What is Your Favorite Item?

[matrix3]

What item stands out in your mind? Maybe it's something you came up with for your PC used, maybe it's something relatively ordinary that you or another player used in an innovative fashion, or maybe it's something you as a GM gave out that had unintended consequences.

One that I heard about, but unfortunately never encountered myself, was TRAM, Troll SPAM. A resealable canister that held a block of magically suspended Troll flesh. Open the canister, it would start to regenerate, slice a chunk off into a hot pan (to stop the regeneration), and close the canister.
Created as a fluke and intended as rations of last resort, it proved to be a great distraction generator. Sneak behind enemy lines, slice off a chunk or two (or twelve) of TRAM, scatter near the enemy tents, and evacuate the area.

[Lord Liaden]

My personal favorite came out of the old Hero Games supplement Magic Items, for the first edition of Fantasy HERO (before the rules for the various Hero games were amalgamated into the Fourth Edition ruleset). The item was a great troll-forged battle axe named Harvest Moon for its crescent-shaped blade. Harvest Moon was fashioned from a material called "blood iron," iron mined from beneath a battlefield. Besides having great damaging power, blood iron weapons tended to pick up additional powers over time based on how they were used. Harvest Moon was employed by the trolls in wars against humans, so it absorbed the trolls' hatred of them. Humans wounded by the axe would bleed twice as fast as for normal wounds. Harvest Moon also generated a constant mental aura of antipathy which tended to make humans angry and hostile toward whoever possessed the axe.

Cool name, interesting background, unique powers and a complication-inducing "curse" all made this an item I enjoyed introducing into my campaign. :thumbup:

[Alibear]

Similar type of thing. The idea was that I wanted to hand out Magical Items to the players but that the items would not need to be upgraded as the power level increased. I also wanted to promote heroism in the players.

HERO BLADES.

Ten magic Items made by the worlds most powerful ever Articifer to arm his country's generals in a rebellion against an evil empire. 800 years later and one turns up and works it's way into a PC's hands..

The blades themselves are twinned with the wielder and start to take on the characteristics and power level of him (or her). The more Heroic the wielder is the more powerful the weapon becomes.

A side effect of the blade's power was that the blade bought off the NCM for the wielder. I never told the player that, I wanted to wait and see if anyone was willing to pay to go beyond that threshold and then I was goona tell 'em.

[Thia Halmades]

Duh.

Holy Ice Cream Cone of Smiting.

Sheesh. Ask a silly question...

[Bygoneyrs]

Hmmm Cauldron of Souls - Magic item if used with the correct magical rituals, and if one
sacrafices a virgin victum by adding their blood to the cauldron's mix and then they can
make depending on the rituals used and power expended different Undead like; Skeltons,
Zombies, Ghouls and the like. Other undead are also possible, but it all depends on the
rituals used.

Penn

[matrix3]

Duh.

Holy Ice Cream Cone of Smiting.

Sheesh. Ask a silly question...

:D

Well, of course, but you could tell us how you came to possess a frozen confection created by Steven Long. And, did you have the Weapon Familiarity before or after acquiring it? If you already had the WF, then that could be a story on its own.

[Thia Halmades]

This was ages ago. I was sitting in the NGD, back before I had 100 rep and those with 100 rep were considered 'ascended' and I got into a pissing contest with Alice the Owl, as I was generally annoyed by the whole "We are G-ds here!" thing. And I demanded, if G-ds they be, that they produce an Ice Cream Cone.

None of them could do it. And I stated, again, "All I want is an ice cream cone! With which to SMITE MY ENEMIES!"

And down from on high, from the highest peaks, came a figure wrapped in holy tweed garments, bearing spectacles of deep insight! And lo, he turned unto me, and I was humbled. And he spoke, saying "A holy ice cream cone, huh? That's easy enough."

AND BEHOLD! I was granted a Divine instrument of destruction! I've never let it out of my sight since. There can be no other signature, as this one is simply too perfect. :D And that is the (heavily embellished but totally true) story of how I received my Weapon of Choice.

[Lord Liaden]

And that is the (heavily embellished but totally true) story of how I received my Weapon of Choice.

After hearing that tale, I had to confirm it for myself: http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41284 . Not really embellished at all, apart from Steve "descending from on high" and such. ;)

[Lord Liaden]

I'd also like to put in an Honorable Mention to the Rod of Seven Parts from the classic AD&D game. A super-weapon in several pieces that you have to find and reassemble provides so much story potential for quests, races against competitors, and rivalries between possessors of the fragments.

[Thia Halmades]

After hearing that tale, I had to confirm it for myself: http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41284 . Not really embellished at all, apart from Steve "descending from on high" and such. ;)

Hey man, I can't make this stuff up. It should be noted that Alice & I have been on pleasant terms ever since, and she has since repped me at random intervals, and been repped in return.

LL, however, I occasionally smack with my ice cream cone because he gets outta line. That was one trip down memory lane, though. You must spread some rep around before giving it to the faceless, um... face again.

Debt Paid: 12/14 @ 2:15pm

[Mr_Yuck]

I've always loved D&Ds Wand of Force...

Essentially a lightsaber that can also do some other nice tricks.

Hmmmmm... I'll just have to make it for FH now! :eg:

[Thia Halmades]

There's about a half gazillion (yes, it's a real number, no don't look it up, just take my word on it) different builds for 'lightsaber' flying around here. I'm sure you could easily whip up something appropriately nasty. :eg: I always did love that thing. I was 13 or 14 when I first came across it in Unearthed Arcana and immediately went "OH! D&D LIGHTSABER!"

[Tonio]

[...] gazillion (yes, it's a real number, no don't look it up, just take my word on it) [...]

Gazillion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gazillion)

Sorry, hadda do it. =/

[Thia Halmades]

Uppity kids... *hobble... hobble*

[Blue Jogger]

What item stands out in your mind? Maybe it's something you came up with for your PC used, maybe it's something relatively ordinary that you or another player used in an innovative fashion, or maybe it's something you as a GM gave out that had unintended consequences.

My favorite story has got to the sword and the box. The PC went on a quest to get the most powerful magic sword in the world. Now, to prevent just ANYONE from getting the sword, whoever touched the box and was not Chaotic Evil would simply die.

Player: "How big is the box? How heavy is the box?"
GM: "It's just a box, big enough to hold the sword."

And so the player had TWO magic items. A mighty powerful sword, and the box it came in.

Player: "Is he Chaotic Evil?"
GM: "How are you checking?"
Player: "I hit him with the box. Is he dead?"
GM: :eek:

[matrix3]

My favorite story has got to the sword and the box. The PC went on a quest to get the most powerful magic sword in the world. Now, to prevent just ANYONE from getting the sword, whoever touched the box and was not Chaotic Evil would simply die.

Player: "How big is the box? How heavy is the box?"
GM: "It's just a box, big enough to hold the sword."

And so the player had TWO magic items. A mighty powerful sword, and the box it came in.

Player: "Is he Chaotic Evil?"
GM: "How are you checking?"
Player: "I hit him with the box. Is he dead?"
GM: :eek:

Hehe. Pretty good, though I'd be concerned if the most powerful sword in the world was Chaotic Evil... :nonp:

[Thia Halmades]

Hehe. Pretty good, though I'd be concerned if the most powerful sword in the world was Chaotic Evil... :nonp:

He never said the sword was. He said the box was. If you're really very clever, then you put a sword -- even a powerful, good aligned one -- inside a box that can only be opened by someone who not only would have no ability to wield it, but no earthly interest in seeing it opened. Sort of an upside down Sword in the Stone. Can you imagine the work it would take to get some CE who actually knows what's in the box to open it?

And if it's all powerful, etc. & so forth, and especially if it's going to judge you on your actions, then it likely knows how you got the box open, and could summarily reject you if you go about it the 'wrong way' or a way in which the sword disagrees.

Just sayin'.

[matrix3]

He never said the sword was. He said the box was. If you're really very clever, then you put a sword -- even a powerful, good aligned one -- inside a box that can only be opened by someone who not only would have no ability to wield it, but no earthly interest in seeing it opened. Sort of an upside down Sword in the Stone. Can you imagine the work it would take to get some CE who actually knows what's in the box to open it? <snip>

Good point! Very effective...

[Thia Halmades]

Good point! Very effective...

We make our contributions where we can. ;)

[matrix3]

I thought of another item, although this was not an item I admired. It was one that told me I wanted to get out the hell out of Dodge.

Some years back, in high school, I went with a friend to play some D&D with another group of his friends I hadn't met before. We get there, and they break out some ridiculously characters (I forget exactly, but it was something like a half-giant fighter/thief/barbarian and a drow sorcerer/ranger/god of fiery death, and a super thief of some sort). I went with the flow, and they started their game while I watched and snacked. They were a little immature, but I didn't think much of it, until the fighter/thief/barbarian used his special, magical sword with the poetic name of 'DeathF***er', a soul sucking short sword that would leap from his codpiece at a command word. It remained attached to the codpiece, allowing him to 'triple wield' in battle. He had made no mention of this sword during his descriptive seduction of a barmaid earlier in the adventure, so things weren't as bad as they could have been, but I never did return to that gaming group.

[Thia Halmades]

If we could keep my emotional scarring to a minimum, that would be great. Are you sure these ---hats weren't playing FATAL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FATAL) or something?

[mayapuppies]

My all time favorite was from my long running Rolemaster campaign:
This is a story that took place in a long running Rolemaster campaign that I was running. In order to get the proper feel for what happens I think it is necessary to supply a little history.

First, The Land: The players had recently arrived in a country that was populated by very eccentric magicians. These people had very long lifespans and operated completely with magic. Tools, weapons, clothing, everything was based on spells. Suffice it to say that these people were very bored and were constantly trying to keep up with "the latest fashion." The more unusual the better, platform shoes that were also mice cages, hats with small birds attached to the brim by strings and enchanted to constantly fly in circles, well you get the idea. The soldiers of this land wore armor made from an enchanted smoke. It was very strong and did not encumber in the slightest.

The Player: Now Dave was one of those players that were always trying to do something to upset the other players or munchkinize his character. Every little thing he did was to get over on either me or one of the other players. It got so bad that my saying "No Dave you can't.." became synonymous with the game.

The Situation: Dave had separated from the party and was cruising through the town when he happened upon a clothier. He went in and immediately started asking about some enchanted clothes (for better defense of course). The proprietor replied and the conversation went something like this:

Dave: Can you make me some clothes that will protect me better?
Clothier: Of course, I can make anything.
Dave: Can you make me a smoke gi (a type of a shirt)?
Clothier: Make you a smoke gi? Well, I've never done that before. It might be interesting.
Dave: You did say you could make anything.
Clothier: Yes I did. So you want me to make you a smoke gi?
Dave: Yes.
Clothier: A smoke gi.
Dave: Yes, I want you to make me a smoke gi.
Clothier: Are you sure you don't want anything else? I could make you into something much more colorful.
Dave: No, I want you to make me a smoke gi.
Clothier: OK, that will be one gold piece please.

Dave handed over the one gold and after some chanting and waving of hands the clothier made Dave a smoke gi. To this day he is still hanging in that clothiers shop waiting for someone to buy him.

[Thia Halmades]

*groan* Up there with:

PC: Okay, I glance inside the ice cave. Do I see anything?
GM (or so I'm told): "There'snow Ogres in the cave."
PC: Wait, what? Are there ogres or not?
GM: There'snow ogres in the cave.
PC: Okay... so there's no ogres in the cave?
GM: Like I said. There'snow ogres in the cave.
PC: Okay, I lead the party into the cave and...
GM: THE SNOW OGRES ATTACK!

[mayapuppies]

The beauty is every player in the group, except Dave, caught on but held their tongue.

[matrix3]

If we could keep my emotional scarring to a minimum, that would be great. Are you sure these ---hats weren't playing FATAL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FATAL) or something?

Sorry, I didn't mean to scar anyone's psyche. When I ran into Al Bruno's (http://web.archive.org/web/20050910142937/http://www.albrunothethird.com/rantsandreviews-3.htm) stories, I did remember this incident and think, 'Oh, so this is what it might have been like if that group had been the only game in town...'

[Tech]

Years ago (before some of you picked up your first RPG book), someone I know had an elven character fighter with a regular +1 Longsword. Finding a ring that granted a wish, the character put on the ring deciding to keep the wish for a special time. However, that character later would run into a transparent wall that seemingly couldn't be damaged. Without thinking, the character wistfully says "I wish my sword could cut through anything...". Thus was created one of the most powerful weapons in the campaign - the DM was gracious.

[Thia Halmades]

Years ago (before some of you picked up your first RPG book), someone I know had an elven character fighter with a regular +1 Longsword. Finding a ring that granted a wish, the character put on the ring deciding to keep the wish for a special time. However, that character later would run into a transparent wall that seemingly couldn't be damaged. Without thinking, the character wistfully says "I wish my sword could cut through anything...". Thus was created one of the most powerful weapons in the campaign - the DM was gracious.

... gracious ain't the word. Wow.

[matrix3]

Years ago (before some of you picked up your first RPG book), someone I know had an elven character fighter with a regular +1 Longsword. Finding a ring that granted a wish, the character put on the ring deciding to keep the wish for a special time. However, that character later would run into a transparent wall that seemingly couldn't be damaged. Without thinking, the character wistfully says "I wish my sword could cut through anything...". Thus was created one of the most powerful weapons in the campaign - the DM was gracious.

Although, depending on what the DM qualifies as "the sword" -- just the blade, or everything -- you may just take off your own hand. No scabbard would hold it, even if just the blade cut through anything, leaving you to contrive something that holds on to the hilt with a tube around the blade but not touching it to prevent accidental injury.

Hmm...could the sword cut through esoteric concepts? Could you cut someone's shadow? What about gaining the power of Atropos and severing a person's thread of fate? Otherwise, if is is just physical manifestations that the sword can cut through, it is powerful, but not staggering. What about ranged attacks or spells that other powerful swords can cast?

[Thia Halmades]

Although, depending on what the DM qualifies as "the sword" -- just the blade, or everything -- you may just take off your own hand. No scabbard would hold it, even if just the blade cut through anything, leaving you to contrive something that holds on to the hilt with a tube around the blade but not touching it to prevent accidental injury.

Hmm...could the sword cut through esoteric concepts? Could you cut someone's shadow? What about gaining the power of Atropos and severing a person's thread of fate? Otherwise, if is is just physical manifestations that the sword can cut through, it is powerful, but not staggering. What about ranged attacks or spells that other powerful swords can cast?

Read: Phillip Pullman's The Subtle Knife. Same weapon, but thankfully much shorter. I believe it cuts through space/time. Sequel to the now movie bound Golden Compass.

[matrix3]

Read: Phillip Pullman's The Subtle Knife. Same weapon, but thankfully much shorter. I believe it cuts through space/time. Sequel to the now movie bound Golden Compass.


I first encountered the concept in the early 90's TMNT cartoon, in the form of a katana so sharp that it could cut doorways to other places (and, I think, times).

[Thia Halmades]

I first encountered it in a GI Cartoon when they got their hands on Excalibur.

I win! I win!

[matrix3]

I concede! G.I. Joe beats all. :)

Another item I heard about (I love listening to gamer stories) was the Wand of Akoozab. A mad wizard had decided that a wand of fireballs was too wimpy, so he created a dozen staff-sized versions, bound them together, and set them all to the same command word. One word, twelve high-level fireballs.

[Supreme Serpent]

Out of FH items, I really liked the 'forcewall chalk' from some earlier book. Trace outline with chalk, tah dah, forcewall.

In games I've been in...let's see...there's been the "Really Comfy Chair" - the world's most relaxing seat. All other chairs pale in comparison.

[Thia Halmades]

Out of FH items, I really liked the 'forcewall chalk' from some earlier book. Trace outline with chalk, tah dah, forcewall.

In games I've been in...let's see...there's been the "Really Comfy Chair" - the world's most relaxing seat. All other chairs pale in comparison.

"Really Comfy Chair" is an item I could really get into.

[Tonio]

Fetch... the COMFY CHAIR!!!

*trembles* :angst:

[JmOz]

Mine was a dagger I created for my D&D campeign YEARS ago

it was a glassteel Dager called the dagger of the Magi, it was extremly common with mages after level 5, it was a Dagger +1, unlimited Read Magic (You held the blade so you were reading through the blade, took a command word)

[Tonio]

Mine was a dagger I created for my D&D campeign YEARS ago

it was a glassteel Dager called the dagger of the Magi, it was extremly common with mages after level 5, it was a Dagger +1, unlimited Read Magic (You held the blade so you were reading through the blade, took a command word)

Ooh, nice. =)

Has the bonus of reminding me of Larry Niven's "What Good Is A Glass Dagger?", excellent story.

[Thia Halmades]

Ooh, nice. =)

Has the bonus of reminding me of Larry Niven's "What Good Is A Glass Dagger?", excellent story.

You mean other than it's nigh indestructible and sharp as all get out? :eg: Sorry, "Glass Dagger" is the name of the assassin squad that works for the Empire at the heart of the campaign setting that the good Lord Captain originated from.

[Old Man]

Had a character once that got hold of "the Strongsword". It was essentially unbreakable but otherwise unremarkable as a weapon. However, its wielder gained like +10 STR, CON, and BODY, and several defenses as well. The character in question was a total loser rogue/mage, who upon learning just what he'd picked up, had the thing tethered to his wrist (and often bound his hand to the hilt with leather straps as well). Many amusing situations ensued, like only ever having one hand free, trying to use its abilities in places where swords were frowned upon, and not being able to drop the sword lest he die instantly.

[Old Man]

Going further back, there was also the Deck of Many Things that got turned into a weapon. After a few lucky draws we realized that we'd pulled most of the good results, leaving a deck with an 80% chance of something really bad happening to whoever pulled the next card. So there were a few instances of the cleric trying to convince certain people to "pick a card, any card." GM let us get away with it a couple of times.

[Enforcer84]

I first encountered it in a GI Cartoon when they got their hands on Excalibur.

I win! I win!
Marvel's version of Sif had a sword that could do that.

[Fenixcrest]

Hrm... in all seriousness- a regular ol' Greatsword. It's very satisfying for me as GM to have a PC wielding a weapon that can plausibly cleave guys right in half.

Super bonus points if another, foppier PC flips out and makes a bee-line for the nearest body of water whenever Greatsword-guy spatters blood on him.

[MorpheousXO]

In games I've been in...let's see...there's been the "Really Comfy Chair" - the world's most relaxing seat. All other chairs pale in comparison.

Well, if you've ever watched the Tick, then you know what happens when you sit in the chair. :D

[Blue Jogger]

Honorable mention: tHe HEadpiEcE of FriNn

http://www.yamara.com/yamaraclassic/index.php?date=2005-07-18

The short descriptions are just wonderful.

Why do you want it?
a) It wants us to rescue it.
b) It is shiny and will enhance our nest.
c) Frinn will make more if it is absent too long.

Is it dangerous to handle?
a) Not at all.
b) It is an honor.
c) Define dangerous.

Will I get a saving throw?
a) It only rarely adheres to flesh.
b) Euclidean dice would not avail in any case.
c) We will care for you tenderly in the event of a mishap.

Although it gives the user some amount of power (flight, increased intelligence, spell resistance to common spells), it appears to gives dangerous delusions of demigodhood.

[The Monster]

I come up with two items that hold warm places in my heart:

The War Treadmill - derived from an earlier-edition Fantasy Hero Companion IIRC, the original item was a series of gears that could be cranked to create a magical effect. Slaves were used to crank the engine, providing the massive END cost to power the spell. Fromt here it was an easy jump to make it a treadmill upon which slaves were driven. Installed in a castle, various models could boost morale (Aid PRE), strengthen castle walls (Aid PD), healing, etc. A field version could be made which powered siege machines. And all by driving slaves until they literally dropped dead of exhaustion - perfect for orc armies! I've never actually used it (yet), but I always found the idea entertaining.

My other favorite I used in a con event (though it was Feng Shui, not HERO :o ). I actually forget what it was, but what it did was affect all the other members in your party by lowering their best ability by a small amount, then adding the equivalent total point value to the ability of your choice, for your own character! In the event, it actually worked fairly well, as the players worked together to share it where it was needed for any given situation.

[Markdoc]

My other favorite I used in a con event (though it was Feng Shui, not HERO :o ). I actually forget what it was, but what it did was affect all the other members in your party by lowering their best ability by a small amount, then adding the equivalent total point value to the ability of your choice, for your own character! In the event, it actually worked fairly well, as the players worked together to share it where it was needed for any given situation.

I hadn't thought of it until you mentioned this, but one item I gave away was a medallion that drained luck for the wearer's benefit. Under 4th Ed., it was built as "1d6 Unluck usable against others, area effect, 0 END, continuous, always on" plus "6d6 Luck - only up to number of affected individuals". Today, I'd likely build it with Change Environment instead of UAA, but the basic idea remains the same: you become luckier, everyone around you becomes more likely to take a pratfall.

cheers, Mark

[Thia Halmades]

I hadn't thought of it until you mentioned this, but one item I gave away was a medallion that drained luck for the wearer's benefit. Under 4th Ed., it was built as "1d6 Unluck usable against others, area effect, 0 END, continuous, always on" plus "6d6 Luck - only up to number of affected individuals". Today, I'd likely build it with Change Environment instead of UAA, but the basic idea remains the same: you become luckier, everyone around you becomes more likely to take a pratfall.

cheers, Mark

Query; was this also the effect that Longshot generated? Or was his just personal luck? I know there was an X-Files where the episode's target had this ability; he got phenomenal luck, but for his part, traded on unluck to follow (Side Effect).

[Markdoc]

Query; was this also the effect that Longshot generated? Or was his just personal luck? I know there was an X-Files where the episode's target had this ability; he got phenomenal luck, but for his part, traded on unluck to follow (Side Effect).

Dunno - I just recall him as being really lucky, not that others got lucky. OTOH, I'm not a reliable sopurce of info. I'd pretty much dropped out of the wolverine-crossover-verse by the time Longshot got much screen time.

cheers, Mark

[matrix3]

I remembered another item I heard about but never encountered: The Mace of Healing. As I recall, it was a 2d6 HKA with a linked 2D6 of Healing per turn for every BODY done. Thus, do 6 BODY and the target will be healed 2 Body per turn for 6 turns. The PC's soon found out that one had to be careful if the target was too close to death...

Then there was the story of the Pebbles of Transmogrification. Used with a sling, they would do some small amount of damage, but had an 8- activation roll to transform the target into something harmless for an hour. The GM had a list of possible forms, including a slight chance that the target turned into a piece of fruit. Well, the PCs forgot about the time limit, and when one of them defeated (I believe) a minotaur, he ate the small piece of fruit as the ultimate insult to his defeated foe. One hour later, the rest of the party was showered with bits of their former team mate as the GM described in graphic detail the explosive result of a piece of partially digested fruit suddenly becoming 500 pounds of partially digested man-beef. :nonp:

[Old Man]

Hrm... in all seriousness- a regular ol' Greatsword. It's very satisfying for me as GM to have a PC wielding a weapon that can plausibly cleave guys right in half.

If you want to go mundane, the best item is the large shield. +3 DCV with very little drawback? Sign me up!

[Damascan]

I think you're all forgetting the incredible amount of fun you can have with Love Potions. Of course, it's only funny if you're not on the receiving end and if the Potion isn't limited to same race, opposite gender, etc. Then again, if the effects are permanent, things can get pretty tragic...

[Inu]

Query; was this also the effect that Longshot generated? Or was his just personal luck? I know there was an X-Files where the episode's target had this ability; he got phenomenal luck, but for his part, traded on unluck to follow (Side Effect).
Sort of. Depends. Continuity's a sticky thing, particularly when one person creates a character, than Claremont makes them popular by writing them VERY VERY differently. In his original version, Longshot was granted the luck ability via a magical ritual. In that version, he caused vague, random unluck somewhere in the universe every time he used his own luck... so he had to make sure that whenever he used his power, it was worth it. When Claremont started writing him, poor dear had been through so many brainwashes he couldn't remember his own shoe size. His luck power then seemed to have changed into something that was Always On, Only When In-Genre. So if he was acting selfishly, or wasn't playing the part of The Hero, it didn't work. Nothing about causing unluck was ever mentioned again that I saw.

[matrix3]

A guy in my current gaming group told me about The Platter that a previous GM had introduced in a long running campaign. There was a race of Big Bads, who would only eat still living creatures, but were very social and often had long, lavish banquets. They got tired of throwing out half-eaten corpses, so they invented "The Platter:" a large silver platter large enough for a hog (or a human), with two power effects, a large Suppress STR, and a large boost to Body (+50 or so), only to resist death. Who or whatever was placed upon The Platter would be effectively paralyzed, but fully conscious as the Big Bads took their time munching their way through a long dinner.

[matrix3]

Dust of Dragon's Teeth
This is a dust that acts like the mythological dragon's teeth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon%27s_teeth_(mythology)). Sprinkle a pinch on the ground, and a moment later up pops an armed and armored warrior.

I don't know where the GM got this idea, but he was off on his math. After an encounter, the PC's found a pouch with a pound of this stuff. One PC (Tucker, I think) grabbed this up and held on to it for a while. Eventually, the group faced a big bad, a monstrous creature that was nearly immune to their attacks. Tucker made a great roll to throw this pouch into the creatures mouth, then the player brought up Google on his laptop and showed the GM that there are 16 pinches to a teaspoon and 96 teaspoons to a pound. 1,536 warriors suddenly spawned in the creature's gullet.

[Curufea]

I kinda like one of the Norse God's collapsible longboat. I always though that was kinda cool.

[Enforcer84]

Ring of water Walking. My warrior had one; it was the shizznit. In one game we basically convinced a much larger force to run into a raging river with my ring and a Hallucinatory Terrain spell.

In another, my brickish warrior wrestled a vampire and hauled his undead ass to a running stream and held him under.

and I can't count how many times I was able to buy time by running out onto lakes. Or the time our ship was attacked.

indoors it was barely noticeable but once we stepped into the world I would look for opportunities to use the sucker.

[Ragnarok]

I have an amusing story to share.

About 5 years ago, I was playing as a wood elf ranger in a D&D campaign my buddy ran for about a year. The way I played this ranger was heavily dependent on stealth and guerrilla tactics. At the onset of nearly every engagement, I would conceal myself when possible, wait for our enemies to become focused on the fighter types, then pop up and run around behind their flank, slicing and dicing as I went, wreaking all kinds of havoc on the enemy mages and squishy types.

One day, the GM had us run in a sort of skills test appropriate for each of us. For example, the fighters would get a test of strength and endurance, the mage had a magic skills test, and I had a kind of obstacle/ropes course in which I had to demonstrate balance, cunning, and speed.

The GM had informed us that there was a magical item awaiting us as a reward at the end of our respective challenges. So, when I reached the end of the course (after nearly falling into a river of lava, mind you) I saw a ring on a pedestal. Foolishly, reveling in my success, I joyfully snatched up the ring and put it on.

To my great dismay, I quickly discovered that the ring was, in fact, a cursed ring. The ring had caused me to shrink to the size of the gnome, magically given me a pair of bright, guady pants with jingly bells on them, and caused me to glow brightly. The pants could only be removed by a Wish spell.

This ring had effectively destroyed my character's play style. Considering that all the other members of the group had gotten helpful magical rewards, I was rather angry at the time, but it makes for a great story. I actually had started to think about using it in some rather hilarious ways, but I never got a chance to use them as the campaign ended shortly thereafter.

[Vulcan]

One of my favorite fantasy RPG items has always been the Portable Hole. And our group came up with some truly innovative ideas for it.

One of our players came up with the idea of setting a wooden liner into one, so he could just drop stuff into it without worrying about a sharp object punturing the fabric of the Hole. And from this, we developed...

The Organized Hole, with a ladder and shelves attached to the wooden liner.

The Portable Library, with several sets of shelves that collapsed together and a winch to raise it up out of the hole.

The Portable Alchemy lab, similar to the library but with racks of glassware and worktables instead. (This spawned a whole series of 'Portable Workstations' for various skills.)

The Portable Watchtower, which was winched out in four sections, giving a 40' high watchtower for whoever was on guard to use at night.

And then my 3'6" halfling came up with the best one (in my less-than-humble opinion, anyway). In the 6' diameter, 10' deep - less 4" for a really sturdy liner - volume, he built a two storey apartment, complete with a two-piece camoflage lid, sitting room and (small) library, comfy chair, four-poster King Sized (relative to a halfling, anyway) bed, and wall-to wall carpet. :D No sleeping out in the wilds for this halfling!

[Vulcan]

Out of curiousity, how would one buy a Portable Hole in HEROS?

[matrix3]

<snip>
The GM had informed us that there was a magical item awaiting us as a reward at the end of our respective challenges. So, when I reached the end of the course (after nearly falling into a river of lava, mind you) I saw a ring on a pedestal. Foolishly, reveling in my success, I joyfully snatched up the ring and put it on.

To my great dismay, I quickly discovered that the ring was, in fact, a cursed ring. The ring had caused me to shrink to the size of the gnome, magically given me a pair of bright, guady pants with jingly bells on them, and caused me to glow brightly. The pants could only be removed by a Wish spell.

This ring had effectively destroyed my character's play style. Considering that all the other members of the group had gotten helpful magical rewards, I was rather angry at the time, but it makes for a great story. I actually had started to think about using it in some rather hilarious ways, but I never got a chance to use them as the campaign ended shortly thereafter.


Wow. That sucks. The other guys got helpful rewards, while you got stuck with a powerful cursed item that could only be reversed via a Wish spell? I would think he could have dealt with your character's style of play a little more reasonably (like having you encounter an enemy ranger or something), or had everybody get a cursed item so you'd get to cure the curses as a team...

[Hyper-Man]

Out of curiousity, how would one buy a Portable Hole in HEROS?

From an older thread on a similar subject. Note that the total cost listed is for the bag built as a vehicle. The owning character would only need to pay 1/5th of that per the vehicle rules.

Why not use the vehicle rules?

Bag of Holding
Val Char Cost Roll Notes
20 STR 10 13- Lift 400.0kg; 4d6 [2]
0 DEX -30 9- OCV: 0/DCV: 0

10 BODY 0 11-

0 SPD -10 Phases: (none)


Total Characteristic Cost: -44

Movement:

Cost Powers END
120 It's Just a Bag!: Shrinking (0.0314 m tall, 0.0004 kg mass, -12 PER Rolls to perceive character, +12 DCV, takes +18" KB), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Persistent (+1/2) (120 Active Points)

Total Powers & Skill Cost: 120
Total Cost: 76

[Admiral C]

The old Magic Items book had some tattoos of swords that were etched in your forearms. Not a magic item per-se but the created magical blades of force around your forearms.

GURPS Magic Items 1-3 had dozens of nifty magic items. The only one I can remember off the top of my head was the Juggernaut Armor which was a a golem you could possess. Mongoose had a similar creature called a tower golem I think, that had a space in its chest that looked liked a window ledge that a mage could ride around it.

[Curufea]

There's also the gate teleport to an extra dimension you could make a portable hole.

[matrix3]

There's also the gate teleport to an extra dimension you could make a portable hole.

This makes the most sense to me, although I could see a problem if there isn't interdimensional travel allowed in your campaign.

[Curufea]

This makes the most sense to me, although I could see a problem if there isn't interdimensional travel allowed in your campaign.
True, but if you have D&D's "portable hole" it also makes sense to have their "multiverse" as well.
Otherwise, it's best to come up with original ideas for items that actually fit your setting.

[The Dude]

Re: the original question.

my favorite item is the Thing (http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68521).

[Blue Jogger]

Ok, this is one of my players favorite item.

They had managed to get horseshoes of zephyr but no horses to put on them. (For those that don't know, when shod onto a horse, it allows the horse to fly slightly above the ground, making it easier to move through rough terrain and allow movement on water.)

They were out in a desert and their sand glider had been busted by a giant worm. To momentarily distract the worm, they managed to summoned a rather sickly 50 point cow which was quickly munched by the worm.

Ok, so they had a busted sand glider, a dead giant worm, and a dismembered cow.

The half-orc player decided to try to wear the horseshoes, I said this wouldn't work, the horseshoes need to be nailed in.

But, they did have a dismembered cow...

So they rebuild the sand gilder with the body of a dead worm with four cow legs nailed to it and the horseshoes nailed to the cow hooves.

I allowed it just for the imagery alone and it made the players so happy.

[Shadowpup]

The Mallet of Blessing.
When swung at full force it bestows a blessing upon the target.

I forget what it was called but it wasn't an item so much as a creature that took on the appearance of an enchanted leather item (hat or glove). The creature was a parasite but in exchange for eating 1 hp per day (or whatever the character would naturally regen) it would help to keep the character alive.

[Angelalex242]

I like the 12 Swords designed by Fred Saberhagen.

Basically, these 12 weapons were absolutely invincible and indestructable unless they ran afoul of another Sword...and only one particular Sword at that.

Shieldbreaker:The Sword of Force. Can destroy other Swords. Makes you absolutely invincible against armed attacks...weapons, magic, energy blasts, doesn't matter. But you're helpless if even a 4 year old comes to wrestle you. It makes you helpless against unarmed attacks.
Doomgiver:The Sword of Justice. Second strongest Sword over all behind Shieldbreaker. The Sword of 'do unto others before they do unto you', it turned any power attempted to be used on the wielder back at the source. Doesn't matter if it was mind control, arrows, fists, swords, whatever. It all went back where it came from. Can even turn the powers of other Swords (except Shieldbreaker) back on their wielder.
Woundhealer: Sword of Mercy. Heals anyone it's swung at. Cannot be destroyed by Shieldbreaker...if the two swords meet, Shieldbreaker is destroyed instead, as Woundhealer is not a weapon. Woundhealer can heal any wound eventually, though chopped off limbs take a while, it can even manage that.
Mindsword: Sword of Glory. Fun weapon. AOE 50d6 Mindcontrol spreading over the radius of 100 yards. Set effect:Must worship wielder. Also has particularly hard to cure wounds when used as a physical weapon. Even magic has trouble fixing 'em.
Soulcutter: Sword of Despair. Similar to Mindsword, above, but it's 60d6 Mindcontrol spreading over 100 yards, and the set effect is despair. The wielder is not immune. It's higher then the Mindsword because when both swords are drawn, Soulcutter wins.
Coinspinner:Sword of Chance. 100d6 of Luck. That is not an exaggeration. Also makes one lucky in combat...if you suffer a wound in a battle, it's from an attack that would've cleaved you in half otherwise. Can also tell you directions if you ask it to find something. And you always win when you gamble.
Wayfinder:Finds the way to anything. If other things are needed to obtain the goal, it leads you to those first. The Sword of Wisdom sticks its wielder with 3d6 unluck, though, as it 'adds unto their risk'
Sightblinder:The Sword of Stealth. This weapon makes you appear as what somebody fears most or loves most. The sword mindscans somebody, then plays upon their deepest loves and fears. Also, it increases your own perception to see things you never could've seen on your own.
Townsaver:The Sword of Fury. This weapon does nothing unless you're guarding a city. If you're guarding a city, it chops up absolutely everything. It has a DCV penalty on it, though, as it makes no effort to save its wielder. It does keep him alive until the battle ends, though. But if you're at negative your body, you croak the minute people stop fighting.
Farslayer:The Sword of Vengeance. Throw it at anyone. Absolutely anyone. Doesn't matter who. God, demon, human, whatever. They are dead. But...well, it's a one use item, and the friends and family of the guy you just killed now have access to it. Uh oh.
Stonecutter:The Sword of Siege. Cuts stone. Any stone. Very easily. Named such for its ability to hack into castle walls. Also useful for sculpting stone.
Dragonslicer:The Sword of Heroes. Kills Dragons dead. Very dead. Poor Dragons.

[Curufea]

Ah! - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Books_of_Lost_Swords

[matrix3]

I like the 12 Swords designed by Fred Saberhagen.

Yes! Some really good fantasy overall, too, if people haven't read it ( and his Beserker (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Saberhagen#Berserker_sequence) books are quite good sci-fi, at least the early books I read)


Soulcutter: Sword of Despair. Similar to Mindsword, above, but it's 60d6 Mindcontrol spreading over 100 yards, and the set effect is despair. The wielder is not immune. It's higher then the Mindsword because when both swords are drawn, Soulcutter wins.
Yes..I remember this one. Even to slip it partially out of the sheath would devastate opponents -- and risked the wielder's life.


Coinspinner:Sword of Chance. 100d6 of Luck. That is not an exaggeration. Also makes one lucky in combat...if you suffer a wound in a battle, it's from an attack that would've cleaved you in half otherwise. Can also tell you directions if you ask it to find something. And you always win when you gamble.
Don't forget its tendency to go wander after a while. However the owner locked it up, eventually it would go find another owner. Usually when the current owner was relying upon the luck...


Townsaver:The Sword of Fury. This weapon does nothing unless you're guarding a city. If you're guarding a city, it chops up absolutely everything. It has a DCV penalty on it, though, as it makes no effort to save its wielder. It does keep him alive until the battle ends, though. But if you're at negative your body, you croak the minute people stop fighting.
yes, a couple cool stories about this one, as I recall.


Farslayer:The Sword of Vengeance. Throw it at anyone. Absolutely anyone. Doesn't matter who. God, demon, human, whatever. They are dead. But...well, it's a one use item, and the friends and family of the guy you just killed now have access to it. Uh oh.
And, it doesn't matter how far away, or if you are inside or in a cave when you "throw" it. Basically, if you have room to spin around in a hammer-throw style, thinking (chanting?) the targets name, for a few moments, then release, this sword will basically teleport away to slay your target.


Dragonslicer:The Sword of Heroes. Kills Dragons dead. Very dead. Poor Dragons.
Just don't get it mixed up with another sword when you go to slay that dragon...

[Angelalex242]

Fun part is actually stating these monsters. And watching what certain villains do.

Dr. Destroyer:Oh, crap, it's Shieldbreaker! I gotta take my armor off or I'm toast!

[The Dude]

My rug

http://images.entertainmentearth.com/%5CAUTOIMAGES%5CBBP01020lg.jpg.

[matrix3]

My rug

http://images.entertainmentearth.com/%5CAUTOIMAGES%5CBBP01020lg.jpg.

You're Silent Bob with dyed hair?

[Shadowsoul]

No, he is simply the one who abides. 'Cos you know, plastic lasts a really long time.

[Matt the Bruins]

One of my favorites was from my original D&D group many moons (and lunar eclipses) ago. One of the characters ended up in possession of Queen Elissa's Marvelous Nightingale after a quest. I don't recall if it was one of the side effects of the artifact itself or a separate curse, but he was shrunken down to doll size and imprisoned alongside the Nightingale within its indestructible gilded cage. The guy ended up being carried around in it for the rest of the campaign.