From: mehawk@agora.rain.com (Michael Sandy)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: AD&D magic items
Date: 22 Dec 92 09:22:19 GMT
Article-I.D.: agora.BznM18.Jw8
Organization: Open Communications Forum


In a recent game where a bunch of low levels took out a 7th level
mage, the question came up:  "Why were his spellbooks on him when
he was on a smash and grab mission (via teleport gate)?"

It is very hard for a Magician to leave powerful magic items
behind.  If he leaves magical protections on them,
Detect Magic, Traps, and brute force will deal with magical
guardians.  If he has another magician guard his stuff that
magician might steal it and/or kill him for it.  The magician
we were fighting had taken just that quick route to power.

Thus, many magicians protect themselves with trusted mundanes
or fear inspired fireball fodder.

Low level magicians who somehow acquire powerful magic items
may find them easily removed.

So, I thought, how about a powerful Magic Item that has
_non-detect_ Permanntly cast on it?

How about an item that no identify, detect magic/evil, augury
will reveal anything about?  "Oh great Boccob,, is this sword
a beneficial instrument in your favor?"  "_What_ sword?  I don't see any
sword.".

I imagine the PC's stumbling upon the sword in an ancient crypt,
treasure chests on one side of the room, and set as a centerpiece
an ordinary broad sword of ancient design.

What powers could such a sword have?  If it has intelligence,
it must also have Mind Blank to conceal it.

How about, +1 to hit, +1 to damage, _but_ no purely magical
protection works at all against it.  The defensive magic
just can't lock in...

So, Bracer of defense become pretty bracelets, Stoneskins melt
away, Shield spells and Defender swords fail to help...

Blink, mirror image, cloaks of displacement are still useful,
especially in combination.

Magical armor would only provide half the bonus it normally does.

Note, that last is virtually an artifact level power, and the sword
is the Assassins friend and Mage's nightmare.  If the PC's, after
discovering the sword's powers, reveal it excessively, they
will soon find themselves hunted by powerful beings who seek to
preent others from seizing the sword too.

It is also a magic item that might be discovered at low level
without _greatly_ unbalancing things.


Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: 
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Distribution: AD&D magic items
Organization: Open Communications Forum
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In a recent game where a bunch of low levels took out a 7th level
mage, the question came up:  "Why were his spellbooks on him when
he was on a smash and grab mission (via teleport gate)?"

It is very hard for a Magician to leave powerful magic items
behind.  If he leaves magical protections on them,
Detect Magic, Traps, and brute force will deal with magical
guardians.  If he has another magician guard his stuff that
magician might steal it and/or kill him for it.  The magician
we were fighting had taken just that quick route to power.

Thus, many magicians protect themselves with trusted mundanes
or fear inspired fireball fodder.

Low level magicians who somehow acquire powerful magic items
may find them easily removed.

So, I thought, how about a powerful Magic Item that has
_non-detect_ Permanntly cast on it?

How about an item that no identify, detect magic/evil, augury
will reveal anything about?  "Oh great Boccob,, is this sword
a beneficial instrument in your favor?"  "_What_ sword?  I don't see any
sword.".

I imagine the PC's stumbling upon the sword in an ancient crypt,
treasure chests on one side of the room, and set as a centerpiece
an ordinary broad sword of ancient design.

What powers could such a sword have?  If it has intelligence,
it must also have Mind Blank to conceal it.

How about, +1 to hit, +1 to damage, _but_ no purely magical
protection works at all against it.  The defensive magic
just can't lock in...

So, Bracer of defense become pretty bracelets, Stoneskins melt
away, Shield spells and Defender swords fail to help...

Blink, mirror image, cloaks of displacement are still useful,
especially in combination.

Magical armor would only provide half the bonus it normally does.

Note, that last is virtually an artifact level power, and the sword
is the Assassins friend and Mage's nightmare.  If the PC's, after
discovering the sword's powers, reveal it excessively, they
will soon find themselves hunted by powerful beings who seek to
preent others from seizing the sword too.

It is also a magic item that might be discovered at low level
without _greatly_ unbalancing things.


-- 
Michael Sandy
mehawk@agora.rain.com
michaels@m2xenix.psg.com
"The above does not reflect the views of any organization."
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd