[Thaumatology] Magic Item Design Game

[Prince Charon]

I've seen games like this before on this forum, but not in a while, IIRC. Basically, the game is to describe - and maybe stat-out, if you wish - a magic item based on the name the previous poster gave. It could be in the standard system, or an alchemical charm (GURPS Magic p220), or a fetish (GURPS Thaumatology p161), or a Magic-As-Powers gadget, or some other thing (or the description could be fluffy enough to fit multiple magic systems).

So, for example, one person suggests 'Cloak of Untrammeled Dignity,' (which is a Schlock Mercenary reference), and someone replies with "Fetishes of this type contain a Spirit of Dignity. The spirit grants a bonus to any rolls to retain one's dignity, and a penalty to anyone trying to make the wearer look undignified (including against spells/rituals that would), with the strength of the bonus and penalty being based on both the power of the spirit, and in many cases, the spirit's Reaction Roll when you take up the fetish. The worst result is that the spirit gives you no help, but doesn't work against you, and the best possible result depends on the GM. It's not much use in battle beyond helping to resist undignified disadvantages like Cowardice or Combat Paralysis; it's not much use for avoiding death at all, unless the spirit can find no way to make that death dignified (you might drown at sea wearing the Cloak, but you won't fall into an open sewer with it). As many nobles fear looking undignified far more than an early death, Cloaks of this type are expected to remain popular, and a competent summoner is unlikely to go broke making them."


Here's one to start off with:
'Sven Serpent-tongue's Superior Spear'

[Donny Brook]

Sven Serpent-tongue's Superior Spear was siad to be the gift of a demon to King Sven of Geetland to aid his battles against the Tuetalitarian Knights. In fact, it was the powers of the spear as displayed in these battles which gave Sven the moniker by which he is now known.

While appearing to be a normal, well-made, attractively designed spear, it is said to have the following properties:

1. It strikes as if it had two points (see Low-tech Companion 2) even though only one is visible;

2. It is fast: (a) always striking first in combat, and (b) granting the weilder an Extra Attack (Defensive Attack only);

3. It provides perceptual benefits similar to those of a serpent's tongue: (a) Acute Smell/Taste +5, and (b) Weather Sense skill +2 (based on Smell-based PER).

I would probably stat it as a Power gadget with the Magic power modifier.

Now for the next one:
The Mystic Mirror of Multiplex Madness

[Gold & Appel Inc]

Originally Posted by Donny Brook

Now for the next one:
The Mystic Mirror of Multiplex Madness

Gaze upon it at your peril! For within is displayed visions of the alternate timelines spawned by every major decision you ever made.

The viewer must roll vs Dreaming (Will -6 default) - On a regular success, a minor insight into oneself and one's own decision-making processes may be gained. On a critical success, the viewer is filled with a deep sense of well-being about the life choices they have made (whether this is objectively justified or not), gaining +1 to Willpower for all purposes until suffering a major setback of their own making (repeated uses of this mirror excepted, which are in fact at a cumulative -1 for each extra view forever regardless of previous results). A regular failure inflicts an immediate Fright Check, while a critical failure Mentally Stuns the viewer and curses them with Quirk-level Indecisive (permanent until bought off).

Next Up: Clifford's Consummate Coil

[AlexanderHowl]

Clifford's Consummate Coil is an magical items with a number of interesting effects.

1. When worn as a collar, it allows its user to transform into a SM+4 red dog at will for as long as they like.
2. When worn as a belt, it grants its user fertility and virility in their human form.
3. When wielded as a whip, it is capable to transforming anyone who suffers HP/3 damage into a SM-4 red dog until they heal up to 2/3 HP (they retain their mental traits and their HP, though it is massless, while a SM-4 red dog, but their other physical traits are that of a SM-4 red dog).

Next Up: The Mask of Madame Domino

[Gold & Appel Inc]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

Next Up: The Mask of Madame Domino

This simple but effective garment grants its wearer the Masked Perk (Supers, p 30), as well as +3 to Erotic Art for Sub-Dom situations in which they are the Dom only (but -3 to Erotic Art at all other times). It gives no bonus at all to Sex Appeal, so you're on your own making that happen.

Next: The Hammer Pants!

[zoncxs]

Originally Posted by Gold & Appel Inc

Next: The Hammer Pants!

Tailored by request for a dwarf bard. They complement the wearers dance moves when casting bardic magic and also grants a slight bonus to dodge when doing so. At the cost of 5 FP, the wearer may cast "Stop, Hammer Time".

+1 to casting bard spells with a successful dancing skill roll, +2 on a critical success.

may attempt an acrobatic dodge, but use dancing skill instead. bonus is only +1 for a success, no penalty for failure.

Stop, Hammer Time. Freezes everyone in place for 2 seconds, including the caster. After that everyone must make a body sense roll to act normally except for the caster. The caster has +5 to dodge for 4 minutes and 16 seconds. The caster can not cast any other spells during this time period. This can only be casted once a day.

Next Item: Bells Of Lem

[Varyon]

Originally Posted by Gold & Appel Inc

The Hammer Pants!

These pants made of a billowy, light material cause the character's axe kicks (see Martial Arts) to deal damage based on sw rather than thr, similarly to wielding a hammer.

Inexplicably, they also grant the character +3 to most Dodge attempts, and allow the use of Dodge (without the bonus) against attacks that it would normally be unusable against (such as sneak attacks; this is functionally having Cosmic Dodge for all but the added +3).

Next up... hmmm... the Mantle of Machismo.

EDIT: Blargh, ninja'd.

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by zoncxs

Next Item: Bells Of Lem

In 1973, several bells (think like an old style school-teacher's bell) suddenly appeared around Eastern Europe. Each bell was engraved along the handle, the words, "DO NOT RING", in the native language of whoever was holding the bell. Ringing the bell summons some kind of shapeshifting demon, mind-linked with the bellringer, which usually proceeds to harass the bellringer. Most were collected by Soviet Union, but all have gone missing after 1991.

Next Item: The Altar of Defeat

[Varyon]

Originally Posted by TGLS

The Altar of Defeat

A bizarre altar made primarily out of old video game cartridges (dug up from the Atari video game burial, so a strong prevalence of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial) along with seemingly-random other items, placing something connected to your target - a beloved possession, a lock of hair, etc - upon it will cause the target to suffer from the Unluckiness Disadvantage for a set amount of time, depending on how closely linked the item is to the target. At the end of this interval, the item teleports to a location where it will be found by the target relatively soon. If the item is removed prematurely, the person who placed it will suffer from the Unluckiness Disadvantage for however much time remained. If the target dies while the effect is in place, the item is absorbed and incorporated into the altar (hence the random non-cartridge bits).

Assuming I don't get ninja'd this time - next up, the Mantle of Machismo.

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by Varyon

the Mantle of Machismo

This beautiful 62 inch floating mantel in Parota wood is an excellent choice to bring a room together. It also bares a sort of curse. Being in close proximity to the mantel afflicts Mixes up 'el' and 'le' while spelling and Delusional Competence (Carpentry). After installation, the person with the highest "claim" to the mantel (based on some mix of home ownership, possessions on the mantle, age, etc.) slowly gains the following meta-trait (i.e. 2 points of advantages and -1 point of disadvantage a day):

Macho [47]
Advantages [97]
Appearance (Handsome) [12]
Charisma (3) [15]
Daredevil (2) [30]
HT +1 [10]
High Pain Threshold [10]
Single-Minded [5]
Unfazeable [15]

Disadvantages [-50]
Code of Honor (Pirate's) [-5]
Intolerance (Femininity) (One group) [-5]
Jealousy [-10]
Lecherousness (12 or less) [-15]
Overconfidence (12 or less) [-5]
Selfish (12 or less) [-5]
Workaholic [-5]

Next: The Box of Delivery