A bedroll.
A fork and knife.
A feathered cap.
A backpack.
Go through the rest of the gear a traveler would carry. Then attribute it to the Traveler.
And the items of power would be individual artifacts that have synergies with each other, and most likely have some amazing super power that defeats the big bad guy when you collect all of them. You know, standard fare.
Pants/belts/girdles ect of power for a sillier game.
Rings of power if you like LotR jokes.
And I want to keep a serious tone about it, so while epic pants of power sounds quite funny, it wouldn't quite work.
I'm leaning towards masks at the moment, since anyone can use them without penalty, and they're easily customizable to fit a variety of abilities into.
Any other ideas, though? Amulets? Some sort of wearable gem? Pouches? Rods? Scepters? (Scepters doesn't work so well for fighter-types, but there could be some twists, like a battle-scepter that could operate as a battle-axe at the sounding of a command word, or something like that) Tomes? Standards?
I just want to make sure I'm not missing out on some really cool unique ideas that aren't occurring to me at the moment.
"X-Number of Heroes/Heroins once defeated this insanely megolomaniacal villain, and sealed him/her away, but now, X-Number of years/centuries/eons/minutes later, he/she has returned, and only the party can defeat him/her once again/"
Then, just have the original heroes just HAPPEN to be of the same number as the PCs, and just HAPPEN to be the same class, who also just HAPPEN to use the same weapons/armor, etc.
Barring that, just find out your player's tastes, and craft items based on those.
Could go with something like a steak knife that transforms into a bastard sword or great sword, a fork that transforms into a trident, a butchers knife that transforms into a battle axe or great axe, and/or a spoon that transforms into a staff or club.
They can be some powerful artifacts but they have odd appearances to help them be hidden from those that might abuse their powers.
Well, you could always go with the standard:
"X-Number of Heroes/Heroins once defeated this insanely megolomaniacal villain, and sealed him/her away, but now, X-Number of years/centuries/eons/minutes later, he/she has returned, and only the party can defeat him/her once again/"
Then, just have the original heroes just HAPPEN to be of the same number as the PCs, and just HAPPEN to be the same class, who also just HAPPEN to use the same weapons/armor, etc.
Barring that, just find out your player's tastes, and craft items based on those.
Well, the only issue is that I really want to avoid just "fancy magic weapon artifact". That's been done to death. Same with assorted jewelry. I really want something kinda... out there...
Well, the only issue is that I really want to avoid just "fancy magic weapon artifact". That's been done to death. Same with assorted jewelry. I really want something kinda... out there...
Ah, I see... Then, how about...
Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube-Man!:P
In all seriousness, though, I'd say masks like you suggested earlier, or instruments (classic Zelda).
Instruments would work, but I'd think they'd require some sort of perform check, in which case bards and other skill-based classes would get much better results. Unless the instrument imparted on its user the ability to use it, or... Oh, whatever. I'd probably just say every PC gets a free Perform skill at max ranks. :P
To each his own, I suppose.
But yeah, masks aren't really common as far as legendary items go (excluding Majora's Mask, of course),so they seem like a good choice.
Now I just get to come up with many, many magical masks. And you can be damn sure Majora's Mask will be a handly little source of inspiration. :D
Well, I want it to be something useful in combat, and I don't see anyone pulling out a bedroll, even a highly magical one, in the middle of fighting a group of dragons.
And the items of power would be individual artifacts that have synergies with each other, and most likely have some amazing super power that defeats the big bad guy when you collect all of them. You know, standard fare.
The bedroll would obviously be for healing, all the way up to reviving the dead.
The lamp would be more of a weapon, perhaps for a holy one, powerful light and fire based magic.
the fork and knife would be more useful for a fight, the knife cuts things at a distance, as if it were a sword for a creature two size categories larger than the user.
The fork would move things, telekinesis, think of the dragon suddenly being lifted into the air, and then thrust right back into the earth again.
The feathered cap is enchantment based, diplomacy to domination; its powers are the greatest.
The backpack holds what is needed, always, be it food, or a key, they can pull anything less than an artifact from it.
these are seriously powerful magic items.
The Seeds of Power
Once planted they grow fruit which you can eat; said fruit gives the PCs unique powers.
I like Doomsaught's ideas too.
Nah, but masks are cool. You thinking 1 item/PC? If you do decide to do masks, maybe take a look at some cool real life ones and draw some inspiration. Gas masks, keaton masks (from Zelda), blank masks, mardi gras masks, there's a ton of them.
I like Doomsaught's ideas too.
Thanks,
Of course the artifacts aren't at full power when apart.
The bedroll only does a cure wounds spell at first, but then with more of the other items it does a heal spell, then heal + restoration, then true Resurrection.
The lamp alone gives off eternal light, but then it does the equivalent of Create fire, then it illuminates the invisable (making them visible) and then it give use of the flame strike spell.
The knife starts out as a +1 dagger, then a +1 short sword, then +1 large short sword, +1 ghost touch large short sword, +2 ghost touch huge short sword.
The hat does a static charisma bonus, then charm, and dominates, and then the group forms of those spells.
The back pack first just has any generic items that are needed like food, then it can replicate and unique mundane item, then non-unique magic items, and finally non artifact, non construct, magic items.
Imagine that all of this once belonged to a self proclaimed rat king. :D With the flute a player could summon swarm of rats and with the crown he could give them some bonuses to attack and health, or even enlarge it to make a swarm of giant rats. The wristbands are here to keep the swarm under control and protect the wearer if, somehow, the swarm turned against him.
How about seeds?
The Seeds of Power
Once planted they grow fruit which you can eat; said fruit gives the PCs unique powers.
That sounds really cool to me. You plant the seed and it grows very rapidly, and in moments you have a man height tree. Resoursefull PCs plant it in a pot and carry it around. The fruit gives a variety of special powers, possibly using the potion mechanics. Could be quite cool. (also I needed an excuse to have a Land of Green Ginger, by the Orb, themed game I've been dreaming about for a year and a half.)
Very versatile, easy to flavor and name, and can be found almost anywhere.
And the heroes could wear them just about anwhere. "Oh I('ll put this on on the pommel of my sword, and thius one is going around m- *gack*"
Did I forget to mention thet they kill anyone who wears them on a necklace?
The ultimate power could summon back the army to fight on behalf of the bearer.
trophies could be things like skulls, the tattered shreds of an enemy banner, the crown of a dethroned king etc..
Hmmm might have to dig deeper into this concept myself.
Ha Triss I was mulling over posting "Battle Standards" or a single battle standard that is augmented by several battle trophies (the other 'parts' that need to be found). The trophies would be something representative of the foes defeated by the original army/unit that carried the battle standard.
The ultimate power could summon back the army to fight on behalf of the bearer.
trophies could be things like skulls, the tattered shreds of an enemy banner, the crown of a dethroned king etc..
Hmmm might have to dig deeper into this concept myself.
I like banners because well, once they're out, everyone knows you have them. A banner is meant to fly high, unite those who fight under it and let the enemy know that you are in fact still together and charging forward. Even without magic, they are meant to be powerful tools. With magic...hell, it's like a bard you don't have to feed.
I like banners because well, once they're out, everyone knows you have them. A banner is meant to fly high, unite those who fight under it and let the enemy know that you are in fact still together and charging forward. Even without magic, they are meant to be powerful tools. With magic...hell, it's like a bard you don't have to feed.
Any good ideas of an item that could be used by just about any character/class and that can easily have many variations of it?
What are these items meant to symbolize?
For example, in LOTR the rings symbolize the power of the nobility, for better or worse. Some want to preserve the world and keep it from changing, some just want to rule over others with an iron fist. These abstracts are symbolized in jewelry.
So, determine what it is you want these items to represent and choose appropriately.
Personally, I would go with instruments. A Lute of Suggestion, a Horn of Blasting, a Chime of Opening, Pipes of the Winds, etc.
In all seriousness, an everday non-flashy mundane item would make the most sense. Buttons, socks, china, slop buckets.