortable and add some flair to any dungeon chamber. Geometric patterns, leaves, or skulls carved into the chair-arms along with an upholstered seating area (embroidered to taste) are common at this range. Remember that any BBEG worth his salt is going to have at least 8 chairs around any masterwork dinner table (105gp). *Copper framed wall mirror. The hand-wrought frame surrouns a mirror of silvered glass. dragons & leaves are common styles. They make really good treasure 'cause they break easy! :schemes: *Painting. It might be still-life, surreal, or maybe Orcish impressionism of the third age. But 55gp paintings are usually ho-hum and 24"x36". *silver flatware. The eating utensils. made of silver. Service for 8 *Masterwork cooking pots. Ceramic enamled cast-iron baking goods available in most colours. Add a +1 to any Cooking skill DC. *Leatherbound, gold leafed book. A tome on any skill or knowledge, determined randomly. A character may use it to refrence at time of spending skill points... or just sell it. *Crystal decanter and wine-glass set. 105gp *Dinner Table. for 105 gold pieces its so shiney it looks wet and the legs have decorative 'claws' on the ends. Or maybe dolphins..whatever floats yer boat. (Be sure to include chairs...mentioned above). *Booze cabinet. Prbably manufactured by the same halflings as the table & chairs, this tall armoire-like piece of old-growth kindling has shelves for a whole array of fine glasses & goblets, decanters & meauring shakers. Also a second storage bin at knee-level holds bottles of wine/spirits *ornate silver goblets, set of 8. Shaped like squids , human skulls, or just bizarre arcane sybols... silver wine glasses say alot about your kind of person. *gold flatware, service for 8 *painting. still 24"x36" but this class of painting is of intresting subject matter: nude elves, decapitations.... something to make up for the price. *Pair of boots designed by snooty high-end boot maker. Bards (and women) love footwear with nose-bleed prices. *lifesized marble bust of famous person. I'd personally have Vecna myself *masterwork dagger w/ ivory handle *Silver tea set 350gp *King-sized bed to match your table & chairs *masterwork oversized harp that nobody knows how to play *20' long tapestry of some battle *3' tall ceramic vase. Painted by elves of some remote island. Heavy & easy to break. holds flowers *Intricate waste-paper basket. Made from an Owlbear leg! *Walking stick. Gold handle *2' long oriental dragon statue made of gold. *Winterwlf fur coat *masterwork dagger with ivory handle & minor jewel pommel 550gp *Floor of residence professionally tiled with marble & soapstone tiles by dwarven mastercraftsman. Lets see the PCs try to hock that in town.... *Arched interior door crafted of old-growth teak, set with blackend steel hinges, and a brass lock. *Ornate ironwork torch scones. set of 50. may be shaped to resemble skulls, music notes, etc *leaded-glass fireplace screen. With stained-gass picture effect. covers any 5' wide fireplace. *5' marble statue *bejewelled circlet *platinum framed spectacles with smoked glass lenses. to look cool and protect from harsh solar rays. *masterwork dagger with dragonbone & platinum handle 1000gp *masterwork dagger with scrimshawed dragonbone handle, platinum fittings, and jeweled pommel. *masterwork glazed bone-chian plates w/ silver serving platters *wastepaper basket, made from dragon leg! *undead brain-in-a-jar. Sci-Fi style decor for your alchemy lab. I'll be sure to add more to my dungeon catalog when I've got more time. I hope you have as much fun making your PC's try to sort & sell all of this crap as I will :D
Hugin 11-03-04, 10:25 PM	I'm with you on this one. I love putting several assorted stuff like this in treasures. Gives it more of a "treasure" feel to it.
Adraedan 11-03-04, 10:35 PM	I think my next BBEG is gonna be blinging hardcore.
Talanall 11-03-04, 10:40 PM	I . . . wow. This is just so . . . evil. My DM-sense is all tingly. Wereooze: :bow:
The_EvilDungeon_Master 11-03-04, 10:46 PM	Fumbuck the 1/2-Orc barbarian: "This is my mahogany davenport with solid brass accents and a polished marble top. It was hand-carved by halfings in the village of HappyFunLand and I found it in the possession of an Ogre-Mage who's skull I smashed with a hammer. Would you like to see my collection of ceramic rustmonster miniatures or maybe my Electrum dwarvish-whiskey shotglass set?" That is so going in my sig. :D
Melpomene 11-03-04, 10:46 PM	Mmm.... winterwolf fur... I always encourage my players to invest thier extra gold in things like jewlery on the small scale and land on the large.
Fixxxer 11-03-04, 11:55 PM	After all... Do you own stuff, or do you own nothing and have all your money in a shoebox?:smirk: What?!? WHO TOLD YOU ABOUT THAT?!?! Seriously, I really love this idea. I'm suprised we never thought to include it a possibility for a DM Competition topic. Edit: As a side note, you have "undead brain in a jar" listed under the 1000gp category. Just for G.P. information, Libris Mortis includes a new monster...the Undead Brain In A Jar! Yes, most of us BUY stuff....Mail-Order-Brides What?!? WHO TOLD YOU ABOUT THAT?!?! :D
ShadowDragon8685 11-04-04, 02:25 AM	Screw the looting! My gamers would evict the BBEG and move in! BLING-BLING, BABY! My DM sense is tingling big-time... And now I want to find out the price if I were to comission a life-sized marble statue of my character, Corellon, Ehlonna and Moradin as members of a rock band, rocking out really hard. :) (The dwarf on the drums, of course. :P ) This is bling-tastic, baby.
ThatDarnCat 11-04-04, 02:36 AM	Art objects have always been a favorite of mine. Ever since finding the candlesticks in the evil temple in Keep on the Borderlands... I have a smallish list of artsy stuff I'm happy to share. Most of the items aren't as detailed as above, but we can't all read the J Crew catalog... Ring: beaten from red gold into a long knuckle-coil to resemble a snake coiled about the wear's finger. It has two tiny rubies (90g ea.) for eyes. 250g value. Rod: a 2ft rod of bronze inlaid with a circular pattern, the tip formed in the shape of a flower with gems set in among the petals; 16 violet garnets (500g ea.) and a huge, deep blue spinel (900g), the other end is a 2 inch gold knob. 8,120g value. Weighs 3lbs. Cup: of the thinnest beaten gold set with a lip ring of tiny emeralds (24@200g), and incised with an abstract circular pattern. 5,650g value Bracelet: made from 46 tiny white pearls (70g ea.) strung on a gilded wire, fastened with a barbed hook and loop. 3,220g value. Pen case: gold, held shut with an ornate clasp. Carved into the case is a scene of a scribe writing in a tome, sitting on a stool amid stacks of parchment. The symbol of Deneir is engraved on the opposite side. 16g, 100g for a follower of Deneir. Brooch: 4 inches in diameter, made from polished brass worked into the shape of a sleeping unicorn. A chalcedony (75g) is inset to depict the horn. 80g value. Comb: the golden body is carved in the form of a dragons head with a single perfect ruby (1,000g) for an eye. 1,150g value. Scroll tube: carved from ivory, with engraved gold end caps. Buttons: a set of eleven, in platinum, each depicts an eagle with wings spread and clasping a bundle of arrows (50g red coral) in one talon and a lightning bolt (65g aquamarine) in the other. 145g ea. or 1,815gp for the set. Hair net: woven of platinum and electrum wire, set with 32 pearls (85g ea.), 32 water opals (250g ea.), and 32 aquamarines (100g ea.). 15,902g value Medallion: of electrum, set with a topaz of great size and clarity (1,190g) and 12 amber (80g ea.). 2,189g value. Torc: twisted platinum wire capped with dragon's claws which clasp large bloodstones (2@75g). 850g value. Ring: a lions head, finely crafted, of electrum with eyes of SL topaz (150g ea.). 435g value. Bracelet: made from interwoven bands of silver, copper, and bronze. 25g value. Bracelet: made from interlocking leaves carved from silver and enameled in green, and set with small carved coral berries (12@25g). 510g value. Armor: a suit of fine chainmail of platinum (AC+3) set with sapphires (8@275g) and aquamarines (8@150g) in a vaguely crown shaped pattern on the chest. 4,500g value. Stylus: a silver stylus, engraved and inlaid with gold. 65g value. Lap desk: a silver ash lap desk, the sides and back are carved and painted in woodland motif. The inside is partitioned off for paper, pens, and ink. The closure is a silver hasp. 18"x22". 275g value. Lamp: a 4 wick oil lamp of gold, with platinum reflectors. The sides are carved in bas relief, depicting the city of brass. Weighs 4lbs and holds 6 pints of oil for a 10 hour burn time. 570g value. Tools: Thieves tools of the finest craftsmanship (+1 Circumstance bonus for disable devise) and design. 300g value. Tabard: Cloth of silver with the symbol of Torm embroidered on the front, and set with gemstone chips. 137g value. Chalice: carved crystal inlaid with silver and set with emeralds (8@200g, 4@1,000g). 6,222g value. Belt Buckle: an electrum buckle set with a large, 2"x3", cabochon of Lapis Lazuli (52g). Engraved and filigreed with copper. 124g value. Headband: platinum, set with 3 rubies (2@250g, 1@1,000g). Size 7¼. 1,430g value. Brooch: a 3" silver brooch, with a griffin rampant on a blue enamel field. The griffins eyes are amethysts (2@75g) 272g value. Basin: crafted of platinum and silver, and highly decorated with engraving and carvings of worship scenes (dedicated to Mielikki). Holds 3 gallons of liquid safely and weighs 10lbs. 4,750g value. Lock: the case is crafted from solid brass and beautifully engraved, the shank and lock mechanism are made from high quality steel and the mechanism is of exceptional quality (DC+2 to open). 550g value. Locket: leaf shaped enameled gold, the stem forms the loop for a chain. Opens to reveal a very small compartment with 2 surfaces suitable for miniatures. The compartment could hold a small ring or a dose or drugs, poison, or antidote. 167g value. Statuette: 8in tall bronze statue of a an armored warrior leaning on his spear. There are silver and gold inlays on his armor, and shield. Weights 7lbs. 84g value. Statuette: 10” tall alabaster statue of a comely lass bearing a water jug in her arms. She is wearing a toga over one shoulder and the breast not covered by the jug is exposed. Weights 9lbs. 145g Value. Statue, fountain: 6ft tall naked woman pouring water over hear head from a pitcher. She is facing the spout of water with her eyes closed and mouth slightly parted. Her free hand cups one breast. If connected to a water source, the water will cascade down her voluptuous form. Weight 2 tons. 895g value. When I dropped art objects into my FR campaign with my younger brothers Paul, my youngest brother, decided his character would start collecting statues. He was new to role playing and made this choice on his own. I was so proud of him...
ShadowDragon8685 11-04-04, 03:03 AM	May I take my own stab at this? *Stab Undead!* 10gp *Intricate Bronze locket, possibly with lock of maiden's hair inside. *Copper ring. Possibly with magnets imbedded. 55gp. *Silver ring. May be inscribed with the name of your beloved. (How many PCs may feel regret about killing the BBEG when they realize he was killing people in the villiage that lynched and murdered his lover? Maybe even spark a quest to make ammends.) *Polished mahogony walking stick. *Fine crushed velvet hat with an eagle's feather. 105gp *Fine crushed velvet hat with a Griffon feather *Golden ring. Possibly inscribed with name of beloved. 350gp *Fine crushed velvet hat with enchanted Roc feather. *Bas Relief exquisitely carved on piece of dragon eggshell. Quite likely of the scene of the dragon's hatching, or possibly of it's mother being slain, depending on what kind of dragon it was. *Dicebag. Contains finely-made dice of various forms of marble and obsidian, with numbers very carefully carved. Set from D4 to D20, includes D100. 550gp *Crushed velvet hat with a Celestial/Eryines feather in it. Because nothing says pimp-daddy extreme than having an Erinyes' feather. *Crushed velvet three-piece suit in garish colors. Bling-Bling, baby. 1000gp *Diamond-encrusted gold medallion, quite likely spelling out your name. *Really Freaking Huge Diamond. *Black, crushed-velvet Dicebag lined with woven hair from an elf maiden. Dice contained are of extremely high quality, carved to perfection with intricate attention to detail, the numbers, instead of being painted, are chiseled out of the surface by faeries, and filled in with a mixture of platinum and faerie dust which solidifies. Let's not forget some of the higher-end art objects that BBEGs would want. For the cultured BBEG, why settle for images of nude elves when you can have a nude elf statue, carved from your choice of fine marbles. Can be in a variety of poses and demeanors, ranging from the stately to the beautiful to the lewd. 6000 GP, includes stand and a gold and mahogony plaque with your choice of words. Garunteed to be 100% lifelike to the finest detail. For the villian with the bent for music, how about your very own pipe organ? And not just any humdrum, find-me-in-any-church pipe organ. This pipe organ is as big as most churches themselves, powered by magical air to fuel the pipes, this baby is LOUD, best used in caverns where you can get the best acoustics (as a bonus, playing this is certain to rid your less-refined subterrainian areas of pesky stalactites,) or in the grandest hall your grandest castle has. As a bonus, it's constructed and has three Musical Unseen Servants which will play your favorite tunes non-stop, and has valves to control volume, should you want something mellow. The pipes come in your choice of gold, platinum, or even obsidian (Enchanted to never break,) which will definately effect acoustics. The base and bench are typically carved from mahogany, Ironwood or Darkwood, or else made out of marble, slate or obsidian. Darker colors work better, but the customer is of course always right. The keys typically are made of ivory (depending on the status of elephant herds the world over, this may be unavaiable,) or various bone (One of these can take an entire Great Wyrm to make, which will increase the price but definately make a statement.) 45,000 GP. For the BBEG with wealth so overflowing he dosen't know what to do with it all, art objects don't have to be portable. Your entire HOME can be an art object! Dragons roaring and breathing flame are no longer relegated to tapestry - you can have nude nymphs frolicing with dryads in the woods carved onto the very walls of your abode! The floor tiles can be carved with holy symbols or made of blackstone and have your initials inlaid in silver into each and every tile, you can relax in your bed carved from Darkwood, with a matress so thick and luxuriant that it takes ten strong men, eight stronger undead, or a whole iron golem to lift it, relax on a pillow stuffed with the down of Eryines or Celestial, and pull the canopy off the bed to admire the orgy scene on the vaulted roof of your chamber. When you wake, why not take a stroll on the grand balcony, each colum of the guardrail a nude female of the fairer races - elves, humans, half-elves, drow, nymph, dryad, etcetera, and not a single creature duplicated once, all of them standing up beautifully, holding aloft a rail two feet wide with it's own sub-rail, perfect for perching your spellbook or glass of wine to watch the sun or moonrise. Then take a stroll through your library, lit at day by sunlight streaming through a vaulted ceiling made of solid amber, with bookshelves that are themselves carved with the holy symbols of gods of magic and books, furnished from solid Darkwood. I'm sure you get the picture. Not all wealth need be portable. Hell, the PCs are as likely to claim the place for their own as they are to sack the place and put it to the torch. Be creative. :) This kind of castle deserves a thread all to it's own. And the #1 item for the morally bankrupt... Why settle for a statue of a nude elf in your bedroom when you have a real, live nude elf, petrified and unpetrified on your command. She wears a tiara, when you utter a command word, she will be petrified, unpetrified, or disciplined. Any attempts by her to remove the tiara will be futile. Use her only as a statue, or to entertain any debauched desires you may have. 125,000 GP.
Nurgan_the_drunked 11-04-04, 06:16 AM	*Silver ring. May be inscribed with the name of your beloved. (How many PCs may feel regret about killing the BBEG when they realize he was killing people in the villiage that lynched and murdered his lover? Maybe even spark a quest to make ammends.) Mean and gives a nice personal touch, or sets the party at that innocuos seeming NPC they met in the tavern. *Diamond-encrusted gold medallion, quite likely spelling out your name. *Really Freaking Huge Diamond. BLING!!! For the villian with the bent for music, how about your very own pipe organ? And not just any humdrum, find-me-in-any-church pipe organ. This pipe organ is as big as most churches themselves, powered by magical air to fuel the pipes, this baby is LOUD, best used in caverns where you can get the best acoustics (as a bonus, playing this is certain to rid your less-refined subterrainian areas of pesky stalactites,) or in the grandest hall your grandest castle has. As a bonus, it's constructed and has three Musical Unseen Servants which will play your favorite tunes non-stop, and has valves to control volume, should you want something mellow. The pipes come in your choice of gold, platinum, or even obsidian (Enchanted to never break,) which will definately effect acoustics. The base and bench are typically carved from mahogany, Ironwood or Darkwood, or else made out of marble, slate or obsidian. Darker colors work better, but the customer is of course always right. The keys typically are made of ivory (depending on the status of elephant herds the world over, this may be unavaiable,) or various bone (One of these can take an entire Great Wyrm to make, which will increase the price but definately make a statement.) 45,000 GP. Impressive, imposing, totally unlootable, and great for having dramatic music as the party attacks. Marvellous. Oh and don't forget those dungeon-wide bard songs! For the BBEG with wealth so overflowing he dosen't know what to do with it all, art objects don't have to be portable. Your entire HOME can be an art object..... Fantastic! And I think having the party break in on: a sculptor forced to work the wall against his will would be a cool encounter. Bare in mind that even importing the more mundane stuff is going to be a bit attention grabbing, but a nice plot hook, just because it doesn't sound interesting. Imean if you had a choice investigatING the strange figures in the graveyard, stopPING some orc raids or trackING an unknown demand for marble, which adventue would you pick? And the #1 item for the morally bankrupt... Why settle for a statue of a nude elf in your bedroom when you have a real, live nude elf, petrified and unpetrified on your command. She wears a tiara, when you utter a command word, she will be petrified, unpetrified, or disciplined. Any attempts by her to remove the tiara will be futile. Use her only as a statue, or to entertain any debauched desires you may have. 125,000 GP. You are a very naughty boy, and deserve to be sent to bed with no supper! just as soon as you tell me where I can get one
ShadowDragon8685 11-04-04, 06:22 AM	About the organ: if you've ever played Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, that's the kind of thing. Just remember, if you make places this extravagant and describe and detail them out in this kind of detail, the players are likely to move in once they've evicted the previous occupants. And re: sending me to bed with no supper. That's cool, so long as I have my bedroom elf. ;)
magicbehere 11-04-04, 07:03 AM	:bow: I've wanted to do this for a long time but didnt have time to think of a bunch of new art objects.
Nurgan_the_drunked 11-04-04, 07:33 AM	And re: sending me to bed with no supper. That's cool, so long as I have my bedroom elf. ;) It's in your bedroom then, is it? *Steeples fingers* Eeeeeexcellent...... For me, one thing that Art objects can be used for is minor plot hooks. A carved pewter goblet is just treasuer, but a pewter goblet carved with the image of a dragon taking gifts from dwarves, or with goblins fighting elves, or a set of holy symbols helps give a richer history to the world, and perhaps imply little plot bits. Also, if they need it appraised by an art expert, you can have him look at it and go "well, that is interesting...." and explain history, or why something seems out of place. Just out of curiosity what does the BBBBEG (bling bling big bad evil guy) have in his torture chamber? Gold plated Iron maidens? Diamond studded racks?
ShadowDragon8685 11-04-04, 07:39 AM	Well, just think back to Castlevania. Dracula draped his depravaties in the trappings of nobility, which was only slightly less bling bling than this, but when you got to the dungeon levels, you exposed the rough, harsh and bare reality of the castle. Then again, this is FR, not Castlevania. So I'd say that the BBBBEG would probably have his torture chambers professionaly made by Drow elves. :)
Arquinsiel 11-04-04, 08:44 AM	Interesting thread. I like the tables, plus the idea about having the BBEG's home being a n art object just sent me off on a tangental plot hook. Thanks guys.
Death Unlimited 11-04-04, 08:47 AM	Yeah, as much as some folks don't like the Console game/RPG crossover, Castlevania has some darn good ideas for art objects! And I love this thread. I am a strong believer in the art object myself, and sometimes tho even I have to be reminded to use them more. Don't forget the jewel encrusted instrument collections maybe left over from an old band of bards that no longer exist or something. Like others, I am SO pimpin one of my next BBEGs. This is too much fun and it makes the PCs do more than just lug home sacks of gold and a magic wand. Or maybe the BBEG's gilded backscratcher IS a magic wand...(how many PCs would want to take home a backscratcher??) Make them regret no taking home the stuff that looks mundane once in awhile. (I mean, the golden toilet paper holder doesn't have to be magical.) The Silver Plated Pixie Skull Shotglass set would be just right as a present for the more morally corrupt in your life as well.
CzarGarrett 11-04-04, 09:06 AM	This is such a great idea. I think next time I can, I'm going to have a BBEG lair with those 1970's style naked black chicks with afro paintings. It'll be sweet.
VirgilCaine 11-04-04, 09:17 AM	I found some Living Paintings and Active Paintings somewhere on the 'net that worked off of the image spells and were constructs (respectively).
Melpomene 11-04-04, 10:34 AM	Inspired by winterwolf fur and an Erinyes feather cap, both of which I need now, here are some more art objects with a monsterous flavour. 500G Griffons's Head, mounted and stufed, on a lovely chestnut base with a gold plaque Juvenile Green Dragon Head, mounted and stuffed, crest preserved Head of a humanoid, mounted and stuffed, on a chestnut base with gold plaque Oversized golden cup, used by cloud giants, inlaid with various pastoral scenes Crystal phial of hydra or troll blood, with a golden stopper Beard clasp set, made of burnished gold and inlaid with gems Nagahide boots Lamp with a living will-o-wisp providing light Basilisk's Eye, in a crystal phial with golden stopper Rug made of grizzly fur, head preserved 1000 Dire Bear, mounted and stuffed, placed on a fine wooden pedistal in a fierce pose Small basket woven from treated howler spines Coat made of dire weasle fur Table carved from a dead dryad, face preserved 1500 Dragonbone endtable, each piece carved to fit in joints, otherwise kept intact Medalian, chain crafted from adamant, with the actual medalian being a gear from an Inevedable A shattered litch's phylactery Coat made from mustuvial fur (Mm... warm *and* evil) Beholder's large eye, in crystal phial, with golden stopper Support beams for a room made of dragon ribbones
Winsome 11-04-04, 11:00 AM	Ah, art objects. I love them, nothing like giving out treasure worth 50K and having the party fence the stuff to Honest John for 10K. As an aside, I had a DM once give out a 15ft high crystal pillar weighing about 200 pounds. We needed to hijack a cart to loot that one. This was the same guy who gave us 20,000 copper peices as a bandit haul. Yes twenty thousand (more or less) copper pieces. Did we leave them? No, the paladin's mount was pressed into packanimal service (ha ha). Like the bedroom elf idea. Craft Wonderous Item would be needed I guess, and a large amount of gold, some sort of Tiara for the control method and presumably an elf. I'm so rubbish with the item creation calculations
eudas 11-04-04, 11:03 AM	"*lifesized marble bust of famous person. I'd personally have Vecna myself" With or Without the Head of Vecna? ;) (old joke, go look it up) eudas
eudas 11-04-04, 11:06 AM	Screw the looting! My gamers would evict the BBEG and move in!(snip) Yeah that's pretty much what I was thinking, too. I'd be moving in for sure! :) Living in the lap of luxury... now all i have to do is get rid of all those pesky evil minions that keep tracking mud and ichor all over the carpets... eudas
eudas 11-04-04, 11:17 AM	re:statue edit: ah, wait, nevermind. i responded too quickly -- the statue's inventor already addressed this issue, and far better than I! :) eudas
Vix Damnul v2 11-04-04, 12:34 PM	Hehehe, great ideas, and just think, if you make some of the fancy pants art objects (note to self: include "fancy pants" as art object) animated objects, will the pcs still destroy them? Let's not forget classics, like gold teeth, or embedded gems... or just using gems for teeth (like Cohen the Barbarian, or discworld trolls), gem studded eye patches, enchanted peg legs/arms/heads, a nice sahuagin skin diamond studded and gold threaded collar for a hellhound pet/ally, or bonded staff. PCs may or may not kill a goblin jester who was cursed to remain always in a certain room, or within a certain radius of, say, a very nice enchanted sword the pcs want, but they'll certainly be surprised when an evil type did something evil with his money. 1,000 gold: Rare antique chess set: This chess set is made out of a mithril and adamantine board, and the normal pieces are replaced by... bakers, serfs, butchers, weavers, tanners, and so on, or just different races. Halfing-pawn, elf-bishop, dragon-queen, wizard-king, knight-, umm, knight, for example. Ancient artifacts- yes, it may look like a crappy old piece of pottery, but the dragon/lich/whatever remembers getting it when it was first made... 20,000 years ago. To the right collector, musty dusty junk is invaluable, moreso than coins, at least. Maps- antique maps are valuable for the same reasons as artifacts, but also for clues as to where things used to be, or what they used to be called, as well as artistic value.
ThatDarnCat 11-04-04, 01:50 PM	The best thing about art objects is ANYTHING can be treasure. Just pick up and snooty mail order catalog and have a look at the overpriced junk they are pawning off as 'collectables'... Cloth of gold, silks, satins, embroidered with silver or gold wire. Hell, a villains closet could be worth a fortune, but only to somefur who likes that kind of style. Sure every piece cost him 300gp, but would you wear the chartrues silk robe with magenta collar and cuffs and the 18in diameter symbol of Lolth worked in gold thread across the back? Have fun finding a buyer for that! As for magical items, I've had so many players ignore things that didn't look like magic items it's not funny. They loot every sword, shield, armor, wand-like object, book, scroll, ring, brooch, etc, but ignore everything else. Sometimes they will even drop the items above that may be valuable just because it's not magic. Art objects would be just the place to hide many magic items. Some beneficial, to the owner, and some just really annoying... Unhallow can be cast on other things, not just a skul carved from ebony. Simply put it on a simple statue and the PCs might have a hell of a time getting it back home, and then more fun when it is home. Gotta hate that Circle of Protection against Good... Anit-plant shell on a pair of hedge clipper. Awaken on a pulled bell in the servants quarters to summon sevants at any time day or night. Calm Emotion on a run placed befor the throne to calm unruly visitors... Detect Lies on an Ear Horn, you know, the thing you need when you are harm of hearing. Dominate Person on a nice chair, or set of chairs, that the host pulls out personally for his honored guests... Knock places on a large, ornate key that is in a drawer with other large ornate keys, all of wghich do not fit any lock in the building... Know Direction placed on a sextant, handy for overland and ocean voyages, since you will always know direct north. Levitate on a small carpet, useful for servants to do the dusting in your great hall with the 50ft high valued cieling. Magic Mouth on any object that proclaims in a loud voice who owed it whenever it is touched... Maze placed on any extremely valuable item. Do you really want to take every gold statue in the room? Resist Elements(water) placed on an umbrella. Tasha's Hideous Laughter placed on a feather duster. True Seeing placed on a mirrow. You see the truth about what is viewed in the reflection. Hand held mirrors would work best, since it's easier to conceal that you are looking at others rather than yourself. Zone of Truth another good carpet spell...
CrippleMrOnion 11-04-04, 02:14 PM	Ok, Ok, I know that this is about art objects, etc, but I just can't help posting this. I used this art object/Wonderous Item as a trap in a campaign I ran... a very effective trap, which took out a party member. In a gallery in a BBEG-style mansion (there was no BBEG, but the mansion itself was the enemy), there is a room full of pictures of various types. Some landscapes, still lifes, portraits, etc. One portrait is of the owner of the mansion. The painting is an telepathic intelligent item that can dominate 1/day through a gaze attack. Anyone who looks at the painting must make a will save or be dominated and ordered to kill everyone around them. If they fail their save (set it as you see fit according to the rules), they should just begin attacking the party around them. Since this was, by chance, the last room my PCs encountered in the mansion, they were HP low. Someone viewed the painting, failed the save, and slashed the nearest PC... with a crit. The PC went down (sorry, guys). The rest of the party subdued the dominated PC and, eventually, figured out what happened. It's not a perfect interpretation of the rules, but I suggest that it have cast on it alarm (to set off the trap), eyebite (for the gaze attack), and, obviously, dominate.
wereooze 11-04-04, 02:29 PM	Further speakings on Art Objects. The overwhelmingly positive feedback to my thread has reinforced the idea that 'Art Objects', as covered in the DMG, have been short-sheeted. In future, I will attempt to write a comprehensive essay on Art, covering all these listed, and any other facets that I might think of. But for now, here is some further 'spanin, and a few examples. Why Art? The purpose of Art Objects in the D&D, as should apply to a campaign, serve basically one of three goals * Flaunt wealth/Status symbol * Promote morale * Serve as a setting for an encounter Of the three, the primary reason encountered in-game would apply to the personal wealth of an NPC. But just remember that where art exists, there must be an artist. Famous guilds or individuals provide for campaign background, history and flavor. Art and NPCs NPC's, and in particular villains/BBEGs & nobility, are set above the common man by means of great wealth. A DM could always state that an NPCs total value is entirely in coin, but that is unrealistic, and does not promote any further possible roll-playing opportunities. Art objects allow the wealthy NPC to stand-above the common NPC, whether they be peasants or soldiers, and be easily identified. If a pair of identical twins encountered you, and one wore a Rolex watch while the other had a Timex, you could be fairly certain in guessing which twin had more money. Art objects can also function as a character trait. These things make NPCs easier to remember. If you describe Johansen the pirate as having an eyepatch studded with rubies, or Rupert the sage walks with an ivory cane, you can be sure that traits will help people remmeber that particular character (Even if there is no game-mechanic benefit for ruby studded eyepatches) Art and the encounter DM: You have defeated the necromancer, his hoarde includes 2500Gp, 4000Cp, and a wand of magic missles. Player: Alright, we will split the coins evenly among our group and give the wand to our Sorcerer character. As you can see, nothing much happens. But if, instead of coins, the necromancer's hoarde included gilded tomes, elvish taperstries, antique furnishings, a tube-set monoblock power amplifie,r et cetera; Then the group is left with an array of options: *Do they make several trips to carefully unload the dungeon of all its possessions and hope to sell it in the nearest town? *Do they decide to leave the heavy object, although worth a sizable chunk of the total haul, just because its simpler? *Do they sort the individual items to try and sell them to famous collectors in far-away cities for an even greater profit? And this assumes that the PC's have even found the Art in the BBEGs lair. In all fairness a DM could easily rule that unless the characters specifically search for art objects, or even make an appraisal check, that the Art Objects might go undiscovered and that fraction of the Loot wouldn't even go to the PCs! (and might be used/sold by the lairs next occupants!). New 'Art Object' examples BOOKS Gutherbert's Bibles: The sages of Gutherbert monestary have a long history of beautifully illustrated tomes on every subject. But the finest of all were the 'Gutherbert Bibles'. These massive tomes are twenty inches across, tweny four inches tall, and nearly six inches thick. They contain nearly 500 pages of impecable calligraphy and full colour paintings. The covers are made of duskwood, covered in durable chimera leather that has been dyed to match the colors of that bibles covered god. The corners are reinforced with platinum, the covers are locked with a mithril clasp, and the edges of the paper pages are leafed in gold. There is a bible for each god/religion (ie. a Kord bible, a Pelor bible, a Gruumsh bible), and the bible covers every aspect of that religion. A bible weighs nearly forty pounds, and can fetch 2500gp from a collector. The steep price ensures that only major cathedrals and the wealthiest of private owners can afford such a luxury. A complete set (one bible of each religion) has never been collected, but would be worth an astronomical sum to any Sage or library. Bryth'Tanria Encyclopedia of the Arcane: Centuries ago, the elvish wizard college of Bryth'Tanria underwent a project that took their scholars several human lifetimes to complete; A complete library on the treatise and theories of each school of arcane magic. The volumes are twelve inches across, eighteen high, and two and a half deep. They have roughly 250 pages of material, written in silver ink on rare elvish rice paper. The covers of the Encyclopedia are made of burnished gold. There is one encycopedia volume for every school of arcane magic (ie. necromancy, illusion, evocation, chronomancy et cetera). The tomes are written in archaic elvish and most well-traveled wizard has seen at least one volume of the set in his/her lifetime. Only the largest of magical schools could afford the entire collected encyclopedia, as each volume is worth nearly 3000gp alone. Some wealthy wizards will collect a single volume or two, corresponding to their specialized schools of magic.
Scaer_Vieliss 11-04-04, 02:58 PM	Very informative and creative thread, its given me a new way to look at handing out treasure. I haven't added much in the way of art in my campaigns, but here's some I had fun with: Osyluth in a Jar: This is a large block of crystal, enhanced and strengthened with magic. Inside is a bone devil, perfectly preserved (alive or dead is your choice). An excellent conversation piece sure to liven up any collection. Tarrasque Exhibit: An oak case the size of a table or larger, lined with velvet and with a glass cover holds one or more bones from a Tarrasque, such as claws, skull fragments or pieces of the carapace.
bitnine 11-04-04, 03:42 PM	You know, I just happened to really take towards placing situational art objects as treasure in my last game, and I really did like the effect. I think I have some examples in my old notes. Ah, here are the notes from an ancient sacrificial temple (excerps from various rooms): The skeletons are easily identified as hobgoblins, but closer inspection reveals that they are somewhat short for such and would appear to be a more primal breed than is currently seen. In the hands of one of the skeletons is a ornate electrum ceremonial dagger with a star ruby inset in the handle, worth 800 gp. A faded, yet mostly intact tapestry is along the western wall, showing a black-skinned, taloned and winged figure with crimson eyes holding out something as if offering. If fully restored (such as with Make Whole) each tapestry is worth 500 gp, though a buyer might be hard to find. Also in the drawer is a gold idol of the same ilk seen on the tapestry, worth 800 gp. Resting on a ledge projecting from the pulpit is a silver chalice with a ruby inset into its bottom, worth 700 gp. It is still filled with water, though cast an eerie red hue by the gem. Also in the room, propped against the dias is a bejeweled ceremonial scepter, worth 4,000 gp.Heh, I also had a very difficult encounter set with most of the treasure placed as a sorcerer's personal possessions, including a pair of fine mahogany tables, several ivory crests, a gold-threaded tapestry, a renowned painting, and to top it all off, a large golden statue of the sorcerer itself. I remember chuckling at the placement of the tables, as I really didn't see the party hauling off fine furnature to sell. But all told it provided a wealth of functional treasure, as well as painting a good picture of an excessively opulent hall.
Melpomene 11-04-04, 03:45 PM	There is an additional element to treasure you failed to cover, Wereooze, and I wouldn't mind so much except that it's one of the main reasons I use art. While some art is hard to haul about (an osyloth set in stone or a large masterwork harp), a good deal of it is much, much easier to truck around than coins. 10,000 copper pieces is a pain in the butt to load up and ship, whereas a pair of Nagahide boots is not. Also, more art objects (because you sparked my creativity) - Designer-made perfume, made from kraken oil and scented from a rare flower that blooms once every century. 7,000G - Gloves made from Quasit skin. 500G - A neck mantle made of mythril and banded together with deer leather. 1,000G - A two-century old bottle of elven wine, crafted from grapes which no longer grow in the region and crafted by brewers that no longer exist. 500G -Gold chargers, set of 12. 800G -A burned out wand (no charges left) of an epic wizard. 100-700G -A burned our staff (no charges left) of an epic wizard. 200-2,000G
Aliquid 11-04-04, 04:41 PM	Don't forget magically enhancing items For example: A silver hair brush that magically removes any knots in your hair while you brush An ornate wash-basin that will fill with warm soapy water on command (The PCs in my game pull this one out whenever they rescue a prisoner "here, clean yourself up. Being seen with someone who is dirty and stinky will ruin our image." A magical gem encrusted carving knife which never needs sharpening. A silk pillow of sleeping for the wealthy narcoleptic (casts "sleep") make some of the fancy pants art objects...animated objects A fine painting of a landscape with happy trees, and a twisting river... that changes with the seasons. And so on :)
Melpomene 11-04-04, 04:45 PM	I had a pillow of sleep once. That was nice. I would keep magic items away form art abjects, though, as magic items, even pillows of sleep, are really wonderous items.
Iyestorm 11-04-04, 05:17 PM	Gilded Rocfeather pen w/ magical glowy glyphs: 249 gp (plus tax) Crystalized monster eye collection: 20,000 GP and counting. Mordenkainen and Manshoon action figures; et al (with real special effects!): If you have to ask, you can't afford it. But you're a BBBBEG. You don't need to ask; hell, you don't even need to pay. Servants to look like they're actually doing something: 0-50 gppd, depending on your intimidate check. seeing those immature party members fall into a trap after playing with your action figures: priceless. There's some things money can't buy. But you're a BBBBEG and can get those anyway.
Felonious Monk 11-04-04, 05:20 PM	Brass Knuckles imprinted with "B-B-E-G" and "P-I-M-P": 50 gp each. Displacer beast leisure suit: 500 gp. Couatl-feather boa. 1000 gp. Having your own episode of BBEGTV's "Cribs": Priceless.
ShadowDragon8685 11-04-04, 11:10 PM	Gold-tinted mad-scientist goggles: 60 GP. Whitewashed Black Dragonhide Lab Coat: 1,250 GP Gold-tipped ebony cane: 450 GP The look on the PC's faces when you smack them upside the head with the cane: Priceless. There are some things money can't buy. For everything else there's Master Carde, Visa and Associates, proud moneylenders to BBBBEGs everywhere.
Krog_the_Destroyer 11-05-04, 12:25 AM	The hexblade bbeg in my game has only one thing to say to this "I'm Rich *****" as he sports a Platinum Grill set with princess cut soul gems holding to Astral Devas spelling out the word BLING (cost 220,000)
ShadowDragon8685 11-05-04, 12:32 AM	Bling-Bling, baby!
Greldinard 11-05-04, 08:39 AM	Does any of these come with a free t-shirt?
FriendoftheDork 11-05-04, 09:41 AM	oh boy, I love this! Some of my PCs love art objects, which means they'll probably be very poor magic-wise and still look fabulous!
ShadowDragon8685 11-05-04, 04:29 PM	Hehehe. Just remember, Art Objects are very good candidates for being turned into Wondrous Items. Being masterwork and all. :) Any stupid wizard can fly around on an enchanted carpet. But you'll never forget this team of adventurers: Barbarian - who sails into battle astride an enchanted bearskin carpet, which also roars frighteningly. Paladin: Having forsook the ground-bound life, she rides into battle astride a beautiful thick throw rug embroidered with care with her Diety's holy symbol on front and back sides. Wizard: Sails serenely into battle sitting crosslegged on his luxurious deep pile carpet, which gracers his bedroom when not in use as a steed. Bard: giggling like a lunatic, he swoops around on a quilt made by his very own personal mother, which has a patchwork design made of musical intriments and musical notes.
Dartanel 11-05-04, 07:22 PM	Notable art objects I've used in my campaign: Idol of the god of madness: An obsidian pillar (about 1' tall) studded with dozens of eye-shaped yellow topazes. Cloak made of demon wing leather, complete with big metal shoulder pads. Adamantine silverware set. Adamantine farm tool set. (These sent the dwarf weaponsmith PC into fits)
Didge 11-06-04, 01:38 AM	Ok, I read these and laughed. I think this is great. This is the kind of stuff that has players asking, "Why did the guy have <insert weird art object here>?" So I thought I would toss out a suggestion or two. (The following is best if read in that annoying announcer/infomercial voice) Have tons of coins of different value? Why not use the coins to create your own masterpiece. Yes, that's right. Simply order our "coin by number" painting and you too can have a famous work of art that is constructed using those coins that are laying about your lair. Never again be embarrassed to have company over. It makes a great conversation piece, and is fun at parties! We have multiple selections, and a variety of sizes. Sorry, coins not included. Have you ever felt that your evil holy symbol wasn't big enough to get the job done? Do you seem to lack conviction when presenting it? Why spend a measly 25gp on a cheesy and small silver Holy symbol, when if you order now, you can have the deluxe ultra-mega obscenely lavish GOLD Holy Symbol. Yes, that's right. Brandish your new GOLD Holy Symbol and watch as peons and townsfolk run for their lives. Now I know your thinking, but Didge, that'll cost too much. No my friend, if you act quickly this item is on sale for the low, low price of 100 gp. So order now, before supplies run out! Have you had one of those bad days where those pesky heroes stop your plans for world domination or total anhilation? Then you escape only to come back to your lair without inspiration on what to do next. Well now there's a reason to put the Doom back into your Day Plan. Yes, even after a sound beating by heroes isn't enough to knock down your spirits when you've got "Inspirational Bad-Guy Paintings". Yes, no matter how gloomy you are, you can't help but look at these and get re-motivated to take on the world...again! You can order yours with your face/likeness standing over the carnage of countless bodies or your likeness high atop a mountain with lightning flickering from your hands destroying the village below. Either one is guarenteed to put the fight back in you*. *Warning, any and all likelihood of actual success rests solely in the buyer's cunning, survivability, and mostly luck. This company does not guarentee that your plans for world domination or anhilation will actually succeed. Can't remember which hero did what to annoy you and when, or what their fatal downfall might be? Well fear no longer. For with the NEW BBEG's Day Planner you too can remember key heroes weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Covered in the skin of a wrymling Black Dragon, this books exterior exudes a sense of style, elegance, and taste. A fine lockable clasp made of silver ensures that no matter where it is left, the secrets inside are safe. The Day Planner has over 100 pages, and is compact enough to fit snugly inside your shirt pocket. Each page has a diabolical quote uttered by some of the most renown villians from the past and present. Never again fear sounding like you don't know what you're doing, simply utter one of these at your enemies and know that it was a classic then and still is one now. Ok I'm out, that was too much fun. :D
Selkie_Guardian 11-06-04, 07:09 AM	How about a Life sized, Obsidian, Saphire, Emerald, Ruby and Diamond Bust of Tiamat (let the PCS try and lug THAT out of the dragon's lair)!
ShadowDragon8685 11-06-04, 07:24 AM	Why go just for her Bust, when you can have a full-sized statue? :)
The Shaman 11-06-04, 11:21 AM	Well, they're not really art objects per se, but expensive pets also make good loot, and would fit right in with some of the things mentioned here. While griffons and other exotic pets come to mind, even mudane animals could be of high value. For example, a racehorse of outstanding lineage, or a matched team of coach horses (think Budweiser clydesdales), or a rare breed of hunting dog, or an unusual falcon for falconry, or a performing bear all make good treasures in a blinging BBEG's lair. It also requires a bit of care in taking the treasure and reselling it. Closer to the topic, if a BBEG has special pets, then of course the pets will all have some bling-bling as well: jeweled collars, saddles with elaborate leatherwork, jesses made of rare hides, carved harnesses, even elaborate costumes with gold thread and gems.
Airsucker 11-06-04, 01:23 PM	Think of the fits your party druid will have over all those pets, especially those made from wild species. As for the furniture, and the rare elven wine, I'd stand those at more value. Wine collectors pay thousands in the real world. My dad used to work for Baker furniture before they shipped all their business down south. You'd be surprised at what rich people pay for pressboard covered over with fancy veneers. Even before stuff like pressboard, a solid oak table was a valuble family heirloom. Even if your table and chairs are oak with a fancy veneer, they will be very valuble. Inlay and guilding will also drive up its value. The more hours a crafter has to put into an item, the more expensive it will be. I'll have to keep this in mind when I play Sims next. There's a lot of luxury items in there too. What about houseplants? Most modern houseplants are derived from tropical species. Watch your party druid go nuts about that precious rare tropical plant taken from its native envronment. Fountains also show wealth. Try and cart that off. If you're going to have fancy cookpots, don't forget those rare spices. Even simple black pepper was once a highly valuble trade comodity. Salt was coinage, once upon a time. The salt mephit in a jar could be rather handy.
Malkavian^C^ 11-06-04, 03:23 PM	And the #1 item for the morally bankrupt... Why settle for a statue of a nude elf in your bedroom when you have a real, live nude elf, petrified and unpetrified on your command. She wears a tiara, when you utter a command word, she will be petrified, unpetrified, or disciplined. Any attempts by her to remove the tiara will be futile. Use her only as a statue, or to entertain any debauched desires you may have. 125,000 GP. And for the seriously depraved BBBBEG, do they come in twins?
ShadowDragon8685 11-06-04, 05:44 PM	That can be arranged.... But it's gonna cost you. Pull out that Platinum Sack of Holding and we'll talk. I do accept Artifacts in trade.
wereooze 11-06-04, 09:20 PM	Don't forget a statue in gnome.... you never know when you'll need soemthing a little more snug
The Shaman 11-06-04, 09:27 PM	Don't forget a statue in gnome.... you never know when you'll need soemthing a little more snug :mymy: Too much information!
ShadowDragon8685 11-06-04, 09:56 PM	:mymy: Ummm. Good thing my policy is "ask no questions." :P
quarkstomper 11-11-04, 12:31 PM	Some of my favorites, in no particular order: Enchanted Coffee Mug Ceramic mug bearing a cutesy saying such as "Chaotic Nasty" or "Life's a Lich". On command, cup magically fills with hot coffee. Quality and variety of coffee varies from item to item. (see Orkish Coffee) Cue of Accuracy Pool cue with an silver inlaid tip. Mystic symbols are inscribed in the shaft. Adds +2 to users proficiency in Billiards. May also be used as a quarterstaff with no plusses. Ever-Full Lunch Pail Tin case embossed and painted with images of famous figures of legend (Elminster, Drizzt Duodenum, the Dukes of Hazzard, etc.). When opened, contains a sandwich, a cookie, a piece of fruit and a beverage. Every time it is opened, it is full with a different tpe of food. Platinum Hubcap Ornate platinum disc studded with diamonds. No discernable magic, but it must be worth lots. According to legend there are four of them in total and if they are ever brought together they will summon the Great Celestial Cadillac. Occasionally one will turn up in my campaigns, but so far no one has collected all of them. Secretarial Golem. Golden statue of a woman, about 8 inches tall. A magical servant who takes dictation, organizes messy labs, arranges appointments and such for busy wizards. Books, Various Ye Abominations Almanac An illustrated catalogue of monsters, describing habits, habitats, diets and other helpful information. Much of it is accurate. Some editions have marginal notes from previous owners and related spells. Ars Metamorphosis (The Art of Metamorphosis) Book of poetry written in the Archaic tounge with copious illustrations. Ancient tales of love and enchantments. Must be over 18 to purchase in most cities. (Some of the poems are spells, so reading aloud from the book can be dangerous) The Art of War An old book in the oriental tounge by a famous general of the Eastern Continent. Some editions have been translated into the Archaic language and other languages. A collection of aphorisms about strategy and tactics illustrated by examples from history. The Craft of Venus A book of erotic spells. If you happen to be into that sort of thing. Merggin's Book of the Sword Training manual on swordsmanship and combat ettiquite. Necromacy for Fun and Profit If you happen to be into that sort of thing. On the Slaying of DragonsMemoirs of a famous dragon slayer. Personal ancedotes mixed with hearsay dragon lore. Semi-reliable. Occasionally one can be found in a dragon horde, the property of a foolish knight who fell victim to the book's innaccuracies, and which the dragon has annotated with corrections, glosses, and ironic commentary. The Prince Guide to intrigue and practical politics by a master courtier. Zen and the Art of Dungeon Maintenance Techical information about constructing underground labyrinths, devising traps, stocking with monsters, etc. Sundries: Dwarvish Chocolate The good stuff. Golden box containing squares of exquisitely good, very fine chocolate, individually wrapped in gold foil. Yummy! Orkish Coffee Vile-tasting brew favored by orcs, kobolds and some wizards. Strong enough to strip paint and peel your eyelids off. Will keep you awake and alert for hours, maybe days, whether you want to or not. Does not come in decaf.
Iyestorm 11-11-04, 12:42 PM	Chocolate covered Memphits. Yummy. If any of you put these into your campaign, please post to the rest of us the PC's reactions, if they were funny.
VirgilCaine 11-12-04, 11:07 AM	- A two-century old bottle of elven wine, crafted from grapes which no longer grow in the region and crafted by brewers that no longer exist. 500G Something that will never be reproduced exactly the same again and it's only 500 GP?
Scaer_Vieliss 11-12-04, 12:24 PM	Here's another art object to grace a villain's study: a large flawless white pearl roughly one foot in diameter, with continents carved into the surface and precious gems used to mark landmarks, cities, etc. Additionally, gold wire is used to mark latitude and longitude. Comes with fine polished oak stand.
Melpomene 11-12-04, 01:56 PM	Something that will never be reproduced exactly the same again and it's only 500 GP? Well, I based that on a few criteria. 1.) The item will be consumed, and it cannot be similarly enjoyed afterwords. 2.) 500 gold is enough money to keep even a respectable merchant clothed and fed for a year. YMMV, of course.
Ricky 11-12-04, 02:07 PM	A fine painting of a landscape with happy trees, and a twisting river... that changes with the seasons. I'm SO USING THAT IN MY NEXT CAMPAIGN!! :bounce: Aliquid, you're the :king:
Melpomene 11-12-04, 02:09 PM	A two-century old bottle of wine, made by brewers who no longer exist, from grapes that no longer grow in the region, and flavoured with the blood of a creature that no longer lives in the area. 1,000 G Stash of black gems in a silken bag, used in "animate dead" and similar rituals. 300-1000 G (More interesting if BBEG isn't a necromancer) Soul Gem, set in a neckless, with soul. 7,500+ G Stuffed animal, mounted with a plaque, which no longer exists in the region. 1,000 G Semi-ancient tome, written by a legendary wizard, containing thoughts on the nature of loss, pain, and other instrospective topics. More than a little creepy. 2,000+ G
ShadowDragon8685 11-12-04, 07:11 PM	I like that painting.
Ratheus 11-13-04, 03:52 AM	Man, this is cool. Of course, If my players happen to utter the words of painful punishment aka, "pimp" or "bling bling" (come on, how low of an intelligence do you need for these 'words'? They get beaned in the head with something solid. Like a warhammer. On an instant critical of smiting stupidness.
ShadowDragon8685 11-13-04, 04:16 AM	Oh, come on.. You pimp the BBEG out like a mack fly daddy, and he's rolling in the blind. And the PCs kill him. One of them picks up his super-gem-encrusted pendant, he has the right to say "Bling Bling, baby"
Iyestorm 11-13-04, 04:40 PM	hmm... I'm wondering if I priced some things right... ...How much would you pay for an Eliminister action figure that could launch mini-fireballs (harmless, btw, probably made with illusion magics) and other spells? Edit: Seriously, how much would you pay?! This is a serious question people! :waits:
wereooze 11-13-04, 05:17 PM	Alternately in the spirit of the vehicles on Mtv's Pimp my Ride, you could always have BBEG's spend their horde pimping-out something that, in the end, is still a worthless piece of crap. *The battered-old nag w/ 15,000gp worth of enchanted tattoos that move around. The horse dies six days after the PC's find it. *Naga-skin boots that manage to fit no-one but the BBEG properly (Non-magical clothing doesn't resize per wearer). *1000gp bottle of Elvish wine that got left next to the fireplace for a few years *Hand polished floors of trent-wood for BBEG's dung-hut *Horse drawn carriage has solid silver wheels! Unfortunatley, in order to look "cool" the BBEG made the rear wheels too large and the front wheels too small. The price of this primeval "funny car" is a carriage with a DC penalty of -15 to operate correctly.
Dreaming_in_the_void 11-13-04, 05:23 PM	*1000gp bottle of Elvish wine that got left next to the fireplace for a few years That's an expensive bottle of vinegar, elvish or not!
ShadowDragon8685 11-13-04, 06:48 PM	That depends: Was the fireplace on or off during those years? :) And the PCs can always either have A: A tailor redo the boots, or enchant them into Boots of Speed or something so they'll resize. :)
ShadowDragon8685 01-02-05, 02:50 AM	This thread is just too cool to permit it's demise. *Casts Summon Thread IV* Threadomancy! Come on, has nobody any good ideas for this stuff?
Riznar 01-02-05, 05:11 AM	I was always a fan of grand libraries filled with cheesy romance novels. As a bonus, tear spots on the sad/really romantic parts. For BBEGs in love with themselves: Giant nude paintings of themselves You know, if I were an adventurer, I'd be really impressed if my foe just had running water. If we're talking about vehicles, a floating stage coach with a nightmare to pull it says "Evil" with style. Hmm, imagine a baby's room with all the finest toys and bedding and decorations money can buy, and inside the crib is the gentle reposed corpse of the BBEG's infant child. Curled up as if sleeping.
Violet Typhoon 01-02-05, 12:08 PM	This is wonderful. I've found that libraries in particular are very hard to stock, but this helps. In addition to romance novels, you could have a set of books with titles like "Griffin Soup for the Tiefling's Soul" and "Lycanthropy and You." Nothing is more evil than the self-help industry. :smirk: I'll think of some other things to add later, but I just wanted to say how good this thread is!
Minister_for_Moral_Truth 01-02-05, 01:08 PM	And, of course, "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Enjoy Evil - 'If I am Ever the Evil Overlord Updated and Expanded Eddition with Anotations and Examples from across the Planes' "
Scaer_Vieliss 01-02-05, 02:43 PM	Hmm, imagine a baby's room with all the finest toys and bedding and decorations money can buy, and inside the crib is the gentle reposed corpse of the BBEG's infant child. Curled up as if sleeping. That is scary, but adds nicely to a BBEG's backstory. How about this for adding to the decor: A rakshasa-fur rug, just like those tiger and bear rug typically found in castles? And what better way to store your books than a bookshelf made of dryads and their trees? Or if you're on a budget, just carve the shelves to look like dryads.
icingdeath44 01-02-05, 04:03 PM	I love this thread it has soo many uses in my campaign (smugglers are smuggling ornate furniture now) 100gp~ The Tome of infinate useless dates, when opened an extraplanar mouth appears and tell you any date you need, except for ones that are useful. 200gp~ a pair of the BBEGS baby boots plated in gold. and for the BBEGs kitchen: 50 GP~ a knife that can 3 times a day spawn a djinn who can do nothing else but cook. 27gp~ Elminsters compendium of cooking volume 2, now with recipes that won't blow you up. 47gp~ A solid Electrum ravioli crimper. 32gp~ a pan magically enchanted to be non-stick. 57gp~ A protrait of the BBEG's mother that is magically enchnated to nag allll the time, it's only worth anything because the frame which is nonremovable, is made of mahogany chased with silver.
Chosen of the Dark Sun 01-02-05, 04:16 PM	Man, this is some serious bling! My PCs are gonna drool over this stuff. :)
ShadowDragon8685 01-02-05, 04:44 PM	Man, even a DM would be drolling over this stuff. Now, the question is: Can we bling the BBEG's crib out so bad that the players will, far from sacking and looting, move in?
Chosen of the Dark Sun 01-02-05, 05:12 PM	Well there are many things you could do to the BBEG's lair to get PCs to move in . Just carve everything that's good into the place. Like a 10' throne made of solid diamond, inlaid with platinum and obsidian, with a dimensional anchor on it so the PCs can't steal it. Caching!
ShadowDragon8685 01-02-05, 05:44 PM	You do realize that PCs will go to great lengths to pry valuables from the dungeon, right? I've heard of DMs who had every single tile in the dungeon - and it was tiled wall, floor and ceiling - be a magic-blocking tile, because he wanted a good old dungeon crawl without any pesky magic like Passwall or anything else interfering. Once the dungeon crawl was done, the PC hired wagons, and he literally spent three weeks ripping every single tile out of the dungeon. The DM was kicking himself, because they were worth a damn mint. :) So I woulden't put it past the PCs to carve said throne OUT of the dungeon wall and cart it away. A throne that's pure diamond and has a dimensional anchor on it would be worth quite a lot to a King. It's less about simply making everything super valuable, as making it so irresistable a domocile that the PCs want it for their own.
thegreatnoname 01-02-05, 06:19 PM	ok I know this is going to sound chessy but those moving paintings remind me of the paintings from harry potter that guard the doors. You know the ones right, nothing will aggravate a pc more than a living painting of an insulting imp guarding a door threatning to smite them.(of course steps must be taken to keep the pc from just destroying it but still funny. BTW I love this thread :D
ShadowDragon8685 01-02-05, 06:28 PM	Destroying the painting collapses the doorway into rubble that PCs will need a few hours to move? Maybe attacking the painting reflects all magical damage back on the caster, and physically any damage done gets returned? IE: As you swing at the painting, a sword swings out of the painting, attacking you with an identical strike, including your own BAB and any magical enchantments on your sword?
thegreatnoname 01-02-05, 06:41 PM	those work nicely. That really makes it annoying, an imp who is insulting your mother and uses your own attacks and spells against you. :evillaugh :w00t: :clap:
ShadowDragon8685 01-02-05, 07:06 PM	Thank you, I try. :) You might also want it to be funny - anyone who gets into an insulting match with the imp for a minute or so opens the door. So if you react violently, you get hurt. If you cuss the imp out and start making rude gestures at him, the door opens.
thegreatnoname 01-02-05, 07:15 PM	I bow down to you. :bow: Have a brass plaque with the inscription Those who wish to pass must fight fire with fire and and have a tounge just as fast.
ShadowDragon8685 01-02-05, 07:18 PM	And the party's bard never thought his ranks in Perform: Dirty limricks would come in handy. :) Anything that can make the imp miserable would work. Bad singing, off-color jokes, insulting his mother, etcetera. :) But the best is, of course, the insulting and name-calling and flipping of the bird. :)
Leibel 01-02-05, 07:21 PM	Great thread - damn funny too. Some art things in my world I have The chronicles of shadowdale - written by a legendary the elf wizardess serinda and edited by her husband it's a history of the first 1100 years of the world after a noach-like flood. It has hundreds of sub-books and discusses everything you can think of(serinda and her husband spent hundreds of years traveling and taking notes before writing it). Extremely expensive for the whole thing. Whole Set - 300,000gp. Crystal ball of preservation - Makes a copy of your mind in a crystal ball(not physically, just your thought patterns, personality and memories) that can be activated for 1 hour a day. It cast a projected image of you that can't cast spells. A way to be immortal(sort of). Invented by Serinda and her husband. Their set is so valuable the government took it from the PC's immediately - for a hefty fee of course. A small of (technical) immorality for only 75,000gp + the cost of getting a wizard to do the 1 week of working the right spells. More basic things like a pool table run 200gp.(Yes there's pool in my world - the rogue is a pool shark)
thegreatnoname 01-02-05, 07:22 PM	now I have to use this guy. i dont care if I dont even have a spot for him I will make one. This is just to funny not to use.
Chosen of the Dark Sun 01-02-05, 07:35 PM	Her's the t-shirt I want for my PC... "My PC went to the Nine Hells and all I got was this stupid t-shirt!" 50 gp Who wants one? :D
ShadowDragon8685 01-02-05, 07:59 PM	I'll take one. What's the cost of a Masterworked Mithril Chainshirt that says the same thing, and has "Llolth is a lesbian" on the back? :)
Chosen of the Dark Sun 01-02-05, 08:18 PM	I'll take one. What's the cost of a Masterworked Mithril Chainshirt that says the same thing, and has "Llolth is a lesbian" on the back? :) Well since it automatically counts as masterwork for being mithral... 1000 (mithral)+50 (chainshirt)+ 50 (front)+ 25 (back)=1125 gp I think that covers everthing... :)
Deekin, Kobold Bard 01-02-05, 08:50 PM	A hat, boots, cape, and jerkin made of fine leather. (240gp for the set). An appraise check will tell them it's dragonskin leather, which brings the price up astronomicaly, to 1,100gp. New machines, (based on modern stuff), like a steam-powered dishwasher, worth thousands to a technologist seeking to aquire new knowledge. Bottles of wine are exelent, as I once laughed my head off as the fighter and barbarian had a drinking compition with wines they didn't know were worth 7,000 gp each.
Chosen of the Dark Sun 01-02-05, 10:32 PM	Here's an wondrous item I just made... Looters Joy- This item always apears as a 6" gold and silver sculpture of a hooded rogue putting a miscellaneous object into an open sack. Twice per day, the item can be ordered to "Loot this bling!" (you can just substitute something else for the command ;) ). The sculpture will then transform into any vehicle the user chooses (typically a wagon or boat), but will always have a gold inlaid wood door leading into the interior of the vehicle. Inside the interior, it opens into an extra dimensional space similar to a bag of holding but much bigger. This space is the size of a small fortress, aproximately 800' by 1000' and with a 70' high ceiling, and is formed much like a cargo area of a ship, with wooden walls and pillars all around it, and the lighting can be changed depending on the users desire, as can temperature. It is all one large space, rather than separate rooms, and the walls are lined with small compartments filled with miniature chests, barrels, and about every conceivable type of storage container immaginable. These containers will revert to normal size upon command. Immediately, several unseen servants stream out of the door and begin looting. They take anything they are ordered by to take, and bring it inside of the vehicle, where they sort it using the barrels and chests. These servants are identacle to those in the spell unseen servant, but have a strength score of 38, allowing them to lift incredibly heavy objects. Any item too large to fit through the door momentarily shrinks to a size allowing for passage. Therefore, you could order one of the servants to grab a large bed, and it would do so, taking the object inside of the vehicle and putting it in storage. No object can be harmed by careless lifting, since the servants have incredible balance and are as gentle as possible. These servants cannot be ordered to do anything besides loot or help loot, so you can't have one cook your next meal. The item is non-flammable, as are all objects put inside. Object put inside can not be damaged in any way, and are safe from rot and decomposition. Living creatures inside do not need air, water, or food. Time inside seems to progress normally, although while inside time is actually frozen, so one could spend years inside and walk out at the same moment that they entered. This item has two obvious purposes, a mobile base and an icredibly large storage facility, and it does both jobs to perfection. In vehicle form, it moves at the same speed of a normal vehicle of it's type. However, it does not have anything such as weapons, so if someone were to use this a warship, they would need to supply there own armaments. However, because of the nature of the vessel, these armaments cost twice as mush to add to the ship, and don't appear in any other form the item might take. Medium Wondous Item; CL 13, Craft Wondrous Item, Unseen Servant, Fabricate, Mordenkainens Magnificent Mansion, creator must have at leat 3 ranks in Craft (sculpting) skill; Price 20,000 gp; Weight 1 lb. I just made this really quick, so if anyone has any questions, just ask. I'm not to experienced at making magic items, so if anyone has any suggestions, please tell me. Need to loot the BBEG's armory? No problem, just whip this baby out and start looting! Need to rest or plan while inside said BBEG's fortress? Just use it again!
thegreatnoname 01-02-05, 11:02 PM	is there a command to get out or do you just use the door? Might be interesting to find this inside the bbeg's lair open and have a sneak attack hit you from the last rouge that doesn't realize ihe has been trapped a hundred years. That is if there is no way out.
Chosen of the Dark Sun 01-02-05, 11:12 PM	is there a command to get out or do you just use the door? Might be interesting to find this inside the bbeg's lair open and have a sneak attack hit you from the last rouge that doesn't realize ihe has been trapped a hundred years. That is if there is no way out. Just use the door. And remember, time outside passes slower for you, not inside, so this wouldn't work. The reason for this is so that you don't walk in to check on your loot and walk out a year and a half later. But if your a DM and use this thing in you campaign, feel free to modify it so you can do this.
Chosen of the Dark Sun 01-02-05, 11:36 PM	Alright, it's official. From now on, I'm pimpin' up all my villains.
penchant 01-03-05, 01:12 AM	As a DM I always try to learn from the stuff I pulled as a player. One thing that caused endless consternation to one of my previous DMs is move in to the BBEG's digs once we offed him. He was a high level mage and had a really cool big evil looking castle in the middle of a forest. My DM went into alot of trouble building it up descriptively and it sounded great. My character was a mongolian barbarian who had lived in a tent most of his life and had recently gotten addicted to hobbit cooking and warm buildings. We killed the evil sorcerer and I said, "Jengo not leaving. Jengo stay here... it's mine now." Players were like, "uhh, Jengo. We have to go back to town. We'll stay at the inn, we'll buy you a steak" "Jengo checked the pantry. It's full! We stay here in my place." Since I was the brick of the party, we stayed there making forays into town for supplies. While the DM had plans for a storyline elsewhere, we spent months clearing out the forest of monsters and hired men to clearcut a road. After signing a trade agreement we became a safe traderout through the deep forest and I had a little feifdom the DM never thought I should have. I learned alot as a DM from that. What... I can't say, but I thought I should share.
aaron3579 01-03-05, 01:16 AM	As a DM I always try to learn from the stuff I pulled as a player. One thing that caused endless consternation to one of my previous DMs is move in to the BBEG's digs once we offed him. He was a high level mage and had a really cool big evil looking castle in the middle of a forest. My DM went into alot of trouble building it up descriptively and it sounded great. My character was a mongolian barbarian who had lived in a tent most of his life and had recently gotten addicted to hobbit cooking and warm buildings. We killed the evil sorcerer and I said, "Jengo not leaving. Jengo stay here... it's mine now." Players were like, "uhh, Jengo. We have to go back to town. We'll stay at the inn, we'll buy you a steak" "Jengo checked the pantry. It's full! We stay here in my place." Since I was the brick of the party, we stayed there making forays into town for supplies. While the DM had plans for a storyline elsewhere, we spent months clearing out the forest of monsters and hired men to clearcut a road. After signing a trade agreement we became a safe traderout through the deep forest and I had a little feifdom the DM never thought I should have. I learned alot as a DM from that. What... I can't say, but I thought I should share. :clap: I really have to hand it to your DM, giving you freedom to do all that. Thats exactly the kind of freedom I want players in my campaings to feel like they have.
Paradisio 01-03-05, 01:17 AM	Yea great stuff, :P I'm definitly going to incorporate more stuff like this
ShadowDragon8685 01-03-05, 01:49 AM	As a DM I always try to learn from the stuff I pulled as a player. One thing that caused endless consternation to one of my previous DMs is move in to the BBEG's digs once we offed him. He was a high level mage and had a really cool big evil looking castle in the middle of a forest. My DM went into alot of trouble building it up descriptively and it sounded great. My character was a mongolian barbarian who had lived in a tent most of his life and had recently gotten addicted to hobbit cooking and warm buildings. We killed the evil sorcerer and I said, "Jengo not leaving. Jengo stay here... it's mine now." Players were like, "uhh, Jengo. We have to go back to town. We'll stay at the inn, we'll buy you a steak" "Jengo checked the pantry. It's full! We stay here in my place." Since I was the brick of the party, we stayed there making forays into town for supplies. While the DM had plans for a storyline elsewhere, we spent months clearing out the forest of monsters and hired men to clearcut a road. After signing a trade agreement we became a safe traderout through the deep forest and I had a little feifdom the DM never thought I should have. I learned alot as a DM from that. What... I can't say, but I thought I should share. DUDE! That is SO the kind of campaign I want to get into!
penchant 01-03-05, 03:22 AM	Well, this DM was my prime inspiration for DMing. I've learned most of what I know from him. Thing is most of the time he didn't even know most of the rules and only owned a few of the books. He was just a natural story teller.
Chosen of the Dark Sun 01-03-05, 05:20 PM	As a DM I always try to learn from the stuff I pulled as a player. One thing that caused endless consternation to one of my previous DMs is move in to the BBEG's digs once we offed him. He was a high level mage and had a really cool big evil looking castle in the middle of a forest. My DM went into alot of trouble building it up descriptively and it sounded great. My character was a mongolian barbarian who had lived in a tent most of his life and had recently gotten addicted to hobbit cooking and warm buildings. We killed the evil sorcerer and I said, "Jengo not leaving. Jengo stay here... it's mine now." Players were like, "uhh, Jengo. We have to go back to town. We'll stay at the inn, we'll buy you a steak" "Jengo checked the pantry. It's full! We stay here in my place." Since I was the brick of the party, we stayed there making forays into town for supplies. While the DM had plans for a storyline elsewhere, we spent months clearing out the forest of monsters and hired men to clearcut a road. After signing a trade agreement we became a safe traderout through the deep forest and I had a little feifdom the DM never thought I should have. I learned alot as a DM from that. What... I can't say, but I thought I should share. Why can't my group be like this?
Light Dragon 01-03-05, 09:36 PM	Frankly, I'm glad that no one in either of my groups is like that, because if one person was like that, then the rest of the group would become bored and distracted with the game and decide to stop playing. As it is, we have trouble enough getting them to roleplay since one fiend in one group would rather talk and make fun of the storyline and act OOC instead of play- however the issue is that he's everyone's friend and has the absolute best house to host most of the games at (he hosts about 50%) As for the other group-the much better one by far- a system like that might work- but my characters like to have purpose to their world-campaigns. If they just wandered around, they would become bored.
Chosen of the Dark Sun 01-03-05, 10:08 PM	Anybody else got anything good to add to the list of objects? :)
thegreatnoname 01-03-05, 10:42 PM	here is one feel free to tweak as needed. Song bird constructs in (instert gem here) cages powered by (souls, etc,etc)
Mysteris 01-04-05, 12:20 AM	Now, the question is: Can we bling the BBEG's crib out so bad that the players will, far from sacking and looting, move in? *cracks kunckles* I'll take a crack at it, using an example and some of the great things already proposed. :) Many wizards live in isolated towers in the wilderness, ramshackle affairs of stone and wood held together more often than not by magic and riddled with traps and monsters to deal with intruders. But when the Lady Gethsemane (a NE 18th-level elf wizardess aiming towards lichdom) decided to take over the realm, she wanted something a little...different. Something that spoke of style and class (and that wouldn't draw pesky do-gooder adventurer types like flies to honey). So she sank some of her considerable fortune into the construction of a grand mansion, located well within the capital city's limits. The circular wall encompasses two acres of manicured parkland, constructed of a seamless solid platinum that reflects the sunlight in dazzling, kaleidoscopic patterns. The twin gates are slabs of black onyx, eight feet tall and wide, cored with refined adamant on the interior, and each slab is set with an intricately carved image, in purest gold, of a Solar, one male and one female. Each side of the gate is guarded by twin Iron Golems, each designed to resemble a knight of the realm, and each bears her personal emblem in gold on their armored-seeming chests, as well as a short sword designed for their frames. Around the entire circumference of the inner gate there is an Iron Golem evenly spaced at every thirty feet, to keep out the inevitable looters. Past the gate and an expansive greenswards is a miniature forest, with each tree sculpted by a master craftsman out of a variety of crystals and gems and stretching higher than the gates themselves (carefully out of reach of any clever thieves who might try to swing in via grappling rope). The multiple routes through the Crystal Forest (all done in bricks of solid gold) all merge into one path beyond it and leads the visitor past a series of twelve fountains, two on either side of the road. The base of each fountain is done in white marble, and standing on platinum pedestals to either side is a nude nymph, each holding a Decanter of Endless Water, and each frozen in place by a diamond tiara that holds them petrified until the owner decrees them returned to flesh. The tiara can petrify the nymphs, release them, or punish them if they try to disobey their master, which is the master of the estate. They cannot remove the tiaras themselves. The fountains lead up to the grand estate, which sprawls over an acre and is constructed entirely of white marble and rare woods (nothing less than 1000 GP). The mansion rises five stories into the sky, built along the lines of an airy palace or a Roman villa. Gethsemane absolutely refuses to live like a hermit in a dank hole. The double doors are of steel-cored platinum, with a permanent Alarm spell on it (not to mention a Greater Stone Golem on either side and the Gargoyles up in the rafters). All the stained-glass and decorative windows are trapped (and most feature things like permanent Symbols of Pain, Weakness, Sleep, Stunning, and Death worked into the designs lest one forget this is a wizard's home). Each block of her home has her personal emblem set into the stones and pillars, in diamond, ruby, or emerald (also works great to get the rare adventurers off-balance so they ignore those pesky permanent Symbols worked into various floors and walls, especially down on the lower levels). The levels beneath the main hall are stereotypical dungeons, but done with class. Naturally there are traps of various sorts, mazes, monsters (Gethsemane prides herself on her tamed Medusas, Phase Spiders, Gorgons, and Shadow Mastiffs), but the mistress of the estate does not tolerate dust, or rust, or anything of that nature. It would detract from the solid gold piping, and the great Crystal Maps. On each level, Gethsemane has placed a map made of purest blue crystal, which displays all the ways through each level...which of course leads only to the deadliest traps, but each map is worth about 10,000 GP if sold. There's also a treasure vault down here, solid platinum door, naturally, trapped as all hell, naturally. And completely empty except for the statues of Gethsemane, her former husband, and their son, all done by a team of Dwarven master craftsmen and totaling about 40,000 GP in rare materials and labor. Oh yeah, and the Mimics. Downstairs can also be found the wine cellar (ignore the twin Balor guards), constructed of the rarest woods and housing some vintages of wine not known to this plane of existence (each bottle in her cellar is either centuries-old, extremely rare, or from another plane, so the price ranges from 4,000 to 100,000 GP per bottle). Finally, one can find the (secret) entrance to the secondary stables, where Geth keeps her Nightmare-driven carriages (made of onyx, gold, and black steel). The upper levels that are open to the public are much nicer. Tapestries made by dead masters of every race adorn the halls, often done in silk or other rare materials. The main hall features a fountain composed of three dragons' heads done in different materials (one in ruby, one in gold, and one in sapphire) that spew wine into the sky that drifts down into a golden basin. More nymphs in tiaras are about to serve the guests with food, wine, just about anything. Golden staircases lead to the upper levels, past the entrance to the "legitimate" stables (where throrough-bred racehorses of the most exacting pedigrees are kept near the tamed Griffins, all equipped with Horseshoes of Speed or Horseshoes of the Zepyhr). The public levels contain guest rooms with elegant paintings (500-12,000 GP worth), statues of Gethsemane and her family members can be found (all in gold), kitchens the size of football fields (with accompanying pantries, and all fully staffed and given silver and gold masterwork cooking utensils), and a colossal art museum with examples of different types of art from across the ages and cultures, many of which are unavailable to dedicated scholars. The library here is bigger than the kitchens, and lined with ancient tomes relating to philosophy (especially those of dead cultures), art, science, magical theory, romance, and fiction. Many of these books (like the collection of tomes attributed to the mythical philosopher Redgar) would sell for upwards of 100,000 GP on the open market and more to rare collectors and Sages. Wandering is not encouraged as the various traps (and Werewolf Lords, Weretigers, and Werebears who usually wander around disguised as staff in human form) deal with people who get too curious. Finally there are the highest levels, restricted to Gethsemane and "valued guests". Here the nymphs are replaced by tamed Succubi (and Incubi, Geth's not dead yet), and the decor becomes...darker. Geth pays people to "liberate" rare works of art from the houses of the Drow Matron Mothers and Temples and bring them to her inner lairs. Many of these one-of-a-kind works also happen to be enchanted. One room, her "Room of Irony" contains rare treasures taken from the various faiths of Good and Law, but with a twist. Each treasure was once used in some way to bring shame or humiliation on the faith in question (such as the sword of a Paladin who got overzealous and murdered an innocent in the name of the God of Justice). The rooms of her 85-year-old son (who is interested in the arts of war), contain various weapons (all masterwork) from every culture, and many from dead civilizations (some enchanted). The boy's favorite weapon, a Sword of Life Stealing, hangs in plain view from a golden sheath. Aside from the Succubi servants, the bed of Copper Dragon bones, a few books, and the Golden Lion figurines, his room only contains masterwork tables of rare woods and golds, and his closet. His closet is adorned with clothes of silk and other fine materials, mostly in black. Gethsemane's been trying to teach him that just because they're evil doesn't mean they have to wear black or go around acting all depressed and moody, but he's a teenager in a phase. What are you going to do? The lab not only contains standard wizards' experiments, but a few interesting things, such as a prototype steam engine "acquired" from a Gnomish colony that "disappeared" some time back, and an Intellect Devourer in a carefully maintained cage for live dissection. Despite the standard materials for Geth's home (platinum and gold, with crystal tables carved in the shape of Giants and Dragons), the lab seems nothing special. Until one finds the secret (and trapped) panel and finds the room with the tomes and charts of Gnomish science and Dwarven engineering (each priceless to their cultures since they either came from researchers killed after Geth had no more use for them or that "disappeared" from colonies and caravans. The great crystal globes of the world and some of the Planes in there could sell for well over 5,000 GP each, not just for the materials, but for the pinpoint accuracy they offer. Mapmakers and sages would find such things priceless. The nearby library offers the standard treasure trove of magical books (some of them trapped with Secret Pages, Explosive Runes, and Sepia's Snake Sigils, but also contains rare works of magical theory from some of the greatest sages and Archmages in the world's history (and some from other planes), stuff that you can't buy or find in libraries. Her collection could put many Royal Libraries to shame (and the Shadow Mastiffs, Vampires, Nightwalkers and Mummy Lords that roam about the Library keep it this way). The real Treasure Room is up here, trapped, magically warded, and guarded by a pair of Iron Golems, an Abyssal Greater Basilisk, and a Nightshade on permanent duty. Inside, one can find the vast treasure horde one expects, but also little things, like the engagement ring of the realm's Crown Princess (absolute tragedy about that horrible, horrible bandit attack that took her and her fiancee...and no, those two low-level zombies in the sewers do not bear an uncanny resemblance to the missing couple, thank you very much!), the robes from a Lich, her dead husband's gold-encrusted diamond scepter from the old days, the egg of a Gold Dragon, and other such sentimental trinkets. Finally there's Gethsemane's bedroom, shielded by an adamantine-cored onyx slab of a door etched with designs of Succubi and Naga, and shielded by yet more Greater Stone Golems, Dread Wrights, Spirit Nagas, and Nightshades. She only put a few rare paintings in her spellcasting sanctum. The good stuff's here. Ignoring the phylactery materials she keeps under her bed (because who would look there?), she has a painting of herself, her husband, and her son, only, there's something wrong with her husband's image. Frequent visitors note that the handsome lord's image seems to...deteroriate at odd times, becoming skeletal and horrid. At other times the picture changes and he seems to be screaming, pounding at the air, or reaching bony hands towards the painted image of Gethsemane yet never managing to touch her. Visitors also report an odd moaning coming from the picture. The bed is made entirely of silver dragon bones, with the head of a Silver, Gold, Copper, and Brass Dragon at each of the bed's four posts. Swan's down mattresses and an pillow enchanted with a permanent Sleep spell to ensure a good night's rest after a hard day of evil-doing, not to mention the bear-fur blankets. The crystal writing table is strangely stained with blackness, and bears the craftsmanship of the Lower Planes. The Cube of Force on the table serves as a paperweight, while parchment made from the trees of sacred forests dedicated to the God of Nature sit next to a pen crafted from a Unicorn's horn and a golden inkjar filled with the blood of an Astral Deva. The Marvelous Pigments sit nearby, for when Geth feels artistic. The walk-in closet contains various things, Robes of the Archmagi, an Instant Fortress or two, dresses and lingerie of silk and satin made by the greatest fashion designers in the different planes of existence, you know, standard stuff. Be careful about the Eyes of Petrification mixed amongst the various gems, jewels, tiaras (magical and otherwise), and such in her jewelery box. There's a Mirror of Life Trapping in one corner of her room, kept carefully covered at all times by a red silk cloth ever since Geth's son got a little too curious when he was younger and had to be let out. So what do you think? Enough bling to get the PCs interested in taking ownership if they evict the current proprietress? :)
ShadowDragon8685 01-04-05, 12:44 AM	A lot of that bling is the kind that would make Good adventurers puke. I, for one, would have to smash up a lot of it, or take it to dragon graveyards to be laid to rest, etcetera. Then I would have to find some utterly despicable way of dealing with old Geth... Helm of Opposite Alignment sounds right to me. No more fitting punishment than making someone Good, and making them live with the weight of their horrible, heinous crimes. Guilt is the most effective torture of all.
thegreatnoname 01-04-05, 01:17 AM	Can't see any good characters staying there. If it was an evil campain then yeah a character might move right in otherwise not gonna happen.
Jonathan Strange 01-04-05, 01:19 AM	So many great ideas. I blinged out a tower my high level PCs were supposed to overtake. They didn't take it over, but there was some wierd stuff an old adventuring group had used as a trophy room. I often use art objects but this thread has some really great ideas. Woe to my PCs next game! -a lump of ice from the lower planes. It never melts -half of a "gold" golem -two dead titans. In stasis. -the tip of a sword measuring 10'x20' -the front archway from a devil's castle in the hells -a huge pillar of pure adamantine -a dead pit fiend, impaled upon an enchanted lance -a bag of devouring.
Mysteris 01-05-05, 06:05 PM	*L* Well, I'm sure those Good adventures could find a gold chamberpot or maybe a 10,000 GP vase to puke in. :D So, has anyone else come up with any bling to include?
Shadow_Fusion 01-05-05, 07:40 PM	Why not make the BBEG the treasure? I have the stats of a red dracolich who was so vain, he got his skeleton plated with rubies to keep his color. And gem dragons? Their hide alone! (whether actually gemstones or not) would make any collector sweat. Heck, Any dragon skin would make good treasure, especially if it was say, tied up as a lavash tuxedo or curtain.
icingdeath44 01-05-05, 08:30 PM	-a huge pillar of pure adamantine Man wouldn't that just make a dwarf smith :drool:. It could completely fit out an adventurer with every ounze of gear he needed, he could have adamantine underwear, +2 below the AC bonus against cheap shots.
Shadow_Fusion 01-06-05, 05:32 PM	Hmmm... I think I want to try to calculate the price of that Tiara on page 1. I think it would be WAY to expensive for use in game. Unfortunately, I lack DM's guide 3.5, so I must use Tome and Blood. Let me just get the book out... Ok here we go. Any spell command word is 1800, and Flesh to Stone (and Stone to Flesh) are both 6th level. Wizard needs to be 11th level, so 11*6*1800 for the one, then 11*6*1800*(3/4) for a second similar power, then dominate person is 5th level, which means a wizard level of 9th, and I'm going to say it's also a command word (when you want the tiara wearer to do something they wouldn't normally do, you say the word) which means 9*5*1800*2 (for additional power, not similar) and then finally, I choose shocking grasp for the discipline, which would also be command word so 1*1*1800*2 (for additional power, not similar again). Then we multiply that all up and get 118,800 for the first power, 89,100 for the second, 162,000 for the dominate affect (Will save 17 right?), and 3600 for the discipline method. Add that up and you get 373,500 Gold. And that's not including your tiara wearer. Not to cheap is it now? Tough luck getting that kind of money. BBEG or not!
Kesht 01-06-05, 07:01 PM	Heh, it's not much compared to some of the stuff you folks have submitted, but... How about some bling gambling itmes? What kind of gaming group would throw away dice made from rare gems or drangon teeth? How about a deck of cards w/gold leafing and embossing + reinforced with magic so as not to be easy to rip? How about a magical Platinum coin that while having only 2 sides, can come up as any one of 12 sides? How about a dartboard with playing darts of returning? Fun stuff. Hope you like. :cool:
Chosen of the Dark Sun 01-06-05, 10:24 PM	Speaking of gambling, how about a deck of cards that allows the owner to rig it without touching it, just by speaking the command, or doing some action. Imagine one of the guys your playing poker with picking his nose and getting four aces.
DudeMan101 01-07-05, 01:54 AM	Remember, if adventurers can claim an estate after evicting a dire villian, the real estate itself is treasure. This became an issue after the PCs cleared an about-to-be-opened mithril mine of kobolds and orcs with outstanding warrents in neutral territory, and realized that, by the common laws of the surrounding nations, they legaly owned the property...
akorpanda 01-07-05, 06:59 PM	sometimes treasure isn't what you think at all. Information can be valuable, more so evan than all the gold in the dragon's hoard. Suppose after defeating said BBEG, getting all his bling and whatnot the intrepid PCs come across an innoucuos looking scroll tube, perhaps the wax seal of a neighboring kingdom is upon it. Then further suppose that inside the tube is a contract, nay, even a treaty between said neighboring kingdom and BBEG. How much worth would the PCs find in bringing this knowledge to their king. Now what if said contract was signed by the Prince? perhaps looking to team up with Mr. BBEG and claim the kingdom for himself? Hmmm... Treasure leading to the next adventure... How sneaky....
Knobl 01-08-05, 12:20 AM	It may not be Art, but non magical relics can be worth a lot. Imagine how much a wizard may pay for some bones of Raistlin, Mordenkainen or Elminister. Or a cleric for a non magical weapon used by a saint or a big hero of his religion. I would like to see what the players do after they have killed the BBEG, and found a simple non magical stone in an altar covered with diamonds and gold. The stone is worth millions to any high cleric of certain religion, but my guess is that the players will leave it behind
thegreatnoname 01-08-05, 12:35 AM	I have another one, the bbeg's halls are lined with gold covered heros. Hundreds if the bad guy is really old. Talk about screwing with the hereos head they are walking down and see these statues after looking at one of them remembers him as a legendary person now just a gold covered corpse.
Tuneless Bard 01-08-05, 11:14 AM	is it possible to have a compiled list?
akorpanda 01-08-05, 04:20 PM	Art Objects 0-10gp *Ceramic figurine/statuette. About 6" long and hand-painted. Be sure that any statue type as an entire series of statues by a famous ceramic statue designer that the PC can collect. (Collecting rare statuettes can make for interesting side-quests and annoy fellow PC's) *Scrimshaw. Ivory with design etched onto it. Usually boats & nautical themes as it is a popular hobby with whalers. Put scrimshaw on regular items to make them worth more. *Electrum whiskey glasses (emblazoned with the name of a famous tavern) *Gold body jewelry. *Intricate Bronze locket, possibly with lock of maiden's hair inside. *Copper ring. Possibly with magnets imbedded. *Scroll tube: carved from ivory, with engraved gold end caps. *Bracelet: made from interwoven bands of silver, copper, and bronze. 10-55gp. *Handcrafted chairs (pair), in Teak, Walnut, or Mahogany. Geometric patterns, leaves, or skulls carved into the chair-arms along with an upholstered seating area (embroidered to taste) are common at this range. *Copper framed wall mirror. The hand-wrought frame surrounds a mirror of silvered glass. Dragons & leaves are common styles. *Painting. It might be still life, surreal, or maybe Orcish impressionism of the third age. 24"x36". *Silver flatware; eating utensils made of silver. Service for 8. *Masterwork cooking pots. Ceramic enameled cast-iron baking goods available in most colors. Add a +1 to any Cooking skill DC. *Leather-bound, gold leafed book. A tome on any skill or knowledge determined randomly. A character may use it to reference at time of spending skill points... or just sell it. *Crystal decanter and wineglass set. *Silver ring. May be inscribed with the name of your beloved. *Polished mahogany walking stick. *Fine crushed velvet hat with an eagle's feather. *Brooch: 4 inches in diameter, made from polished brass worked into the shape of a sleeping Unicorn. A chalcedony (75g) is inset to depict the horn. *Stylus: a silver stylus, engraved and inlaid with gold. *Statuette: 8in tall bronze statue of an armored warrior leaning on his spear. There are silver and gold inlays on his armor, and shield. Weighs 7lbs. 55-105gp *Dinner Table made of fine wood and carved in decorative manner. *Liquor cabinet. This tall armoire-like piece of old-growth kindling has shelves for a whole array of fine glasses & goblets, decanters & measuring shakers. Also a second storage bin at knee-level holds bottles of wine/spirits *Ornate silver goblets, set of 8. Shaped like squids, human skulls, or just bizarre arcane symbols... *Gold flatware, service for 8 *Painting. Still 24"x36" but this class of painting is of interesting subject matter: nude elves, decapitations.... *Pair of boots designed by high quality artisan in exotic leather. *Life-sized marble bust of famous person. *Masterwork dagger w/ ivory handle. *Silver tea set. *Fine crushed velvet hat with a Griffin feather *Golden ring. Possibly inscribed with name of beloved. *Tabard: Cloth of silver with the symbol of Nom-Galan embroidered on the front, and set with gemstone chips. *Golden Pen case held shut with an ornate clasp. Carved into the case is a scene of a scribe writing in a tome, sitting on a stool amid stacks of parchment. The symbol of Akilloes is engraved on the opposite side. *Thieves tools of the finest craftsmanship (+1 Circumstance bonus for disable devise) and design. *Belt Buckle: an electrum buckle set with a large, 2"x3", cabochon of Lapis Lazuli engraved and filigreed with copper. * 3" silver brooch, with a griffin rampant on a blue enamel field. The griffin’s eyes are amethysts *Leaf shaped enameled gold locket, the stem forms the loop for a chain. Opens to reveal a very small compartment with 2 surfaces suitable for miniatures. The compartment could hold a small ring or a dose or drugs, poison, or antidote. *Statuette: 10” tall alabaster statue of comely lass bearing a water jug in her arms. She is wearing a toga over one shoulder and the breast not covered by the jug is exposed. 105-350gp *King-sized bed to match the table & chairs *Masterwork oversized harp. *20' long tapestry of some battle. *3' tall ceramic vase. Painting depicts various Elvin ceremonies. *Intricate waste-paper basket made from an Owlbear leg. *Walking stick with gold handle and iron wood shaft. *2' long oriental dragon statue made of gold. *Winterwolf fur coat *Masterwork dagger with ivory handle & minor jewel pommel *Fine crushed velvet hat with enchanted Roc feather. *Bas-relief exquisitely carved on piece of dragon eggshell. Quite likely of the scene of the dragon's hatching, or possibly of it's mother being slain. *Dice bag. Contains finely made dice of various forms of marble and obsidian, with numbers very carefully carved. Set from D4 to D20, includes D100. *Ring: a lion’s head, finely crafted, of electrum with eyes of topaz. *Bracelet: made from interlocking leaves carved from silver and enameled in green, and set with small carved coral berries. 350-550gp *Arched interior door crafted of old-growth teak, set with blackened steel hinges, and a brass lock. *Ornate ironwork torch scones: set of 50. May be shaped to resemble skulls, music notes, etc *leaded-glass fireplace screen with stained-glass picture effect. Covers any 5' wide fireplace. *5' marble statue of humanoid. *Bejeweled circlet of silver. *Platinum framed spectacles with smoked glass lenses. *Masterwork dagger with dragon bone & platinum handle *Crushed velvet hat with a Celestial feather in it. *Crushed velvet three-piece suit in garish colors. *Griffin's head, mounted and stuffed, on a lovely chestnut base with a gold plaque. *Juvenile Green Dragon Head, mounted and stuffed, crest preserved. *Head of a humanoid, mounted and stuffed, on a chestnut base with gold plaque. *Oversized golden cup, used by cloud giants, inlaid with various pastoral scenes. *Crystal phial of hydra or troll blood, with a golden stopper. *Beard clasp set, made of burnished gold and inlaid with gems. *Naga hide boots. *Lamp with a living will-o-wisp providing light. *Basilisk's Eye, in a crystal phial with golden stopper. *Rug made of grizzly fur, head preserved. *Twisted platinum tiara, capped with dragon's claws that clasp large bloodstones. *Adamantine silverware set. *Lamp: a 4-wick oil lamp of gold, with platinum reflectors. The sides are carved in bas-relief, depicting the city of brass. Weighs 4 lbs and holds 6 pints of oil for a 10-hour burn time. *Lock crafted from solid brass and beautifully engraved, the shank mechanism are made from high quality steel and the mechanism is of exceptional quality (DC+2 to open). *Statue fountain: 6ft tall naked woman pouring water over her head from a pitcher. She is facing the spout of water with her eyes closed and mouth slightly parted. Her free hand cups one breast. If connected to a water source, the water will cascade down her voluptuous form. 550-1000gp *Masterwork dagger with scrimshawed dragon bone handle, platinum fittings, and jeweled pommel. *Masterwork glazed bone-china plates w/ silver serving platters. *Wastepaper basket, made from dragon leg! *Beaten red gold ring twisted to resemble a snake coiled about the finger. It has two tiny rubies for eyes. *2-foot rod of bronze inlaid with a circular pattern. The tip is formed in the shape of a flower with gems set in among the petals; 16 violet garnets and a huge, deep blue amethyst. The other end is a 2 inch gold knob. Weighs 3lbs. *Comb: the golden body is carved in the form of a dragons head with a single ruby for an eye. *Diamond-encrusted gold medallion. *Black, crushed-velvet dice bag lined with woven hair from an elf maiden. Dice contained are of extremely high quality, carved to perfection with intricate attention to detail, the numbers, instead of being painted, are chiseled out of the surface by fairies, and filled in with a mixture of platinum and fairy dust which solidifies. *Dire Bear, mounted and stuffed, placed on a fine wooden pedestal in a fierce pose. *Small basket woven from treated howler spines. *Coat made of dire weasel fur. *Table carved from a dead dryad, face preserved. *Cloak made of demon wing leather, complete with big metal shoulder pads. 1000-1500gp *Dragon bone end table, each piece carved from a single bone. *Medallion, chain crafted from Mithril. *A shattered lich's phylactery. *Coat made from Sphinx fur. *Beholder's large eye, in crystal phial, with golden stopper. *Support beams for a room made of dragon rib bones *Idol of a god of madness: An obsidian pillar (about 1' tall) studded with dozens of gems and jewels. *Adamantine farm tool set. 1500-3500gp *Bracelet made from 46 tiny white pearls strung on a gilded wire, fastened with a barbed hook and loop. *Set of buttons, in platinum, each depicts an eagle with wings spread and clasping a bundle of arrows in one talon and a lightning bolt in the other. The arrows and lightning bolts are crafted from precious gems. *Hair net woven of platinum and electrum wire, set with 32 pearls, 32 water opals and 32 aquamarines. *Medallion of electrum, set with a topaz of great size and clarity and 12 amber stones ringing the center. *A suit of fine chainmail crafted of platinum (AC+3) set with sapphires and aquamarines in a crown shaped pattern on the chest. *Carved crystal chalice, inlaid with silver and set with emeralds. *Headband made of platinum, set with 3 rubies. 3500-5000gp *Basin: crafted of platinum and silver, and highly decorated with engraving and carvings of worship scenes. Holds 3 gallons of liquid safely and weighs 10lbs. *Cup of the thinnest beaten gold set with a lip ring of tiny emeralds and incised with an abstract circular pattern.
thegreatnoname 01-09-05, 05:11 AM	One more idea coming up. A chess set using the same set up as the elf girl statue. Only this time it uses halflings and a permenant reduce spell.
ShadowDragon8685 01-09-05, 05:27 AM	Oh that's just horrible, great no-name. I bloody love it.
Shadow_Fusion 01-09-05, 12:33 PM	Pthhh! Don't use halflings use Slyphs!
Raymond_Luxury_Yacht 01-09-05, 12:53 PM	Pthhh! Don't use halflings use Slyphs! No. Use Kender. Wait. Big Bad Evil Guy. Never mind.
ShadowDragon8685 01-09-05, 03:47 PM	Bwahahahaaaaah.
The Colonel 01-15-05, 04:52 PM	And if dealing with a female BBEG you can safely plough huage chunks of the money into her wardrobe. In the Tudor period it was, apparently, quite normal for someone's wardrobe to be worth more than their house, so if you are looking at a late medieval campaign (which is where most of them seem to end up) maybe even a male BBEG will spend a great deal on clothes. This has been hinted at already, but rather than just two or three items fill a wardrobe. The characters may not be able to sell it, but in some cases taking it home for the wife or girlfriend may be a better move. Sure it's second hand, but (sumptuary laws aside) it's an outfit she'd never be able to afford otherwise. Likewise shoes. And for gender concsious, cross dressing female PCs who wear proper armour and trousers, it's still costume for infiltration missions. Or how about ... 'of course your majesty, consider it a gift... might it be in order for me to have a small word with your royal husband whilst you try it on? The chamberlain will take me straight to the front of the line or he'll answer to you? Your majesty is too kind.' Or you can make it all Drow fetishwear and nearly unsaleable in civilised societies - not to metion something the good aligned and religious need the 10' pole to touch...
Melpomene 01-15-05, 09:10 PM	-A weapon which was sundered or struck with MkDj, weilded in a famous battle and/or by a famous commander. "This sword was once used by Tergoth the Black to slay three score of Devas before it was laid to waste. The magic is gone, but the evil remains."
Airsucker 03-28-05, 06:55 PM	Did you guys see Dungeon 121? It had a list of 100 useless items. My favorite was 77, a torn tapestry depicting a battle between badgers and mummies. :rofl: :clap:
Ekranoplan 03-28-05, 06:59 PM	Did you guys see Dungeon 121? It had a list of 100 useless items. My favorite was 77, a torn tapestry depicting a battle between badgers and mummies. :rofl: :clap: Hardly a useless item. You could mend it back together and display it. Such tapestries make great conversation peices.
Jonathan Strange 03-28-05, 07:43 PM	Didn't that death knight in Amber and Ashes have a chess set made of his all his enemies? The were concious but in some sort of Held state and Reduced to the size of a chess piece? I imagine such a thing would be expensive to create. Not to mention how grateful any of the freed prisoners would be to the PCs.
Treetrip Danglefoot 03-28-05, 08:44 PM	- A two-century old bottle of elven wine, crafted from grapes which no longer grow in the region and crafted by brewers that no longer exist. 500G. Actually, it would be a two-century old bottole of elven vinegar by that time. Although it would be a nice touch to send the PC coughing and sputtering as he tries to take a swig of the "old old wine". ;)
VirgilCaine 03-28-05, 08:54 PM	Didn't that death knight in Amber and Ashes have a chess set made of his all his enemies? The were concious but in some sort of Held state and Reduced to the size of a chess piece? I imagine such a thing would be expensive to create. Not to mention how grateful any of the freed prisoners would be to the PCs. Sounds like a special form of the Binding spell. Nothing to it.
The Almighty Dru 03-29-05, 10:10 AM	I'm a history/archeology buff, so I love some of the historical-based things in this thread. I'm so going to put more stuff like that in my games. I know that if I was a player, I couldn't resist collecting ancient stuff and opening a museum or something. And now for some contributions: -A piece of ice chipped from Prince Levistus' glacier prison in the Nine Hells (as was said before, the ice never melts). Maybe even carved into a small sculpture of the Archdevil. -A complete slain dragon (any vareity), stuffed. Preferably in a scary pose. Great for scaring PCs. -A bottle of water from the River Styx. Another souveneir from the BBEG's trip to the Nine Hells. -Baby seal loafers. That's all I can think of right now off the top of my head.
ShadowDragon8685 03-29-05, 01:51 PM	(At higher levels,) a special +1 Brilliant Energy XSword. What's so impressive about it? The hilt is a cylander with no pommel or guarde, and it has gemstone buttons on it that change it's color (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Violet) and it's length - so it can be a +1 Brilliant Energy Shortsword, a +1 Brilliant Energy Longsword, a +1 Brilliant Energy Bastard Sword, a +1 Brilliant Energy Greatsword, a +1 Brilliant Energy Two-Bladed Sword, or a +1 Brilliant Energy Jovar. See how long it takes your players to realize you just gave them a Lightsaber. :)
Kayoz_Majick 04-07-05, 07:06 PM	I know this thread was really old and dusty, but as I was whiling away the hours at work today, perusing historical threads, I came across this lovely little gem. I was highly amused, and definately highly inspired with visions of sugared BBEG lairs dancing in my head. Some of the things that came to mind (single rooms sadly, or even single items not necessarily non-magical) were rather.... devious :plotting: ... somewhere in a BBEG dungeon/castle/whatever.... "You sucessfully disarm the 13 trams, and unlock the 7 locks on this adamantine plated steel door, set in magically reinforced worked granite. (door itself worth a fortune, if the silly PCs can ever get it out :D ) The door opens upon the most lavish room you have ever been witness to in your entire lives, and could never hope to furnish similarly in the rest of your adventuring careers. The room itself is roughly 50' by 100', with the door in the middle of a short wall. The floors are thickly piled with what looks to be the furs of every natural animal within 2 miles. Here and there, however, some of the floor can be seen; what looks to be 2" of glass poured over the rough floor, and magically hardened. All of this pales against the furniture though; in the middle of the room, surrounding a 5' by 15' table carved from a single darkwood trunk are equally fantastic chairs, also carved as a single piece from darkwood. All eight of the chairs and the table have massive amounts of scroll work depicting oak leaves and mistletoe. Set on the table is a set of pure platinum dishes; everything from plates, bowls, long stemmed glasses shaped like trees and flowers, to flatware with dryads on the handle. Immediately to the left as you walk in, is a monstrous bed with a canopy. The bedposts are whole darkwood trunks that appear to be planted into the ground somehow, and still alive. These four trees/posts support a 10' square mattress so stuffed with down that if layed upon, you could get lost. The coverlets and canopy are matched in color: a deep maroon, almost a blood red, with what looks to be an accurate representation of the constallations sewed on in silver threading. To the right, is a writing desk, can you guess? carved from a single piece of darkwood, with ash wood inlays on the writing surface of the holy symbol of (insert Good Diety here). There are stacks of paper in every cubby hole in the desk of the finest quality, and a diamond inkwell delicately cradling an adamantite tipped griffon feather. Running down the longer walls is bookshelf after bookshelf. After a cursory glance, you determine the least expensive book of the lot to run at least 100gp. The book shelves have been cunningly carved from black walnut to resemble dryads holding the shelves aloft. Spacing the bookshelves, every 10' or so, is a stunning statue of a nearly naked female elf wearing a gem encrusted tiara. These look almost alive, they are so well done. (bedroom elf? :D or not.... ;) ) At the farthest end of the room, directly across from you is a large altar of onyx. Inlayed on the top, and in the front, in sealed diamond dust is the holy symbol of (insert same Good Diety here as above). Strewn almost carelessly across the altar are platinum holy symbols, candlesticks, and other priceless knick-knacks that the Diety might appreciate. Above the altar is a picture that looks as though a window to the outside, depicting the current season. As you stare a bit in wonder, you see a small red fox run across the picture! To either side of the altar are huge 20' tapestries detailing legendary battles from a first person point of view, all done in metalic threads. wow... that took a lot longer than I thought, but worth the effort, I think :) Maybe this will keep the thread alive again :D
Riznar 04-07-05, 07:18 PM	This thread needs a Master DM competition to go along with it.
Kayoz_Majick 04-07-05, 07:44 PM	Not only a DM Competition, but someone to compile all of this stuff :rolleyes:
UltimateReality 04-07-05, 09:28 PM	Riznar, that is a so excellent idea. I loved this thread. I can't believe it almost got lost. *sniffle* I am SO GLAD it's back. :w00t:
Etiquette_Gnome 04-08-05, 03:06 AM	For the petrified woman with tiara technique, I have an idea to save on the cost. Have the woman petrified, and then make a tiara that has the Stone to Flesh spell built as a constant item, only that it has its effect when worn and can be turned off with a command word as well. If she tries to take it off, she'll petrify, or when someone speaks the command word. This is a base price of 6*11*1800, with an ad-hoc reduction of 50% because of the limited use of it; and since we only want this for a single person, build into it a single-use of the Thrall psionic power (assume a wizard researched a viable spell version, not like this BBEG can't afford it). Therefore, you have a total cost of about 67,050gp; a bit expensive, but better than prior options. All of this talk of BBEG bling has gotten me drooling on the idea of introducing a villain that doesn't already have all of this, and part of his presence will simply be moving in; so we can have the sudden increase in marble imports, disappearing craftsmen, etc...
JWSIII 04-08-05, 03:46 AM	Point the first, mad props to wereooze, this thread is a: really useful, and b: hilarious Point the second: Is "bedroom elf" a common shorthand, or has it developed specifically for this thread? Because that is lmao material as well...
Solidcobra 04-08-05, 05:46 AM	I think it came from this thread, and man my PCs will get it ASAP. But i do think a "lite" version of it, using a charm person spell instead, would do. (And be quite a lot cheaper too, no?)
Bane 04-08-05, 01:55 PM	What would the price be for a Figurine of Wondrous Power: Nymph?
Kayoz_Majick 04-08-05, 03:02 PM	here are some more items that a BBBBEG might own (bling-bling big bad evil guy) Over stuffed reclining Throne- for those days when the whining minions are just too much. available in cloth, hand worked leather (of your choice) or fur (also of your choice). Stuffed to bursting with down from those pesky griffons. 500-1000gp Concealed Floor Safe- excellent for those annoying maurading adventurers. Comes with custom tiling design matched to your specifications. S/M/L Small safe- 2'x2'x4' Medium safe- 4'x4'x8' Large safe- 10'x10'x20' All safes are made of reinforced adamantite, lined with lead. Locking mechanism guaranteed to stall long enough for reinforcements to arrive. Optional ceiling trap package available upon request! S/M/L - 1500/3000/10000gp, trap + 2000gp Chandelier - available in multiple tiers. Useful for tasteful decoration in the troops feast hall, or to impress the late night torture victim. Provides excellent illumination for any activity. Emerald, Ruby, Diamond, or Quartz styles in stock. Ask for more options when ordering. Precious stone chandelier - 15,000gp Semi-precious stone chandelier - 2000gp Hot water Bathing Tub - for those Bad Guys that are meticulous in nature, and can't stop washing, or just to enjoy after a long day of summoning demons. Available in a solid marble block (with dwarven made piping) or in a Cast-iron Claw-footed model (made with real dragons claws). Just turn the faucet, and "Presto!", steaming hot water! 1300gp must provide own water source. we recomend enslaving a minor water and fire elemental. more to come :)
Link182 04-08-05, 07:29 PM	God I love this post. Keep it coming. Now that I've got all the monsters and NPCs done for my two campaigns, I can work the bling factor. If I have it my way, my PCs won't see any actual cash. Just bling, bling, bling.
Cathon 04-08-05, 08:27 PM	This makes me sad that my campaign is set in classical greece, and is currently taking place in barbarian thrace. The current BBEG is living in a wood cabin in the woods. Not much bling there! Might give him a few souvenirs from home though.
BRJN 04-08-05, 08:57 PM	Gutherbert's Bibles: The sages of Gutherbert monestary have a long history of beautifully illustrated tomes on every subject. But the finest of all were the 'Gutherbert Bibles'. These massive tomes are twenty inches across, tweny four inches tall, and nearly six inches thick. They contain nearly 500 pages of impecable calligraphy and full colour paintings. The covers are made of duskwood, covered in durable chimera leather that has been dyed to match the colors of that bibles covered god. The corners are reinforced with platinum, the covers are locked with a mithril clasp, and the edges of the paper pages are leafed in gold. And in the REALLY valuable version (because it is unique), the scribe began by writing the word "Cenesis". :P
KismetRose 04-09-05, 04:33 AM	There was one episode I ran in which the characters discovered a secret brothel. This brothel was the province of nobles and their guests, and these patrons were encouraged to offer adornments as payment for services rendered. Thus, the literally underground establishment had very fine rooms and a decent amount of high-priced, high-quality artwork. Now, enter the player characters... The establishment also happened to have a decent guard staff due to the noble and secret nature of their patrons, so the fight to get in there was very tough. Things got hairy. And then the wizard decided to drop a fireball. The characters were fine and the enemies were not happy after the blast, but the fire made ashes out of some of the finer treasure. There were larger paintings that were worth a pretty gold piece, hanging in that room. They did make away with the smaller, more portable items; a pair of fine ceramic vases comes to mind, and two smaller paintings done by a famous artist in Waterdeep. I just chuckle to think what else they might have managed to take with them if they hadn't fireballed that room...
KismetRose 04-09-05, 04:38 AM	My prior post led me to this suggestion: keep in mind the marks and signatures of makers when you give characters items. Most artists will sign their work in some way - painters tend to paint their name into the scene, makers of ceramic items have marks they leave in discreet places, and so forth. Artists make names for themselves in this way (and others) and the party may become aware of these artists for other reasons during an adventure. It's a personal touch, if anything.
The Master Weaver Is Warped 04-09-05, 10:56 AM	re: rare wine.Something that will never be reproduced exactly the same again and it's only 500 GP? it's rare but tastes like crap. For the wine snob with more money than sense.
The Master Weaver Is Warped 04-09-05, 11:10 AM	My prior post led me to this suggestion: keep in mind the marks and signatures of makers when you give characters items. Most artists will sign their work in some way - painters tend to paint their name into the scene, makers of ceramic items have marks they leave in discreet places, and so forth. Artists make names for themselves in this way (and others) and the party may become aware of these artists for other reasons during an adventure. It's a personal touch, if anything.:teach: This is questionable actually. Most art works weren't signed until the Renaissance. Art history legend: Michelangelo carved the pieta, and put it on display. Everyone asked who did this masterpiece? So he snuck in one night and carved his name on it. Thus signing artwork became vogue. Before this art was localy traded, or handed down through generations. Signature was not necessary since you either got the art from the maker, or was told the story of of the art maker when you inherited it. When pouplations got larger then the concept of brand names came into existance.
The Master Weaver Is Warped 04-09-05, 11:19 AM	This makes me sad that my campaign is set in classical greece, and is currently taking place in barbarian thrace. The current BBEG is living in a wood cabin in the woods. Not much bling there! Might give him a few souvenirs from home though.Oh, come on. Bear Teeth Necklace 55g Beaver Pelt Lined Claok 1000g Willow Bark elixer 10g (look up the origins of asprin) 10 pounds of Bavarian hops 55g (can you say good beer?) Carved Baltic amber necklace with bone clasp 550g Ceader lined closet 1000g think really big bad bling hunting lodge...
The Master Weaver Is Warped 04-09-05, 11:32 AM	First level characters in an odd homebrew campaign. Traded a snowboard for 5# of popcorn. He'd never seen it before, and really likes it with butter and salt.
The Master Weaver Is Warped 04-09-05, 11:37 AM	is it possible to have a compiled list? I am willing but only with Wereooze's blessing. I would start a new thread, non-magic art objects.
General_Ridley 04-09-05, 01:17 PM	Fumbuck the 1/2-Orc barbarian: "This is my mahogany davenport with solid brass accents and a polished marble top. It was hand-carved by halfings in the village of HappyFunLand and I found it in the possession of an Ogre-Mage who's skull I smashed with a hammer. Would you like to see my collection of ceramic rustmonster miniatures or maybe my Electrum dwarvish-whiskey shotglass set?" Other Character: :twitch: LMAO!!! This is a good idea, and my character will certainly want to dec out her home once she buys one.
KismetRose 04-09-05, 04:40 PM	:teach: This is questionable actually. Most art works weren't signed until the Renaissance. Art history legend: Michelangelo carved the pieta, and put it on display. Everyone asked who did this masterpiece? So he snuck in one night and carved his name on it. Thus signing artwork became vogue. Before this art was localy traded, or handed down through generations. Signature was not necessary since you either got the art from the maker, or was told the story of of the art maker when you inherited it. When pouplations got larger then the concept of brand names came into existance. I see your point, but I didn't say that I was aiming for historical accuracy in my statement. If you look back over it you will see that I placed it in the more modern context - I said they sign their works now, and they have for a while; all present tense. I just thought it would be a nice, small, personable touch someone might be able to use.
rbingham2000 04-10-05, 02:23 AM	I just want to say that I LOVE THIS THREAD! There's a free game on the net called Runequest Slayers whose solo adventure, the Castle of Madness, hands out treasure much like this, instead of simply having a huge chest somewhere in the dungeon where all the bad guys' gold and magic items are stored. "If you've got it, flaunt it," so they say. I like this method of handing out treasure, as it gives Rogues and other sneaky types an incentive to put points in the Appraise skill, and it opens up the opportunity for a character uttering the immortal line: "Do you KNOW how much we can get for this back in town?!"
The Master Weaver Is Warped 04-10-05, 08:28 AM	I see your point, but I didn't say that I was aiming for historical accuracy in my statement. If you look back over it you will see that I placed it in the more modern context - I said they sign their works now, and they have for a while; all present tense. I just thought it would be a nice, small, personable touch someone might be able to use.Oh don't get me wrong I'd use signatures and maker's marks too. They are plot hooks even the densest fighter can figure out, but without marks the party is wishing for that bard with +20 bardic knowledge or the legend lore spell, which is, of course, another plot hook. As is the question "Whose hair do you think this was in the diamond and platnium locket? Must have been someone important." Or the master artist walking into the tavern looking for a group of adventures to find the reprobates that are counterfiting his mark and ruining his reputation. Hell, elves may be vain enough to have used elaborate signatures and marks. Then there could be marks of the gods themselves. "Oh crap, this dagger was made by Kord himself. You probably ought to give it back." Bling. "No way man. I could set up a whole cat house for what I can sell this baby for." Bling. KismetRose, you know me. Just because I give an art history lesson doesn't mean it has anything to do with actually playing D&D. I'm just another art geek with too much education for her own good. :tiphat:
Kayoz_Majick 04-10-05, 12:12 PM	:rofl: Can you imagine this??? The PC just get done clearing out the BBEG's Blinging evil residence.... In walks the Dreaded Bill Collector of DOOM!!! Collector: "Er, excuse me... are you the owners of this establishment?" PCs: "Hell yeah, what are you gonna do about it, wimp-o?" Collector: "What are your names? PCs: "I am Fighter-man! That is Magic-boy, Thiefy, and Holy-guy! Together, we are Adventure group!!! HA! impressed yet?? Collector: "Er...No. Here is a collection notice. You have 30 days to come up with 1,000,000gp. The last owner had a small problem of gambling and had rather expensive tastes. The King of Kingdom X (very powerful, mad and local) is waiting for his payment. Thank you, have a nice day" PCs: :OMG!
Always-Late 04-10-05, 03:53 PM	You forgot the most important items of all: 1000 gp. A bunch of glowing crystal dice, and hundreds of small marble lifelike painted figurines of various races and monsters holding various weapons, and lots of paper with random numbers and statistics on them, on top of a small terrain field. Add 10,000 if the figurines move and shoot each other on command.
Kayoz_Majick 04-11-05, 01:18 AM	how about these very minorly enchanted items, good for a high level of magic campaign/world. 2000 gp The Clapper: Amazing! Just by clapping your hands two times, you can light all of the torches in a single room! Clapping your hands one time will put out the same amount of torches in the room. Good for up to 20 light sources. 15000 gp Moving-Lights-Floor: Be the talk of the underground with this baby. 50' x 50', each one foot tile lights up as one of 4 random colors. Fantastic for dancing parties, or just plain fun for the torture chamber! 3000 gp the Twister: Right hand blue.... OR ELSE! This entertaining torture device provides hours of amusement. Set up to eight victims on this 4' x 8' rug. There are 5 different color circles in rows of eight. Failure to place the correct body part on the desired circle results in a moderate electrocution. Body part and color of circle are determined byt twirling a small arrow attached to a small wooden block.
KismetRose 04-11-05, 01:25 AM	Oh don't get me wrong I'd use signatures and maker's marks too. They are plot hooks even the densest fighter can figure out, but without marks the party is wishing for that bard with +20 bardic knowledge or the legend lore spell, which is, of course, another plot hook. As is the question "Whose hair do you think this was in the diamond and platnium locket? Must have been someone important." Or the master artist walking into the tavern looking for a group of adventures to find the reprobates that are counterfiting his mark and ruining his reputation. Hell, elves may be vain enough to have used elaborate signatures and marks. Then there could be marks of the gods themselves. "Oh crap, this dagger was made by Kord himself. You probably ought to give it back." Bling. "No way man. I could set up a whole cat house for what I can sell this baby for." Bling. KismetRose, you know me. Just because I give an art history lesson doesn't mean it has anything to do with actually playing D&D. I'm just another art geek with too much education for her own good. :tiphat: First of all, I like the thing you said about the hair in the locket. Something like that is intensely personal. It's rather like yellowing love letters kept together in a box or drawer, practically in the order they were given. What would it be like to find the BBEG's love letters? I'll have to use that sometime. Secondly, I know how it is to have too much education for your own good. Too damned well. And I actually didn't know how long folks had used marks on common goods, so the lesson was neat. It's all good. =)
lucky2 04-15-05, 06:02 PM	The Gem Encrusted Harp. Made from the finest woods in the world, carved by the master carpenter, with an elegant design, and with fine figures carved into it. A nymph, clothed in a what appears to be a thin dress blowing in the wind, supports the largest side, and has hundreds of gems upon it, each a shifting tinge of blue and gray. Her skin is smooth, with no imperfection, and it's color is provided by the wood. Her emerald eyes were made by only the best, and her hair's color was made from hundred of rubies and other imcomprehendably perfect gems. The designs' very existance has been made of the utter perfection of what it is. Hundreds of gems cover it, and the have been cut and placed so that one cannot tell that they are not merely a sheet of perfection. I would place this marvelous creation at about 80,000 gp. So many hundreds of the best gems.
The Master Weaver Is Warped 04-16-05, 07:59 AM	The Gem Encrusted Harp.... I would place this marvelous creation at about 80,000 gp. So many hundreds of the best gems. The bard in me asks "nice, but how does it sound?"
lucky2 04-16-05, 11:56 AM	Whoops. Finest craftsmen ship, baby! ...So yeah, really nice. Or, I guess you can just have a ghost sound on it.
Hugin 04-21-05, 10:00 PM	This thread deserves a :bump: "Bling Splatbook" anyone? Now that would be a very interesting read!
Kayoz_Majick 04-22-05, 01:10 PM	i second the motion :bump:
Loftower 04-29-05, 10:57 PM	From my vaults: The Ogre Magus’ oriental gardens were very popular. Since the value is in the arrangement, hauling anything off to sell would cause the value to plummet. How would you take the cascading stream with you anyway? Toys are always a good idea. Chess sets and action figures are almost cliché. Doll houses, stuffed animals, crystal figurines, toy chariots with horses, undersized instruments, puzzles and games can all be of vastly varying value based on intricacy and materials. Ceremonial weapons and armor can look like things that a character would want to use but they are worse than average when it gets down to the dirty work of fighting. I’ve used hundreds of books. For instance: Star map book – 16 full maps spanning 1/3 year. Stars are not named. Sun and moon rise are marked and set positions are marked and labeled with times. Tools can also be very expensive and not necessarily useful to the adventurers. A jeweler’s set or a smithy’s anvil; fine carpenter’s chisels or stone splitting wedges; a simple garden trowel or a gilded plow; a copper kettle or a silver tea tray could all be found as treasure. In fact, I think I’ve used them all. A fish tank can hold a fortune. Individual rare fish and/or ornaments in the tank could be arbitrarily valuable. Imagine the adventurers trying to keep the rare fish alive long enough to sell them to a collector. Though I know I’m breaking the bling-bling train: livestock. I’ve had BBEGs with herds, flocks, coops, etc. full of salable livestock. While I’m off-topic a bit, hostages can also be fun. Many BBEGs take prisoners and their return can be worth a cash reward, or they can be ransomed, or they can be sold into slavery or any number of interesting things. Do the PCs charge the princess an “escort fee” to get her back to the palace? Does the king claim it was their duty an refuse to pay? What if she wasn’t a princess, but just lying so the PCs didn’t leave her there?
Hugin 04-30-05, 12:13 AM	Those are some cool ideas there, Loftower! I never really thought about hostages for ransome as a "treasure" before. That could lead to a whole other adventure!
Airsucker 05-13-05, 11:04 AM	I thought that tradesmen used marks. Carpenters marked their crafted items.
Tibs 06-02-05, 04:53 PM	:bump:
MasterRookie 06-02-05, 05:13 PM	Make him incredebly vain with lots of pictures of himself. DM: Okay you see a picture of the BBEG slaying a silver dragon. PC: Is the frame gold DM: Yes PC: I rip out the painting and sell the frame
wereooze 06-02-05, 06:06 PM	My god, is this thread still going on? I just watched Sideways which gave me the idea of a wine collecting BBEG. PC: Hey, wheres the horde? DM: remember the stuff the Barbarian and the dwarf were having a drinking contest with 2 hours ago? PC: yeah..... DM: Lets just say they're gonna have about 8000Gp worth of urine soon. :evillaugh
Raymond_Luxury_Yacht 06-13-05, 07:38 PM	This thread must not die! As for my contribution, why have a bedroom elf when you can have a bedroom aasimar? Or a bedroom ghaele? Or a bedroom erinyes? Or even a bedroom succubus?
angelshelper81 07-06-05, 05:19 PM	Okay, it's not so very bling, but: A super-fancy teapot with a command-activated Heat Metal spell on it - for when you just don't want to go all the way across the mansion to get your bedtime tea.
Astinex 07-06-05, 05:32 PM	If this idea was already posted I apologize, as I have not read this entire thread. A Golden Quill, enchanted as to write whatever is dictated to it. It responds to two command words, one to start writing and one to stop.
dog_mu 07-06-05, 06:09 PM	In one of my campaigns, the tower the party cleared of monsters had been made by a high-level transmuter. The stone walls were magically hardened, all the glass in the windows was as hard as steel, running water was supplied from a tank refilled by a Decanter of Endless Water on the top floor, and there was a library of reference works worth tens of thousands of GP. Probably the most valuable item in the tower was the orginal builder's spell book, with spells up to 7th level, including several custom-researched spells. Oh, and there was a treasure vault in the basement reachable only by Passwall or Teleport, with an item embedded in the wall that did Passwall twice a day if you pressed the runes on it in the right order.
The Master Weaver Is Warped 07-09-05, 09:29 AM	Okay, it's not so very bling, but: A super-fancy teapot with a command-activated Heat Metal spell on it - for when you just don't want to go all the way across the mansion to get your bedtime tea. Prim British Bling! I love it. Add a custom blended stash of teas, self cleaning tea balls, never-chip china cups, and a dancing tea cosey just for the entertainment value.
CannonFodder2244 07-09-05, 10:00 AM	The Picture of Dorian Grey with Dorian Grey encased in a block of ice right next to it.
Jonathan Strange 07-09-05, 01:31 PM	I think the Grey Portrait is an artifact in Champions of Ruin or some other book that just came out.
Jerivar 07-10-05, 06:41 AM	A tiara that, regardless of how bloody or bruised you are, no matter how many limbs you loose... your hair remains perfect.
High Octane 07-10-05, 08:10 AM	A tiara that, regardless of how bloody or bruised you are, no matter how many limbs you loose... your hair remains perfect. OOOH! Anime laws of physics in D&D! Anyway, I wouldnt exactly call it bling, but I planned out a dragon's horde that had some definite refinery about it. One idea I had was a wine collection.... Winery Dragon has a collection of fine wines and glasses. On the table is a crystal bottle with gold inlay and an Amethyst stopper, inside is a fine elvish wine which just met maturation. It was meant to be drank by the dragon in celebration of the death of his arch enemy, an annoying copper dragon. The wine itself is worth 200gp, and the bottle is worth 300 gp (250 from the amethyst stopper). In the wine rack has 34 bottles of wine, some of which have matured, some have not. Their types range from human wines, elvish wines, gnomish wines, a halfling cherry wine, and even some apparantly draconic recipes, and even a bottle of "Ol' Oli's finest", a wine recipe supposedly created by Olidammara himself that is considered thge finest wine in the world. If it was full it would be worth 2000 gp, however it is 1/3 drunk so its worth has dropped to 700 gp. He has a collection of wine glasses, that are made of varying materials, including delicate crystal glasses and fine jewel studded gold and silver goblets. The total of the glasses can be sold for 800gp, however half of that value is in crystal glasses which can shatter easily. Also found is a small desk with some writing in draconic (a journal). A DC 15 Decipher Script reveals it to be a journal. Anyone who can read draconic can read it and identifies what it is immediately. It mostly chronicles his day to day affairs, the only part that is interesting is when he mentions that when he drinks red wine from gold and silver goblets he imagines its the blood of his enemies.
Radijs 07-20-05, 06:09 PM	A small dragon skeleton with a flat glass surface on top of it. Functions as a coffee table. (dont bark your shin on it)
Thomar_of_Uointer 07-20-05, 08:14 PM	12,000 gp. A quartz globe of the planet, 20' in diameter, suspended with a floating disc.
nosoupforyou 07-20-05, 09:53 PM	A music box...but instead of a ballerina: A male dwarf in a pink tutu - Soup
Iron Head 07-21-05, 12:38 PM	I pass a motion to get this thread stickied.
UltimateReality 07-21-05, 12:44 PM	I pass a motion to get this thread stickied. Seconded.
nosoupforyou 07-21-05, 03:00 PM	But it was so close to dying! Okay...if we get it stickied then we need to turn it into a request thread Example: "I'm making a lich who lives in an underground cave with lava flows oozing from the walls etc. I need a good item that is appropriate for the environment. Etc. Etc. Etc." Or "I have a male cleric of pelor, his focus is on undead destruction, I want an item that is near artifact level. What powers should I put on it. Ideas?" Just listing stuff isn't worthy of a sticky. - Soup
Lao, Ninja of the Dragon 07-21-05, 03:55 PM	I hope these haven't been done yet: Shimmerling Glow Tube: Glass tubes flow through the building. Inside are shimmerling swarms. Dread blossom garden:In a greenhouse. Construct servants tend to the flowers as they have no blood they will be fine. An orrery showing the orbit of the solar system that world is in A intricate glass structure with positive and negative energy rivers floating through. A tree complete with animals is in it. The negative energy kills everything, and then the positive energy resurrects it. a permanent Illusion of servants. The Illusion is right were unseen servants are
Loopy 07-21-05, 04:06 PM	If you all want me to and if you come up with a wampa-load of these things, I could pound out a quick program that will randomly generate an artifact with these treasures in them...
Lao, Ninja of the Dragon 07-21-05, 05:19 PM	Pets make awesome treasure. Sometimes the PCs might just want to keep some of the cooler ones. -Griffons. Purebred. Won many races of course. And pampered and only given the finest meat. -A tank full of fish from the river Styx. Carefull, those fiendish goldfish are bite. -A astral kraken larva enchanted to remain small Exotic plants must fill the grounds, endangered. Guaranteed to set the druids off. Oh, for more druid-enfuriating fun, fey gardeners.
Vadin 07-21-05, 07:26 PM	MUAHHAHAHA! my characters wont be getting ANY equipment in our next SW campaign. instead, they get actian figures and CHESS SETS. MUAHAHAHA!
Jonathan Strange 07-22-05, 02:00 AM	I love the prisoners as ransom treasure but I'm going to have them as ancient heros imprisoned in some sort of stasis cube or coffin. How much did Jabba pay for the Carbonite Han Solo? Big bucks I'm sure. What would the elves of Elven Nation X pay to get a 3000 year old hero returned to them alive and well? Especially if their is some sort of political conflict or war brewing with orcs. A powerful hero is invaluable if his exploits are mighty and they think he can save them.
Tusz 07-22-05, 02:42 AM	Another variation of the chess set: All the pieces are people the PCs have encountered and/or fought, with the BBEG and his minions on one side and the PCs and their allies on the other. It looks as if a game is on hiatus at the moment, with the people who have been killed having their pieces off the board. Since the PCs are probably invading their foe's home at that point, there should be something indicating it's the PCs-and-friends side's turn. For more fun, have the different positions differ wildly from the character's personality (ie half-orc barbarian as the queen piece, the manipulating rogue as a pawn, etc). To really confuse them, have high-ranking pieces (on either side) be NPCs the players don't recognize. Here's an idea I remembered from one of my friend's campaigns: the hallway comes to a T intersection. against the wall, facing the hallway the PCs come through, are two statues of a dwarf and elf warrior, both enchanted. Each one is near one of the hallways. If the PCs walk by either one, he tells them not to go that way, as it's just a dead end with traps. If the PCs try to go the other way, the other one tells them something similar about the other passage. The two statues proceed to bicker about it (best if you have an assistant DM to play one of them, so you aren't talking to yourself). Of course, you can also have the BBEG's "garbage pile" of expended charged/one-time items. Elaborately carved crystal vials for potions, ornate jeweled wands with no charges left, etc. Some of the wands might have been snapped in half out of frustration when they run out of charges in the middle of a battle. A similar idea for a spellcaster would be a pile of magic items the BBEG botched when trying to craft. The gems and such are still good, but the total item might be a bit damaged. For the... less cultured foe, one could have carved stone talismans of the tribe's spirit animal, or large totems along the same lines. If you want some contrast, how about the powerful blackguard who, on the roof of his Fortress of Ultimate Darkness (tm), has a small garden where he grows exotic herbs as a hobby? Even better if he has a passion for cooking, and the PCs find him preparing a meal, his apron looking rather odd draped over his armor spikes (of course he's still wearing his armor!).
Nurgan_the_drunked 07-22-05, 08:44 AM	Traditional, I know but: Throne of skulls A 9-ft tall throne carved out of obsidian. The front armrest-piece is exquisitely carved to resemble a pile of skulls, the 2 topmost ones being particularly enlarged, and having gems of your choosing in the eye socket. The top piece of the backrest forms into a large, horned skull with sharp teeth, which overhangs the seat. Large spikes extend from the back, and some from the centre of the armrest curving upwards, giving the seat a total width of 15ft, though the seat is roughly 5-ft by 5-ft. The cushioned seat is layered with skin of Muskeval, Rakshasa or Wyvern of your choice. Discrete compartments and slot are placed on the inside, and subtly on the front, to store weapons, wands, staffs, and other parephenalia, all in ways designed not to break the appearance of the throne. What's more, our qualified chiropractors can perform an examination to fit the backrest perfectly to aid your comfort and posture. Because Nothing spoils a good day's worth of evil like a touch of backache.
crossbow 07-22-05, 11:22 AM	You have kicked down the door to the BBEG’s Black Fortress ™, laid waste to his Minions, avoided his clever Traps Of Doom (pat. pend.), found his Inner Sanctum, listened to his Insane Monologue and then laid him low. And as you explore the ruins of the most fiendish villain’s hideout, you find The Portal. Being Brave Adventurers, you know not where it goes, but you dare it anyway. Where do you find yourself? In some Dank Dungeon™? No! You are blinded by the brilliant light streaming in through the open archways of the BBEG’s tropical resort! Even a BBEG needs a place to relax and unwind after a strenuous day at the Lair. And what better place to unwind with a frosty beverage and a native girl than a luxurious Southern Seas Private Getaway (sometimes literally) resort?! A light sea breeze flows through the open doors and windows, blue waters and sandy beaches greet your eyes, as the resort is perched on piles out in the middle of a tropical lagoon in the sunny Southern Seas. A full set of fine fishing tackle is held in a beautiful wooden wall cabinet while low couches, covered in expensive but breathable embroidered white linen, are scattered around the softly polished wooden floor. The kitchen has a fully stocked bar with a magical cold well for keeping those delicious import beers cold on the hot tropical days and while the cooking space is small, it is well appointed. In the trophy room are mounted fish, sharks, a mermaid, the head of a mosasaur and other unlikely bits like a tentacle of a kraken in a tank of alcohol. There are also several harpoons, gaff hooks and other nautical equipment, like a gold and platinum sextant (worth a pretty penny) and a set of charts for the local waters. The bedroom is upstairs and says Comfort, in big, bold letters. Polished hardwood floors, mahogany and reed furniture and a massive bed with an overstuffed mattress with silk sheets greet your eyes as you walk up the stairs made of palm logs split in half and polished. Outside, a covered deck runs around the entire building, all the way down to the docks. The docks are the perfect place for swimming in the delightfully warm blue waters or for taking one of the small sailboats out for a jaunt. And on the shore of the atoll are sandy white beaches and tall coconut palms, just waiting to be picnicked under. All in all, this is a place where a BBEG could just relax from the hardships of being a tyrannical Evil Overlord and just be himself for a few hours without worry.
Jonathan Strange 07-22-05, 01:44 PM	Damn that sounds like a good time. A very interesting treasure indeed, valuable property, nice. Fun part is, once the PCs setup shop there and think it's there perfect tropical hideout, the adventures start all over again. That island could be deserted due to the local population fleeing the kraken that claims the island as its territory. The PCs can stay, but the kraken needs them to get something... Great description of the place, kraken or no, I'd be all over it. Where did you say this portal was again...
Silais 07-24-05, 12:21 AM	Another variation of the chess set: All the pieces are people the PCs have encountered and/or fought, with the BBEG and his minions on one side and the PCs and their allies on the other. It looks as if a game is on hiatus at the moment, with the people who have been killed having their pieces off the board. Since the PCs are probably invading their foe's home at that point, there should be something indicating it's the PCs-and-friends side's turn. For more fun, have the different positions differ wildly from the character's personality (ie half-orc barbarian as the queen piece, the manipulating rogue as a pawn, etc). To really confuse them, have high-ranking pieces (on either side) be NPCs the players don't recognize. That's a great idea. I think I'll use that one in my campain, I think I'll remove one of their living allys from the board, and then have them return from the BBEG's dungeon to find that she's been assasanated by a hireling of the BBEG while they where fighting him. Thanks Why not place some more utilitarian things, like a very very well bread horse (aka, a expencinve car), which should fetch a prety copper. Or how about some magic items, that are utterly useless for adventurers. Like a animated broom of cleaning, or a magic, dishwashing basin.
crossbow 07-25-05, 02:24 PM	Jonathan, Yeah, I was going for something a little different with the Island. It would make a good jumping off point for new adventures as well as just making an interesting location for the adventurers to visit. And now for some more mundane items The Dolphin Ring: Carved from a single piece of emerald, the ring is a pair of dolphins crossing each other, as if in mid leap, joined at the bottom, where their tails should be. While not magical, the ring has been masterfully carved and polished and is a thing of beauty, as well as value. (1,100 gp) The Beauty of Dusk: In the courtyard is a statue of a girl in the nude, standing demurely, long hair flowing over one shoulder. The statue is life sized and carved from smoky quartz, giving the piece a beautiful translucent softness. The beauty has been well placed in the garden, for in the evening, when the sun goes down, a single shaft of dying light touches her, causing the statue to glow with warmth. The marble pedestal on which she stands has the phrase ‘The Beauty Of Dusk: Forever Beautiful’ carved into it, all in capital letters. Unfortunately, the Beauty was once a very real, very live sixteen year old girl that the BBEG took an interest in and then turned to stone. (As a side note, why is it that people always think boring old grey rock when they use flesh to stone? If you’re going to make statuary, I’d want it to at least be marble.) The knife collection: The BBEG has a thing for knives. No, a serious thing for knives. He collects them from all over the place and has them meticulously displayed in cases with tags detailing where he got them, when they were made and who made them, if known. He has simple little eating knives, old rusty knives that he dug up from some dungeon, expensive knives from the best smiths in the land, exotic knives from foreign places. He has knives with dragon bone handles and rubies inset, knives with the finest Damascus blades, big knives, small knives and every size in between. But he doesn’t have any magical ones, because he loves the purity and workmanship without the magic. His collection is totally without a magic blade in it though it is still worth a fair bit to the right people. To adventurers, it’s not worth very much, really and they will have to find the right buyer or sell it off a piece at a time.
Link182 07-25-05, 06:13 PM	Good point. I figured Flesh to Stone made some amazingly detailed statue but never thought about the color or type of stone that it became. Cool. The knife thing is a good idea. I think my high level PCs would just leave them or use them to throw at monsters. However, a Spoon collection would be a good time, especially if they're all by the same gnomish craftsman or something, spanning his long career of spoon making. The crown jewel being the lame magic item, Murlynd's Spoon. Which makes that bowl of warm, wet cardboard tasting gruel. (its a 1E Unearthed Arcana item. I doubt it made it to 3.5) I can't wait to play again and have these strange treasures for the PC, with very little actual cash. Or what about a massive horde of non precious metal currency that isn't accepted any more because the empire it belonged to is nothing but ruins. How badly would that suck? The PCs defeat some lich who's hanging on to the past, only to realize his fancy, rare snail shell "coins" aren't worth a copper. Finally, I think some creepy BBEG's would be into keeping people who rejected them as statues, or worse, a "bedroom" Figurine of Wonderous Power. Hardly a treasure to a good or nuetral PC (even evil with some sense of decency) as they would try to free them or something.
crossbow 07-25-05, 06:28 PM	Link182, Those are brilliant ideas! I love the spoon collection especially, though I may be more likely to use the hoard of ‘coins’ in my current campaign, just due to the nature of things. I’m really starting to like the idea of having BBEG’s collect something trivial, shot glasses, spoons, plates, just something with little intrinsic value to anyone but another collector. Maybe stuffed toys. Imagine the creepiness of walking into a room in a BBEG’s lair and finding hundreds of stuffed children’s toys and dolls? So if all the children’s toys are here, where are all the children? Just some random thoughts of mine. Mostly I just wanted to say I really liked the ideas that you had.
Lord_Soto 07-25-05, 08:11 PM	Not sure if it has been mentioned yet, but Stamps. Lots of stamps. Also bearing honorable mention, Autographed memoribilia of famous bards.
Link182 07-26-05, 12:26 AM	Awesome. This thread is killing me. What if the BBEG had a painting signed by a famous bard who posed for it. However, the painting may have been expensive to create and the bard very famous (and the time it took for him to sit and pose cost big money) but it's ugly as all hell. See the elves found a way to create painting out of velvet. And thus we have the first "velvet elvis" or a velvet painting of a famous bard opera singer, in his clown costume. Perhaps an enchanted painting of the BBEG standing next to Elminster at a Mage Fair. The painting moves and then resets itself as a Harry Potter newspaper does, thus a sort of celebrity photograph or, taking it further, a similar painting only it's of Sune when she sunbathed on Toril during the Time of Troubles. Topless of course. What the Church of Sune would pay for that "photograph" to be taken out of circulation. The children's toys thing is great. I'm gonna have a BBEG with a room full of expensive dolls.
Mercurius 07-26-05, 10:07 AM	The crown jewel being the lame magic item, Murlynd's Spoon. Which makes that bowl of warm, wet cardboard tasting gruel. (its a 1E Unearthed Arcana item. I doubt it made it to 3.5) Well, I do know that Murlynd's Spoon was in 3.0, because I gave it to some PCs so that I didn't have to bother thinking about how they were eating.
Rogue DM 07-26-05, 02:34 PM	Great thread. I'll have to think about how I can decorate the BBEG's lair and not give the PCs to much treasure.
crossbow 07-26-05, 04:32 PM	The Loyal Steed: This is a life size cast bronze statue of a war horse standing over his fallen knight, one hoof raised to ward off attackers. It is the final masterwork by the famous sculptor Venchensi and is so detailed that the rivets on the horse’s barding and the knight’s armor have been included, as well as the broken sword and the water streaming off the horse’s body into the mud where the knight lays. The statue weighs in at almost sixteen hundred pounds and will be difficult to move but is also worth 10-20,000 gp to a collector in a big city. For the Evil Bard in life, The Musical Instrument Collection: What bard, good or evil, could resist collecting musical instruments? This collection has a superb example of all the finest musical instruments that are commonly played in the land, from beautiful drums to fine lutes, dulcimers, mandolins, traveling harps, floor harps and even an organ. All of them are in good condition and each could fetch a fine price, but, like all instruments, they are delicate and will take some effort to transport and almost as much to sell off. The Historian: This is more a type of BBEG than specific items. The Historian is fascinated with the history of some specific time and place and does his best to collect the artifacts (non magical ones this time) of that time and place. If there was a mighty mage war where tens of thousands died, he studies that. If a group of hero’s died to the man defending a pass or town, he studies that; whatever takes his fancy, he devotes his spare time and resources to studying. He has books on the subject, artifacts that he has collected (or paid someone to collect) for him including old coins, broken ceramics, rusty weapons and armor and the skeletons of fallen warriors. He displays them all throughout his home/lair in carefully prepared locations and display cases. His prize possessions though are a collection of rare broken or expended magical items. The Broken Sword of Sir Frostbank, the expended wand of fireballs that the great mage Nightbane used in his last stand and the things of that sort are what this BBEG collects. None of it has any real value except to collectors and historians, but some of it may lead to quests for other items and treasures that do have value. As a side note, a big inspiration for this idea came from the third book of the Black Company. Credit where credit is due and all.
nyysjan 07-27-05, 03:44 AM	Dragonomicon has some good charts for random treasure beyond the usual "art object 500gp" stuff Mirror that is enchanted so that anybody that looks into it see themselves as handsome/beautifull no matter what they wear or how they look the mirror also compliments you on your taste of clothing and hairstyle
Link182 07-27-05, 05:25 AM	Yeah, with BBEG Bling, there is opportunity to get very "Harry Potter" with the treasure. Enchanted chocolate frogs, combs that make your hair perfect, an apple that never runs out, the complimentary mirror is cool, perfect for the BBEG who craves sycophantic compliments.
Carn Vandoril 07-27-05, 05:34 AM	As for the "Bard theme". I just had to respond! Bling bling music items! Every room has his own tune, in 'magic mouthed' amulets: * Toilet: little harp playing "raindrops keep falling on my head". * Armory: small orchestra "eye of the tiger". * Bathroom mirror: female voices "boodylicious". * Bedroom: deep dwarven voice "sexual healing". :D
High King Tigernmas 07-27-05, 05:35 AM	A comb with ancient, unreadable runes on it. Let the PCs wonder about it for ages, then eventually have a Loremaster or something translate it. It says, 'comb'.
Radijs 07-27-05, 09:54 AM	I sprung a load of treasure like this on my PC's and one has already started to collect the ceramic figurines! Now I'll have to keep a chart about which ones exist in the series! Its really neat!
Dalar Ragnos 07-29-05, 02:33 AM	I've recently got to thinking about how I might pimp out my own dominion... I've come up with a nifty variant of the chessboard: -fight some adventurers and cast Flesh to Stone on the interesting ones, making them become white marble -cast Polymorph Any Object on them to make them have a base, just like a chesspiece (this also keeps a simple Stone to Flesh from freeing them; your foes would have to polymorph them back to free-standing statues before they could make them flesh again) -for the black pieces, use animated statues that aren't attatched to their bases (except for the pawns, which should be black-painted medium Iron Golems). Put a figure of yourself as the King (of course), with Illithids as bishops, a female red dragon as your queen, Beholders as your rooks, and Yuan-ti as your knights. -The chamber should have a platform at each end of the room, about 10 feet above the floor. The platforms are where players would stand to play the game; the rest of the ceiling should be low enough to prevent PCs from flying over without provoking AoOs. Possibly throw in a few traps, while you're at it. Basically, that setup makes for a life-sized game in which your fallen foes can be used to further amuse you, while they cannot be true resurrected to pester you again. ----------------------------------- Another chessboard: Animated statues of devils (or demons) as the black pieces, animated statues of celestials as the white. The statues won't attack the BBEG, but any tresspassers make both sides forget their quarrel and focus on the intruders. Animated statues of devils as red, and demons as black. Now you can simulate the Blood War in your own lair! ----------------------------------- And my final contibution for the moment: A stairway with many landings, with a large, brightly illuminated crystal box flush with the wall on each level area; each box on the left contains a devil of progressively higher rank, and each box on the right contains a demon of progressively higher rank. The devils and demons are all in stasis; if any box from one side is damaged, moved, or otherwise tampered with, it and all of its kindred are freed to join battle. Clever adventurers might free both sides and hide to avoid the carnage, or just leave them as they are and enjoy the view.
Nurgan_the_drunked 07-29-05, 03:56 AM	Barbells of lifting These heavy steel weights have a transmutation efect, so that anyone lifting them will be treated as having a greater strength for the purpose of lifting objects. The increase is such that lifting the weights themselves is just within your capability (no point having barbells if you don't get a good workout), to a maximum of +10. This may not help much in combat, but boy, will it make you feel manly!
nyysjan 07-30-05, 05:22 AM	Crystall Ball that is fixed so that it only shows the inside of local Theater/Opera/Arena not much use but is entertaining PS. this should be stickied
Valgaav 07-30-05, 06:58 AM	Crystall Ball that is fixed so that it only shows the inside of local Theater/Opera/Arena not much use but is entertaining as a semi-obsessed fan of Phantom of the Opera, I approve. PS. this should be stickied seconded, though there's far too many stickythreads on this forum. this one's worth it, though.
UltimateReality 08-03-05, 01:04 AM	seconded, though there's far too many stickythreads on this forum. this one's worth it, though. So who do you harass to get a thread stickied?
Valgaav 08-03-05, 04:00 AM	So who do you harass to get a thread stickied? I'm PMing the WizO mod for this board, WizO_TheCheat
Shir 08-03-05, 06:59 AM	For the petrified woman with tiara technique, I have an idea to save on the cost. Have the woman petrified, and then make a tiara that has the Stone to Flesh spell built as a constant item, only that it has its effect when worn and can be turned off with a command word as well. If she tries to take it off, she'll petrify, or when someone speaks the command word. I would say, from the implied use of such an item, that this would be very dangerous. Just imagine the tiara falling of by accident (or someone speaking the command word) while "perusing" the statue. :D
Nurgan_the_drunked 08-03-05, 07:32 AM	As I understand, the Tiara wouldn't be on the statue normally, you'd put the tiara on the statue when you wanted it to be an charmed, beautiful elf (who's wearing a tiara). The danger in my mind is if it falls off in the middle of a passionate embrace, leaving you clamped firmly in an embarrassing position with an elven statue. Hmmm, what an interesting encounter that would be.
NinjaE 08-03-05, 07:44 AM	Well, you could have it be a necklace. Those don't fall off too often. Luxury food counts as "art", right? A few ideas: Life-sized chocolate quasit: Actually a product of a flesh to chocolate spell, imported straight from the battlefields of the Blood War. Has a scrawled note attached, saying "Remember not to eat this one yet; Vrischika won't get a new shipment from the 'loths anytime soon." 50 GP to people with taste. Sugar-glazed chocolate dragon egg: Tastes wonderfully, but it'll kill your diet. 300 GP due to rarity Bottled elemental water: Any water you drink after this will taste dirty in comparison. 5 GP a bottle A keg of abyssal Blood-Brew. Anything without fiendish heritage that drinks this extremely foul-tasting brew must make a DC 20 fortitude save or lose 1d20 CON. However, when did a true gourmet care about possible death? Only brewed on the 587th layer of the Abyss, so it's worth a fair bit. 400 GP for the keg, 10 GP for a mug. Illithid Special: Apparently, illithids find this tasty. Stored in a stasis tank, so you won't have to worry about the expiration date. 0 GP from anything that isn't an illithid, 2-300 GP if you sell it to an illithid.
WizO_TheCheat 08-03-05, 09:56 AM	I agree that we have too many stickies right now to add another one. I recommend putting a link to this thread in the Useful DM Links thread. I also recommend saving a back-up so that the thread doesn't accidentally get purged down the road somewhere if folks stop responding to it. I might look into a sticky in the future if we decide to remove some of the stickies that currently reside at the top of the forum. Teh C.
ShadowDragon8685 08-03-05, 10:39 AM	How about a permanant forum that registered people can't post to, but mods can move Threads of Exceptional Grace +1 to, and people can continue to reply to?
Ezell Pike 08-03-05, 11:11 AM	My players recently killed a rakshasa (sp). His art was themed to a particular style. He had a piece of Ivory scrimshaw depicting an elephant hunt, an elegant rug, a tapestry of a city with arcitecture like that of the ancient middle east. I felt that it made him more human posthumously of course.
Algorithm_X 08-03-05, 05:34 PM	Hmm, imagine a baby's room with all the finest toys and bedding and decorations money can buy, and inside the crib is the gentle reposed corpse of the BBEG's infant child. Curled up as if sleeping. That would just scream tragic past and cast the villian in a much more human light, however seriously misguided he or she may be. It would be hard to not feel sorry for someone who lost a child and grieved deeply for it. I could see resurection not working on a soul young enough to not make the choice of whether or not to allow it. (remember each soul has a choice to permit resurection or not). Imagine the rage, grief and frustraion in discovering you precious little baby couldn't be brought back dispite all your contributions and hard work for the church, it could be enough to make a palidin fall... (potential plot idea)
Tuneless Bard 08-04-05, 10:55 AM	I vote for another thread started with a compiled list of art objects at the top... Id do it myself but i dont have the time to update the master list with new submissions...im not on the boards that often...
WizO_TheCheat 08-04-05, 03:07 PM	How about a permanant forum that registered people can't post to, but mods can move Threads of Exceptional Grace +1 to, and people can continue to reply to? I don't know how feasible this is. I prefer the suggestion of somebody mainting the main post with all of the items listed thus far. I know it's a lot of work, but it would be a service to the board.
UltimateReality 08-04-05, 03:35 PM	*cracks knuckles* Okay guys, here was my plan: start a new thread and arrange the art objects by general type (jewelry, pets, collections, etc.). Link to the posts on this thread. I would prefer to just put the compilation list at the top of this thread, but we'd need wereooze to edit his post. As it is, I'm envisioning something more like the Master DM chatter-free thread...Each section of art type would get its own post 'o links. I'm subbed to the thread, so each time someone posts I'm notified.... What do you all think? (Other than that I have way too much time on my hands. :P)
rbingham2000 08-04-05, 08:01 PM	I don't know how feasible this is. I prefer the suggestion of somebody mainting the main post with all of the items listed thus far. I know it's a lot of work, but it would be a service to the board. Something like ENWorld's Archive, you mean? Granted, no one can reply to the threads archived on there; they're just there for people to read and enjoy. But still, that would be very cool.
Tuneless Bard 08-06-05, 12:56 AM	*cracks knuckles* Okay guys, here was my plan: start a new thread and arrange the art objects by general type (jewelry, pets, collections, etc.). I disagree...i think if its done it should be done in a format that is more compatable with the current rules for art objects...that is, sorted by cost...displayed in a similar manor as the original post on this thread...but thats just me...
UltimateReality 08-06-05, 01:35 AM	I disagree...i think if its done it should be done in a format that is more compatable with the current rules for art objects...that is, sorted by cost...displayed in a similar manor as the original post on this thread...but thats just me... Hm, that is a good point. My thoughts were that firstly, not everyone has put price tags on their contributions, and secondly, it'd be nice to have categories so that someone could just skim and come up with specifics of their own. However, anyone who's willing to do the task is welcome to do it however they wish! :)
jazzman831 08-06-05, 03:05 AM	I found a set of lists of magic items one time that were each sorted a different way. I know it would take more time, but what if you had one list sorted by type with full descriptions, and one sorted by price? Or you can put the full descriptions on just the one sorted by price, or both, it doesn't matter. I usually have two kinds of art treasure in mind when I'm choosing what to give the PC's: ones that are a specific thing, and ones that are a specific price. I will look through treasure tables in the DMG and the Draconomicon and pick out what I like in the category I'm looking for, then make up the rest. Even for mundane treasures it makes for something a lot more interesting than "you find 1200 coins and 17 gems."
Link182 08-15-05, 10:22 PM	Well thanks to this thread I really gave it to my PCs this last game. They found an abandoned city and raided some houses and warehouses. The treasure consisted of several elaboratelly embroidered silk pillows, fancy gilded birdcages, massively expensive coco beans and chocolate allegedly from another plane, and various other goods. They made several trips, looting much and selling it to an upstart merchant, establishing a relationship with him as well as the city in which he lives. One PC kept going around looking for cash, there was none.
gerbilattack 08-16-05, 05:15 PM	if you dont want something removed, you CURSE IT(r) then it doesn't come off without Remove Curse...
Amene 08-16-05, 08:39 PM	I was reading this thread and i thought that it could be an interesting exercise to think about what kind of art fits different kinds of BBEG tastes, and other NPCs (or PCs for that matter). Different BBEGs should have different tastes in art based on their backgrounds, that's why I just made a quick list of artists sorted by the style that fits different NPCs and BBEGs. I think that the description of the paintings should be as important as the gp value, the artistic preferences of a BBEG can add a lot of depth to the character: Wizards (if you think that magic has something to do with math and formulas), Engineers, Etc… Agnes Denes (http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O:AD:E:1491&page_number=1&template_id=6&sort_order=1) Kasimir Malevich (http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3 A3710&page_number=4&template_id=6&sort_order=1) Willie Cole (http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?object_id=66215) The artwork made/owned by this kind of people could be some sort of concealment for their scrolls, some wizard/wizard's school could have a gallery of paintings that represent all his/their spells instead of a spellbook. Warforged Theo van Doesburg (http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?object_id=232) Piet Mondrian (http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?object_id=78682) Something that called my attention about the warforged in their description was the fact that they have a tendency to make art, and I thought that they could tend to make geometric art, or that they could make machine looking paintings ala Francis Picabia (http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O:AD:E:4607&page_number=1&template_id=6&sort_order=1) (since they are machines and stuff) Druids, Elves, Nature Related Folk Joseph Mallord William Turner (http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?cgroupid=999999996&workid=14723&searchid=8177) This is the first artist that popped in my mind when i thought about nature related people, they could have a tendency towards sublime landscapes in paintings if they are away from the nature. Maybe a druid became evil because some city polluted and destroyed his groove and now he paints landscapes of his lost paradise during his freetime to remember it. BBEG with twisted Tastes: Francis Bacon (http://www.guggenheimcollection.org/site/artist_works_10_0.html) Johann Heinrich Fuseli (http://search.famsf.org:8080/search.shtml?artist=fuseli) Frida Kahlo (http://www.phxart.org/images/kahlo_dh.jpg) Francisco de Goya (http://museoprado.mcu.es/i35.html) Albert Pinkham Ryder (http://www.clevelandart.org/explore/artistwork.asp?searchText=Ryder&tab=1&recNo=0&woRecNo=0) Franz von Stuck (http://cgfa.sunsite.dk/stuck/p-stuck4.htm) Théodore Géricault (http://cgfa.sunsite.dk/gericaul/p-gerica10.htm) I think that painters from the Neoclassicism and Romanticism made a lot of macabre paintings, not because they show a lot of blood but mainly because the history behind the scene (the ones based on classic theater plays mainly). BBEGs with a lot of academic formation could be more propense (spelling?) to own this kind of artwork, Orcs and ones from barbaric cultures could own paintings related toJean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring (http://kemperartmuseum.wustl.edu/exhibitions/archives/spring2004/index.html) and the like. Please forgive my indecent grammar and spelling, since english isn't my mother language
Calibron 08-16-05, 09:55 PM	An artificial healing hot spring complete with cascading water falls, multiple pools seemingly formed out of the natural stone and even a gentle whirlpool section; made possible with a large metal underground tank(magically treated of course) and a semi complex piping system enchanted with Create Water, Control Water, Heat Metal, and Cure Minor Wounds. The perfect relaxation spot after a hard day of eating babies, spreading plagues, and forest sized acts of arson. EDIT: An idea has just struck me. A child-hood security blanket enchanted with Lullaby and Prestidigitation(so that it is always comfortably warm). Perfect for humanizing your BBEGs(or, perhaps, getting them made fun of).
nyysjan 08-17-05, 06:58 AM	Large Golden birdcage, Filled with Balefull Polymorphed (into canaries) monsters and adventurers (only non-shapechangers).
Calibron 08-19-05, 12:12 AM	bump
Nurgan_the_drunked 08-19-05, 03:45 AM	bump To be more precise, a solid gold :bump:, carefully carved by the finest bumpcrafter in the known land, with emeralds and rubies embedded on the bottom.
jazzman831 08-19-05, 03:52 AM	I have one that's not as special as some of the others on this thread, but maybe it will help get the ideas flowing again. A gold dragon head, formed into a helmet. There's no lower jaw and the eye sockets are empty so it gives you a very intimitataing look when you look through it's eyes. No special powers, just cool looking. I put this as random treasure (I think I read something on one of the tables about an ornate helmet and jsut ran from there) and the druid (whom I don't think quite understood the whole "revere nature" thing, but I digress) wouldn't put it down, even though it was worth a substantial portion of their treasure (not that they knew it yet). I have to admit, when our resident artist drew a picture of the druid with twiggy armor, a scimitar and a dragon skull on, it looked amazing.
gerbilattack 08-23-05, 02:04 PM	Arms and Equipment(R) has monitary values for simple gold, silver, copper, or bronze jewelry and several types of clothing, and foods, if it's okay i will post some of those...
crossbow 08-23-05, 02:17 PM	As you are exploring the vampire’s mansion, you come across the dining room, long unused, covered in dust. There, by your candle light, you see the great mahogany table, set with fine china and patterned silverware for twelve. Cobwebs string between sliver candlestick and only the spiders still wait for a dinner that never came. I find that dishes can be a great way to give treasure that the characters have to take care of if they ever want to see any money for it. Dish sets are both expensive and fragile and aren’t hard to sell off for a decent price, if you can get them out intact. Imagine a set of twelve exquisitely crafted porcelain dishes with patterned gold decoration and how every great lord should have a good set and what they might pay for it.
ShadowDragon8685 08-23-05, 03:45 PM	Hah, you think that's bad? My DM rolled random treasure for a Formian hive that my wizard cleaned out with an industrial quantity of lamp oil (1500 lbs of it), a decanter of endless water, permanant Flight, and a torch. He was like " :eek: , 27 Art Objects". He rolled like 7d6, and got four fives in a row. :nonono: Here was the total list: A small statue of a roaring copper dragon - toy cat size a giant crown on the dead queens head - Formian Queen's Crown a collection of music instruments from a simple flute to jeweled harps an embroydered silk and silver mandle, a crystal glass set, and collection of fine aged wine a pearl neckalce, a gold ruby-studded ring and necklace set, A masterwork dagger with scrimshawed dragonbone handle, platinum fittings, and jeweled pommel Really Freaking Huge Diamond. a lifelike statue of a nude Nymph, (my favorite, :inlove: ) a pipe organ with fine silver fittings, a collection of minor gems, a mother-of-pearl coated 20ft statue of pelor - woooohoooo a solid plantium idol to Shar, a huge collection of simple silver bracelts and some kind of half-finished tapestry of an elf. The only things I sold were: The solid platinum idol, smashed and melted for coins. Worth 100 PP. The giant mother-of-pearl statue we returned to the main Peloran church in Neverwinter, and they were kind enough to bequeath 9000 GP salvage rights to us. The wines out of the wine and glassware set (kept the glassware) We sold the bracelets, they were worth 5000. And the tapestry was worth 15 gold. Which left me with: A roaring copper dragon statue adorning the mantlepiece in my small room at the mage academy A statue of a nude nymph to overlook the legendary acts of hedonistic debauchery that go on in my small room at the mage academy ;) A crystal glass set to use when company is over A Very Expensive Masterwork Dagger I'm keeping as my own personal weapon. (Thinking of having it enchanted at some point.) An ENORMOUS, flawless, 1 inch wide by 1 inch deep by 1 centimeter tall diamond, that I think I'm going to make the focal point of some magic item at some point. (That, or make as bling to give away to some NPC my character has heartthrobs for) A collection of other gems which will be handy magically, or also made into bling... Possibly magical bling. :) A pipe organ that is now gracing the academy's chapel And a collection of jewelry. :) So yeah. I don't think my DM was ready for the fact that if you hand a player ready-made bling, they may pimp out their own crib, as opposed to selling it all for more lewt. :smirk:
geekboy87 08-23-05, 04:30 PM	:rofl: :rofl: :devil: :heehee :invasion: :shocked: :shocked: :mymy: :pint: :pint: :OMG! :OMG!
Khastalphos 08-23-05, 05:12 PM	Another variation of the chess set: All the pieces are people the PCs have encountered and/or fought, with the BBEG and his minions on one side and the PCs and their allies on the other. It looks as if a game is on hiatus at the moment, with the people who have been killed having their pieces off the board. Since the PCs are probably invading their foe's home at that point, there should be something indicating it's the PCs-and-friends side's turn. For more fun, have the different positions differ wildly from the character's personality (ie half-orc barbarian as the queen piece, the manipulating rogue as a pawn, etc). To really confuse them, have high-ranking pieces (on either side) be NPCs the players don't recognize. I really enjoyed this idea, and would like to try to take it a step further. What if the good guys and bad guys were all recognizable enough, but not quite perfectly, i.e. we know that these five guys (one being the king) represent us PCs, but we don't know for certain who is who. The king is in check, perhaps even checkmate (But the piece, representing a currently living PC, has not been taken or turned on its side. Yet.) What kind of creepy message might this send for PCs who bother to decode it? Well, it's actually just a subtle way of pointing a finger and saying, "You're next!" but it might chill the blood a bit. In fact, I suppose there are all sorts of (more complicated) messages a BBEG could send via pieces on a chessboard, if one bothered to sort them out...
gerbilattack 08-23-05, 05:13 PM	Coffee is 50gp/lb! That Cup 'o Limitless Coffee would be worth LOTS and LOTS! Vanila 75gp/oz.; Maple Sugar, 75gp/gal; Cachews, 20/lb; Tumeric and MACE 25gp/ounce; Pepper and Nutmeg 30gp/ounce; Saffron 65gp/ounce... And MORE.... __________________ All may be fair in love and war, but here, there's RULES....
Melpomene 08-23-05, 08:51 PM	Solid gold fist-loads, enchanted as magic rings, covered in cheap and tasteless gems and bearing the words "Draggin" and "Slaya." A sheild enchanted with Ghost Sound to always produce the sound of large drums which thump constantly. Pariapt of Health, the centerpiece of which is a solid gold symbol of Pelor the size of a dinner plate. A purebred light warhorse, trained to trot in place for a few seconds after it comes to a stop.
Melpomene 08-24-05, 06:33 PM	>> << :bump:
Silais 08-25-05, 12:16 AM	:bump: Well Deserved, someone realy needs to make a new, compiled version of this thread. I can't remeber who it was but I know someone was talking like they would. Anyhow, ###: A Barley functional but ornate suit of armor, ###+1: Clothing, lots of clothing
Hairfoot 08-25-05, 12:34 AM	Lacking originality, I'll simply steal from Doug Naylor: My BBEG's palace is fronted with a diamond-strewn courtyard containing a 500ft statue of himself which urinates champagne.
Radijs 08-30-05, 04:12 PM	This thing is too good to be down this low. I declare this an official :bump:
mhr74 08-30-05, 04:27 PM	How much for a gem-encrusted steel helm that has iron mugs on each side of it w/ a leather hose leading to the mouth? :)
Radijs 08-30-05, 04:42 PM	We'll make it mithral so its not too heavy to wear...... 2000 for the assorted gems a few pounds of mithral.... Somewhere around 5-7 thousand gold pieces?
Rilion 10-20-05, 08:24 AM	It would be a pity to let this thread die: A black stone disk with several command words in different colours edged into it. If you speak one of these words, a light appears above the disk shining in the same colour as the command word.
Generic Fighter 11-06-05, 04:55 PM	Thread Resurrection Ha!! This is too cool an idea to be buried and lost! Enjoy:) Generic Fighter:fight!:
Pz.Az.04Maus 11-08-05, 05:59 PM	:dragon: :bump: :bump: :bump: Hehe... I loved this article so much that I copied and pasted all the posts onto one word file... Hehe... I could give it out if anyone wants it, but the post is only up til this point...
yellowdingo 11-08-05, 06:36 PM	Why buy when you have artisan skills? So the BBEG has made his own Crystal ball Lavalamps-Immensly magical, purely for lowlight decor, and worth a fortune in art, but only to him and some depraved Halfling with mirrored ceilings and displacer-beast carpets. "Oh dear gods the horror of it all!" So where is that Collection of engraved beer barrels from around the world? What about that Ship in a bottle? A specificly tuned crystal ball with little in the way of use beyond its constant surveilance of the Trader "Windslo Wench" as it sails from one port to the next.
Airsucker 11-28-05, 12:09 PM	This thread must be rescued from the prune!
Ash the blackcowl 11-28-05, 03:10 PM	This thread deserves a :bump: "Bling Splatbook" anyone? Now that would be a very interesting read! NO SPLATBOOK. This is why we have the board. This is what I look for when I spend my time on the board! :D
Grier 12-04-05, 03:48 PM	Yeah, think about it. Would you rather have this thread, or a $30 book you can read at Books-A-Million? Uh...
Grier 12-06-05, 01:15 AM	AAAAAAahhhh! I killed the thread! Quick! Where's that button? Here it is. :bump: Whew.
Gemmalah 12-06-05, 09:00 AM	no offence to anyone but there seems to be more bumping the thread posts than actual ideas or anthing useful being added to it. If you have no ideas come back later and add one it'll be in the next few pages of the boards list i'm sure. Anyway this isn't another shameless bump. heres my ideas A genetically (or magically) modified basilisk that turns everything it gazes as to gold instead of stone. Rare insence burning in ornate holders. Thats gotta be worth alot, though not that useful exept for affect or as a spell componant. A tree that grows several different kinds of fruit. (i've heard this is possible by taking young branches off other trees and adding them to the original connecting two areas from under the bark and tying it so its stays. They should grow together. tis is a lengthy and difficult process so it would be worth alot. or could be donated to the starving people. unless its in his garden, then what do you do?)
Grier 12-09-05, 11:53 PM	How about this: If the PC's are famous in your game, have them find statues/models/posters of themselves in the BBEG's loot! Just imagine their faces when they find a statue of their characters in the BBEG's bedroom or something...
akorpanda 12-10-05, 08:34 AM	How about this: If the PC's are famous in your game, have them find statues/models/posters of themselves in the BBEG's loot! Just imagine their faces when they find a statue of their characters in the BBEG's bedroom or something... an anatomically correct golden statue of the Paladin in the group that has had stone to flesh cast upon it....
Rolof 12-10-05, 12:31 PM	How about a painting that is also a magic item? A large, 8' by 8' painting, that a character can actually step into, and serves as a teleport spell to the depicted location. Limited practical value if the location is someplace out of the way, but very useful and perhaps more valuable if to somewhere like just outside a city gate, making travel to that city easy. If the BBEG was a pirate captain, perhaps the art was the figurehead on the prow of his ship! If they sunk the ship in their fight with the BBEG, there goes half the treasure. And resale of the figurehead would present it's own difficulties, how to detach it, who would want it...or must they sell off the pirate's whole ship...and who wants to buy a ship that is known by every city/national naval force as the scourge of the seas? If someone mentioned this already, sorry, but I didn't feel like reading all 9 pages. Someone near the beginning of the thread mentioned the chance of finding tapestries that are faded, and would need to have mending, make whole, or some other restorative magic cast on them to receive full value for them when trying to resell them for gold. What if, instead of making them MORE valuable, casting restorative spells on damaged art objects made them LESS valuable? Imagine the look on the PCs faces when they go to an art dealer trying to hock something they found, only to be told "You fools! You FIXED it, now it's not authentic! *sigh* It's a genuine Vecna painting, but now I can only offer maybe 1/2 the market price." The more I thought about it, I liked this idea...or, it could be even worse: the art object has no value at all if any restorative magic is cast on it, because it now has a detectable magic trace. Authentic art dealers will refuse to buy it, suspecting forgery. (Which made me think of a potential problem as well; PC mages who then decide to try to go into the art forgery business.) Also, after seeing a post that mentioned the possibility of having the PCs find statues or paintings that depicted the PCs, I thought of another evil idea. Statues or painting that depict one PC's significant other/love interest/spouse! Just think of the shock that will cause, might spark a seperate quest on the part of the PC to go hunt down the artist/any possible copies of the art on the open market. And has the added evil benefit of making the PC wonder how the artist was able to produce the likeness...did their love pose for it, or did the artist spy on them...or were they kidnapped and returned, with nobody the wiser due to some forget spell?
tragedy 01-10-06, 09:52 PM	I recommend the Grey Portrait from Champions of Ruin.It's good for those vain BBEGs that aren't undead.
DerHauptman 01-11-06, 12:52 AM	10,000gp to the right person In a exquisitely carved teak wood frame with paltinum inlay frame, this 50"x36" depiction of Azmodius and his ascention to the throne of hell is done using the blood of 1000 virgins diluted with the tears of angels. With this picture over your alter all victims sacrificed give an additional +3 bonus. The painting has an effective radius of 20'. la ti da ti da etc. At work have no books but ya get the idea. Sit back and watch the party strife begin when the thief says hell lets find the buyer and the paly says but no we must destroy it - lol.
Treetrip Danglefoot 01-11-06, 09:08 AM	How about a scroll with the answer to solving world hunger, marked "Do Not Share". Or a snowglobe that instead of snowing when you shake it up performs some natural disaster (like a tornado) in the innocent little snowglobe town. Or shaking it the first time causes a disaster, shaking it another time fixes everything so that you can shake it again and cause another disaster. Or a gold plated hourglass with a pair of bronze hands cuped at the falling point as though they were desperately trying to hold the sand in, and an empty bronze skull at the bottom of the pile, mouth open swallowing all the sand. Or they could be continual permanent Silent Images inside each globe of the hourglass. In the first globe theres a baby that continues to grow and get old until eventually he dies. In the second globe is a reaper trying to reach at the man through the sand, and when it runs out his arm slips through the hole and snatches the man's soul from his body. The great thing is it doesn't have to just be the man growing old. He could grow to a certain point and when the sand runs out get his head lopped off or falll from a cliff or any number of nasty deaths. They could even be the deaths of specific famous people.
Dragoon 01-22-06, 08:08 PM	Vell, here goes my ideas Glass versions of weapons (Collector's/Vanity items) A very, dangerously, shiny silver piece. A rather ragged, patched teddy bear (Not sure if said, but needed to be) A skeleton in the closet A skull which is used to put little things in (A point for knowing reference) A table, nailed to the ceiling Items nailed/magically added to said table on ceiling A waste bin with several smashed up attempts at a love letter. Very, very bad poetry The BBG's Diary, with sketches, stick figure sketches A bowl of food, three days old, several bowls. Garbage under the bed. A Jackalope Head Just some ideas, some may be repeats, but oh well. What can you do other than inform me so I can take care of them.
syrinth 01-22-06, 08:53 PM	TERRY PRATCHETT! Sorry, just had to be said. P.S. That was in response to the skull. I do not believe that Terry Pratchett should be in a BBEGs house. lol
Generic_NPC 01-24-06, 09:53 PM	ignore
Grushvak 01-24-06, 10:55 PM	I never give heaps of silver/gold/platinum pieces, except in some rare instances, such as in a dragon's lair. I just made a small dungeon... well, a mage's tower with three levels. The second level has been completely burninated and the party is going to encounter a fire mephit there (they're low-level). The treasure table gave me 1700 silver pieces. One question: what the f--- would a fire mephit be doing carrying 1700 silver pieces on him? That weighs a lot! And it's useless! So, I decided that under a board in the floor would be a full set of expensive silverware. You know, the kind of thing that would be worth 2000gp or more. But it partly melted due to the excessive heat of a massive mage fight, fusing everything together and removing any artistic value of it. 17lb. chunk-o'-silver! Now find someone to sell it to. :)
Dragoon 01-24-06, 11:28 PM	Here we go again... The skull of -insert family member, bonus points for first born's- on his desk/shrine. Poorly (or well) drawn pictures of a local lady (Sorta Love Sick thing) For the really evil: A "chainmail" suit made out of pixy skulls. A Fan fiction, based off famous heroes or his/her favorite author. Bonus points if it's the heros (Mentioned before?) For your "Good BBG" A holy book with doodles of the local priest in between the lines A bunch of pressed flowers The Skull of a Higher Ranking Demon, made into a footstool A rack in the dungeon, it has some flowers or other "cutsy" desgins on it. The Broken relic (shield, sword, necklace, etc) of his/her Ancestor Stories about the BGG being praised by his god. A Gallon of "Holy Water" under the bed. (Think sterotypical Dwarves, if you've read any of the David and Leigh Eddings books think Alorns) For your Really Evil, Final Boss: A Sock Puppet
vassalich 01-24-06, 11:38 PM	Art object: "The proper Human" Owned by the late elven Duke Elusis Celestri (now a mummy lord). This statue has a stone slab at the base, engraved with the title (in Elvish) and is carved out of fine white marble. It is a life-size depiction of a human, stripped down to the waist and kneeling whilst wearing a cangue around his neck and shackles on his ankles. He is being whipped by an elf in full-body concealing armor, gilt with gold and sliver. While the handle is made of marble, the actual lashes of the whip have the same make as the real flogging tool. Veins of ruby and onyx magically planted in the back of the human slave are used to simulate the bleeding and welts suffered from the flogging being delivered by the slavedriver. Value: 8,000 gp, but who'd buy it?
vassalich 01-24-06, 11:40 PM	Here we go again... The Skull of a Higher Ranking Demon, made into a footstool Actually, my Planescape character had the skull of a Pit Fiend he helped kill hanging above his throne in his castle in Arcadia. Good times. :)
Treetrip Danglefoot 01-25-06, 11:42 AM	A partially finshed sculpture of the BBEG chiseled out of marble. The beginnings of a painting of the country side already signed by the BBEG (paranoid about plagarism maybe?) His fifteen paint brushes and forty two mixtures of various color paints, including one rather ominously marked "Blood Red" A series of woodcarved animal miniatures, ranging from pumas to trouts to giraffes to displacer beasts, of exquisite detail, some painted, some not, and on with a primer and some initial painting near the head. For a vampire there could be a wine rack with multiple bottles labeled things like "Human, 62" and "Elf, 351" or "Shepard, 17" and "Halfling Virgin, 23". A bookshelf of 150 rare, famous, or outlawed books, treatsies, and manuals, each one expertly illuminated and gilded, mixed in with a series of the BBEGs own musings and ideas. An enchanted wash basin that keeps the water permanently warm and uses Prestidigitation to clean the feet the moment the enter the water. Mood appropriate everburning torches of different colors. Green for the garden at night, blue and violet for the library. Special throneroom, dinner room, and bed room torches that change colors on command and know 42 different colors, ranging from yellow to fuscia.
Dragoon 01-28-06, 03:56 PM	*prays to the powers above for his new cleric spells* I cast: Holy Word: Bump -To topic, in reference to previous replies Hmm, With these items, I think many of the Big Bad Evil Guys shall be viewed in a more humane manner or else more Human/whatever creature. Please, if anyone has anymore ideas, post them even if they are insane, we can tinker around and make a field day of it. -Dragoon
Rood_Inverse 01-28-06, 04:15 PM	I respect your views and wish to subscribe to your newsletter. ^_^ Holy carp! (Yes, I spelled carp.) Best topic ever. Seriously! Made my [blank]ing day!
LurkeroftheUnderworld 01-28-06, 05:28 PM	For the adenturous BBEG, you could have his collection of stuffed animal heads like an African safari hunter. "Yeah this is that dire bear that nearly killed me. Oh and over here is that Gold dragon head I aquired in Chult. Not to mention the feindish half dragon mindflayer I beheaded near the city brothel, which is a very interesting story..." It would also irritate druids to no end if the BBEG has galleries of endangered species on display in his mansion. And he could also animate the rest of the animals into undead minions...
LordofNightmares 01-28-06, 05:55 PM	An adventure I'm writing for eventual usage revolved arround an artistically inept Chaotic Neutral (I feel that dragons are far too samrt to locked into one alignment for an entire breed) red dragon who collects all the dragon related art he can find. A good 3/4 of his horde is Art objects or beutifully crafted dragon related magic items. A measly 1/4 of his horde is his bed of coins.
Icedme 01-28-06, 08:08 PM	A large stuffed dragon stands in the middle of the room. On entering the room, a large jet of flame shoots from its mouth towards the doorway, falling short a good 5 feet short or its mark. The type of dragon is choosable, as is the pose. Makes for a great decoration, as well as a stylish trap for when being pursued by pesky adventurers. Note: Price may change based on type and age of dragon selected. Allow up to two weeks for delivery. Heh. This spawned an idea for a BBEG that collects bespelled stuffed monsters like this. Maybe in the next room is an owlbear that roars when someone gets within 5 feet of it.
Silais 03-01-06, 02:28 AM	Bump... Bumper car? Bumper sticker? Bumper Ball? Butter Ball?
ShadowDragon8685 03-01-06, 02:51 AM	I love it when this thread rises to the top, like petro-fuel cream. It just shoots straight up. :)
BRJN 03-03-06, 10:28 PM	More clothes: Byzantine-era Constantinople had several famous teams of chariot racers, named for different colors: Blue, Red, Green, &c. The BBEG has a set of sweatshirts (or woolens or whatever is warm and comfy) in each color with the team name in Big Letters across the front. In a lich's closet: T-shirt that says "Old Geezer" A huge collection of National Geographic magazines (gives reader a Knowledge:geography or Knowledge: local customs check).
BRJN 03-03-06, 10:37 PM	A large stuffed dragon stands in the middle of the room. The first room in the mansion, a huge cathedral-like structure, has a bandersnatchi skeleton where the arches and ribbed vaults of stone ought to be in a normal cathedral. (Using the bandersnatchi from Larry Niven's "Known Space" series.)
Ralvuimego 03-04-06, 02:30 AM	Alright.... A throne constructed of obsidian and gold, with fine velvet coushons, perminantly under the influence of the Levitate spell and capable of being controlled by the manipulation of a ball on the right hand armrest. A fine china set all perminantly under the effect of Contingency: Make Whole, whenever they break. (This one's good if your party has picked up a lot of fame and has posed for more than one painting in their career) The BBEG has quite a collection of portraits of the PCs lined up in his vault, with beards, horns, etc smeared onto them, or darts sticking out of various points, maybe a target painted on their face. A full sized portrait of a Great Wurm Red Dragon leaned against the wall of a dragon's horde.
Khael 03-04-06, 01:36 PM	For some reason i think of a lich BBEG with a full collection of trading cards (M:TG for example)... Just for the look on the PCs face, when they laugh at the BBEG 'Geek' only to be told: "What? I spent my fortune on that last booster... Curse that WOTC went out of business 3 centuries ago!" Of course a side quest would ensure to find the only other M:TG collector on that plane... Or of course the ultimate irony: along with the self-help books, the BBEG has a full set of D&D books...
Anodai 03-04-06, 01:43 PM	Rouge- look i found a gem Wizard- <fails appraise check> its only worth 10 gp... Rouge- Oh well... <throws the hope diamond out the window> othere than that, art objects arre fine...
Mentar 03-06-06, 02:55 AM	I really like the humanizing aspects mentioned. Maybe you will want to add a painting of the paladin's (other LG character) mother with a framed love letter from her. Under the love letter (or in a nearby drawer) is a "Dear John" letter from her explaining how she has met someone else (paladin's father) and has fallen deeply in love (with his money/influence/family power) and is carrying his child. You might even want the painting to be a nude, painted by the BBEG along with several other paintings of her around his lair. Another possibility is that the paladin may actually be the child of the BBEG. Several life sized sculptures of various (at least 1) party members (only works if the party has met or is known by the BBEG). The statues are nudes but adorned with actual clothing similar to what the party members wear, including old armor and weapons that would need a lot of repair to be worn. Further investigation finds a small notch in the back of the statue's head, and a magical gem hidden in or near the BBEG's bed. When the gem is placed into the notch of any statue a stone to flesh spell is activated, allowing for the dressing/undressing of the statue. (For DMs of adult oriented games insert mature possibilities/information here.) A green or maroon velvet covered table with eight sides with eight leather covered stools, on one side is a small area containing several decks of cards and a large number of collored stone/ceramic disks. There are 200 white disks, 100 red disks, 100 blue disks, 50 gold colored disks, and a closed box with a slot for coins to be stored until the end of play. On the top of the table are lines dividing each edge of the table and a large white circle with the word "pot" written in the middle. For those BBEGs with leanings toward artistic forgery. Several partially compleated paintings of creatures/people in the BBEGs employ, each near a finished painting on the walls. Should the party attempt to sell the paintings on the walls they may find one in ten are works of artistic masters of days gone by. The rest are forgeries, which can get the PCs arrested in some areas if they try to sell them. Should the PCs have no knowledge of paintings (fail an appraise/bardic knowledge check) they may sell all the paintings for 100-400gp each. The non-forgery painting(s) could be worth up to 10,000gp.
BRJN 03-06-06, 09:11 PM	Some BBEGs live in nobles' mansions. For them: 10gp per piece of cloth. Matching bedroom set. Curtains (enough to cover all the windows), undersheet, oversheet, blanket, quilt, pillowcase(s). Any design desired, but mundane or flowery light fabric, or heavy in dark colors work best. Magical enhancements: spelled to keep warm on cold night, excessive manhood (as Viagra), self-cleaning, curtains could have darkness (inside the room only) if you cannot sleep in daylight.
Doom_Linnorm 03-07-06, 01:57 PM	Small trinkets: Ornate letter opener, made from rare metals or claws of rare animals. Rare inques and quils. Seal ring, bearing reiligion's symbol or familiy crest. Magical watermark stylus, marks can only be seen with special eye gem (included in purchase). Crystal monnocle, may have magical properties. Finished or unfinished written play by BBEG, might aswell be a book, comic or elaborate study notes. Crystal liquer bottles and flasks. Entertainment illusion gems, create varius illusions of your desire for your entertainment. Entertainment creation gems (Warning: any damage caused by gemstone is the fualt of its user), as above but the illusions are real but usualy not powerfull enough to be used for offensive purposes. (Can be used for very creative persuits for those who have a dirty mind ;) ) Just scribled some stuff down.. actualy just wanted to BUMP!! this thread again :D
syrinth 03-08-06, 01:19 AM	A room filled with permanent illusionary dancers and music, like a private club thats always going. Add in gogo dancers for amusement if you feel it necessary. Windows that open upon approaching them. A red plush carpet that unrolls itself before the feet of the first PC to walk into the room and rolls itself up if they move backwards. A mannequin head with a very elaborate, elegant and affluent show hat on top of it, feathers and glitter included. (best done with male BBEGs) A magic mirror that can capture images of people and then replay the last recording later. Have the current recording be of the BBEG dancing in a sexy attempt in front of the mirror. A Kareoke machine, enough said. Tons of dried ice for smoke effects. A pair of water wings for the pool. A pool filled with jello, or some other suitable gelatinous substance. Ill add in some more later.
ShadowDragon8685 03-08-06, 02:49 AM	A hideously balanced, ceremonial 'greatsword' entirely in the shape of an incredibly long, nude female celestial. (If the blade that her legs are part of is sharpened, could be used as a Jovar* with the correct EWP for that weapon.) A hideously balanced bastard sword in the shape of a nude female celestial with her arms held out. A matching, hideously balanced bastard sword in the shape of a nude female succubus with her arms out. The kicker? The swords mate together and lock nicely together. They were made to hug each other. A seal-pendant for a kingdom/order/nation/empire that is ages disfunct or gone. Made of precious metals and rare gemstones. A hammer in the shape of a smith's hammer, but made of silver. A tiny golden-lace choker with a single long pendant meant to hang down between a humanoid woman's breasts. A wavey-bladed dagger, forged of a green metal, with a large emerald set into the pommel. A statue of a long-haired, exquisitely beautiful Drow elf, caught dancing. It seems so lifelike... *Planar Handbook
Pandaemoni 03-08-06, 02:54 AM	Why would a BBEG furnish his crib? If he spends his gold on fancy furniture and art, that's less gold for magic items, and hence, he's more likely to be killed by the PCs. If you assume he spends all his gold on magic items though, then the BBEG's lair looks like crap. Catch 22. If I were a BBEG, I'd have a mattress on the floor, no art, and lots and lots of magic items. :D Maybe he could get magic art/magic furniture though. Perhaps his bed casts False Life once per day on one sleeper who spends 8 consecutive hours in it (cast at a 16th caster level)...that would be a pimped out cool piece of furniture. Perhaps one of the paintings on the wall (Munch's The Scream comes to mind) once per day upon the uttering of a command word casts Phantasmal Killer on all people standing within 10 feet of it. Also cool.
Doom_Linnorm 03-11-06, 07:30 AM	Your standard BBEG usualy already has more magic items then he can use in several fights or carry on his person at a time, they usualy have insane amounts of money to spend on absurd loot that PC's can't just take with them as easily. + it adds tons of roleplaying fun.
Pandaemoni 03-11-06, 10:46 AM	Your standard BBEG usualy already has more magic items then he can use in several fights or carry on his person at a time, they usualy have insane amounts of money to spend on absurd loot that PC's can't just take with them as easily. + it adds tons of roleplaying fun. My PCs are determined. They once camped out in a dungeon and sent their bard to a nearby town to hire people to come in and help them cart off everything of value, including the stuff that was nailed down. When I said some item simpky couldn't be moved, they came up with elaborate plans to carefully break it into more manageable chucks in a way that could be magically mended later. Short of my investing BS rulings like "Oh that could never be fixed except with a Wish" it was veryu clear that they were aiming totake it all. (Also, saying that items can't be moved is pretty cheesy, I mean, how did the BBEG get the crap in there in the first place? Did he build the place around the art? I have no problem including art and furniture in the BBEG's lair, but it needs to be pedestrian and low quality...so low that the players don't want it (like a sculpture worth 1 gp that weighs 10 pounds. If you give the BBEG art that the player's do want, but that is simply inconvenient to move and the players will (and should) find a workaround.
Doom_Linnorm 03-11-06, 03:14 PM	True.. true.. ofcourse it also sort of depends on when they actualy get the chance to raid the crib, then also if they have enough time to plunder it. Ofcourse the whole point of such a rich and powerfull BBEG is that he sort of provides a "end game content" boss fight.. usualy your PC's will already be pretty darned pimped themselves and next to that a true BBEG isn't something they defeat with the snap of a finger, its allowed to reap an insane reward becouse it took them several sessions just to fight their way to him and then almost an entire session (maybe even more) just to kill the bastard without being anhilated by him. And either you missed this or didn't bother with it but.. IT ADDS TONS OF ROLEPLAYING FUN :D
nyysjan 03-11-06, 03:54 PM	if they get too much loot from the BBEG's crib, then you just give them lot's of encounters that give next to nothing in loot (or, with rust monsters, take away some their loot)
Animorphic 03-11-06, 05:32 PM	How about this: If the PC's are famous in your game, have them find statues/models/posters of themselves in the BBEG's loot! Just imagine their faces when they find a statue of their characters in the BBEG's bedroom or something... I just got this insane idea after reading this. Players find pictures of themselves, nude, taking a shower within the BBEG's hoard. hahaha :D
BRJN 03-24-06, 11:17 PM	More stuff. Sorted by price. This is what I get for looking through a home furnishings catalogue: Child's Novelty Socks: 1 gp / pair. Each pair of socks has some animal silkscreened onto the ankle, facing out. Name of animal is written on soles of feet. Child can use visual cues to put own socks on straight. Cow, Lion, Elephant, Frog, Chick, Pig, others. Stretchy cloth supports Infant, Toddler, Youngster sizes. Special: 7 gp buys 8 pairs. Instant Flower Garden: 4 gp buys you a 6 foot long roll of material, holds seeds (500+) for 20 kinds of flowers which bloom in different colors and at different times during the season. Most flowers also draw butterflies. Roll material breaks down naturally after a good rain. Special Offer: roll can be filled with Venus Fly Traps, Carrion Orchids, Sundews, and similar plants that will tend to creep out unwanted guests. Extra fee. Faux Marble Countertop: 5 gp/set. 20 tiles, each 5" square. Looks just like authentic marble, actually made of tin. Black or white. For the up-and-coming BBEG who yet must suffer the constraints of a budget. Or keep up appearances after pesky adventurerers trash the joint. Garden Stakes: 5 gp for two. Hand-crafted, weather-resistant, made of stoneware, with message burnt onto front. 14"x4" overall. "Grow, d--- it", "This is your last chance - Bloom!", "Welcome to my garden", "I don't remember planting this", "I tried. It died.", "Don't just stand there ... Weed!" Graduation Key Chain: 5 gp. Shaped like a diploma. Box to hold the chain and fob and keys is shaped like a graduate's cap. Box is decorated with tassel. This item increases in value and innate impressiveness as the local level of education decreases. Sport drink bottle: 5 gp. Functions as a canteen. Decorated with a character from mythology, or perhaps a powerful political or religious leader. Spillproof sipper on top, small carry compartment on bottom for snacks. Stained-Glass Window Ornaments: 5 gp. Ornate pewter design with stained glass centerpiece, dangling charms, acrylic jeweled beads, light airy look. Sterling Silver Dangling Earrings: 5 gp / pair. Designs: sun and moon (3" long), heart (5" long), mathematical curve (2" long). Dramatic and forward-fashion gift for women. Wedding Bubbles: 5 gp buys you 48 6-oz bottles full of soapy water and a bubble blower inside the lid. Normally available colored white but other shades available. Narrow ribbon tied around bottle (many colors available) also ties lid to base. Sealed watertight with wax. Early Learning Books: 6 gp / set of 8. Children's classic stories, rhymes, characters. For the well-educated urbane family's child. 10-page board books, 4.5"x3". 4 sets available (Mother Goose, farm animals, wild animals, guildsmen). Flash Cards: 6 gp / deck. One deck of 100 cards holds the basic math facts. Sets for Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division. Bonus set has common runes, glyphs, &c. (Standard language is Draconic; others available upon request.) Flashlight: 6 gp. Uses the chemicals that go in miners' helmets. Lasts for hours. Max Liquidator: 6 gp. Pool toy squirts water up to 30 feet away. Submerge, pull out plunger to fill inner chamber with water, then shove back in to squirt water out nozzle end. Lightweight balsa wood construction - it floats! Hardwoods where needed for strength and durability. Neon colors: blue, green, red. 24"x3" diameter when empty. For extra surprises, can be modified to contain a minor water elemental (please contact us to determine additional surcharge). Tin Lanterns: 6 gp. Place a candle inside, message carved into side lets light out. Messages include "Live, love, laugh", "dream", "wish", "friends". Can also be made to cast a glyph or sigil or rune on the wall. Wall-cast symbols are mirror images of those meant to be read directly. A map room might be constructed with one of these lanterns on a post in the middle. A number of locations on the map can be lit (with candles mounted on the roof). When the lantern is also lit, it casts a pattern which covers all the candles except one - the true location. Aromatic Candles: 7 gp. 3.5"x3.5" cylinder. Coffee scent shown, also offered in anything else that smells tasty or that you associate with relaxation. Child's Book: 7 gp. 365 Stories and Rhymes for Boys/Girls. Utilizes favorite folk tales, folklore, mythos. Hardcover. Written in vernacular languages (a Common tongue) or in old uncommon languages for collectors and historians. Garden Statue: 7 gp. Cold-cast ceramic with metal and rope accents, shaped like a frog lying in a hammock wearing hillbilly garb. Frog's facial expression and body language have 'comfortable and relaxed' written all over them. (Not literally.) 13"x11"x5". Other figures available to lie in hammock. Extra fee - for sculptor to visit - gains purchaser's likeness lying in hammock. Hand-Painted Glass Candleholder: 7 gp. Tall glass candleholder with goblet-shaped upper half, top rim shaped like a flame. Bag of sand fills lower part of goblet and provides flat surface to place candle atop. Design painted on outside surface: seashells, roses, fireplace(strategically placed for effect). Others available. Pair of Flip-Flops: 7 gp per His/Her pair. His are black with white accents; Hers are white with black accents. Soles formed so you impress "Just Married" into your footprints. Wedding rune printed on heel. Other symbols available for sole; inquiries welcomed. Windchimes: 7 gp. 32"x4"x4". Four metal tubes and a metal weight hang beneath a ceramic base. Wind causes the weight and tubes to swing and strike each other, causing gentle notes. Smaller chimes have higher pitch and will stir in gentler breezes. Functional as an unobtrusive alarm to place near a lair entrance where there is supposed to be no breeze (for instance, in hallway behind a secret door). Wooden Weaving Loom Set: 7 gp. Child's toy. Works just like Weaver's Guild equipment. 1000+ colored beads to put on threads. 4 colors of thread on spools. 4.5"x9" loom is wood, simplified version of professional equipment. Makes necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and more. Beach Towels: 8 gp. 60"x30". Generous size, vivid colors, whimsical designs. School of dolphins in shallow water smiling and wearing colored sunglasses, school of different-colored clownfish (rainbow shades), frogs in "see no evil..." poses. Non-mundane animals also available for the magically-adept. Frame (for paintings): 8 gp. 9"x11". Can be hung tallways or longways. Fine-looking woods. Kitchen Apron: 9 gp. Because sometimes your significant female thinks she is higher-class than she really is; make yourself look like a hero who sympathizes with her, without having to actually do anything. Messages "Born to shop, forced to cook" or "My favorite thing to make for dinner is Reservations". Ties at back of waist, adjustable neck strap. Rugged and washable material. For an additional fee, can be magically treated to resist cooking stains, can also be enspelled to ignore Grease spells cast on the wearer. Young & Trendy Tops: 9 gp. Blouse or tank top for women. Includes sewn-in support with ruffles. Spaghetti straps, babydoll, or on/off shoulder sleeve caps. Many colors available. Accessorize your bedroom elf. Flower Planters: 10 gp. Designed to look and feel like a pair of laborer's blue jeans (or whtever farm laborers in your region wear) that stand up by themselves with nobody inside 'em. Flower pots can be mounted in waist. Realistic look and texture. 'I'm Learning' Activity Kits: 10 gp. These home-schooling kits (is there really any other form of effective schooling?) contain the 3R's for subject matter. ABCs, phonics, math (add, subtract, multiply, divide), handwriting. Writing kit includes a slate board and chalksticks. Please specify language for alphabet set. (Phonics kit may not be available for hieroglyphics-based written languages.) Knowledge and education pave the way to power. Sequined Crocheted Handbag: 10 gp. Purse-sized. Bag is covered in snazzy round sequins. Small inner pockets for comb, makeup, coins, &c. Black, pink, multicolored, others available. Theft deterrent; too visible to casually carry away. Keep your lady's things handy during a night on the town. Shower Curtain or Wallpaper Sheet: 10 gp each. Design shows an old outhouse. Curtain is made of canvas. Best placed in a lair equipped with hot-and-cold running water and sanitary facilities. Wallpaper includes glue and tools; curtain includes a rod and hooks with small version of the big scene painted on them. T-shirt: 10 gp. Base color is hunter's green, with slogan in dust or gold "It's not about winning. It's about bringing home the trophy" below picture of many-pointed buck. Or "Vegetables are not food. Vegetables are what food eats." Rolling Clothes Trolley: 11 gp. Removable hangars, wheels. Framework vehicle is 28"x26"x16". (tall enough to hold up pants and avoid wrinkles). Small knobs on bar spaces the hangars to avoid overcrowding, crushing, or wrinkling. Holds 18 pairs of pants or neckties. Lounge Pants: 13 gp. Cotton, decorated with the name and logo of a premium liqueur, Drawstring waist. For men. Traveling Chair: 13 gp. Backpack-sized when folded, forms back and seat when opened. Mesh bottle holder (canteen-sized) on side, bigger pocket on back to carry programs, sandwiches, &c. Carry straps, easy-to-clean surfaces. Drink holder also accepts the Sports Bottle listed above. Stoneware Mixing Bowl Set: 14 gp. Different sizes nest together to save storage space. Five pieces. Smallest holds 20 oz; largest holds 114 oz. Instant Garden Mat: 15 gp. Covers 10 foot by 10 foot space, holds 2000+ mixed flower seeds as our Instant Flower Garden above. Can be easily cut to fit smaller or odd-shaped spaces. Get lots of beautiful flowers without doing any dirty work! Decorative Breadbox: 16 gp. Made of wood, pull-down lid on front. Painting on front shows a step in the bread-making process (seeds, sheaf of wheat, mill, oven). Other sides are painted white or light brown. Big enough to hold two loaves of bread. Ladies Plus-Size Chemise and Robe: 17 gp / set. Chemise has satin ribbon trim, spaghetti straps, printed floral pattern, V-neck, delicate white lace along neckline. Robe has long sleeves, tie belt. Both break above the knees. Available in pink or blue (chemise is white with colored print). Add a romantic touch to your bigger-girl bedroom elf. Coin Bank: 20 gp. Clear tube (plastic or glass) with slot on top and screw-off base. Handy place to store pocket change (cp, sp). Includes a small device in top that plays a few bars of music, flashes lights, rings bell, blows whistles, or whatever, when coin is dropped in. The advertisment example is a railroad crossing gatepost. Hand-Quilted Throws: 20 gp. 50"x60". Each quilt panel about 10" square, decorative trim designs in between. Hand-made, imported (no mention from where). Wide selection of designs for major and minor quilt panels to choose from. Wicker storage basket: 20 gp for set of 5. 21"x17"x9". Interior detachable water-resistant liner. Armories: 25 gp per item. Storage containers made of pine or oak, and other woods on trim. Clean, simple lines and natural look allow these items to blend into any decor. Some assembly required; hardware and easy instructions included. Bench 32"x18"x16". Cube 20"x20"x20". Craftsmen near you can convert the bench into the seat of a sofa, or the cube into a chair. Drapery Panel window art: 25 gp. 36"x84" curtain is wrinkle-resistant, offers illusion of doorway outside to an English Garden or a Bamboo Beach. Designed to hold illusion spells to enhance the effect. Poker Night Tabletop Collection: 25 gp. All items decorated with small images if the 13 cards in their suit along the rims and big symbol (heart, diamond, club, spade) in center. May be bought in easily-affordable parts. Stoneware plates and mugs (6gp/4). Ceramic bowls (3gp/4) Polyester/cotton placemats (9gp/4) Runner 72"x13" (9gp). Decorated with complete deck of 52 cards displayed. Poker table not included. Lit palm trees: 30 gp. 6' tall tree. Actually carved-wood trunk but artificial leaves. Many unobtrusive candle holders, one in each joint. Shorter 4" tree for only 25 gp. Light spell can be cast on joint to look like candles, if fire is a problem in your area. Kitchen Collection: 60 gp for set (2 windows, 4 chairs, tablecloth). Matching prints for kitchen furniture. Please provide the dimensions of your tabletop or window with order. Can also be purchased seperately. Window curtains / valance are edged in bows. 10gp. Chair pad has ruffled edges. 7gp. Tablecloth comes in square, round, or rectangular. 13gp. Bedroom Set: 200gp. Solid colors or designs, usually floral. Can be purchased in pieces to customize your room. Undersheet, oversheet, blanket, comforter, quilt. 35gp per piece. Curtain. 10gp per panel Thick enough to conceal wall panels if needed. Spells cost extra. Sleep, keep warm on cold night, excessive masculinity (as Viagra but no worry of heart attack), darkness (on curtain) to sleep in after sunrise, Summon: Bedroon Elf. Everfull Cup of Fine Liqueur: Price depends on liqueur desired. Offer this goblet to any important personage whom you wish to impress now and ask a favor of later. Everfull Cup of Nasty Grog: Price based on quantity of grog requested. Serve this goblet to unwanted house guests. One customer reports that it can be spilled to make a trail that even bloodhounds will not follow. Statue or Painting: Unpriced. BBEG in a dominating position of superiority, with an old foe (or the PC group) in a submissive or defeated posture before him. Does take some time to complete. Likeness of the BBEG is very good, other individuals are recognizable. For a modest additional fee, statue or painting can be magically put into motion. Motion sequence must be cyclical. For instance, foes may bow and scrape before you but we cannot make their heads be cut off and cast aside.
Doom_Linnorm 05-07-06, 12:55 PM	I'm curious how if people have gotten any new ideas. So I'm going to :bump: with a few ideas. Most of these ideas are best at home in the BBEG's garden. -Prize winning Yellow Musk living in BBEG's grossly oversized garden. (Can be potted and then placed inside during the winter.) -Zounds of marble statues in aformentioned garden. (Some could be used for that terribly overpiced gem inset fountain.) -Greenhouse with many very expensive plants and facinating flowers. (Most are highly toxic.) -Couple of great oak trees and a pond to house the BBEG's captured Dryad and Nymph slaves. (Being evil is a pleasant excuse for such a scheme.) And an interesting terribly expensive window decoration: -Windows that look like their made of stained glass but are infact made from thin slices of rare gems.
Aldarionn 05-07-06, 07:17 PM	A Demonic hookah, made to resemble a Marlith. Instead of weapons, each arm serves as a holder for one of six bejewled hoses, and her coiled tail is the water bowl. Each of the scales is a finely cut and highly polished gem, and her upper body is pure Mithral, painted with realistic enamels. Her removable head serves as the tobacco chaimber. Each of the six hoses is made to resemble one of the weapons a Marlith would normally carry, and each is made of solid gold and encrusted with a different set of gems in the hilt/handle. Depending on the type of gems used, this piece could sell for as much as 50,000 - 100,000 GP or more. Aldarionn
dengarbountyhunter 05-09-06, 05:24 PM	:OMG! !!! The hookah is definitly the coolest BBEG art object that came out on this thread! With exotic tobaccoes or drugs (Abyssal ones to stay with the concept), not only is it cool, but the players can keep some for themsleves (heh heh...) For extra-cruel BBEGs, I like pretty much to use minions (or dead people) to do things objects would normally do... Obviously, all of them are controlled by magic, broken in a point where they cannot even THINK of treason or simply unable to think at all (mindless undead)... The last one is the most probable with necromancer-like BBEGs. Here's a few examples, but sadly no price listing: A goblin foot rest; a whole furniture set (made of undeads or humans magically kept alive); a small carrying vehicle, held by two undeads; a pathetic butler (think of Dr. Frankenstein's assistant, Igor); permanently held giants as pillars, so that they are conscious but cannot do anything... These are cool as long as they don't get ridicoulous (using someone as a toothbrush is simply dumb) or simply gross except if it's a gigantic demon using halfings as toothpicks!
Aldarionn 05-09-06, 05:55 PM	:OMG! !!! The hookah is definitly the coolest BBEG art object that came out on this thread! I aim to please!
dengarbountyhunter 05-19-06, 12:20 PM	I am not a big fan of bumping, but... NAY! THIS THREAD WON'T DIE! And my contribution to this thread: Why limit to extravagantly costy things that are so useless that PCs won't hesitate to sell them? The fire-breathing dragon stuffed trap is not only priceless but also useful (though virtually impossible to sell), as is a 5k gem-embossed silver mirror (focus for scrying)... Plus, items that are not useful AND cost much will put the PCs in a dilemma; sell the thing for many gp or keep it for a lesser bonus and style? Also, another question: once a BBEG is dead, to whom does his estate go? He bought it legally? He acquired it by force? In either cases, it doesn't seem like it belongs to the PCs simply because they rid the region of the BBEG...
Silais 05-22-06, 01:48 AM	Also, another question: once a BBEG is dead, to whom does his estate go? He bought it legally? He acquired it by force? In either cases, it doesn't seem like it belongs to the PCs simply because they rid the region of the BBEG... Assuming that the BBEG was powerful enough that no one has stoped him thus far, whos going to tell the more-powerful (presumably) PCs that they can't keep his stuff?
Doom_Linnorm 06-02-06, 07:39 AM	:bump:
BRJN 06-03-06, 12:14 AM	Inspired by this thread and coming soon (but AFTER the upgrade is complete): Pimp your Mad Scientist's Lab ! Equipment to find in an alchemist's (or whoever) lab and projects that he could be working on. One example: Guidebook of pulleys and levers. Somewhere in the lair is the scientist's pride and joy - a trap that involves triggering a ridiculously small lever and setting off a stupendously large result. Hidden inside the walls are the levers and pulleys that multiply the original effort. Other scientists could be working on chemical discoveries (room full of sulphur, anybody?) or an astrologer could have a telescope in his window. Further details when the boards are ready and I finish condensing the Home Science Project catalogue I picked up. Remember - you heard it here first!
TheKraken 06-03-06, 02:34 AM	Don't know if this has been hit upon yet or not, but during the Renaissance, a highly prized piece of artwork were ornatmental instruments. Lutes, guitars, harpsichords, de gambas, and other stringed instruments were designed more for art than practical performance. They featured highly ornate designs and inlays, were made of the finest woods, and had decorations of gems, diamonds, inlay gold, etc, etc. Many featured designs depicting scenes or had mosiac work of wood in one the body of intricate flower and knot work patterns. Its a bit of real world history injected in to DnD and adds a big of high culture to any BBEG.
Damior 06-03-06, 10:38 AM	Did I hear some one call for I compilation of all this somewhere on the third page? I'll get right on it! And for my contribution: Solid gold nail clippers. Evil DMs might make these vorpal if they wish. Once, my druid summoned a viper on top of a dragon and it bit the eye out. The dragon flew away, and the next time we faced it it was wearing a saphire covered eye-patch' Also-Something I read about in another thread- Wardrobe of infinite clothing. Eliminates need for your BBBBEG to havwe a closet the size of a normal persons house
Damior 06-09-06, 07:21 PM	Ok, I got it all on wordpad so it wont disappear after the great reset. Going to file it down into a compiled list when I get the chance. :bump:
BRJN 06-09-06, 09:47 PM	Mirror circular, 9" across, frame is made of yew wood, backing is adamantine (you have to take the thing apart or Detect Mystic Metals to find this out), smells of honeysuckle and lily. 3042 gp, Hardness 20, 18 HP. The mirror is dim and cloudy, like fog (or maybe dust) just under the inside of the glass. If you see the mirror out of the corner of your eye, there appears to be a face in the fog - looks like the wizard in Disney's Sorcerer's Apprentice ;) . When you look at it full on, the face is gone. The mirror has a dim aura if someone uses Detect Magic on it. BBEG, if asked, knows that it was a valued possession of an old enemy. It is magical, but he does not know how to use it or what it does. He won't tell any more than that, even if he suspects it. To find out what this is all about, you need to read Spells and Magic by Bastion Press. In short, this mirror could hold spell levels for a mirror-mage, a bit like a magical battery. It has no charges left by now.
gerbilattack 06-11-06, 09:00 PM	A golden torque (50gp; Arms and Equipment) with 2 Chalecdony (cheap, 10gp ea.) on the shouders and a symbol of St cuthbert embossed on the front (25gp) Value:87-94gp (103-110 to a devout worshiper (with money)) (torques are EXPENSIVE) A golden dragon ring (masterwork) (60gp) with rubies for eyes (15gp ea) Value:86-98gp (note Value depends on need, commonness, and Base price +/- haggleing)
ShadowDragon8685 06-16-06, 02:50 PM	I feel the need to update this thread... I'll try to stick to purely nonmagical stuff this time. The script to an unreleased play/song from a famous bard/playwright. Around 2,000 - 5,000 gold, depending on fame of the bard/playwright and how fanatical a collector you are. (Get a couple of the fat slugs in a bidding war, drive the price real high.) A chess set with each piece individually detailed by a master jewler (Masterworked). The pieces represent some special struggle of historical significance - the Blood War, the war between Good and Evil, a more terristrial war of significance in your game world. The pieces are made from platinum and black gold, and the chessboard is assembled from perfect squares of marble and onyx. Around 5,000 gold pieces, from the price of the material alone. 10,000 - 15,000 altogether. A length of golden rope. Around 2,000 GP. (More if it was used to hang someone famous.) The Masterworked sword used to behead someone important, possibly made just for the occasion. 3,000 - 20,000, depending on whom was beheaded. A locket containing a lock of a queen or princess' hair. 1,000-5,000 depending on whom she is and how big a fan the person is. 10,000 to the sky if the person is a wizard (evil or otherwise) who wants to use it as a material link for ritual magic. A marble statue of an armored warrior on horseback, depicted in the middle of a charge. Life-sized, with pedastal. 10,000 GP, if you can move it. :)
gerbilattack 07-03-06, 12:15 PM	An extrordinarily lifelike glass ring of a dragon (990-1010 gp) Gal of Molasses 50gp (seriously) The God/dess of magic's first crafted wand (spent) 9,000+ (applies for ritual binding)
DeathsAudit 07-04-06, 06:56 AM	A mosaic depicting Triel (now Baalzebul) falling to evil (if LE) or a tapestry depicting the return of Orcus(if CE). And what spells would I need to make this (http://www.queenofwands.net/d/20030311.html) work?
Ferox 07-14-06, 05:41 AM	An ebony navel ring carved to resemble a tiny black skull, enchanted to prevent the wearer from becoming pregnant (or infested with any other internal parasite)
BRJN 07-14-06, 09:58 PM	In BBEG's kitchen: 5 Angus steaks 7gp each half-dozen sweet potatoes 2 gp (about 1 can in size total) banana nut rolls with cream cheese 10 gp, dessert for 5 15 eggrolls 8 gp 5 fizzy drinks, big cup (32 oz) with tight lid 4 gp each 5 glasses of quality wine 2 gp each total 85 gp ...and this is only one meal.
Kraleck 07-30-06, 12:25 PM	*Casts Raise Thread* Evil Sorceress's Diary - Diary greatly detailing how she wants to get her hands on the party's main fighter so they can...I'll leave that to your gutter-brained imaginations. Worthless to everybody except the Sorcerer who wants to date said Sorceress and will pay big bucks for info on how to...please her.
gerbilattack 07-30-06, 03:19 PM	The complete and un-edited Book Of Tavern Songs: 5,000 gp to a bard (+10 perform checks on non-nobles) Note: only while in the bards possesion.
NinjaE 07-31-06, 05:50 AM	"Tired of plain, drab, ORDINARY iron golems totally ruining the artistic value of your evil lair? Too evil to get any OTHER help? Then boy, do we have an offer for you! Our solid-gold cast will make your golems SHINE, while leaving them fully capable in a defense situation. Our unique, patented rustjoint(tm) technology will open up the joints on activation, letting your golems do their job with a minimum of fuss, while still looking seamless during peaceful times. Call 666-1534-PIMPMYLAIR now to take advantage of this spectacular offer, at only 10,000 gold pieces! Also available in platinum, marble, silver and granite." Essentiallly, this lets your golems look like beautiful statues instead of killing machines while they're off-duty by covering them with a layer of material (weak enough at the joints that a golem can still move freely by way of their high strength score, though it ruins the look) that is then sculpted with a polymorph spell to look like an art piece. Imagine the look of surprise on the PC's faces when the BBEG snaps his fingers in the peaceful, statue-filled garden and all the marble masterpieces suddenly crack at the joints, showing gears within, and move to attack. Especially useful if they're used to this happening, except now it's disguised iron golems instead of animated objects. Might also make a nice gift to a king from the evil nobleman. EN: "Here, have this statue as a token of my appreciation." King: "Thanks! ^.^" EN: *snaps his fingers* "Kill." IG: "RAR!" King: "Aw crap."
gameld 08-26-06, 03:32 AM	*tries follow-up casting of raise thread* -a set of scrolls originally set as clues for where a well-known artifact was once hidden. the actual artifact is now in the posession of a powerful king. 300-800 gp -bloodstone amulet on a simple leather thong that once doubled as a necromancer's emergency spellbook. 2000+ gp
spectralphoenix 08-26-06, 05:10 AM	A hardcover first edition of Evil for Dummies. Contains tips and tricks for domination, whether you want to take over the village next door or the entire world. Crushing enemies and slaughtering innocents is easy when you're a lich with 26 INT. Here's a guide for the rest of us! Signed by author. - 150 gp A set of paintings by the BBEG, mostly portraits. While he/she is unknown as an artist, the quality is excellent. - 200-350 gp apiece. A large, well-done painting of Heironeous, in a solid gold picture frame. You suspect the moustache and goatee were not the work of the original artist. - 500 gp A sword made of flawless glass with a gilded hilt, enchanted to be as hard as steel. Masterwork quality. - 1,200 gp A set of labwear for magical experiments previously owned by a legendary mage. - 2,000 gp A large gilded leather bound book entitled Demonology for Advanced Students. Contains detailed anatomies and diagrams of various demons and demonic entities, as well as tips on combat tactics, bargaining tricks, and summoning spells for use on demons. In several places, additional notes are written out in neat handwriting. May contain spells or give bonuses to knowledge checks, at DM's discretion. - 3,500 gp. A genealogical scroll showing the family history of one of the realm's oldest noble families. Goes back for centuries. Most of the entries have elaborate pictures. Undead/immortal BBEG's might make an appearance near the top. - 7,500 gp The manuscript of the BBEG's autobiography, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Zombie Mob. Written in a 6-foot high book with a platinum cover and pages of the finest beaten silver. A successful Sense Motive check reveals a number of exaggerations, egotistical showboating, and outright lies. - 8,000 gp Beautiful yet alien abstract sculptures made of silver and obsidian. Possibly from another plane. - 10,00-15,000 gp apiece. A secret cookbook by a famous, now-deceased chef. Many of the recipes call for human blood - 16,000 gp A platinum orrery that depicts the cosmology of the multiverse. Valuable gems mark each plane. Possibly shows several previously unheard-of demiplanes. - 20,000 gp The BBEG's research notes on the possibilities of developing a cure for vampirism. While not intrinsically valuable (and not an art object per se,) these would be priceless to the right scholar. - 24,000 gp. An unknown painting by a world-famous artist who lived centuries ago depicting the BBEG. The painting is only a few months old (best for mortal BBEG's.) - 35,000 gp if authenticity can be proven. An adamantium chest with platinum trappings and a sable lining on the interior, with a number of flawless diamonds adorning the sides. Contains dirty laundry. - 40,000 gp
Mephistron 08-26-06, 05:50 AM	Interesting loot related circumstance from a couple sessions ago: The players went to a dungeon to find the tomb of a long dead half-dragon warlord, so they could find a specific item for an NPC and loot the rest for themselves. Long story short, the PCs were victorious and slew the BBEG in the foyer to the tomb. Now the foyer itself was a rather large room, and in this foyer were two enormous, solid granite statues of the half-dragon warlord- I actually used a pair of bluespawn godslayers to represent them. Each one of these statues was nearly 20 feet tall, and if I had to guess, probably well over 30,000 pounds, but my PCs would be damned if they were going to let that stop them. They thought the statues were awesome and they were determined to loot them... and they did. The solution was simple: they rested until the wizard could prepare new spells, then he cast shrink item on each statue, reducing each one from a huge sized to a tiny sized object. So currently they are carrying these shrunken statues around, and I've yet to see what they will do with them. With my PCs it could be anything! :)
ShadowDragon8685 08-26-06, 08:17 PM	This thread should never be allowed to falter. *Casts Raise Thread.* More furnishings: 50 ft. long by 13 ft. tall armiore/dresser/wardrobe combination. Carved from mahogany by master carpenters, inlaid with precious gems as knobs and handles wrought of mithril silver. Sits on forty feet, each of them a dragon's claw holding a huge pearl. These double as casters. Matching four-post canopy bed carved of mahogany with insets of black gold, headboard carved with the image of the BBEG, footboard carved with the image of a castle high on a cliff. The sheets, pillows and curtains are crimson-colored, and the bottom of the canopy has a glittering relief of the night sky done in gemstones, while the sheets have a huge crest embroidered in gold. Again, continuing on a mahogany theme, a figurehead from a sailing vessel mounted on the wall. A nude, winged maiden bound in chains, her hands covering her face, apparently weeping. Carved of dark mahogany. I think I'll leave off with that for now. Don't let it die!
spectralphoenix 08-26-06, 10:42 PM	Several mentions have been made of finding otherwise useless objects - broken swords, expended wands, etc. - that are valuable because of who owned them in the past. But suppose the BBEG himself is a famous/legendary figure? Perhaps some of Lord Uberlich's junk that he threw out is valuable to a historian or a fan.
gameld 08-27-06, 03:52 AM	LIGHT RIDER- bronze statue of a halfling on the back of a heavy warhorse. the pair are leaned forward with the horse's legs extended as far as they'll go, giving the impression of very fast motion. the halfling is wearing simple garb, no armor or even a weapon is visible on him. this statue depicts an actual event in which a halfling was put on a human general's warhorse to warn his undefended city (the army was hours away on the field) that the enemy was coming (by ship, faster than their victorious opponents) and to prepare as necessary. the statue was made for the home city of the halfling to commemorate his fierce ride. -30,000gp for craftsmanship/ material, +100,000- 150,000 gp for historical significance.
Horemheb442 08-27-06, 06:47 AM	I do 2nd Ed AD&D exclusivly after having been thoroughly dismayed by 3rd Ed. In my campaign the party encounters a series of tombs, ruins and so on containing ancient treasures. At one point they find several hundred assorted coins, gold, silver, electrum, copper but they are all over a 1000 years old. The blue book value is about 10x the face value because of the age, but if they are all "liquidated" at the same time, it will depress the market on collecter coins to about 5x face value. Exquisite carved alabaster perfume vial, 150 GP blue book, antique value @ 400GP They find a magical ancient bronze broadsword, with special traits that have protected a site for hundreds of years. Carved jade holy symbols, but of an evil diety. Mundane arrows from the oriental area (frog crotch, humming bulb, armor piercing, etc.) in a non-oriental setting. Ornate saddle and other tack for horses, oxen or other beasts. A heavy silver goblet with a single blue gem on the rim. If the contents of the goblet are poisonous, the gem changes to red. Ornate broaches for pining together a cloak. 5 pretty stones in a pouch. These are to arrange in patterns to help meditation. Carved Ivory comb Longsword scabbard for hanging on a saddle. Bolts of silk (for the "Mongol trick". They always wore silk shirts under their armor. It isn't really pierced well by arrows and the shirt will show the "twist" of the arrow and the direction of it's rotation, so it can be removed with less damage.) Writing kits with ink and "Steel Quills".
Secrets Untold 08-27-06, 03:07 PM	<snip>Crystal phial of hydra or troll blood, with a golden stopper Basilisk's Eye, in a crystal phial with golden stopper Beholder's large eye, in crystal phial, with golden stopper Support beams for a room made of dragon ribbones In order: 1) It would regenerate back into a full fledged (and ******) creature. This is great if the PCs keep it in their pockets. 2) Kind of pointless, unless it comes with Basilisk Viewing Goggles (TM) You look at it, you die. 3) Hell of a phial there 4) Don't try to steal that! I'll post original ones soon.
Horemheb442 08-27-06, 04:02 PM	Secrets Untold, you e-mailed me instead of Melpomene (the Muse of, what was it, Epic Poetry? )
tryco 08-27-06, 04:13 PM	:eek: what a fantastic thread. i haven't read through it all, but halfway i though i had to thank you. i was trying to thing about the next treasure, when i saw this thread. this is just great, maybe i will fill something in later.
Horemheb442 08-27-06, 05:05 PM	Here are some more art type treasures. A delicately carved piece of Chalcedney, such that the white part of the semi-prescious stone reveals a side view of a beautiful young woman carved in low relief with the reddish darker band left behind to accentuate it. (A Cameo, but sometimes when you break down the description of a familiar object, it seems more unusual.) ;) Stone value, @ 5GP, as art @75GP A matched set of throwing daggars. (For competition) They are in a presentation case of rosewood with a green, kid leather lining. A beautifully etched crystal pitcher with scenes of elves harvesting grapes, made from a single quartz crystal, with 7 matching glasses. (There used to be 8 but, over the years, one was broken.) 800GP ( would have been 1000 with the other glass) An "illuminated" volume, a treatise on the comparitive anatomy of humans, elves, dwarves, goblins, hobgoblins, bugbear, and halflings; by a famous necromancer.500GP...if the buyer realizes a lot of the information is out of date and incorrect, 200GP A set of small carved jade flat jars with silver lids. (For various unguents, cosmetics and so on) value of stone-20GP each, lids 20GP each, as a set of art objects (5 jars) 1000GP due to the complexity of the carving and the age.
gameld 08-28-06, 02:35 AM	cameo carving of last empress of the fallen empire in ivory- 1150 gp series of mosaic walls, intricately tiled, to depict the initiation ceremony of bbeg's otherwise dead cult (i.e. Villa of Mysteries, Pompeii)- 18,000 gp, unmovable or loses 95% value relief carving in alabaster and detailed in jade. carving done with black dragon acid spit- 1550 gp
Horemheb442 08-29-06, 04:20 AM	Supposing your BBEG is a MU, or even if he is not, how about an ornate tapestry that initially looks like just designs, but on further inspection is all of the first level magic spells. :mage: Just the thing for the aspiring MU to donate to his Magic Alma Mater...except that it is 20' x 50' and weighs 322 pounds. 5,000 GP to 15,000 GP (Put this in the adventure I was running and, after much trouble getting it out, the teams MU did this, resulting in free level training for the next few levels) A wine cellar, abundantly stocked with everythng from Uncle Rad's Cherry Wine (2gp/bottle) to Gavin's Honey Apricot Mead (5gp/bottle) to Elgwath's Cellars Premium Liquid Sunshine (500gp/bottle)and harder stuff. Whiskey and other powerfull spirits...from Jack's Rotgut Rum (hangover guaranteed) 4gp/bottle to Old Goat Fart #9 at 600gp/bottle.Not only are the bottles hard to transport, there will most likely be those in your party that will insist on sampling them. :pint: Then the second shift of guards report.... Beautiful china and silver flatwear service for those biiiiiig parties. Service for 100. Value 10,000gp Ornate gold plated bronze lamp on the ironwood table next to his bed. 200gp (table 50gp) The complete and current skin of a Shortfaced Bear (Cave Bear) They were about the size of a Kodiak with their temperment being closer to a Grizzly. Now where did he get that...and are there any more:help: ? Name a price.
Kraleck 08-29-06, 05:06 AM	Necklace of assorted scales, claws, and fangs from every known dragon and a single fang of one unknown one seperate from the necklace. These are all from dragons that are still living excluding the unknown one. To the right buyer the necklace sells for ~800,000 gp. The unknown fang, if sold to a cleric of a dragon god, goes for 1,000,000 gp, but causes realmwide problems when the fool ressurects the dragon from the fang...
gameld 09-05-06, 11:41 AM	NO!!! DON'T LET THIS THREAD DIE!! i'm just out of ideas at the moment... :confused: :eek: ... sorry....
Horemheb442 09-05-06, 09:18 PM	Green, gold lettered large leather bound volume. Beautifully done in every respect and "illuninated" with amazing color mineature paintings. It is titled "Traps for All Occasions" by anon. (see the "Traps" board also running):evillaugh
Necrosis 09-05-06, 10:53 PM	lol, I like, I can always give loan em the traps and treachery guide to give em an idea of the layout of the pages :)
Kirbinite 09-06-06, 09:28 PM	Aah just finished reading it all...so good, love this thread. Here are some thoughts: If you're adding gold in addition to your goods, combine the two. Every proper BBEG should be paranoid enough to hide his loot. Money belts and shoes aside there are other places as well, heck I think it'd be really funny to place hunks of gold under the heatless torches that line his layer. They'd have to go around picking them up to figure out what's what (and, of course they all shouldn't have gold--maybe 1/18?). And those scrolls, if he isn't going to use them right away (a ____ so he can alter/upgrade his pad in the future) paint something on the other side and throw it in a canvas. And every proper BBEG needs a medicine cabinet--no healing potions of course, just: something to help him sleep, something for his snoring. Some pink nail polish for him (or maybe just a clear coat to give it that healthy shine)--remember it was ancient China and Egypt both used it (tho that was more to show your class and stuff). While pink may be a feminine color in your PCs area of the woods maybe it means nobility in another. Perfumes, hair curlers, maybe stash a professional golem/hair stylist in there or something (personal pet peeve- when guys spend hundreds on cloths but think a $30 cut is stretching it). When you're giving him clothing don't forget to accessorize! You need shoes, hats, and gloves! Btw, when dealing with sentimental boxes of letters they should totally be put in underwear drawers. When thinking about where he lives remember it might not have been his at first. Say he stole a once great temple to Pelor, the window panes were smashed long ago but unknown to him, they're lined with gold. Another amusing thing would be a cruddy looking religious icon, like a glass sphere with something very expensive in the center. Works best if you have a cleric/paladin out for that church, that way they can't charge and are morally bound to turn it in (that is if they're being sponsored by their church). His g.g.g.grandmother's famous cookie recipe. Cook books rock, see that huge tome in his lair? Spellbook? No, cookbook. Also, remember oven mitts for your oven (they could be cute and collectable). Map/model of a small island that BBEG owns, filled with celestial creatures that fell for their ignorance--they of course worship him like a god.
gameld 09-09-06, 08:34 AM	looks like the wotc staff is checking in on us: "Some players love unusual treasures, even if their monetary value isn't that high, because they have a high coolness factor. Consider the following list: * Ancient coins, green with verdigris * Illuminated (illustrated, not glowing) manuscripts picked out in golden ink and colored with lapis lazuli * Dusty bottles of elven wine, sealed with blue wax * Stained glass windows * Decanters brimming with halfling brandy * A spotless red temple cat Beats the heck out of 100 gp or a silver bracelet, no? While the gp value of these treasures could be about the same as a standard chunk of coins, these treasures are all a little more memorable..." -most recent adventure builder column some of these items seem to come straight off this thread. not to say that wotc people are incapapble of thinking of them on their own, but there are certainly a couple of items in the column that are near quotes of people (consider the constant references to elven bottles of wine). thank you for your support of this thread wotc! (however, a link to this thread would be useful in your article for ideas for those who may be unaware of the forum boards' existence.)
gameld 09-09-06, 08:37 AM	btw, why won't wotc sticky this thread? it has more pages than the 'dungeon room description' thread and has been updated more recently and consistently? :confused: can we please have our sticky now? (no inuendo of any type intended)
dengarbountyhunter 09-09-06, 11:12 AM	Some jade stuff (I like jade :)), but I have no idea for price (presumably pretty high) Jade chain: this delicate necklace is carved from a single block of green jade (the links were carved interlocking with each other). A gold clip allows it to be put/removed. Jade funerary armor: this suit of full plate is made of dark blue jade on mithral plates. Each plate is decorated with silver filigree runes depicting the wearer's deeds, or his death, or a prophecy, etc. It is incredibly bulky, but is not designed for combat anyway. I'll edit more :)
spectralphoenix 09-09-06, 11:18 PM	Ancient ceramic figurines of servants and men-at-arms, presumably made to serve their master in the afterlife. - 100 gp apiece Deck of finely illuminated playing cards, illustrated with famous heroes and villains - 200 gp Nonmagical ball made of the finest crystal - 500 gp Ancient book detailing the funeral rites of a now vanished culture - 850 gp Miscellaneous small gems and pieces of precious metal, presumably for magic item construction - 1,200 gp+ A mechanical nightingale constructed of platinum and electrum - 2,000 gp A elaborate summoning circle set into the floor, constructed of silver, obsidian, and meteoric iron. Contains 5 large diamonds at the points of the pentagram - 3,000 gp for the diamonds alone, 4,000 if the entire piece can be sold.
TheAlmightyJ 09-20-06, 09:02 AM	Oooh, this is such a great thread. I'm planning on having my PCs go through a famous Wu Jen's home that's been taken over by bandits. I think each bandit should be carrying a ton of stuff they stole from the owner... of course, it turns out he's still alive, and so they have to give most of the stuff back... Hehheh... My Contribution: An elaborate silk kimono, delicately embroided using gold and silver threads and rare dyes, that was once owned by a famous princess. Worth at least a couple hundred, maybe even more depending on who used to own it. Just for fun, make a huge, greasy stain on it, from when the BBEG used it to wipe up a mess. Nothing says pimp like using a five-hundred GP art object as a napkin! (BTW, it's my first post! Yay me!)
TheAlmightyJ 09-27-06, 10:18 PM	My God, I killed the thread! 1, 2, 3-CLEAR! :bump: LIVE, DAMN YOU!
Raymond_Luxury_Yacht 09-28-06, 04:29 AM	A crayon drawing of a house and a smiling girl. It was made by his granddaughter. Should screw with the PCs' heads.
Swashbuckler 10-02-06, 11:42 PM	Collection of Dolls: some simple peasant rag and straw ones, well used and soiled from much love and play, a few porcelin ones showing age and use, one or two prestine condition porcelin dolls of moderate value (100gp), and then one very rare, ancient doll of extreme value, prize possesion of considerable value (2000gp) Now the intrinsic value of such items aside, this is one of those treasures that make the pcs think about the bbeg they just whacked. Did the Evil Sorceress of Saguine Swamp have the heart of gold? Or were these just the prize possessions of small innocent children she molested and digested? Inquiring minds may want to know. :rolleyes: Then again.... there is the female half orc barbarian who acidentally just smashes the collection looking for "real" treasure as the erstwhile elven bard, who has been staring at the collection pondering its meaning and history, suddenly shrieks at the top of his lungs in disgust. ~Swash~
Type2Demon 10-08-06, 01:50 PM	Here are a few: Have the BBEG invest heavily in a well stocked Humidor...yep a 10ft x 10ft room filled with nothing but exotic cigars. (Though a cigar chompin' BBEG might make a fun bad guy.) Have rumors of the BBEG's gold horde be spread around for the adventures to hear. He does have a lot of gold, but it is all in unrefined ore. (much harder to transport, and takes time and money to smelt it). Any hobby that the BBEG had could have treasures that are only valuable to collectors, but could bring in a huge sum from the right person. (How much would you pay for a 1970's "Pet Rock" or an unopened bottle of Coca Cola before they changed the formula?) The BBEG could have: A display case of five ancient silver pieces in mint condition (worth 5sp on the market, but 500gp to a collector who knows their rarity.) One of the five remaining scrolls of Magic Missile by the famous (now dead) mage Blastum Widgit who was known for the artistic borders and illumination on his scrolls. A collector will pay 10 times its value.
The_Rose 11-05-06, 10:26 AM	:bump: Contribution: An enchanted earpiece that speaks motivational (to a BBEG) phrases to the wearer. Think: "The world is yours to enslave!"
strange_person 01-10-07, 01:14 PM	I bow down to you. :bow: Have a brass plaque with the inscription Those who wish to pass must fight fire with fire and and have a tounge just as fast. Or just have a little plaque that says "fighting fire with fire" like it's the title.
Gemmalah 01-11-07, 10:59 AM	This thread gets more amazing everytime i go back to it! My next BBEG may have a mini tavern somewhere within his abode. The barkeep can either be a minion perhaps an inteligent skeleton who knows how to make the best bloody mary. Or several inslaved girls in pretty dresses. Perhaps and orc who washes the glasses with his dirty apron and blows his nose on the washcloths. (for the BBEG with no time for clenliness) The bar shall be stocked with such items as: Crystal decanter many types of fine dwarven ale many types of fine wines and spirts Ornate cocktail book with recipies like 'trognors flaming brandy', and 'knockout' (which is mostly made of spirits and poison) Several bottles of well hidden mostly tasteless poisons (do you think a BBEG would have someone over without a backup plan) Oranges for cocktail decoration (as they would have been really hard to import from forign lands you would have to be pretty rich to have some, would be worth alot but only until they went off) Actually a random question, if my BBEG was quite frienly to the PCs to trick them and they played along to see what he would have to say. Then the BBEG offers them an alcholic drink with poison in it. Now if one of the PCs casted Detect poison would they be able to tell if the poison was in the drink because doesn't alchol count as a poison. I have seen many people on the boards refer to it as such. so wouldn't all of the drinks even the one the BBEG is holding be detected and this would not give them a clue if there is poison in the drink. What a great scam expecially from BBEGS who know their way around a magic book!
Dakini 01-11-07, 03:11 PM	Here's an idea I got from my player for a "treasure item": battle earth vases Have your BBEG collect earth (and perhaps ashes) from each battle s/he wins and then meticulously label vases with the contents. Imagine your PC finding a bookcase full of such vases, each neatly labeled "Destruction of Temple of Pelor", "Battle of Alakinor", "Ashes of Lady Imora, paladin", etc.
Sledgerosaur 02-15-07, 05:38 PM	Erm.. a magic erm.. box.. with erm.. gold trim and erm.... it is filled with *thinks* ooh! erm.. :bump:
Jalathas 02-15-07, 07:35 PM	Life-sized candles in the shape of the BBEG, each of the PCs, and several notable NPCs(kings, archmages, etc.). All are intact, except for one of the PCs, whose head is melted and disturbingly contorted. A parchment or carved wall detailing the entireity of a well-known story, but with a twist at the end. The hero, rather than saving the day, is defeated by the villain, who goes on to complete the plan the hero attempted to stop. A large statue of a demon and angel locked in a mortal grapple. By pressing a rune at either end, the statues are animated, and finish the fight. The rune on the demon's end is well-worn, but the angel's seems almost new.
Dei 02-15-07, 08:26 PM	A painting of a vast cityscape, half-finished, with some areas picked out in the tiniest detail, showing scenes of families and couples living among the wondeful terraces and rune-inscribed buildings. Around the canvas are scattered paints and brushes along with dozens of concept sketches and mixing palettes. Perhaps his vision for what would follow his cleansing rain of fire? Perhaps simple an idle past-time, who knows?
BalobianKnight 02-15-07, 10:31 PM	Darn to bad my BBEG would never have such thing's maybe my next BBEG lol love this thread though i may stick some of this in my mid-bosses lair's
Gemmalah 02-16-07, 08:39 AM	A painting of a city except the people are really small.... if you look closely you swear one of them moved. if the painting is damaged it will cause damage to the city depicted. you notice it has been used as a dart board. The BBEG should have expensive cigars and coffee (as coffee would be really rare) I imageine that my latest BBEG would have an amulet that increases charisma in his bedroom so when he goes out he may have some luck with the ladies, it should be ludicrisly high bonus with the drawback that wearing it makes you evil or take the same bonus from your strength. But he probably needs the cha bonus badly. a box of turkish delight except its coloured blue/green and called cubish delight, a tasty treat for oozemasters. It could be poisoned with acid for greedy adventurers. An ornate medicine box, could contain roots for cleaning teeth, curing burns. Something to elieviate the symtoms of filth fever (very valuable to those without heal skills) For humour you could have large quanitites of plants used as laxatives. Just because its a BBEG doesn't mean they are immune to constipation! Its probably why hes so cranky! A valentines card or even better hanging in his room could be a childs drawing in coloured crayons! 'For unkie, this is a picture of my house and my mummy' A scrying ball that can help the BBEG look out the front door without getting up from his plotting chair. (then he can just cast call lightning at traveling salemen) A bookshelf filled with books: 'my first undead' Necromancy for dummies zombie care and matinence How to become a lich in 3 easy steps Practice excersises for evil monologs (with examples of what to do and what not to do) The Evil Overlords guide to lair decoration. (rule 1 never leave this book in view) its good to be bad! The autobiography of another BBEG Suggestion Suggestions (a self help book on how to effectivley use a suggestion spell and wording it correctly) The Evil Lords guide to chatting up women (mostly pages full of Dominate person) The needlework and knitting handbook! Help others or help yourself? (work on the benifits of being bad) Breeding dire rats for fun and profit. 101 quick quips for the middle of battle My EVIL PLANS (has explosive runes inside) A cookbook specialising in meals that easily descise the taste of poisons A pamphlet from the Evil Minions Union.
Dei 02-16-07, 07:51 PM	Proper Silverware, a full set of beautifully worked plates, serving dishes, cutlery and utensils, afterall, if you're going to dine in your own private lair of ultimate evil, do it in style!
Doom_Linnorm 02-22-07, 12:19 PM	A bookshelf filled with books: 'my first undead' Necromancy for dummies zombie care and matinence How to become a lich in 3 easy steps Practice excersises for evil monologs (with examples of what to do and what not to do) The Evil Overlords guide to lair decoration. (rule 1 never leave this book in view) its good to be bad! The autobiography of another BBEG Suggestion Suggestions (a self help book on how to effectivley use a suggestion spell and wording it correctly) The Evil Lords guide to chatting up women (mostly pages full of Dominate person) The needlework and knitting handbook! Help others or help yourself? (work on the benifits of being bad) Breeding dire rats for fun and profit. 101 quick quips for the middle of battle My EVIL PLANS (has explosive runes inside) A cookbook specialising in meals that easily descise the taste of poisons Comedey gold, I practicly wet myself reading this. Gues I found what to stick into Charles' bookcase. (Note: Charles is a evil Mindflayer Wizard and supergenius with a very..... un-intimidating name.) :P ((This is a bump in disguise for the best thread ever.))
Sajek 02-23-07, 01:02 PM	Sorry if these have been posted before, haven't had time to read the whole thread. A chessboard, the dark squares are gold, the light ones silver. The pieces are made from obsidian (volcanic rock) and platinum, and will fight each other when you play with them. A bed with little clawed feet on the legs. It can walk around at a speed of ten feet at the behest of the person in it. A pair of boots with little animated rollers and gears inside. They massage your feet when you press a button, with three different settings. A bathrobe permanently enchanted with an endure elements spell (never feel cold getting out of the shower again!). A mummified human head, with it's mouth open as if screaming in anguish. The teeth serve as a bottle opener. A statue of a nude beautiful elf that dances suggestively at your command.
Doom_Linnorm 02-26-07, 11:33 AM	A chessboard, the dark squares are gold, the light ones silver. The pieces are made from obsidian (volcanic rock) and platinum, and will fight each other when you play with them. A pair of boots with little animated rollers and gears inside. They massage your feet when you press a button, with three different settings. A bathrobe permanently enchanted with an endure elements spell (never feel cold getting out of the shower again!). A statue of a nude beautiful elf that dances suggestively at your command. These all have I believe, though I'm not 100% about the bathrobe. (Another disguised bump.)
Gemmalah 03-02-07, 09:52 AM	A bathrobe permanently enchanted with an endure elements spell (never feel cold getting out of the shower again!). i wish i had one of these! on the same note: a bathtub with the create water spell and presitigitation to make it warm. (i believe it can do that!) Enchanted inteligent scrubbing gloves (washes your back for you in the tub and fetches the soap for you) i think a BBEG may have their own zoo with peacocks and cheetas, rare animals that double as guards a mindflayer could have pickled brains for emergency snacks!
Sajek 03-02-07, 10:25 AM	A small treasure chest, permanently enchanted with a varation of endure elements so that the temperature is always 0 degrees (would be incredibly valuable in the desert). A mummified human head on his bedside table. It comforts you when you are feeling down and compliments you on everything you do (for BBEGs with low self-esteem). A four poster bed. The underside of the canopy (sheet covering the top of the four posters) is enchanted with an illusion that makes it always showing a serene forest glade with birds and squirrels and deer, a beach at sunset with dolphins frolicking in the water, or the like. Secondary enchantment makes the sounds of the place it shows emit from the posters (surround sound FTW!).
Dei 03-02-07, 12:53 PM	The Luggage- Thieved directly from Terry Pratchet's books a chest with dozens of animated legs that will follow you around loyally. More expensive versions had several permanent secret chest spells running that can be accessed through them as well as the mundane contents. Other versions, instead of having animated legs have permanently bound invisible servants or tenser's floating discs. Accounts books- Hirelings, servants, materials, land, bribes, taxes, protectorates, wether your paying them or being paid by them it's gold that's moving around and you've got to keep track of it. A stack of neatly annotated ledgers on a desk somewhere with no innate value and probably the least interesting read anyone without ranks in proffession: Accountant, could manage to track down.
Kraleck 03-03-07, 07:29 AM	Phoenix feather inkpen and Continual Flame ink - for the Pyromaniac BBEG
Solian 03-03-07, 10:30 AM	Love the thread people. i'm gona put alot of things in my next BBEG's dungeon. To Gemmalah, the spell which i cannot even consider spelling can heat water, it would be counted as a minor trick. My Input: A journal/diary of some sort (dear Diary, today i killed some trespassers. I should really stop doing that. I need some friends, it gets lonely here on your own) Sexual impliments - i aint explaining, you can easily guess An Ink Pen made of a Corralax Feather, very rare and allows you to make the ink used change colour at will. A model ship in a bottle, or a room full of them. maybe he collects? A ceremonial dagger, too flimsy to actually be used
Horemheb442 03-03-07, 02:41 PM	A bottle of otherwise unremarkable ink. When you use it, only those with infravision can see it. :rimshot:
Horemheb442 03-05-07, 12:05 AM	Try calling the spell to heat water a Hypocast spell. It's the name for the Roman heating system in their baths.
ShadowDragon8685 03-05-07, 12:38 AM	The ultimate pimped-out crib: the floating, modular castle. All the doorways are built to a ten-feet-wide by ten feet dall specification. The whole castle floats above the ground at any height you so chose. However, the parts are modular - in the Main Tower, there is a model of the castle that can be disassembled and reassembled as you please. Not only that, but you can swap out parts from a model set. Old locations can morph into new locations, keeping their internal structure intact - unless you choose to open it up and re-arrange it, which can be done. In any event, it's the ultimate tinker toy. Your gothic vampire lair can become a shining bastion of good the next day, and then a huge tower-of-towers the next.
darkhellion21 03-16-07, 03:47 PM	This has got to be one of the best threads I've ever read. I have a BBEG that (after reading this) is going to have a sizeable collection of gold and silver skulls (all of which used to belong on the bodies of various rivals and adversaries) lining the entrance into his keep. :cool: I'll have to figure out what else I'm going to add, so I'll post those later. :D
Hydryh 03-29-07, 01:18 AM	I have two or three BBEGs in mind for my campaign, and a potential fourth in the form of a sociopathic intelligent magic item with illusion powers, but I digress... One of these BBEGs, a lich, is going to have in his sanctum a corridor lined with Flesh to Stone-d adventurers. In artful poses, of course. :devil: If the PCs get lucky, they could wind up with some much-needed backup in the form of this small army, but we'll see...
Tobus Neth 03-29-07, 05:02 AM	The bone and brass bar of Dispater A magical bar that will produce random potions 50% of the time or fine liquors such wine or brandy. The bar once belonged to the Dispater Lord of Hell's 2nd layer. The bar was horse shoe shaped made of Bone and Brass and filled a area 10'x10. Behind the bar were hundreds of bottles of many colorful liquids The bar had many carvings around it's outer surface of devils in massive orgies and wanton lust. The bar weight 6,000lbs.
Dei 03-29-07, 06:48 AM	Narcissus' Diary: A mirror that when stared into begins to write in glowing text on it's surface anything spoken to it. It will record only languages with a written form and cannot translate this text for other users who do not understand them. Can hold virtually limitless recordings and play them back at request. Playbacks also include the reflection left in the mirror during the recording. Heraldry: Shields, tabards, armour all lovingly decorated with the heraldic symbols of noble families. Now they are hung as grisely trophies in Evil's lair, a great tree perhaps with the shields of the knights killed beneath it's boughs nailed to it's great trunk, waiting for the symbols of the adventurer's to join them.
ShadowDragon8685 03-29-07, 08:44 AM	The bone and brass bar of Dispater A magical bar that will produce random potions 50% of the time or fine liquors such wine or brandy. The bar once belonged to the Dispater Lord of Hell's 2nd layer. The bar was horse shoe shaped made of Bone and Brass and filled a area 10'x10. Behind the bar were hundreds of bottles of many colorful liquids The bar had many carvings around it's outer surface of devils in massive orgies and wanton lust. The bar weight 6,000lbs. That bar would be so cool.
Nakorvis 04-19-07, 01:29 AM	A tropical bird collections. A bunch of colorful birds in golden cages. Depending on how many birds and how colorful they are this could range any where from 200gp (1 pretty ordinary bird in a golden cage) to 20,000 (12 very colorful birds in golden cages). I did this with my party and they loved it, they hauled 7 birds back to their house and were woken up in the middle ofthe night to the party barbarian eating the birds...
Gemmalah 04-19-07, 03:17 PM	[QUOTE=Dei;11641848]The Luggage- Thieved directly from Terry Pratchet's books a chest with dozens of animated legs that will follow you around loyally. More expensive versions had several permanent secret chest spells running that can be accessed through them as well as the mundane contents. Other versions, instead of having animated legs have permanently bound invisible servants or tenser's floating discs. QUOTE] I believe the luggage actually originated in a D+D game to begin with. rumour has it terry pratchett was a big fan of D+D. though i'm yet to find solid evidence of this i have seen it may times. and i'm sure its statted somewhere my new contribution. An enslaved cook (preverbily someones grandma cos they always make the best home cooked meals) she could possibly like the BBEG and not think hes bad at all, he just needs to stop hanging out with people who give a bad influence. not worth much except maybe in ransom. A pet monkey which is trained to hang around the PCs a bit and become freindly, then while they sleep steal trinkets such as amulets and bring them back to the BBEG. (this one could be sold to a thieves guild or if a high handle animal check kept for profit) :D
strange_person 04-19-07, 05:25 PM	The Luggage- Thieved directly from Terry Pratchet's books a chest with dozens of animated legs that will follow you around loyally. More expensive versions had several permanent secret chest spells running that can be accessed through them as well as the mundane contents. Other versions, instead of having animated legs have permanently bound invisible servants or tenser's floating discs. That would be a Packmate homunculus from Magic of Eberron.
muzick 05-08-07, 02:36 PM	Just out of curiosity, has anyone kept an ongoing list of the art objects in this thread?
Iceraven 05-08-07, 05:15 PM	First let me say its exciting to see this topic ressureccted on the new boards. Secondly as to you question Muzick, I put together a MS Access Database of all the items from the old list complete with category and cost. I'm working my way through this list now and compiling any new stuff. Here's a link to both the database and an excel spreadsheet extract. I'll be updating them frequently so keep the idea's coming. And a personal request from me. Could anyone who's adding to this list please include the price of the object you list? Art Objects Microsoft Access Database (http://www.geocities.com/dandc0711/Art.mdb) Art Objects Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet (http://www.geocities.com/dandc0711/Art.xls)
Great_Zamboni 05-23-07, 04:05 PM	Sorry, no new input, just a :bump: because this is my favorite thread ever.
HellflameArcanite 05-25-07, 06:58 PM	And now I want to find out the price if I were to comission a life-sized marble statue of my character, Corellon, Ehlonna and Moradin as members of a rock band, rocking out really hard. :) WT...I can't find anything to go with "What The" that expresses the incredible freakiness, wierdness, craziness, and Loch Ness of that thing.
darkhellion21 05-29-07, 11:08 AM	I think if you wanted to do that, you would need to figure out a) What "life size" is for 3 Deities b) The type of material you want to build your statues out of c) The Craft skill DC d) What Instruments they would play e) How long it would take before your character got booted from the band for his (or her) obviously inferior musical skill and finally f) The kinds of things you are putting into yourself that have driven you to madness...
anton1066 06-08-07, 09:22 AM	Bump for the sake of brining this thread to a new audiance.
strange_person 06-08-07, 01:10 PM	I think if you wanted to do that, you would need to figure out a) What "life size" is for 3 Deities Well, Moradin would be the size and shape of an adult male dwarf, and the others would be, simmilarly, proportioned like the races they're traditionally depicted as.
Horemheb442 06-08-07, 01:13 PM	Or any size they want.
Doom_Linnorm 06-12-07, 03:44 AM	A Brass relief in a mahogany frame that depicts the end results of the BBEG's villainous plot. (Atleast keep posting new ideas then if you're gonne necro the best thread ever!)
maharai23 06-12-07, 05:00 AM	1000 GP Incredibly lifelike statues? Why so lifelike? Why, they're still alive, of course? Authentic Medusa-Petrified humanoids, for all your needs... also offers an odd way to get a new PC in the adventure (a mis-aimed stone to flesh spell, lol) Things can be intrinsically valuable, or valuable cause they're EVIL ILLEGAL... Drugs (BoVD) Fine booze... ETC.
darkhellion21 06-12-07, 11:05 AM	I know what any great BBEG needs- Golems made out of Platinum and gems (have them remain motionless until those greedy adventurers get close and then watch as they get crushed to death by your "vast wealth"). Of course, if you really wanted to confuse 'em, you could create golems that look like "people" and use a spell to give the PCs the notion that Mr. or Ms. Golem was "Polymorphed" into their current state. That would be funny to watch (not that I am looking into doing that at all).
Blinky969 07-16-07, 02:39 AM	Bump, and can we get a new compilation list plz?
Gemmalah 07-16-07, 08:42 AM	A cloak of rain resistance (never have a soggy cloak stick to your legs again, if you love to pose in thunderstorms) A ring of dramatic weather. Whenever the bbeg says something dramatic the wind will howl and the clouds will darken and a lighting bolt streaks accross the sky. This is only a cosmetic effect. A potion that changes the pitch of your voice to whatever you choose, good for dressing as the opposite gender and singing soprano! A gigantic pipe organ, can be heard for miles, is magical so gives a bonus to bardic music checks within the room (and cannot be taken out of the room) *what an awesome encounter that would be... i'm gonna do that next time!
strange_person 07-16-07, 01:17 PM	A ring of dramatic weather. Whenever the bbeg says something dramatic the wind will howl and the clouds will darken and a lighting bolt streaks accross the sky. This is only a cosmetic effect. Might work with a combined Silent Image (and some clever forced perspective) and Ghost Sound.
doomblade403x 07-16-07, 08:04 PM	This thread so ricks the house. It's been going on forever and with good reason. The ideas make sense, and it adds a bit of flair to treasure finding. However sometimes treasure is more mundane. For instance we built a castle for 2nd edition that rocked the house. In the ceiling we had recesses with iron bars in every room. On these bars we cast continual light which illuminated the room. an engineering check later we had a sliding metal door operated by a lever in each room to turn out the lights. I know 3rd and 3.5 pretty much did away with this, but back in the day we designed it to look kinda like modern tract lighting and it was cool.
Iceraven 07-17-07, 11:23 AM	Bump, and can we get a new compilation list plz? I haven't added the most recent stuff but I fixed the links to my access and excel databases back in post # 374
strange_person 07-17-07, 02:41 PM	modern tract lighting You mean track lighting?
ShadowDragon8685 09-03-07, 05:00 AM	Just to bump one of the most awesomenest threads in existance... Next time you need a convincing reason for players to want to hang on to jewel-encrusted stuff, remember that A picture is worth a thousand words (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Crown_Jewels_of_Persia)
Sol_Aedh_Avoth 09-03-07, 07:27 AM	My players LOVE Art objects, and I love them too and love to create new ones or describing more the ones that are on the table... for example, I describe the subject of a painting and PCs start fights to get it ( :D )... They sell only few parts of that kind of loot, even when they are short on founds... And when it comes to estimate and maybe sell them, it's always sort of a subquest... It truly is funny... Time ago, I put a Bronze Dragon disguised as a Human to help the group, they killed two Zentharims and I made them find a beautiful carpet and a set of painted porcelain tea cup... One of the players always gets angry when we talk again of that one, because he wanted the set of cups and the Dragon stole them... :D
Phae 09-03-07, 10:06 AM	I made an Alchemist of Yore Sorta Necromancer once who had scores of crystal vases filled with black roses which cast Horrid Wilting on anything that touched them to keep from drooping.
supersod 09-03-07, 04:33 PM	i made my evil merc warlord (damned 4th edition) escape with 25000 worth of kit: 5 immovable rods, through a hole in the ceiling
Khadmus 09-04-07, 07:28 AM	We need to get BBBBEG added to the dictionary of terminology.
BlackWeasel 10-05-07, 06:27 PM	An object for the ruler of an empire could be the crown jewels of every nation he conquered with great differences in style between the different countries. The bronze coated skeletons of the BBEG's enemies preserved for him to look at. Maybe this has already been said but a beautiful lobe set with gold and gems. Religious relics such as the bones of important saints. Very valuable to the right church but becuase the church will probably be evil and the relic might be able to be used to bring the evil saint back to life pcs might not want to sell them A small black book with hair or objects from many important people along with desciptions of them and plans to use them for spells such as nightmare and scying
Gemmalah 10-07-07, 11:46 AM	Two theatre tickets for the box opposite the royal box in the swankyest theatre in town. The players can enjoy a show and may never realise the BBEG wanted the box for a great assasination attempt. Ballgowns, lots of them, in silk, all colours, brighter colours would cost more because the dye would be expensive. Perhaps this BBEG would dress up his captives? The BBEG's familiar could have a jeweled collar (if magical consider it a collar of magic fang?) Hats of prestigitation that clean your hair and dye it a colour when you choose. a pillow with nightmare on it... of course this is placed in the guest bedroom (possibly with some indication its for his mother in law?)
VulcanStormwrath 10-07-07, 01:37 PM	Warning from previous experience. Never allow a rogue to have a strength over 20. They will take everything not bolted down and attempt to horribly unbalace the wealth table by selling all your pimped out stuff.
Astron the Wizard 10-07-07, 03:30 PM	I always use art objects. I came to the conclusion that there should be a lot more of them a long time ago. One thing that bugs me that I see a lot is when the bad guys (or good guys for that matter) keep their art in one closed room. Tell me, If you had a giant mirror that was encrusted with rubies, would you stick it in the treasury with a chest of gold peices, or would you set it up right in your bed chamber?
Johnny_Angel 10-07-07, 03:48 PM	a rare set of mithral eating utensils: fork, spoon, and knife A painting depicting Garl Glittergold and Kurtlemak sitting across a table from each other; playing cards with menacing looks upon their faces; Oldimarra is the dealing, and he's laughing. A quarterstaff made of solid platinum; engraved upon it (in a long forgotten dialect of Dwarven) is the story of Ulgar Hammerfist, a legendary Dwarven martial artist. A book with a leather covering and binding; inside you find that the pages are made of silk paper with a silver lining. The contents of the book describe in detail how to moderate some sort of adventure game. A tiara made of cold iron looks fairly crude and unremarkable with the exception of the large -nearly palm sized- black pearl which is set into the metal on the front of the crown.
ArgulFraster 10-08-07, 09:40 PM	Well, let me think. Now that I've read the entire thread, what shall I do? Aha! Now! I have it! Portable Orgy Wondrous Item Value: Depends on sale source. This is the real BBEG's toy-a bedroom elf is child's play compared to these. An entire set of figurines of wondrous power, in a variety of species. When activated, they become whatever they depict-from humans to elves to even such exotics as halflings, gnomes, half-orcs and catfolk. The complete set is apparently 144 of the statuettes, in both genders and even a few in *ahem* both. Several species of celestial and even a few of the more comely demons and tana'ri are represented, as well as, embarassingly enough, a handful of farm animals. A full set is worth a few million to the right *ahem* collector. The cost of the figures scales, from only a few silver for some of the granite animals to several hundred thousand gold for a hermaphroditic gold dragon in finest topaz. More enterprising/perverted characters may prefer to keep them about. One of the most valuable statuettes is one apparently made of clay-that will not detach or recieve any fingerprints. When placed on a detailed description (or given one) it follows the description to the letter. Worth a million gold by itself alone... Also, for the BBEG with more gold than sense... Cover everything in the most expensive stuff he can get his hands on. Demon bone. Celestial bone. Adamantine. Mithral. Platinum if you're feeling particularly generous.
meto30 10-12-07, 08:42 AM	Whoa! This thread is so long, and so full of wonderful ideas! I'm reading through it now... Here's an idea of mine on artwork for BBEG home. Well, not artwork, but architecture. My idea of a BBEG is that they tend to overdo stuff. They're natural Narcists, so they would go to extreme lenghts to do everything to greater extent. Such as, columns with post decoration that extends well outside the pillar width. Or statues of powerful wizards with robes that are 10' long and holding a scepter that might as well be a giant-sized warhammer, with 18 blade pieces protruding outwards. Anyway, my idea is this. A huge book made from 3' high metal plates coated in gold, with letters carved in and filled with silver. Pictures are decorated with stained glass and precious stones. This can be applied to any valuable book. Maybe this is a spellbook, who knows? The BBEG might be a Conjurer who uses summoned demons to do his bidding, and hides in his fortress and never comes out. He prepares spells everyday from a giant spellbook as large as he is, taking a long time going through all that. For spells that he feels like preparing quickly he can have another spellbook which might've been the original one he copied spells from to create the golden-plate spellbook. EDIT: I don't know this is already in the thread, I felt this strong urge to post this idea, and I'm still reading page 7. A galley made from expensive wood - I don't know, darkwood, maybe? and decorated with gold, platinum, and silver, with darksteel covering a giant ram projecting from the bow. The stern is intricately decorated with bases of great battles of gods, depicting a prophecy that eventually evil will prevail (might work well with Cyric in FR setting). A great Platinum Plate at port side is engraved with the name of the ship, and decorated with gems. The interior of the ship is mostly silver, with the Captain's quarters covered in marble. The ship can be a seafaring one, or a flying one for the DM's taste. As the players defeat the BBEG, the villain presses the red button (or anything similar, I'd go for a contingency spell going off) and the ship's underside blows up, sinking the ship. The players will have to escape the ship; anything they have not already collected will be lost. (If the galley was a flying one, maybe they'll come back.)
icuall 10-15-07, 02:12 PM	Mirror - 3'x5', gilded ornate large frame, when anybody looks into the mirror, the frame crackles with electricity (illusion, no damage) to illuminate the user. Top 6" of mirror, of clouds slowly rolling, created and disappearing, also the sun is moving across the top of the mirror according to the time of day. Bottom 6" of the mirror has a permanent illusion of changing lifecycle landscape of grasses, trees, growing, with beautiful animals freely roaming. Pricing: You decide for your own game.
strange_person 10-15-07, 11:30 PM	I don't think that's even really a magic item. You could probably get all of that by just casting Silent Image and Permanency.
icuall 10-16-07, 04:28 PM	I don't think that's even really a magic item. You could probably get all of that by just casting Silent Image and Permanency. It doesn't have to be a magic item... the thread is Art Objects.
Return of the Flumph 10-16-07, 11:00 PM	Golden Brain: a life sized, perfect replica of a human brain, made of solid gold. Each lobe has a precious jewel of a different type embedded in it. This can be either a bizarre decoration, or it might have magical properties. Price: same as a Jewelled Crown from the DMG. Villainous Pipe Organ: This thing could make Ganondorf or Davy Jones weep in envy. Made entirely of darkwood, the chair is cushioned with a pillow of richly embroidered black velvet and stuffed with feathers, the keys are made of bone with a gold, silver, or platinum coating, and the pipes are all hollowed-out spinal cords tipped with skulls. Price: no idea. Planar Checkerboard: A board game similar to Chinese Checkers with room for four players, made of polished ebony, painted with expensive pigments, and with marbles of tinted quartz. The board resembles the Great Wheel, and each player must play as Good, Evil, Law, or Chaos, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. Price: 875 gp.
Doom_Linnorm 04-04-08, 04:21 AM	*Casts Animate Thread* BWHAHAHAHHAHAHA, the greatest thread ever lives again! Perfect of your typical volcano lair: Obsidian Fourposter The sturdy bed is steal proof because it weighs a ton and its hand carved by the finest deurgar sculpters. The silken covers are echanted for fire protection allowing even the most host blooded villain some comfort without spending a fortune in sheets. The pillars of the bed are topped with grotesque gargoyle carvings that further accentuate the owner's masculine/feminine charm and add the right amount of cliche villainy on the whole. Darkwood Headplates (Or the Volcanic Ceramic version) These sturdy plates don't have heads mounted on them but labeling them with the names of the pesky doo-gooders you're after on them should make them nicely intimidated when they come to raid your pad. Better yet, buy a second 5 man set and create a fictional adventuring party you supposedly already killed to make them feel really uncomfortable.
Silais 04-12-08, 01:56 AM	Just a quick question (and a bit of threadomancy): but is anyone actually compiling a list of these without all the comments in between them? I've read much of the thread, but I haven't seen much to that effect.
Iceraven 04-14-08, 07:33 PM	I assembled most of them into an excel sheet and an acess database a few pages back. http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=12337128&postcount=374
Morvik 04-14-08, 09:07 PM	And now I want to find out the price if I were to comission a life-sized marble statue of my character, Corellon, Ehlonna and Moradin as members of a rock band, rocking out really hard. :) . Maybe ill use this, although just for kicks Moradin will have a stone guitar that can be released form the statue, and a religion check will mark it as a legacy item called "The Ax of Moradin", giving huge bonuses to a bard... if there is any :/
Silais 04-14-08, 10:13 PM	I assembled most of them into an excel sheet and an acess database a few pages back. http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=12337128&postcount=374 Thanks, thats freaken awesome.
vhurka 08-12-08, 06:58 PM	This thread is awesome. I'm a fan of fine art myself, so I love using art in my campaigns. A few ideas for paintings, besides the obvious nude elves & suchlike (pervs): The First Change A surprised-looking werewolf changing form under the full moon. Could be sold for 500 gp. Aflame An ancient (400+ years old), beautiful painting of a castle burning. Worth 300 gp, 1050 to anyone who recognizes it's age (DC 18 knowledge [history] or DC 28 appraise). These have both appeared in my campaign, but no one the PC's could find got the historical signifigance of the painting. Maybe somebody should make some artistic objects for those of us with steampunk Campaign settings? Weaver, if you're here, I assign that to you. I think I just committed thread necromancy... Ah, big deal. This thread roxxorz.
fenrir7139 09-09-08, 09:58 PM	I'm currently attempting to compile the entire list of items posted in this thread; I've got them all copied down to Open Office... and it's 50 PAGES! *sigh* This may take a while... Still, when I'm done, I'll post a new thread, which will be free from the majority of the clutter this one's got... Thank you, Wereooze, and everyone else who's contributed, for your greatness! EDIT: WHOOPS! Got a bit... carried away there. I just realized I should probably ask Wereooze for his permission before I restart this thread. Anyway, see you guys later!
Syrsuro 09-10-08, 10:50 AM	Who buys gem encrusted crap indeed! An oft-ignored (until now) treasure table in D&D has been 'Art Object'. This is well and good, except the DMG fails to embellish much, and many DM's are left handing-out three pieces of "art": Gem encrusted rings, Golden statues, and Elvish tapestries. Hm... I was reading quickly and saw this line and misread it as Elvis tapestries and had an immediate vision of an image painted on black velvet... Carl
fenrir7139 09-14-08, 10:22 PM	My reasoning for posting this is twofold; 1. I wanted to bump this thread, so it could stay afloat. 2. I've created a new thread, entitled "Pimp Your BBEG's Crib: Reborn", and would like any help you could give me in compiling the objects listed in this thread. Here is the link: http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?p=16814453
Iceraven 09-17-08, 03:45 PM	Hey I compiled the vast majority of these items a while back. Here's the link to the Google Doc http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pW51bkyETCnM85hSLMIpaMQ I also have them in a .mdb file format but GoogleDoc's doesn't support it so if you want it just let me know. Additionally THere is an editable view of the document at http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pW51bkyETCnM85hSLMIpaMQ&hl=en in case anyone wants to start adding to it.
fenrir7139 09-17-08, 04:55 PM	Hey I compiled the vast majority of these items a while back. Here's the link to the Google Doc http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pW51bkyETCnM85hSLMIpaMQ I also have them in a .mdb file format but GoogleDoc's doesn't support it so if you want it just let me know. Additionally THere is an editable view of the document at http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pW51bkyETCnM85hSLMIpaMQ&hl=en in case anyone wants to start adding to it. Dude, thank you! That'll mak my job so much easier! (I know you didn't really put this up here with me in mind, but still, thank you!) :D EDIT: I made sure to credit you in my thread (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?p=16814475) (Yes, this is a shameless plug), but anyway, thank you!
Warforged Goblin 10-08-08, 08:52 AM	So, here I am, reading and posting in a thread that started nearly four years ago... Wow. I plan to have my next major villain, a cigar-chomping half-fiend necromancer, have and use quite a few of these ideas. An intelligent, neutral skeleton bartender (one of his first animates) who knows his way around mixing drinks. A room of animated trophies (bears, dire wolves, maybe an immature purple worm) all kept in pristine condition by a permanent custom mass gentle repose spell effect. Maybe a couple of petrified creatures and/or adventurers as well. Oh, and a massive pipe organ, possibly able to be heard from miles around. And, to add to the list, here's a couple of additions. A bloodstone and obsidian unholy symbol (worth 90 gp) found embedded in the chest of an advanced zombie. A set of barbed mithral bracers worth 500 gp. They provide no armor bonus and deal one point of damage if donned. A necklace of six banded eye agates, strung together with sinew, with two large and mismatched fangs hanging in the middle which gives the whole thing a look of a multi-eyed predator (worth 23 gp). A regal and imposing chariot. Made of darkwood and inlaid with mithral filigree, this chariot has massive unfolding wings along its sides. While it can't fly on its own, it could feasibly be pulled by a pair of flying creatures, more than likely nightmares if its a villain (12,550 gp). A suit of masterwork chainmail entirely made from shark teeth (300 gp on its own, possibly two or three times that to a collector).
Bloodsoul 10-08-08, 04:24 PM	I have to admit, I've always wanted to rip off SNK's The King of Fighters for one aspect; whenever international blackmarket arms dealer, Rugal Bernstein, would defeat opponents.. he'd have them bronzed. Makes for an interesting conversation piece during dinner parties, I'm sure. I recall in one campaign having a character find such art objects and actually keeping them around for the novelty of it. Drinking wine out of a jewel-encrusted goblet appears more civilized than drinking it straight from the bottle, no?
Rowl 10-10-08, 05:12 AM	One of the five remaining scrolls of Magic Missile by the famous (now dead) mage Blastum Widgit who was known for the artistic borders and illumination on his scrolls. A collector will pay 10 times its value. This makes me think of one: How much would the experimentation notes be worth for the creator of Magic Missile? Obviously ancient and obviously valuable for the development of one of the most used and iconic of all Wizard spells... aside from maybe Fireball.