Submitted by Neolithicwolf on Tue, 01/15/2013 - 1:02am.
That's easy. I don't. I don't use cursed items, I don't use drawbacks, I don't use detrimental effects on magic items. I don't believe in it. All it took was one of my good friends getting killed by a necklace of strangulation one time in a D&D game and I decided that was a dumb idea for my mentality. It hurt my feelings to see him so upset over losing a character (for no real reason) that he had poured a lot of effort into. I intend no offense to anyone who DOES use them, I promise. If I ever did use such an item, it'd be a unique item and you'd never come across a second one.
Take some of the 'classic' cursed magic items. I can see very little use or value in most of them. Girdle of Fem/Masc. Why would a wizard hole up for a month to make that? So he could marry his daughter to his neighbor's daughter? So he could sex the captain of his guard? Makes no sense to me. Spear, Cursed backbiter (really any cursed magic weapon), they're a pain for a little while, they will do some damage, but likely will only REALLY piss off a high level fighter who's then going to hunt you down after his cleric buddy removes it. I figure most cursed items are the realm of semi-sadistic GM's, especially the kill on contact variety.
I think that an Item with a powerful Curse was made deliberately as either a magical Trap or an Assassination tool.
If an item doesn't fall into the categories above, I prefer to create an item type I label the 'Useful yet Flawed' item-something highly useful but with drawbacks.An example from The Chronicles of Prydain would be the Harp given to the minstrel Fflewder Fflamm-it played flawless melodies on its silver strings with never a sharp or flat note, and never went out of tune, BUT a string would snap every time our hapless wannabe Bard told an untruth.Some examples i've used in fanasy RPGs in the past include:
-An enchanted Mirror that allowed you to spy on any location-but if the target was clever or paranoid enough to suspect such magic he or she could concentrate upon any reflective surface and spy right back unless you were quick with a blanket(or wore a disguise).
-A weapon which could become a Flaming weapon on demand-but would burn you in turn without either a set of heavy, arm-length gauntlets, or the fine kid gloves keyed to the weapon by the same enchantment.
-A ring of invisibility which left you invisible save for one part-your shadow, your eyes, etc. Also, one which worked perfectly but only as long as you could hold your breath.
-An enchanted flying carpet, broom or other which possessed an animal intellect and had to be Tamed and given commands as a living beast in order to perform properly.
-A teleportation device that cannot process non-living things, leaving clothing, armor, weapons etc behind.
-An amulet or ring which gave enhanced vision and limited Divination abilities-but if used continuously will result in blinding headaches, and if used for a full day or more causes 'blind seer' syndrome for the next day.
-A magic shield which attracts missles to the wielder but gives extra Protective abilities or other benefits-good items for bodyguards!
-A Viking Axe that is a Bloodthirster-one additional die of damage in combat, but the user must make a WILL Resistance Check to stop fighting or spare an opponent. This weapon is rather unsuitable for sparring or mock-combat of course.
-An armlet or garter which doubled your Healing rate but doubled your need for food and drink as long as you wore it.
-A set of thin crystal lenses which fit over the eye and granted perfect Darkvision but caused sensitivity to full daylight-if worn from sunset to dawn the first rays of the Morning sun would fuse them to your eyes permanently.
Submitted by Neolithicwolf on Wed, 01/16/2013 - 10:48pm.
In general, depending on the campaign setting naturally, I'd think most enchanters with a really powerful abilities could craft something, and then trade it to a king for an army far easier than using it as an assassination device or crafting an assassination device. That's just my opinion of course.
Yeah, but the Necrotic Feedback is a killer. And the Recharging procedure?
-Hand a friggen Major Item to someone you Really, REALLY trust and have him assemble a Warband of Undead Hunters to scour the countryside of the things for a month or so...
Hey, Summoned beings can be rationalized as "Angry Ghosts" or "Risen Corpses" according to the spell description-could it be as simple as a Gladiatorial Pit near a local Charnel House, a Wizard to raise the opposition, and a Week's steady slaughter? It's not like the Summoner can't command his Summoned ghoulies to stand still and be vanquished, right? Nasty business this recharging bit.
Also, your Dragons have really high Resistances-only the fact that the Death Rod targets WILL gives it any chance at all.
You're right though-most of my 'Cursed Items' are actually 'Items with Consequences'. Do you want Amulets that let you stay in Telepathic contact with your cohort, see through their eyes and cast Spells remotely? Well, be prepared to suffer every Status that each one does from the Feedback, and make a Will Resistance or fall into a day-long coma each time one of them dies. Still want them?
And then sometimes the PCs just aren't familiar enough with the Item to use it properly:
Oh, that collar that cripples your Will and Weakens you? I found that in one of those Godless Ravenreach expeditions-I think it was for keeping slaves docile before the sacrifices or something, i'm not sure...sell it? I-I don't want to know why, just take it before my Ethics show up...
Well of COURSE the Summoned Elemental tried to kill you-these things are meant to be used by a Trio of casters, one to Summon, one to Compel and one for emergencies-didn't you read the Cuneiform? Oh, the tablets were broken? Well, there you go...
By the Gods you tried to use the Sacred Knife in combat? It's meant as a Spell Focus, it's for tracing lines and making mystical divisions! I'm not surprised it twisted in your hand and refused to cut deeply-actual bloodletting RUINS Sacred Knives! Tell you what, i'll make you an offer for it anyway, I might be able to re-consecrate it with enough Cleanses and some ritual oils...
Healing Staff my Kilt, that's a Rod of Golem Mending! Well, it DID stop the bleeding at least, and that crystal layer on your skin should slough off in about a week and you should regain full flexibility at that time...what? Seriously, you want to KEEP using it like that? Look, if you want to be a slow, armored freak for weeks at a time rather than buy some Chainmail and a few Healing Potions there isn't much I can do about it-here, i've got a nice Disenchanting Oil to rub in to speed up the recovery, no no, i'll give you the Potential Suicide's Discount...
Aaaand the reason your Soldiers are hallucinating My Lord? This is an ORCISH Battle Brew! Your men are having a severe reaction to it. If you don't want to waste it I suggest you have Cleansing magic at hand unless you like uncontrollable rampaging Berserkers-failing that, just limit use to your Dwarf contingent, it makes them giddy and song-prone but no worse than a few strong Ales...
You say they all came back in pieces, and bits of them were fused into their armor? Mangrillar take you for JUDGMENT you ass, the KEYSTONE is fractured! Your men were sent to several destinations at once, some of which only exist in theories....yes, yes it can be fixed, let me see-NO. No, NEVER EVER will I repair this for ANY amount of money! Why, Read the RUNES, READ THEM! The destination for this Portal was to the Vale of Shadows, yes, that one...I concur, yes-but do you have enough juice in that Lightning Rod to fully collapse the Cavern? Hold on, i've got some compounds that might help, no don't mix them until we're ready...
I heard you the first time Sir-the Circlet won't come off, you keep hearing these whispers in your head and the Giant Bronze Man won't stop chasing you, right? Found it in Kaven's Isle after the rockslide, um-hmmmm...I doubt the things understand Tradespeak, how many languages have you tried? Don't panic Sir, you Teleported here and the Bronze Man is two day's journey even at that tireless pace you mentioned...so have some soup and take a nap while I consult with my peers-Evie, how's your knowledge of the Kaven's Isle hieroglyphics your apprentice found last year? Any idea of pronunciation? Well, i've got someone in direct communication with an Ancient Golem, would that help? Well don't get TOO exited, unless we can find the right codes to deactivate this beastie your precious translator is going to be STEPPED ON in two day's time...yes, a full team? I'll lay out a buffet and plenty of inkwells and parchment...
Really, more Scholars should get into the exiting world of Spell Support-we'd have far fewer 'cursed' items floating around! :P
Submitted by Ten-ten on Mon, 02/04/2013 - 12:57am.
I have an idea for a cursed item for an adventure I want to run when I get BBF. The item is an axe of dwarven manufacture. The item has bonuses to hit and such. But disadvantage to the item is that it causes a shift in personality,ie paranoia, greed, and berserk rages. The dwarves know it as "Kinslayer". More to work out.
Sometime a magic item does not have to be 'cursed' to bring harm to the pc.
Example: Elric's Stormbringer. It was a chaos being bound into the shape of a sword. It was not cursed, but in the end it cost Elric so much, it could be considered cursed.
Back in the 80's Ed Greenwood wrote a series of articles that appeared in the Dragon magazine for the Forgotten Realms. The first was called 'Pages of the Mages'. Basically it was about MU spellbooks and it gave a history of the spellbooks. He later did it with some swords. None of the weapons were cursed, but certainly the notoriety of some of the items lead to the death of their owners as others killed them to posses the weapon.
Imagine if Excalibur could be used by anyone. The Arthrian tales would have been Arthur's fight to keep the sword from rivals as opposed to ruling Britain.
Use these ideas to make a named item that could bring fame, infamy, and/or tragedy to the pc without even being 'cursed' per se.
Spoilers: Stormbringer was definitely cursed. Its ability to drink souls was the curse, and it would drink the soul of ANY nearby when it needed it, thus the reason Moonglum and Elric's own consort, Cymoril, died in its thirst, and it ultimately drank Elric himself. It was even called "the cursed blade." It was formed from the darkest, blackest magic in the multiverse, from the primordial ether itself. The eternal champion was bound to the eternal blade and ultimately brings about the destruction of all worlds. I'd call that cursed.
Spoilers: Stormbringer was definitely cursed. Its ability to drink souls was the curse, and it would drink the soul of ANY nearby when it needed it, thus the reason Moonglum and Elric's own consort, Cymoril, died in its thirst, and it ultimately drank Elric himself. It was even called "the cursed blade." It was formed from the darkest, blackest magic in the multiverse, from the primordial ether itself. The eternal champion was bound to the eternal blade and ultimately brings about the destruction of all worlds. I'd call that cursed.
Not to get into an internet pissing contest with you over a book series I have not read in nearly 20+ years, I will agree with you on your statement. But as Stormbringer was presented in AD&D Dieties & Demigods it was not a cursed item. But a totally bitching sword that every one who played a fighter wanted it and every DM with common sense said "Hell no!' ;-)
Submitted by Neolithicwolf on Tue, 02/05/2013 - 4:16pm.
Can a being really be a cursed object? I mean, it kind of defies normal logical explanation as a "magic item" as we know it. I had a demon trapped in a Staff of the Magi once, and I had to periodically feed it souls to keep its powers running. Did that make it cursed? I'd say not really, more like just... different.
Sometimes things defy good/bad, magic/cursed, up/down or black/white.
Can a being really be a cursed object? I mean, it kind of defies normal logical explanation as a "magic item" as we know it. I had a demon trapped in a Staff of the Magi once, and I had to periodically feed it souls to keep its powers running. Did that make it cursed? I'd say not really, more like just... different.
Sometimes things defy good/bad, magic/cursed, up/down or black/white.
It did not make the staff cursed, but if you fed it the souls of the good, id babies, nuns and such, your pc probably would considered a 'cur-sed' being.
Submitted by Neolithicwolf on Tue, 02/05/2013 - 10:28pm.
Actually, I fed it rapists, slumlords, slavers, that sort of thing. In any stock fantasy world there's generally a plethora of "bad" people to use for that sort of thing.
Whether an item is considered cursed or not, I think depends upon whether the magic item is a detriment to the wielder or not. If it forces them to do something they don't want to do, or does something on its own that the wielder doesn't want done, then yeah, it's cursed, at least in regard to that wielder. There would seem to be circumstances where an object might be cursed to one person and a blessing to another, as it brings detriment to perceived as a detriment to the one is perceived as a boon to the other.
For example, a sword that is meant to fulfill the will of Balderak, the Destroyer, may be useful to a servant of Balderak, but to a servant of Saras, the Benificent, it would prove disasterous. (The names are made up.)
So I guess, in a game where there are no clear alignments, the word "cursed" requires a careful definition.
"So I guess, in a game where there are no clear alignments, the word "cursed" requires a careful definition."
True....or, perhaps a very loose one! A "cursed" item could just be any item that brings woe to the user, without any specific implications of evil or good or anything like that. I don't include in this necklaces that when put on strangle the wearer...these are just traps in my mind.
I prefer the idea of "morally complex" or mixed-bag cursed items, that provide both a positive and a negative, and the player gets choices of whether it's a worthwhile tradeoff: e.g., a weapon with 25% chance on use to do 2D extra damage to the enemy, but the weapon draws 1D damage from the wielder to "recharge" itself upon power activation.
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That's easy. I don't. I don't use cursed items, I don't use drawbacks, I don't use detrimental effects on magic items. I don't believe in it. All it took was one of my good friends getting killed by a necklace of strangulation one time in a D&D game and I decided that was a dumb idea for my mentality. It hurt my feelings to see him so upset over losing a character (for no real reason) that he had poured a lot of effort into. I intend no offense to anyone who DOES use them, I promise. If I ever did use such an item, it'd be a unique item and you'd never come across a second one.
Take some of the 'classic' cursed magic items. I can see very little use or value in most of them. Girdle of Fem/Masc. Why would a wizard hole up for a month to make that? So he could marry his daughter to his neighbor's daughter? So he could sex the captain of his guard? Makes no sense to me. Spear, Cursed backbiter (really any cursed magic weapon), they're a pain for a little while, they will do some damage, but likely will only REALLY piss off a high level fighter who's then going to hunt you down after his cleric buddy removes it. I figure most cursed items are the realm of semi-sadistic GM's, especially the kill on contact variety.
I don't use cursed objects as found in DND.
I will very occasiounally introduce an object with an odd quirk esp. if it fits the story.
I also wont be using drawbacks unless that also fits the current story.
The only cursed items I think should be used are of the epic variety: those with a story and add flavor to the campaign, or at least the adventure.
I think that an Item with a powerful Curse was made deliberately as either a magical Trap or an Assassination tool.
If an item doesn't fall into the categories above, I prefer to create an item type I label the 'Useful yet Flawed' item-something highly useful but with drawbacks.An example from The Chronicles of Prydain would be the Harp given to the minstrel Fflewder Fflamm-it played flawless melodies on its silver strings with never a sharp or flat note, and never went out of tune, BUT a string would snap every time our hapless wannabe Bard told an untruth.Some examples i've used in fanasy RPGs in the past include:
-An enchanted Mirror that allowed you to spy on any location-but if the target was clever or paranoid enough to suspect such magic he or she could concentrate upon any reflective surface and spy right back unless you were quick with a blanket(or wore a disguise).
-A weapon which could become a Flaming weapon on demand-but would burn you in turn without either a set of heavy, arm-length gauntlets, or the fine kid gloves keyed to the weapon by the same enchantment.
-A ring of invisibility which left you invisible save for one part-your shadow, your eyes, etc. Also, one which worked perfectly but only as long as you could hold your breath.
-An enchanted flying carpet, broom or other which possessed an animal intellect and had to be Tamed and given commands as a living beast in order to perform properly.
-A teleportation device that cannot process non-living things, leaving clothing, armor, weapons etc behind.
-An amulet or ring which gave enhanced vision and limited Divination abilities-but if used continuously will result in blinding headaches, and if used for a full day or more causes 'blind seer' syndrome for the next day.
-A magic shield which attracts missles to the wielder but gives extra Protective abilities or other benefits-good items for bodyguards!
-A Viking Axe that is a Bloodthirster-one additional die of damage in combat, but the user must make a WILL Resistance Check to stop fighting or spare an opponent. This weapon is rather unsuitable for sparring or mock-combat of course.
-An armlet or garter which doubled your Healing rate but doubled your need for food and drink as long as you wore it.
-A set of thin crystal lenses which fit over the eye and granted perfect Darkvision but caused sensitivity to full daylight-if worn from sunset to dawn the first rays of the Morning sun would fuse them to your eyes permanently.
etc..
In general, depending on the campaign setting naturally, I'd think most enchanters with a really powerful abilities could craft something, and then trade it to a king for an army far easier than using it as an assassination device or crafting an assassination device. That's just my opinion of course.
order99, pretty cool list, not all curses.
Anyone use the death rod in their games? Might kill a dragon, eh?
Yeah, but the Necrotic Feedback is a killer. And the Recharging procedure?
-Hand a friggen Major Item to someone you Really, REALLY trust and have him assemble a Warband of Undead Hunters to scour the countryside of the things for a month or so...
Hey, Summoned beings can be rationalized as "Angry Ghosts" or "Risen Corpses" according to the spell description-could it be as simple as a Gladiatorial Pit near a local Charnel House, a Wizard to raise the opposition, and a Week's steady slaughter? It's not like the Summoner can't command his Summoned ghoulies to stand still and be vanquished, right? Nasty business this recharging bit.
Also, your Dragons have really high Resistances-only the fact that the Death Rod targets WILL gives it any chance at all.
You're right though-most of my 'Cursed Items' are actually 'Items with Consequences'. Do you want Amulets that let you stay in Telepathic contact with your cohort, see through their eyes and cast Spells remotely? Well, be prepared to suffer every Status that each one does from the Feedback, and make a Will Resistance or fall into a day-long coma each time one of them dies. Still want them?
And then sometimes the PCs just aren't familiar enough with the Item to use it properly:
Oh, that collar that cripples your Will and Weakens you? I found that in one of those Godless Ravenreach expeditions-I think it was for keeping slaves docile before the sacrifices or something, i'm not sure...sell it? I-I don't want to know why, just take it before my Ethics show up...
Well of COURSE the Summoned Elemental tried to kill you-these things are meant to be used by a Trio of casters, one to Summon, one to Compel and one for emergencies-didn't you read the Cuneiform? Oh, the tablets were broken? Well, there you go...
By the Gods you tried to use the Sacred Knife in combat? It's meant as a Spell Focus, it's for tracing lines and making mystical divisions! I'm not surprised it twisted in your hand and refused to cut deeply-actual bloodletting RUINS Sacred Knives! Tell you what, i'll make you an offer for it anyway, I might be able to re-consecrate it with enough Cleanses and some ritual oils...
Healing Staff my Kilt, that's a Rod of Golem Mending! Well, it DID stop the bleeding at least, and that crystal layer on your skin should slough off in about a week and you should regain full flexibility at that time...what? Seriously, you want to KEEP using it like that? Look, if you want to be a slow, armored freak for weeks at a time rather than buy some Chainmail and a few Healing Potions there isn't much I can do about it-here, i've got a nice Disenchanting Oil to rub in to speed up the recovery, no no, i'll give you the Potential Suicide's Discount...
Aaaand the reason your Soldiers are hallucinating My Lord? This is an ORCISH Battle Brew! Your men are having a severe reaction to it. If you don't want to waste it I suggest you have Cleansing magic at hand unless you like uncontrollable rampaging Berserkers-failing that, just limit use to your Dwarf contingent, it makes them giddy and song-prone but no worse than a few strong Ales...
You say they all came back in pieces, and bits of them were fused into their armor? Mangrillar take you for JUDGMENT you ass, the KEYSTONE is fractured! Your men were sent to several destinations at once, some of which only exist in theories....yes, yes it can be fixed, let me see-NO. No, NEVER EVER will I repair this for ANY amount of money! Why, Read the RUNES, READ THEM! The destination for this Portal was to the Vale of Shadows, yes, that one...I concur, yes-but do you have enough juice in that Lightning Rod to fully collapse the Cavern? Hold on, i've got some compounds that might help, no don't mix them until we're ready...
I heard you the first time Sir-the Circlet won't come off, you keep hearing these whispers in your head and the Giant Bronze Man won't stop chasing you, right? Found it in Kaven's Isle after the rockslide, um-hmmmm...I doubt the things understand Tradespeak, how many languages have you tried? Don't panic Sir, you Teleported here and the Bronze Man is two day's journey even at that tireless pace you mentioned...so have some soup and take a nap while I consult with my peers-Evie, how's your knowledge of the Kaven's Isle hieroglyphics your apprentice found last year? Any idea of pronunciation? Well, i've got someone in direct communication with an Ancient Golem, would that help? Well don't get TOO exited, unless we can find the right codes to deactivate this beastie your precious translator is going to be STEPPED ON in two day's time...yes, a full team? I'll lay out a buffet and plenty of inkwells and parchment...
Really, more Scholars should get into the exiting world of Spell Support-we'd have far fewer 'cursed' items floating around! :P
I have an idea for a cursed item for an adventure I want to run when I get BBF. The item is an axe of dwarven manufacture. The item has bonuses to hit and such. But disadvantage to the item is that it causes a shift in personality,ie paranoia, greed, and berserk rages. The dwarves know it as "Kinslayer". More to work out.
Sounds interesting. :)
Sometime a magic item does not have to be 'cursed' to bring harm to the pc.
Example: Elric's Stormbringer. It was a chaos being bound into the shape of a sword. It was not cursed, but in the end it cost Elric so much, it could be considered cursed.
Back in the 80's Ed Greenwood wrote a series of articles that appeared in the Dragon magazine for the Forgotten Realms. The first was called 'Pages of the Mages'. Basically it was about MU spellbooks and it gave a history of the spellbooks. He later did it with some swords. None of the weapons were cursed, but certainly the notoriety of some of the items lead to the death of their owners as others killed them to posses the weapon.
Imagine if Excalibur could be used by anyone. The Arthrian tales would have been Arthur's fight to keep the sword from rivals as opposed to ruling Britain.
Use these ideas to make a named item that could bring fame, infamy, and/or tragedy to the pc without even being 'cursed' per se.
Spoilers: Stormbringer was definitely cursed. Its ability to drink souls was the curse, and it would drink the soul of ANY nearby when it needed it, thus the reason Moonglum and Elric's own consort, Cymoril, died in its thirst, and it ultimately drank Elric himself. It was even called "the cursed blade." It was formed from the darkest, blackest magic in the multiverse, from the primordial ether itself. The eternal champion was bound to the eternal blade and ultimately brings about the destruction of all worlds. I'd call that cursed.
Not to get into an internet pissing contest with you over a book series I have not read in nearly 20+ years, I will agree with you on your statement. But as Stormbringer was presented in AD&D Dieties & Demigods it was not a cursed item. But a totally bitching sword that every one who played a fighter wanted it and every DM with common sense said "Hell no!' ;-)
Can a being really be a cursed object? I mean, it kind of defies normal logical explanation as a "magic item" as we know it. I had a demon trapped in a Staff of the Magi once, and I had to periodically feed it souls to keep its powers running. Did that make it cursed? I'd say not really, more like just... different.
Sometimes things defy good/bad, magic/cursed, up/down or black/white.
Sometimes things defy good/bad, magic/cursed, up/down or black/white.
It did not make the staff cursed, but if you fed it the souls of the good, id babies, nuns and such, your pc probably would considered a 'cur-sed' being.
Actually, I fed it rapists, slumlords, slavers, that sort of thing. In any stock fantasy world there's generally a plethora of "bad" people to use for that sort of thing.
Whether an item is considered cursed or not, I think depends upon whether the magic item is a detriment to the wielder or not. If it forces them to do something they don't want to do, or does something on its own that the wielder doesn't want done, then yeah, it's cursed, at least in regard to that wielder. There would seem to be circumstances where an object might be cursed to one person and a blessing to another, as it brings detriment to perceived as a detriment to the one is perceived as a boon to the other.
For example, a sword that is meant to fulfill the will of Balderak, the Destroyer, may be useful to a servant of Balderak, but to a servant of Saras, the Benificent, it would prove disasterous. (The names are made up.)
So I guess, in a game where there are no clear alignments, the word "cursed" requires a careful definition.
The folks of Hallthrone consider barbaric swords cursed after taking a recent shipment and slaughtering their entire sheep heard.
No one knows what angered them...
Cursed is in the eye of the beholder.
True....or, perhaps a very loose one! A "cursed" item could just be any item that brings woe to the user, without any specific implications of evil or good or anything like that. I don't include in this necklaces that when put on strangle the wearer...these are just traps in my mind.
I prefer the idea of "morally complex" or mixed-bag cursed items, that provide both a positive and a negative, and the player gets choices of whether it's a worthwhile tradeoff: e.g., a weapon with 25% chance on use to do 2D extra damage to the enemy, but the weapon draws 1D damage from the wielder to "recharge" itself upon power activation.
"PHENOMINAL COSMIC POWER!!! (itty bitty living space!!)"
No, Anti-Magic Ray is in the eye of the Beholder....
No, Anti-Magic Ray is in the eye of the Beholder....
Padaboom! Try the Veal!
Thank You! I'll be here all week!