D&D Artifacts

The first and second editions of Dungeons and Dragons' DMG had a class of magic items called artifacts that were phased out beginning in the third edition. These included both a way of randomly generating new artifacts (or new powers for existing artifacts), and a list of examples such as the Hand of Vecna. A list of those artifacts with related information is provided here with some hints on how they would be created in GURPS terms. These are all at least a Minor Object of Power or Mana Enhancer 2. For magic items that are canonal to GURPS see the Magic Items Catalog.
==Warning ==
The powers and effects were, for the most part, kept in line with the examples in the DMG1. Yes, in terms of points they were all over the place and some, even by D&D1 standards, were insanely powerful. This is likely one reason why these artifacts disappeared in later editions - in terms of game balance they were majority "broken". Also, the 'rule breaking' nature of artifacts contradicted the emphasis on consistency in third and fourth editions. Italicized examples are efforts to add some balance into the lists
Code	Type 	Number	Rough GURPS examples 	Note
I 	Minor Benign Powers 	50 	(+1) to one Attribute [40 baring enhancements]; gain Advantage such as Immunity to Disease [10]; Immunity to Fear [10], Immunity to Gas [10], or Reduced Consumption 3 [6]; ability to cast a Magery 0 to 1 spell at no energy cost up to 7 times a week 	Only six of these are advantages; the rest are spells.
II 	Major Benign Powers 	51 	Gain advantage such as Enhanced Move 1 (ground) [20], DR 2 [10], or Weapon Master [45]; or ability to cast a Magery 2 to 4 spell at no energy cost (excludes Wish spells) up to 7 times a week; 	Only three of these are advantages; the rest are spells
III 	Minor Malevolent Effects	24 	Gain disadvantage like Lifebane [-10], Magic Susceptibility 2 [-6], Increased Consumption 3 [-30] 	Highly variable and had minor things like acne and changes in weight,
IV 	Maior Malevolent Effects	32 	(-1) to one Attribute, gain disadvantage including Berserk (6) [-20], Enemies [-45], Megalomania, Terror (animals), Short Lifespan via rapid aging, Drain most powerful enchanted spell within 20', Wealth must be sacrificed to item to use for one day,	Enemies includes the artifact itself; it is either a prison for a powerful being or is itself a living, sentient being. It can kill its owner or turn them into an artifact
V 	Prime Powers 	36 	(+2) to all Attributes; raise all Attributes to 18; Immunity to Metabolic Hazards, Cold, or Mental powers; Power with Cosmic enhancement 	Only seven of these are advantages; the rest are spells
VI 	Side Effects 	18 	can be as mild as change in skin color (something like day glow orange) to consuming the value of items to sustain its power 	This had the widest range going from effectively making Appearance drop to ugly or below to damaging all beings friendly to the owner when the Prime Power was used.
==D&D1 Artifact Table==
Item 	Method/Notes 	I 	II 	III 	IV 	V 	VI
Axe of the Dwarvish Lords 	Creation by Deed, Enchantment Through Age, Enchantment Through Deeds; Dwarf race abilities (double race skills if already a Dwarf); Extended Lifespan 1 [2]; Loyal Sword variant, Penetrating Weapon, Accuracy and Puissance 3	2 	1 	1 	1 	1 	1
Baba Yaga’s Hut 	Creation by Deed; intentional enchantment 	4 	2 	1 	1 	1 	1
Codex of the Infinite Planes 	Possible infernal origin; Enchantment Thought Age; Major Object of Power; Gate, Planar Summons 	4 	4 	2 	2 	2 	2
Regalia of Might (Full Set) 	Divine Origin; Complete set - Major Object of Power with area of Sanctity x6 	6 	4 	3 	1 	1 	1
Crown of Might 	Divine Origin; Major Object of Power 	2 	1 	1 	0 	0 	0
Orb of Might 	Divine Origin; Minor Object of Power 	2 	0 	1 	0 	0 	0
Sceptre of Might 	Divine Origin; Minor Object of Power 	1 	1 	1 	0 	0 	0
Crown of Might + 1 other item of set 	Divine Origin; area of Sanctity increases x2 	+1 	+1 	0 	0 	0 	0
Crystal of the Ebon Flame 	Unknown; always on Charm spell 	4 	2 	1 	1 	1 	1
Cup of AI’Akbar 	Divine Origin; bad effects only apply to those not aligned with relevant deities 	4 	0 	0/1 	0 	0 	0
Talisman of AI’Akbar 	Divine Origin; bad effects only apply to those not aligned with relevant deities 	0 	2 	0 	0/1 	0 	0
Cup and Talisman of AI’Akbar 	Extra powers only gained by Paladins, Clerics, and Druids of allied deities 	4 	2 	0/1 	0/1 	1 	1
Eye of Vecna 	Enchantment by Deed; Infravision and Ultravision advantages; Comic level Hex if inserted into empty eye socket; Low Empathy [-20] Sadism (9) [-22] 	2 	2 	0 	1 	1 	0
Hand of Vecna 	Enchantment by Deed; Comic level Hex if attached to stump of wrist; Low Empathy [-20] and Sadism (9) [-22] 	10 	5 	2 	2 	2 	1
Heward’s Mystical Organ 	Creation by Deed; Enchantment by Age; 77 great and small pipes, a console with many keys of black and white beneath 13 ivory stops, and 3 great foot pedals 	7 	7 	3 	7 	7 	3
Horn of Change 	Enchantment through Age; Sounded 1 time/2 times/3 times 	1/0/0	0/1/0	1/0/0	0/1/0	0/0/1	0/0/1
Invulnerable Coat of Arnd 	Enchantment by Deed; Fortify and Deflect 3; Magic Resistance; Immunity to Acid, Cold, and Electrical attacks 	3 	2 	2 	1 	1 	1
Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless 	Possible infernal origin; Imprisons creature; Control (creature) 	3 	0 	1 	0 	1 	1
Jacinth of Inestimable Beauty 	Divine Origin; always on Charm 	2 	2 	1 	1 	1 	1
Johydee‘s Mask 	Creation by Deed; Enchantment by Deed; Always on Charm; Immunity to Mind Control 	2 	2 	0 	0 	0 	1
Kuroth’s Quill 	Enchantment by Deed; Identify Loot 	2 	0 	1 	1 	0 	1
Mace of Cuthbert 	Enchantment by Deed; Requires ST 18+. Accuracy and Puissance 3, Blessed (Bless +2) 	3 	2 	0 	0 	0 	1
Machine of Lum the Mad 	Creation by Deed; Gadget (60 levers, 40 dials, and 20 switches); 5,500 lbs; 	15 	15 	10 	10 	15 	5
Mighty Servant of Leuk-0 	Golem (9' tall, 6' deep, 4.5' wide) + Enchantment by Age; Always on Terror 	6 	6 	1 	0 	2 	2
Orb of the Dragonkind 	Divine Origin; different orbs per age/size table for Western Dragons; Orb will attempt to cast Mind Control on user 	V 	V 	V 	V 	V 	V
Orb of the Hatchling 	Hatchling/Man-Sized; 2 hex, 150-200 lbs. Orb 3 inches in diameter (SM -7); IQ 9, Will 9 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
Orb of the Wyrrnkin 	Young/Very Small; 3-5 hex, 500-800 lbs. Orb 4 inches in diameter (SM -6); IQ 10, Will 10 	2 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
Orb of the Dragonette 	Adolescent/Small; 4-8 hex. 800-1,500 lbs. Orb 5 inches in diameter (SM -5); IQ 11, Will 11 	3 	1 	1 	0 	0 	0
Orb of the Dragon 	Young Adult/Medium; 8-12 hex, 1,000-2,000 lbs. Orb 6 inches in diameter (SM -5); IQ 12, Will 12 	4 	1 	1 	0 	0 	0
Orb of the Great Serpent 	Adult/Large; 10-14 hex, 1,500-2,500 lbs. Orb 7 inches in diameter (SM -4); IQ 13, Will 13 	3 	2 	1 	1 	0 	0
Orb of the Firedrake 	Old Adult/Very Large; 13-16 hex, 2,500-3,000 lbs. Orb 8 inches in diameter (SM -4); IQ 14, Will 14 	3 	3 	2 	1 	0 	0
Orb of the Elder Wyrm: 	No equivalent (Very old); Orb 9 inches in diameter (SM -4); IQ 16, Will 16 	4 	3 	2 	1 	1 	1
Orb of the Eternal Grand Dragon 	Monstrous; 15+ hex, 3,000+ lbs.; Orb 10 inches in diameter (SM -4); IQ 18, Will 18 	4 	3 	2 	1 	2 	1
Queen Ehlissa’s Marvelous Nightingale	Divine Origin; Always on Scryguard-25 does not decrease if penetrated 	4 	2 	1 	1 	1 	1
Recorder of Ye’Cind 	Enchantment by Age; Knowledge College!; Sound College; Link 	5 	2 	1 	1 	1 	1
Ring of Gaxx 	Creation by Deed; Enchantment by Age; nine faced gems 	3 	2 	1 	1 	1 	1
Rod of Seven Parts 	Creation by Deed; Enchantment by Age; complete Rod 	3 	2 	5 	1 	2 	2
Parts 1-2 	Creation by Deed; Enchantment by Age 	0 	0 	3 	0 	0 	0
Parts 2-3 	Creation by Deed; Enchantment by Age 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
Parts 3-4 	Creation by Deed; Enchantment by Age 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
Parts 4-5 	Creation by Deed; Enchantment by Age 	0 	0 	0 	1 	0 	0
Parts 5-6 	Creation by Deed; Enchantment by Age 	0 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
Parts 6-7 	Creation by Deed; Enchantment by Age 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	1
Sword of Kas 	Enchantment By Deed; 2x to beings of other plane; Parry technique +6; IQ 15; Will 19 	5 	2 	1 	2 	2 	1
Teeth of Dahlver-Nor 	Divine Origin; Enchantment By Deed; 32 teeth; each tooth has one of I, II, III, IV, V, or VI; total is of the base set, ignoring set bonuses below 	21 	4 	4 	1 	0 	2
Set 1-8; 9-16; 17-24; 25-32 	Each of these sets add only one pair combination of I, II, III, IV, V, and VI 	0 	+4 	+2 	+1 	0 	+1
Set 1-16; 17-32; 1-32 	Each set only adds one Prime Power 	0 	0 	0 	0 	+3 	0
Throne of the Gods 	Divine Origin; grants one magic item that also has baneful effect 	3 	3 	2 	2 	2 	2
Wand of Orcus 	Infernal Origin; 	4 	2 	2 	1 	0 	1
Category:Magic Items