Character-Specific Artifacts [Archive] - Wizards Community

Character-Specific Artifacts [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
AlphaSquirell
12-08-05, 08:44 PM I'm in the process of designing character-specific artifacts. Well, maybe not artifacts, but magic items. Maybe they are "lesser artifacts". Like something that will become an artifact when the character has reached an epic level. Or something. Point is, I'm designing special equipment (some weapons, some armor/shields, a ring, maybe a robe, etc, etc, etc) This equipment will be given to the individual character, for a specific reason.

For example, the Scout is getting a Ring of Invisibility (tweaking the Invisibility so that it isn't overpowering at low levels, but isn't weak at higher levels, kinda like the ability of the item progresses according to the wielder). Well, the Ninja is going to want it. Badly. Thing is, these gifts are coming from a divine sorce (some obscure diety called the "DM"...), and they are given to the character who will make use of them best. While the Ninja could be devestating with a RoI, I think the Scout will make more use of it, simply because I know the player. So, what I'm going to do is tie each "lesser-artifact/magic-item/thingy" to each character, so that only that character can use it.

What I'm looking for is some help on:

-how to bind an item to a character
-what to set in place as rules for someone else using the item (penalities they would incur, etc)
-and extra effects that a "lesser-artifact/magic-item/thingy" could have that would make them truly unique. (as opposed to picking items out of the DMG and mixing and matching special abilities)

Any suggestions/comments/rants about my rambling?
spectralphoenix
12-08-05, 09:01 PM How about looking at Intelligent Magic Items? (DMG p 268-272)

They can have some odd abilities, and you can rule that as the personality "gains experience" it gains more power.

Additionally, the personalities may conflict with people the item doesn't like. It can even refuse to use its powers if the wielder disagrees with it.

As for binding, it depends on where they get them. If the items are gifts from the gods, then the appropriate god might create a personality suited to the character.

EDIT: Read the X-mas adventure thread. Just have "Santa" tailor the personalities to exclusively belong to one character.
AlphaSquirell
12-09-05, 07:48 AM How about looking at Intelligent Magic Items? (DMG p 268-272)

They can have some odd abilities, and you can rule that as the personality "gains experience" it gains more power.

Additionally, the personalities may conflict with people the item doesn't like. It can even refuse to use its powers if the wielder disagrees with it.

As for binding, it depends on where they get them. If the items are gifts from the gods, then the appropriate god might create a personality suited to the character.

EDIT: Read the X-mas adventure thread. Just have "Santa" tailor the personalities to exclusively belong to one character.

Intelligent items would work; I'll have to re-read that system. You know what's scary? I posted something about giving my PCs items from "Santa" in a "Non-Denominational Winter Holiday" adventure thread..... In other words, you just pointed me at an idea of my own that I had forgotten...
yellowdingo
12-09-05, 09:24 AM Conceivably the magic spell should be from the necessary number of levels of the spellcaster class needed to cast it. For Artefacts make the PC achieve (x) levels of Wizard or Cleric and sacrifice those abilities, levels, experience, spell books in a binding ritual during the manufacture of the object. Conceivably the item is this person so the PC has a Magic jar of hitpoints which allow themselves to limit off at.

They now have the advantage that they will never die but if the Artifact is destroyed they loose hit points the way you take damage if your familiar dies.
TheModernSamurai
12-09-05, 09:51 AM 1. An important thing to do would be to make it exchangeable, IMO. If the Scout is doing something that doesn't necessarily require invisibility, it's great because he can hand over the ring to the ninja.

2. Otherwise, it's easy to attach it to a character: If the Scout takes it off to hand it to the Ninja, just have it repel the Ninja when he tries to put it on. Such as:

"You try to put on Ferinth's ring, but it feels as though an invisible force will not let your finger through."

3. Or you could make it something only useful to specific characters in a different way. Such as the NPC in my campaign. He gets a lot of cool stuff, like a staff (long story) which helps even him out in power as he adventures (he stays out of combat), and a compass that works by his magic (helping to find these Orbs [the source of bastions power]).
DaveReaves
12-09-05, 11:00 AM Perhaps you could look into Weapons of Legacy. It has stuff for letting items of all kinds grow in power with the PCs. Legacy items share a lot of the features as artificats such as backstory, uniqueness and unusual powers. I belive it even has rules for how the item functions for others.
AlphaSquirell
12-09-05, 04:27 PM 2. Otherwise, it's easy to attach it to a character: If the Scout takes it off to hand it to the Ninja, just have it repel the Ninja when he tries to put it on. Such as:

"You try to put on Ferinth's ring, but it feels as though an invisible force will not let your finger through."

That's kinda what I'm aiming at. I'd like for it to be an item that only that player can use effectively. So that it is the Scout's ring, and even if the Ninja can put it on, it won't work. I'm working it out so that if the Scout says the Ninja can use it, he can use it, or if the Scout dies, the party can use it, etc, etc, etc.

I've got the ring for the Scout, any suggestions for any of these other classes:

Paladin (LG)
Samurai (LG)
Ninja (CG)
Cleric (NG, Tamara as patron diety)
Warmage (Fire specialist, CN)
Favored Soul (progressing to Storm Lord, CN)

I'm trying to find things that don't fall under normal weapon/equipment categories. Like something that might be a wonderous item, but these will be Artifacts for various other reasons. (no known way to destroy them, only 1 exists, rather powerful) One idea I have (though kinda corny in origin) is a horn that summons help whenever it is used. Such as casting a Summon Monster, Summon Planar Ally, Summon Nature's Ally, etc. (if overused it casts Summon Undead, which isn't good for characters who are mostly good)

Any other ideas? I keep drawing a blank for something truly useful and unique to the party.
Kalidor
12-09-05, 04:36 PM Its pretty simple really. When a caster creates a magic item he can prescribe certain conditions (Only works for LG, Only works for Clerics of Pelor, etc). If this is a divine artifact, I see no problem why each item couldn't be prescribed only work for a particular person or a particular bloodline.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
AlphaSquirell 12-08-05, 08:44 PM	I'm in the process of designing character-specific artifacts. Well, maybe not artifacts, but magic items. Maybe they are "lesser artifacts". Like something that will become an artifact when the character has reached an epic level. Or something. Point is, I'm designing special equipment (some weapons, some armor/shields, a ring, maybe a robe, etc, etc, etc) This equipment will be given to the individual character, for a specific reason. For example, the Scout is getting a Ring of Invisibility (tweaking the Invisibility so that it isn't overpowering at low levels, but isn't weak at higher levels, kinda like the ability of the item progresses according to the wielder). Well, the Ninja is going to want it. Badly. Thing is, these gifts are coming from a divine sorce (some obscure diety called the "DM"...), and they are given to the character who will make use of them best. While the Ninja could be devestating with a RoI, I think the Scout will make more use of it, simply because I know the player. So, what I'm going to do is tie each "lesser-artifact/magic-item/thingy" to each character, so that only that character can use it. What I'm looking for is some help on: -how to bind an item to a character -what to set in place as rules for someone else using the item (penalities they would incur, etc) -and extra effects that a "lesser-artifact/magic-item/thingy" could have that would make them truly unique. (as opposed to picking items out of the DMG and mixing and matching special abilities) Any suggestions/comments/rants about my rambling?
spectralphoenix 12-08-05, 09:01 PM	How about looking at Intelligent Magic Items? (DMG p 268-272) They can have some odd abilities, and you can rule that as the personality "gains experience" it gains more power. Additionally, the personalities may conflict with people the item doesn't like. It can even refuse to use its powers if the wielder disagrees with it. As for binding, it depends on where they get them. If the items are gifts from the gods, then the appropriate god might create a personality suited to the character. EDIT: Read the X-mas adventure thread. Just have "Santa" tailor the personalities to exclusively belong to one character.
AlphaSquirell 12-09-05, 07:48 AM	How about looking at Intelligent Magic Items? (DMG p 268-272) They can have some odd abilities, and you can rule that as the personality "gains experience" it gains more power. Additionally, the personalities may conflict with people the item doesn't like. It can even refuse to use its powers if the wielder disagrees with it. As for binding, it depends on where they get them. If the items are gifts from the gods, then the appropriate god might create a personality suited to the character. EDIT: Read the X-mas adventure thread. Just have "Santa" tailor the personalities to exclusively belong to one character. Intelligent items would work; I'll have to re-read that system. You know what's scary? I posted something about giving my PCs items from "Santa" in a "Non-Denominational Winter Holiday" adventure thread..... In other words, you just pointed me at an idea of my own that I had forgotten...
yellowdingo 12-09-05, 09:24 AM	Conceivably the magic spell should be from the necessary number of levels of the spellcaster class needed to cast it. For Artefacts make the PC achieve (x) levels of Wizard or Cleric and sacrifice those abilities, levels, experience, spell books in a binding ritual during the manufacture of the object. Conceivably the item is this person so the PC has a Magic jar of hitpoints which allow themselves to limit off at. They now have the advantage that they will never die but if the Artifact is destroyed they loose hit points the way you take damage if your familiar dies.
TheModernSamurai 12-09-05, 09:51 AM	1. An important thing to do would be to make it exchangeable, IMO. If the Scout is doing something that doesn't necessarily require invisibility, it's great because he can hand over the ring to the ninja. 2. Otherwise, it's easy to attach it to a character: If the Scout takes it off to hand it to the Ninja, just have it repel the Ninja when he tries to put it on. Such as: "You try to put on Ferinth's ring, but it feels as though an invisible force will not let your finger through." 3. Or you could make it something only useful to specific characters in a different way. Such as the NPC in my campaign. He gets a lot of cool stuff, like a staff (long story) which helps even him out in power as he adventures (he stays out of combat), and a compass that works by his magic (helping to find these Orbs [the source of bastions power]).
DaveReaves 12-09-05, 11:00 AM	Perhaps you could look into Weapons of Legacy. It has stuff for letting items of all kinds grow in power with the PCs. Legacy items share a lot of the features as artificats such as backstory, uniqueness and unusual powers. I belive it even has rules for how the item functions for others.
AlphaSquirell 12-09-05, 04:27 PM	2. Otherwise, it's easy to attach it to a character: If the Scout takes it off to hand it to the Ninja, just have it repel the Ninja when he tries to put it on. Such as: "You try to put on Ferinth's ring, but it feels as though an invisible force will not let your finger through." That's kinda what I'm aiming at. I'd like for it to be an item that only that player can use effectively. So that it is the Scout's ring, and even if the Ninja can put it on, it won't work. I'm working it out so that if the Scout says the Ninja can use it, he can use it, or if the Scout dies, the party can use it, etc, etc, etc. I've got the ring for the Scout, any suggestions for any of these other classes: Paladin (LG) Samurai (LG) Ninja (CG) Cleric (NG, Tamara as patron diety) Warmage (Fire specialist, CN) Favored Soul (progressing to Storm Lord, CN) I'm trying to find things that don't fall under normal weapon/equipment categories. Like something that might be a wonderous item, but these will be Artifacts for various other reasons. (no known way to destroy them, only 1 exists, rather powerful) One idea I have (though kinda corny in origin) is a horn that summons help whenever it is used. Such as casting a Summon Monster, Summon Planar Ally, Summon Nature's Ally, etc. (if overused it casts Summon Undead, which isn't good for characters who are mostly good) Any other ideas? I keep drawing a blank for something truly useful and unique to the party.
Kalidor 12-09-05, 04:36 PM	Its pretty simple really. When a caster creates a magic item he can prescribe certain conditions (Only works for LG, Only works for Clerics of Pelor, etc). If this is a divine artifact, I see no problem why each item couldn't be prescribed only work for a particular person or a particular bloodline.