Suggestions wanted for Empowered Mundane Items

rpd · 09-25-2020, 06:32 PM

Had an idea for a game that was inspired by re-watching The Lost Room recently. The backstory is a little complicated. If you don't want to read it skip below to the word here in all caps. But in a nutshell the characters are all in college together and all favourites of a certain Professor, who was well known to be somewhat eccentric. He dies unexpectedly to their surprise in his will they are all left one or two of his possessions, none of them very valuable. Soon people come looking for those possession. Burglary attempts are made, it turns violent, etc. So what's going on?

Their professor was the descendant of a noble family which came from another dimension. One member of that family would assume the mantle of protector and become their champion, receiving great powers when they did so. Years ago that family fled to our world after one of their own betrayed them and their enemies invaded their stronghold. That was a hundred years ago in our world, in theirs more like a thousand. Time flows differently in the two worlds. The enemy was eventually driven back, but by then the relic that gave their champion power was lost. Every since then their world has been locked in a bitter war.

About ten years ago by our reckoning the relic was found and activated. They expected that it would find a suitable, noble champion from whatever was left of their protectors somewhere out there in the multiverse and bring them back. It did, but he was not what they expected. The relic was made to deal with a knight. It would give him/her power and also empower their weapons, armour and steed. As the knights power frew over time so would the power of his equipment. In Gurps terms they would become named possessions. However the only remaining descendant was a young academic from our world who was unaware of his family's heritage. He was driving home from a conference at the time, so instead of a noble steed and weapons he had a car and luggage. So the Relic improvised and empowered those. In the years since then he became the most powerful hero in his families world, turning the tide of the war that ended up spilling over into our world as well. And as his power grew, so did the power of those possessions. Which is why the bad guys are looking for them now.

HERE

Ok, sorry that was big nutshell. But anyway what we have here are a selection of everyday items that became Named Possessions. All were magically empowered at the time this happened and have grown in power considerably since then. But they weren't just turned into weapons. Their abilities reflected their basic functions. There are 8 of them. I have three selected, as below.

A car.

It started out as your average mid-range sedan. Now it's semi-sentient and about as as smart as a really smart animal, amphibious, has battle armour, advanced sensors, etc.

A Smartphone

This is sentient with high human-like intelligence. It can hack into other computers, translate new languages, and a whole range of other functions. Every app on the phone evolved into a spell of some kind.

A First Aid Kit.
This now basically an Autodoc.

I'm looking for suggestions for the other five, and suggestions as to what their abilities would be. Anyone got any ideas?

DangerousThing · 09-25-2020, 06:44 PM

The car key can now open and start any car, even one that uses an electronic key.

The car's radio can now listen to music from across the dimensions.

I can't think of anything else right now, but I got the idea for the radio from an issue of Planetary. One of the three main characters was an annoying young man called "The Drummer" whose power involved information. He didn't like somebody, so he modified their TV to show alien porn, all the time.

I remember the miniseries "The Lost Room" and loved it. I liked the watch chain that under specific circumstances would perfectly cook an egg. How they figured that out, I have no idea.

rpd · 09-25-2020, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DangerousThing

The car's radio can now listen to music from across the dimensions.

I can't think of anything else right now, but I got the idea for the radio from an issue of Planetary. One of the three main characters was an annoying young man called "The Drummer" whose power involved information. He didn't like somebody, so he modified their TV to show alien porn, all the time.

Yeah, I loved Planetary. The Drummer is one of my favourite characters.

Like the idea of the Radio. Reminds me of something Marvel did once in one of it's anthology comics. Each story was presented by someone who I think was an alternate version of the Watcher. He was able to access the Internet of other Dimensions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DangerousThing

I remember the miniseries "The Lost Room" and loved it. I liked the watch chain that under specific circumstances would perfectly cook an egg. How they figured that out, I have no idea.

Yeah, I remember thinking that too at the time :>.

Donny Brook · 09-26-2020, 12:41 PM

Footwear that emulates the benefits of climbing shoes (HT) and grip boots (UT), gives the Sure-footed perk for all terrain types, and +1 resistance against cold.

A scarf that acts similar to Dr. Strange's cloak.

Imbicatus · 09-26-2020, 03:04 PM

A Swiss Army knife or leatherman tool that functions as a complete toolkit for any skill that requires tools, lockpicks, and as a fully functional combat knife.

sgtcallistan · 09-26-2020, 03:39 PM

A pencil that can re-write anything ever written (or drawn) with it, on command, by writing the first word of a large selection of ancient writings (or getting a line 'just so' revealing anything from doodles to cave art).

If the knowledge of the 'record's existence is lost, the 'record' cannot be accessed, except by luck and guesswork from people with knowledge of ancient languages and scripts.

It has changed over the years from being a piece of charcoal, to a piece of chalk, a stylus of bone, a draftsman's pencil, etc.

It has been lost and recovered many times, and so has much mundane schoolwork in it, but the more ancient (or recent) stuff could be priceless or worth fighting over.

09-25-2020, 06:32 PM	#1
rpd Join Date: Feb 2020	Suggestions wanted for Empowered Mundane Items Had an idea for a game that was inspired by re-watching The Lost Room recently. The backstory is a little complicated. If you don't want to read it skip below to the word here in all caps. But in a nutshell the characters are all in college together and all favourites of a certain Professor, who was well known to be somewhat eccentric. He dies unexpectedly to their surprise in his will they are all left one or two of his possessions, none of them very valuable. Soon people come looking for those possession. Burglary attempts are made, it turns violent, etc. So what's going on? Their professor was the descendant of a noble family which came from another dimension. One member of that family would assume the mantle of protector and become their champion, receiving great powers when they did so. Years ago that family fled to our world after one of their own betrayed them and their enemies invaded their stronghold. That was a hundred years ago in our world, in theirs more like a thousand. Time flows differently in the two worlds. The enemy was eventually driven back, but by then the relic that gave their champion power was lost. Every since then their world has been locked in a bitter war. About ten years ago by our reckoning the relic was found and activated. They expected that it would find a suitable, noble champion from whatever was left of their protectors somewhere out there in the multiverse and bring them back. It did, but he was not what they expected. The relic was made to deal with a knight. It would give him/her power and also empower their weapons, armour and steed. As the knights power frew over time so would the power of his equipment. In Gurps terms they would become named possessions. However the only remaining descendant was a young academic from our world who was unaware of his family's heritage. He was driving home from a conference at the time, so instead of a noble steed and weapons he had a car and luggage. So the Relic improvised and empowered those. In the years since then he became the most powerful hero in his families world, turning the tide of the war that ended up spilling over into our world as well. And as his power grew, so did the power of those possessions. Which is why the bad guys are looking for them now. HERE Ok, sorry that was big nutshell. But anyway what we have here are a selection of everyday items that became Named Possessions. All were magically empowered at the time this happened and have grown in power considerably since then. But they weren't just turned into weapons. Their abilities reflected their basic functions. There are 8 of them. I have three selected, as below. A car. It started out as your average mid-range sedan. Now it's semi-sentient and about as as smart as a really smart animal, amphibious, has battle armour, advanced sensors, etc. A Smartphone This is sentient with high human-like intelligence. It can hack into other computers, translate new languages, and a whole range of other functions. Every app on the phone evolved into a spell of some kind. A First Aid Kit. This now basically an Autodoc. I'm looking for suggestions for the other five, and suggestions as to what their abilities would be. Anyone got any ideas?

09-25-2020, 06:44 PM	#2
DangerousThing Join Date: Mar 2013	Re: Suggestions wanted for Empowered Mundane Items The car key can now open and start any car, even one that uses an electronic key. The car's radio can now listen to music from across the dimensions. I can't think of anything else right now, but I got the idea for the radio from an issue of Planetary. One of the three main characters was an annoying young man called "The Drummer" whose power involved information. He didn't like somebody, so he modified their TV to show alien porn, all the time. I remember the miniseries "The Lost Room" and loved it. I liked the watch chain that under specific circumstances would perfectly cook an egg. How they figured that out, I have no idea. __________________ A little learning is a dangerous thing. Warning: Invertebrate Punnster - Spinelessly Unable to Resist a Pun Dangerous Thoughts, my blog about GURPS and life.

09-26-2020, 12:41 PM	#4
Donny Brook Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Snoopy's basement	Re: Suggestions wanted for Empowered Mundane Items Footwear that emulates the benefits of climbing shoes (HT) and grip boots (UT), gives the Sure-footed perk for all terrain types, and +1 resistance against cold. A scarf that acts similar to Dr. Strange's cloak.

09-26-2020, 03:04 PM	#5
Imbicatus Join Date: Sep 2016	Re: Suggestions wanted for Empowered Mundane Items A Swiss Army knife or leatherman tool that functions as a complete toolkit for any skill that requires tools, lockpicks, and as a fully functional combat knife.

09-26-2020, 03:39 PM	#6
sgtcallistan Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chatham, Kent, England	Re: Suggestions wanted for Empowered Mundane Items A pencil that can re-write anything ever written (or drawn) with it, on command, by writing the first word of a large selection of ancient writings (or getting a line 'just so' revealing anything from doodles to cave art). If the knowledge of the 'record's existence is lost, the 'record' cannot be accessed, except by luck and guesswork from people with knowledge of ancient languages and scripts. It has changed over the years from being a piece of charcoal, to a piece of chalk, a stylus of bone, a draftsman's pencil, etc. It has been lost and recovered many times, and so has much mundane schoolwork in it, but the more ancient (or recent) stuff could be priceless or worth fighting over.