Cayden's Cup

[Andrew Marlowe]

Cayden’s Cup
Aura faint transmutation and enchantment; CL 1st
Slot --; Price 2,000 gp; Weight 1 lb.
Description
Many of these lidded pewter tankards are gilded in silver and bear the engravings of heroes locked in legendary conflicts, while others are less elaborate featuring only silver scrollwork. Cayden’s cups regardless of ornamentation are suitable as holy symbols for the clerics of Cayden Cailean, and other mead hall gods, but many non-clerics desire one of these treasures as well.

When alcohol, regardless of quality, is poured into and consumed from one of these tankards the draught is fresh and ideally served: crisp and cold or warm and hearty, even a wine that has soured to vinegar becomes drinkable with a Cayden’s cup. Sometimes a beverage even tastes as though spiced such as with a mulled wine or a hard cider. The cup has no effect on food or non alcoholic beverages.

The tankards are resistant to spillage. The lid creates a tight seal and unless a tankard is deliberately opened the lid will remain closed no matter how forcibly jostled. Because of this feature and their sturdy construction Cayden’s cups have on occasion been employed as impromptu bludgeons in barroom brawls. If employed as an improvised weapon a Cayden’s cup has the same statistics as a light mace.

Finally, three times a day as a standard action the bearer of a Cayden’s cup may take a deep draught emptying the tankard to fortify his courage and gain a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls, skill checks and saves vs. fear effects for the next 5 rounds.

Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, bless, purify food and drink; Cost 1,000 gp

[Clark Peterson]

You know, I think I remember this submission. Maybe I am wrong. I searched the name in the messageboards (public) and didn't find anything. Not sure how to search the judges chambers.

Vic, Gary, is there a way to see if this was ever entered before or if it was ever on one of our "critique my item" threads?

Clark

[Clark Peterson]

Isn't this really a light mace that 3/day lets you gain bless? This is just a fancy mace of bless, isn't it? Or is it a wondrous item?

OK lets presume it is a wondrous item.

You could put a potion of healing in the cup which would never spill and then be available when needed. You could also, apparently, drink said healing potion that you put in the cup and not only get healed but also, by slamming it, get the bless effect.

I don't know, its kind of growing on me. But I have questions.

If you guys think it is a wondrous item and not a weapon, then its a weak KEEP from me. And also presuming it wasnt submitted before or improved by public discussion. If so, then we need to discuss further.

Thoughts?

[Neil Spicer]

You're thinking of this item by Matthew Morris in RPGSS 2010. There are some differences, though. Matthew's cup was providing a luck bonus to AC, not serving as a bludgeoning weapon. It could also transmute a substance inside it into a potion of cure light wounds 3 times/day, but you had to drink it in a single round or it would spoil and turn to vinegar. And of course, the biggest similarity is that the tankard wouldn't slosh or spill. His didn't have a lid that prevented that. It was just magical in that sense.

So, yeah, there's some design parallels here. I suspect this is someone who probably didn't do their homework and notice that a similar item had been done before (and made the Top 32). There's a lot to like in this incarnation, though. It's pretty smartly designed. And I don't mind it being used as a weapon. That's certainly not the item's primary purpose. The designer calls it out as an improvised weapon, which most PCs will take penalties with unless they've got the Catch Off-Guard feat. I also like the flavor of the item. You could easily see a follower of Cayden Cailean rescuing every old cask of soured wine as additional treasure for himself, because this cup can convert it into drinkable, enjoyable spirits one mug at a time.

Yes, the other effect of the item with its bless mechanics is a little more pedestrian/expected. But it, too, supports the theme of the item. Unlike the spell, it's only lasting you for 5 rounds rather than minutes like a normal bless would do. So, again, they've smartly avoided a straight SIAC. I, too, like the possibilities of storing a potion in this cup so it's both protected and maybe a bit more accessible in a fight, since you could easily keep this thing in your off-hand and not have to spend an action retrieving it from your pack or belt to quaff a potion. That's kind of innovative, too.

Lastly, the attention to detail on using the provided template and the organization in presenting the information associated with this item is top-notch. This seems like a designer that "gets it" and though the item might be retreading the earlier tankard devoted to Cayden Cailean, it's breaking enough new ground that I'm inclined to...

...Keep.

[Ryan Dancey]

I have a strong bias against items that involve liquor or beer. We've seen so many of them in previous years and for the most part they live down to the worst expectations of being banal and childish. So every time I open an item that's obviously alcohol-related, I'm already itching to punch the reject button.

But this item may be the exception that proves the rule. The designer did a great job of making something useful and something that I could see players having a great amount of fun with (in a way that doesn't derail the entire game into some silly anachronistic immersion breaking boozy dead end).

Beware future contestants, this item sets the bar high for your tankards, bottles, flasks, kegs, etc.

I recommend that you vote for this designer.

[Clark Peterson]

Thanks for the help on that one, guys. I guess its good to know I am not going crazy. Thanks for the link, Neil. It is a lot like Matt's entry. I agree with you it is likely just the author not doing his homework, because that basically says "I didn't read the prior top 32 items from prior years." So that worries me a little. But I like this item. I also agree its status as an improvised weapon is a good enough limitation that this is not a mace disguised as a wondrous item. It also has good flavor and theme.

So KEEP from me.

[Sean K Reynolds]

The item is fine, good flavor, solid mechanics

But the "designer didn't do his homework" problem concerns me.

Part of doing this sort of work is knowing what's been done before and not designing something similar to that.

I'll categorize myself as a weak reject, only because this sort of mistake leads to many annoyed posts on the message boards.

[Jerall Toi]

Welcome to the Top 32!

Each year, Superstar entrants are not only competing against the other, current entrants, but also against every entrant that has come before. This is why each year seems to get better and better, but it also means that entrants need to spend a little more time researching what came before. Thankfully, your item isn't too similar to the tankard of the cheerful duelist. That said, I'd like to see a character dual-wielding both tankards in a bar brawl.

You've proven that you can design a clever item that rewards player creativity (what else can we store in the tankard and how can it help us?). Congratulations and good luck in round 2.

[Sam Zeitlin]

A +1 bonus is pretty generic, and the rest of the item description could have been condensed down to a few sentences. I appreciate that the designer was trying to do some worldbuilding, and that he or she made a low-level utility object, but I just don’t need a magic item entry for a stein that magically keeps my brewski ice cold. I do like the touch of using this as a mace, but that doesn’t sufficiently distract me from the lackluster core here.

Looking at the commentary by the other judges, I see the idea that you could drink a healing potion from the tankard and get the bless effect on top. That’s actually pretty cool, although I’d be interested to hear if that was something you had in mind. Neil mentioned making a potion more accessible in a fight, which is also interesting, but that’s something I would expect to see spelled out in the item description so that the mechanics are clear.

[Sean McGowan]

What I like:
Seeing another Cayden Cailean item in this contest puts a big 'ol smile on my lips. he's a fun god and items devoted to him add fun to the game.
What I love:
your descriptive text is top notch here; it's probably this entries main strength. While I may have some issues with the item's functions, you certainly do a good job of writing those functions up. A mug that gives me my gin & tonic JUST the way I like it may make me go 'eh', but you sell it really well for all that.
What needs a little sumptin' sumptin'...
I really can't get past the fact that the majority of what this item does, and most of what the word count and description was spent on, is 'fluff' effects. It's a nice, extremely flavorful item, don't get me wrong, but it's just a lot of description for something that boils sown to 'bless 3/day'.
Okay, that's not really being fair, it has more crunchy effects than that, but those feel less significant. It functions as a holy symbol; okay, that's not so bad. It smashes like a mace; again, not bad. (Though given the description, I'm not sure if it works as though you're wielding a mace or if you still take the combat penalty for using an improvised weapon and it just does a mace's damage.) But neither of those are gotta have powers; they're the type of thing I'd like to see on top of an already nifty effect. Same with the unspillable, drink chilling effects; they're very nice flavor, but you spend a LOT of time describing them.
All in all...
The weird thing here is that it almost feels designed in reverse; most times you see an item, it goes right into what it's main 'power' is, and then a bunch of 'also...' text gets added that gives additional fun fluff effects. Here the fun fluff takes center stage and the 'useful' power is the very last thing that gets discussed. It feels like this item's priorities are back to front. Sorry, I'm giving more flak here than you probably deserve; looking at the judges comments now, they see some possibilities I'm missing. (Like the potion use that Neil brings up.) So maybe it's me that's thinking backwards here. Regardless, whether or not I'd personally want this cup, your abilities as a writer shine through; like I said, your descriptive text is very good. Congratulations and welcome to RPG Superstar!

[Iain Reid]

Ryan Dancey wrote:

I have a strong bias against items that involve liquor or beer. We've seen so many of them in previous years and for the most part they live down to the worst expectations of being banal and childish. So every time I open an item that's obviously alcohol-related, I'm already itching to punch the reject button.

From reading this, and the comments in the Bottled Time, it seems like certain themes which are common (eg, alcohol, time, smoking) are almost auto-rejects.

I understand that it's not as simple as that, eg time items often duplicate haste and are thus SIAC, and clearly these two items made it into top32, however there didn't seem to be much discussion on all the pre-competition threads that you are effectively taking a -2 circumstance modifier on your submission if you pick a common theme. It's not as if time and beer are not present in the campaign setting - both themes have a god that directly embodies that theme. So I'm a little surprised that the judges take this approach.

Anyway, onto the item. The best thing about this item I think is the flavour text and the writing which is tight and creative - as Sean McG says. Will be fun to read later round submissions from this designer I think.

[Monica Marlowe]

Congratulations Andrew, thank you for making me this awesome cup. Your attention to detail is frustrating, because I could really use help mopping the kitchen floor. Next year, can you write up a mop and broom wondrous item? That would be great! Cheers!

[RonarsCorruption]

Despite most of the item being fluff, this item really rubs me the right way. A few neat little effects, centered around bless.

But! Maybe this is actually a pimped-out holy symbol, and in that light this item is really quite innovative. Holy symbols that have a few added effects (improvised light mace, restoring wine, and then bless to boot) would be a cool theme of items to eventually see.

[Mark Thomas]

I agree with the fact that lloking at this as a holy symbol with a wide variety of thematic benefits it does qualify as a unique woundrous item.

[Andrew Marlowe]

Wow, just wow. I hoped I'd make it to the top 32 but I am truly honored to have been chosen. Thanks to the judges and my wife (the cleric of Cayden Cailean whom this was crafted for.)

[Andrew Marlowe]

To answer a few of the questions: I wanted to make a low level item that a character would likely keep their whole adventuring career hence the emphasis of the fluff powers. Thematically it is kinda intended as a "pimped out holy symbol" but it wasn't limited to just the cleric in the party.

Jerall Toi wrote:

(what else can we store in the tankard and how can it help us?).

What pours? ;D Seriously though, I didn't include rules for potions for much the same reason I didn't include rules for alcohol, we already know what they do and the word count is tight. I'm all in favor of pouring what ever a player wants into the tankard and the extra benefits are spelled out in the +1 morale bonus.

Cheers.

[Thomas LeBlanc]

I see my Dwarven cleric making an ale of cure light wounds.

[Andrew Black]

Awesome Job Andrew!!!

[Kradlum]

Ok, I've read through all the items, and I can say with the extensive knowledge of someone who has only read halfway through the BB Gamemaster's Guide that this is my favourite.
It's a simple item with a simple description that doesn't require me to read it two or three times to work it out. It has an obvious use and it isn't overpowered, and you can drink beer from it.
I'd have one of these hanging from my belt at all times.

[RonarsCorruption]

Coming back to this item, I can say it is one of my favorites of the year. Good work, and keep it up.

[benjover]

This item is awesome enough to make me salivate when pondering the fun I could have with it and the Improvised Weapon Mastery feat. I LOVE the flavor of it and want to get my character's battle thirsty hands all over it. It's so hard to pick a favorite out of the top 32 but if somebody put a sword tip to my temple I would probably say this is #1.

[Curaigh]

Congratulations Andrew,
I think this is honestly concurrent design, but still feel the originality is lacking. Both in mechanics and in similarity to Matt's Tankard. I appreciate the holy symbol option though. Good luck :)

[Glutton]

Very similar to the War Mug of the Ogre Magi (Dragon 289, Dragon Compendium) with some added inspire courage. Highly enjoyable.

[Paul Brown]

Perhaps it's my utter disinterest in drinking, but this was likely my least favorite item this year. I appear to be in the extreme minority here, though.

I do like the option to use it as an alternate holy symbol. That's nifty. I could see this as part of a big set of alternate, cheap, magical holy symbols. In that context, I might like it more.

[Kris Newton]

This item seems to be all flavor to me, and it's a flavor we've tasted before. It's one of those items that would be great for a home campaign, but is lacking as a professional design just because the work is so easy we could all do it at home. Isac mentions this as a potential entry in a "big set of alternate, cheap, magical holy symbols." That would make a cool Paizo blog entry, but wouldn't ever see print because it would be utterly paint-by-numbers. You could reduce it to a template:

Mundane item held in one hand that functions as holy symbol, may be used as an improvised weapon (or other mundane item such as thieves' tools), functions supernaturally well for an item of its kind with a prestidigitation-style effect, and casts bless (or bane) upon use 3/day.

Don't get me wrong, the idea and the flavor are good. It's just your misfortune that it has been done before, which lays bare that this item really needs its flavor to be compelling.

The organization round will be a good chance to show off what you can do flavor-wise without the shadow of a similar item from the past looming overhead. Best of luck.

[Xaaon of Korvosa]

This is basically a reworked Tankard of the Drunken Hero from the Pathfinder Chronicles - Gods and Magic. Pg 61. It's like a Cup of the Almost Drunk Kinda Heroic Guy...

[Andrew Black]

I realy like this item, it's a new twist on an iconic theme...the tavern brawl mug item. I like that it is a simple clean magic item that, as the DM, I wouldn't worry about my players pulling out the next time a bar fight breaks out. I love that this is not just a mug with some benefits, it has flavor and it's the type of item I want as a player because of how it helps define the look and feel of my character. I like that the designer has taken on the "carry into battle mug/tankard/cup" and given us a different version that will appeal to a different character concepts and done it well.

[Luthia]

Congratulations on making the top 32, Good luck in coming rounds and a little extra esteem for submitting an item made specially for one player - that's risky business, though it turned out well, didn't it?

First Impression Another Cayden-themed cup? Oh well, I guess. It's a neat, low level item. It's not all that awesomely powerful but it's neat, and I like it being a holy symbol.

Analysis
Name: Hmm, it tells me what it is and what to expect, and it's not x of y. That said, it's not the kind of name that makes me want to hurry to this item and read it first of all. [Cue talk about why to catch my attention with the name...]A little more catch-the-attention might serve you well later. Being the first read means you're being judged/considered for a vote with fresh, clear head, untouched by whatever mood the last item might have put me in. Also, you won't get compared to others from the first second, but form your own impression on people.[/End out-of-analysis-mode talk]

Template: If there's mistakes, there's nothing bad enough to bother me.

Description/Clarity: Looks simple, clear. Only objection might be that you describe "Many of these...". I prefer just getting a description of how one looks, and not how it might look. I can handle changes and customisation if I want it, but if I need a quick description for my players, having one, simple look makes my life easier.

Effect: Looks simple, but fine. Honestly, though, contemplate how you can show us/me that you can handle something a little more wondrous, fantastic and amazing later on. Simplicity is good, but it isn't everything.

Price: I'd actually say you're pricing this a little high for a slightly improved holy symbol. It's not bad, but I'd maybe put the price a little lower if I were you.

At the end of going through your item, it's nice, but it's not really amazing me out of my way.

[Andrew Marlowe]

Luthia, thanks for the detailed feedback I thought I'd take a moment and reply to a few of your points now that I've submitted my round 2 and I can breathe.

Luthia wrote:

Congratulations on making the top 32, Good luck in coming rounds and a little extra esteem for submitting an item made specially for one player - that's risky business, though it turned out well, didn't it?

Actually, I always find it helps (me at least) to have a specific audience in mind when I'm creating RPG content. I do try to avoid making items so specifically tailored to one character or player that no one else would use them, but it seems to me that there's a lot of overlap in what players tend to want. Appealing to and connecting with one specific person (even if it's just me) tends to connect with a larger audience.

Luthia wrote:

First Impression Another Cayden-themed cup? Oh well, I guess. It's a neat, low level item. It's not all that awesomely powerful but it's neat, and I like it being a holy symbol.

In the case of Cayden's Cup I specifically wanted 3 things:

A buffed holy symbol that an adventurer would want (and be able to have) at first level and would want to keep until 20th level.

I wanted it to be a holy symbol other classes would desire as well.

Readers could imagine opening an official Paizo book or article about Cayden Cailean and find my item largely unchanged.

I felt that if I could accomplish those at least two of those goals I might make the top 32.

I knew I was taking a chance with a tankard dedicated to Cayden Cailean. I knew that the judges in previous years had seen a number of tankards and flasks and that I would have to stand out from all of those. I saw this as the same sort of challenge facing someone who was making a cloak or boots. Somehow I had missed the Tankard of the Cheerful Duelist entry from Mathew Morris and the judges are right I should have caught that, but thankfully I was still able to stand out.

Luthia wrote:

Analysis

Name: Hmm, it tells me what it is and what to expect, and it's not x of y. That said, it's not the kind of name that makes me want to hurry to this item and read it first of all. [Cue talk about why to catch my attention with the name...]A little more catch-the-attention might serve you well later. Being the first read means you're being judged/considered for a vote with fresh, clear head, untouched by whatever mood the last item might have put me in. Also, you won't get compared to others from the first second, but form your own impression on people.[/End out-of-analysis-mode talk]

I really wanted a snazzy grab your attention name but having explored some of the options, I either plain didn't like them or they implied limits that broke my design goals. Ultimately I decided that a simple item like this needed a clean simple name. And I knew the judges would be giving each design a fair shake regardless of name.

Luthia wrote:

Template: If there's mistakes, there's nothing bad enough to bother me.

Description/Clarity: Looks simple, clear. Only objection might be that you describe "Many of these...". I prefer just getting a description of how one looks, and not how it might look. I can handle changes and customisation if I want it, but if I need a quick description for my players, having one, simple look makes my life easier.

"Many of these..." was a conscious design decision that I admit I was sorely tempted to change to something more static, but in the end I wanted to make it clear that this was an item that was very apt to have different looks.

Luthia wrote:

Effect: Looks simple, but fine. Honestly, though, contemplate how you can show us/me that you can handle something a little more wondrous, fantastic and amazing later on. Simplicity is good, but it isn't everything.

I really enjoy a good bit of wonder in my magic and actually tend to agree with Clark in that I prefer magic items that are not SIAC but really change how the game runs (or breaks the rules). In this case however the limitations I place on myself seemed to dictate a simpler design. In later rounds I may go gonzo, flashy, or subtle it will depend on the task and the audience I imagine I'm writing for.

Luthia wrote:

Price: I'd actually say you're pricing this a little high for a slightly improved holy symbol. It's not bad, but I'd maybe put the price a little lower if I were you.

I feel pretty comfortable with the pricing.

The primary power while it lasts for fewer rounds than bless still Cayden's Cup offers a +1 morale bonus on all skill checks that bless doesn't offer. Also there is a small bit of utility to the purify ability that I don't think should be ignored just because it's presented primarily as fluff.

Luthia wrote:

At the end of going through your item, it's nice, but it's not really amazing me out of my way.

Well I hope to have several more rounds to change your mind.

Thanks again for the feedback!

[Deidre Tiriel]

This is very much like the tankard in the gods and magic book. It's been done before. That said, my cleric of Cayden Cailen is going to be buying that Tankard of the Drunken Hero.
My 2cp is to work on wowing people with the organization - and make it original.

[Eyolf The Wild Commoner]

It's a wonderful item. My Cleric of Cayden shall also be using this. I love it.

[Andrew Marlowe]

Eyolf The Wild Commoner wrote:

It's a wonderful item. My Cleric of Cayden shall also be using this. I love it.

Excellent! Again many thanks to those who like Cayden's Cup.

[Monica Marlowe]

Isaac Duplechain wrote:

I do like the option to use it as an alternate holy symbol. That's nifty. I could see this as part of a big set of alternate, cheap, magical holy symbols. In that context, I might like it more.

Muwahahaha, I'll make him start working on an item for my Cleric of Desna for next year ;-)

A set of special Holy Symbols is really cool and something that I would also like to see. As the player who portrays the party Cleric in all three of our active campaigns (and probably 90% of all of my PCs, yeah, being a nurse means you get type cast a lot :-) ) I can tell you that there is very little in the way of cool things aimed at Clerics in any given treasure pile. It's a great idea, Isaac.

-----

Generally speaking though, a Cup/Mug/Tankard of imbibing in honor of Cayden Cailean is genre, folks. CC is a drinking, brawling, rambunctious fellow, this is an item he could have carried and it would be something that would appeal to a follower. Having read the other items, they are very limited in their similarities and very divergent in their scope. This isn't an item your PC "outgrows", it can always be useful, in some situations more so than others.

If there were only one Tankard of something special for CC, that would be pretty disappointing, personally speaking. Different items out there do similar things although at different costs, power structure, item/body slots, alignment requirements, etc. Yet, one is going to resonate more than another for different players, PCs and campaign settings. This is a different option, I like options.

[Mark Hart]

Cayden is just plain fun; characters dedicated to Cayden are just ripe for role-playing gold moments. That's what I like best about this wondrous item -- it offers role-playing moments that are likely to be memorable and bring a smile to people's faces.

I'm starting a new Pathfinder campaign in the near future, and this is an item I can easily see making its way into play.

Great job!

[LillyMouse]

That is very cool. I would really like to have one of those for my character. I am just starting to learn this type of game, your discription of the item and what it does makes it very easy for a new person to understand. I look foward to seeing what more you have up your sleeve.

[Ragwaine]

This seemed like way too much writing for some very basic effects. I don't think it's terrible just not very exciting. It did give me an idea for next years contest. I don't want to give it away but I'm thinking "Juicer of Magnificent Power" it's extremely powerful but it's really tough to find an outlet in a dungeon so it all balances out. In the mean time you can use it as a step stool to give a +1 bonus to climb checks. I'm SO in the top 32 next year. WATCH OUT!

Good luck.

[Kradlum]

The other thing I like about this is that it can be used with the Beginner's Box. Although Cayden is not a choice for a cleric, it can be used to expand on the 3 gods listed. Strangely purify food and drink is not listed in the BB Orisons (for space of simplicity reasons I guess), but the mechanics are simple enough to introduce it with this item.

[Monica Marlowe]

Ragwaine wrote:

... It did give me an idea for next years contest. I don't want to give it away but I'm thinking "Juicer of Magnificent Power" it's extremely powerful but it's really tough to find an outlet in a dungeon so it all balances out. In the mean time you can use it as a step stool to give a +1 bonus to climb checks. I'm SO in the top 32 next year. WATCH OUT!

Ragwaine, I see the "Juicer of Magnificent Power" being an instant favorite with the gnome population.

[Mike Welham]

This item really captures the concepts behind Cayden Cailean. I like the effects the cup provides.

Congratulations, Andrew! I look forward to seeing what you'll bring in round 2.

[Eric Morton]

Threat Analysis

You could be serious competition because.... you've designed a tightly-executed, thematically-sound item that has several interesting uses without going overboard.

You could become an even bigger threat in future rounds if... you reread entries from past years and make sure you aren't creating anything that's been done before in this competition.

[Jabberwonky]

As a player and as a GM, I LOVE this item. This is something I will be adding into my campaigns from here on out. Its simple and elegant in that it is something achievable early on, and as you say, something that people will hold onto for their entire career, a cherished memento. It has gobs of character -- it tells a story and really brings forth the flavor and theme of Caiden for everyone to enjoy.

From a role play perspective this item is the best I’ve seen in this round of entries. I really appreciate your willingness to bring that core foundation of the game to the forefront, something that I think is easy to put in the backseat when creating an item. Many folks think about what an item will enhance or do first, then add in the background or story afterwards – a real miss IMO, considering this game is about imagination and storytelling.

Congratulations on making the first 32 and best of luck with the subsequent rounds. I’m very intrigued to see what you come up with for the remainder of the contest. And regardless of the mechanics-focused nay-sayers, this item was a home run for myself (and I’m sure many others).

[Jacob W. Michaels]

Sorry, Andrew, I have to admit I was a little surprised this one made it considering last year's tankard. That said, I think you've crafted a nice, low-level magic item, which certainly isn't easy to do. This is something that could completely stick with a character through an entire campaign and that's something worth going for. I could see a cleric of Cayden treating it much like Indiana Jones treats his hat, and that could make for some fun moments around the gaming table.

[Chad Bartlett]

I get the sense this is one of everyone's favorite items, and I can see why. A Cayden Cailean magical drinking tankard hits the Golarion flavor right on the head! Well done! What alcohol-loving character wouldn't want one of these!? Very nicely done!

Seriously, why hadn't this item been made yet? Way to find the obvious shoe-in item, Andrew! Brilliant!

[Anthony Adam]

Ant Health Warning: this year, I really worked hard on technical execution of my item, so these reviews will likely reflect template use. Brace yourselves for the template fu - it can sting.

Template Use: 10/10

template fu pats you on the head...

Slot affinity: 8/10

There is no slot as such, so I will give a general assessment score here so it balances with other reviews.

That first sentence, although a good description started getting a little bit on the long side for me. A personal taste, I want to get into the meat of the item a little quicker.

I also suffer from verbosity when writing, so I appreciate how hard this is, another example that sprang out to me was in your second sentence, "regardless of ornamentation" is really superflous to the fact that these cups can be used as holy symbols.

Again, a personal thing, the bonus to skill checks I would have made a bonus on skills that are courage and strength based but maybe a penalty for wisdom - we all do daft things when beer is involved.

The only other comment, I couldnt work out how the cup knows if the beer should be cold or warm? Does it attune to the weilders preferance somehow?

Abuseability: 9/10
I couldnt find much to abuse here, except maybe having more than one in the party fighthing dragon kin and undead with fear auras.

Desirability: 9/10
Cold beer all the time, what's not to like ?

Originality: 9/10
I like this one, it appeals to the Guinness drinker in me.

Ant Score: 45/50 (90%)

[Ask A RPGSupersuccubus]

Andrew Marlowe wrote:

Cayden’s Cup

Aura faint transmutation and enchantment; CL 1st
Slot --; Price 2,000 gp; Weight 1 lb.
Description
Many of these lidded pewter tankards are gilded in silver and bear the engravings of heroes locked in legendary conflicts, while others are less elaborate featuring only silver scrollwork. Cayden’s cups regardless of ornamentation are suitable as holy symbols for the clerics of Cayden Cailean, and other mead hall gods, but many non-clerics desire one of these treasures as well.

When alcohol, regardless of quality, is poured into and consumed from one of these tankards the draught is fresh and ideally served: crisp and cold or warm and hearty, even a wine that has soured to vinegar becomes drinkable with a Cayden’s cup. Sometimes a beverage even tastes as though spiced such as with a mulled wine or a hard cider. The cup has no effect on food or non alcoholic beverages.

The tankards are resistant to spillage. The lid creates a tight seal and unless a tankard is deliberately opened the lid will remain closed no matter how forcibly jostled. Because of this feature and their sturdy construction Cayden’s cups have on occasion been employed as impromptu bludgeons in barroom brawls. If employed as an improvised weapon a Cayden’s cup has the same statistics as a light mace.

Finally, three times a day as a standard action the bearer of a Cayden’s cup may take a deep draught emptying the tankard to fortify his courage and gain a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls, skill checks and saves vs. fear effects for the next 5 rounds.

Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, bless, purify food and drink; Cost 1,000 gp

Disclaimer:

This post constitutes the views of a (very advanced) CE aligned succubus. Being such, Ask A RPGSupersuccubus is at complete liberty to change her mind on anything without giving any notice whatsoever. For those of you who missed last year (or as a reminder for those whose memories have failed) Ask A RPGSupersuccubus subscribes absolutely to balance, fairness, and logic in these reviews – in the sense that balance is what a couple of mortals on opposite ends of a plank pivoted on a rocky spire above a drop of several hundred feet into a pool of molten basalt frantically try to do, fairness is a term applicable to assessing either hair colour or more general beauteousness and logic is something which proves anything a demon of adequate status and charm requires it to demonstrate.

Note:
Ask A RPGSupersuccubus acknowledges the efforts of the ready supply of willing victims on the ‘Nine Blazing Months’ items thread, who inadvertently contributed to the development of weapons-grade questions for use in this round.

Fair is foul and foul is fair supposedly (trust a mortal to make up a piece of complete mumbo-jumbo – it is of course generally impossible to get anything much fairer in any context which actually matters than a succubus). Basically, though, does this item have any useful application in a spa?
Whilst a lidded tankard might conceivably (although looking a bit odd) have had use in any kind of a 'pool' situation, alas it is made of pewter.
So no.

Assuming for a moment that it’s more convenient to pay taxes than to circumvent the system, does this item look likely to be a tax-deductible business expense for a succubus art-dealer?
No. This is strictly merchandise.

Is the item useful in a strawberries-and-cream-tea context?
Possibly, if one is dating a worshiper of Cayden Cailean, but I must say that tea consumed from a pewter tankard, irrespective of how magical that tankard is, simply does not taste right.

Other Comments?
Nice craftsmanship. Limited applications unless one is entertaining probably brawny company without many manners (which is okay in small doses, but not generally tolerable).

Gollum Rating:
Ratings of items are prosaic and unfashionably conventional this year. Although rules are there to be broken (so long as they do not involve the dread lord, Orcus) as a general rule no items will thus be rated this year.

[David Ludwig]

I like it, the tankard holy-symbol that can be used as a cudgel would be popular with several of my characters including one I’m currently playing—in fact I think he wants one. There’s some wow factor missing for me that I can’t place, but am somehow inclined to believe that’s on me and not you or Cayden’s Cup.