brian@jett.UUCP (06/21/84)
Have you ever noticed that all of the most interesting
magic items are so super powerful that you can't have them
around until the players are a ridiculously high level? Since
I rarely dm games where players have a chance to get that high,
I have "toned down" a few magic items so that I can give them
to 4th and 5th level characters. Here are some examples:
Minor Ring of Regeneration -- heals 1 hp every third turn, and
will never bring you back from the dead.
Ring of Mysterious Wishes -- you may make a wish, but it will
come true in a very devious way.
My favorite is the Minor Deck of Many Things. I made this
using the Major Arcana from a real Tarot Deck, doing some research
to make the effects correspond at least somewhat to the original
meanings of the cards:
Fool - Must lose 1d4 points of Wisdom OR all but 1 hp
Magician - Gain 1 point in your major attribute
High Priestess - Gain 2 (mandatory) draws from the deck
Empress - Immediately healed to maximum hit point level
Emperor - Gain 1 point of intelligence and two of charisma
Hierophant - If a Lawful character, gain 1 point of Wisdom. If
Chaotic, lose 1. Neutrals have no effect.
Lovers - Gain enough experience to move you to the next higher
level, or have your hit points permanently doubled.
Chariot - the next blow you strike will kill its target.
Strength - Move up 1 level, but lose all gold pieces.
Hermit - Gain a map to a fair-sized treasure.
Wheel of Fortune - Gain 1000 gp
Justice - A Clone of yourself with opposite alignment attacks you
Hanged Man - Change alignment immediately
Death - Immediately roll on the reincarnation table and polymorph
permanently into that creature (retaining all powers
which do not conflict)
Temperance - If multi-classed, gain a level in every class. Otherwise,
draw again.
Devil - Lose a point in major attribute, gain 1000gp
Tower - You are imprisoned somewhere in the dungeon.
Star - Avoid the situation you choose...once.
Moon - Know the answer to any question.
Sun - Gain 10000gp
Judgement - If you are killed by the hand of an enemy, you are
immediately resurrected.
World - Move up 2 levels and gain 2 more draws from the deck.
-- Brian Reynolds, a.k.a.
Mhoram son of Variol, High Lord by the
Choice of the Council.
--
-- Brian Reynolds
{ihnp4|clyde|sdcrdcf}!akgua!jett!brian