Assassin's Rose
Aura faint illusion and conjuration / none (see text); CL 3rd
Slot --; Price 350 gp; Weight --
Description
While not necessarily a rose, this magically augmented blossom is certainly a favorite of countless assassins, many using signature flowers befitting their style. A convenient, controlled and undetectable means of delivering a dose of poison, all a would be killer need do is convince their target to stop and smell the roses. By exposing the flower to a dose of poison, the flower absorbs that dose, converts its delivery method to inhaled, and activates a Magic aura to conceal the deadly qualities of the bloom. This foils not only Detect Magic but also Detect Poison, furthermore the onset time of the poison is increased by a full minute. Charging the flower with poison is considered readying the poison for use, and as such a user risks poisoning themselves. This process takes 1 hour, during which time the Rose must remain in contact with the poison. Once charged a Rose may be safely handled, but only retains its poison for 24 hours after which it decays rapidly, any poison contained in the bloom is lost. Unlike other inhaled poisons, the poison held within the Assassin's Rose does not fill a 10ft cube, but rather it is released only against an individual smelling the flower. Convincing a target to smell the Rose may require the use of the diplomacy skill. If the poison is released the rose becomes a normal flower in all respects, but may not be re-enchanted into another Assassin's Rose.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, Magic Aura, Delay Poison, Profession: Gardener 5 ranks; Cost 175 gp

I kind of like this one. Low-powered, low-cost, single-use item to give poisons another delivery method. Thematically, it hangs together. It's mostly well-written (e.g., they needed to capitalize Diplomacy, lowercase their spells, etc.). There's a creative spark here with a pretty good attention to detail. I'd be interested in seeing what this designer can do in later rounds.

Vote to Keep.

Concur with Neil. Keep.

A designer can be trained on the stylistic elements missed here (capitalizations, etc) but creative spark can't be taught. I think this designer has come up with a neat idea that holds together very well under scrutiny. It's not changing the DC of the poison, nor its actual effects, other than onset time. It could be clearer on exactly when someone risks poisoning himself (ie. is it the whole hour it takes to charge the flower? Is it just a 5% chance for the whole hour, or must one roll multiple times? In general, applying poison is a standard action, so there's no confusion, but that telescoped preparation time should probably have more clarification.

I really like this one, and am happy to overlook some of the smaller style issues in favor of keeping a designer with this sort of idea in the competition. Just as long as he or she learns and applies the correct styles in future rounds.

Keep.

Ask Mark said, this could use a little clarification on some details and more discipline on whether to capitalize or italicize something, but this is a solid item and a really neat concept. It's a definite...

Keep!

I quite like this one, especially the little things like the requirement of 5 ranks in Profession (gardener). The only problems I see are also little: "would-be" should be hyphenated, capitalizations, italicization, and the like.

Your opening paragraph is well written and drew me in. The / none in the Aura distracted me a little, but I think it is better to know about things like that ASAP. That it beats both detect poison and detect magic is unusual, but probably necessary; they are both at will cantrips. The detail in applying the poison is good, I actually like that it takes an hour, whether you roll once or more to avoid poisoning yourself is a tiny thing. Also the detail of the poison not affecting a 10 foot cube shows you read the poison rules. The converting of the delivery method to inhaled is interesting, you might be able to put an unusual poison on it. It does seem a little cheap, even for a consumable. You don’t really need the second last sentence about the Diplomacy check.

I like the elegant noble assassin feel to this item. It is familiar trope in fiction but is a niche that hasn’t been explored much in d20. A nicely done item.

Welcome to the ranks of RPG Superstar! Watch the small formatting issues, but more importantly keep the good ideas flowing. Best of luck!

I love it.

Regarding the aura, you just need to put ‘none’ in there. The text explains it just fine. Speaking of which, I think that is brilliant. I did something similar and received the remark “why do people make these paranoid items?” ;D It is a shtick that shouldn’t be overused, but sometimes it just makes sense and that is why we have the magic aura spell in the first place. Well done.

I am by nature long winded, but if I have nothing else to say don’t take it as a shortcoming. The item doesn’t require a lot of discussion. This is a rock solid Top 32, and I look forward to what future ideas are growing in that mind of yours.

PS: Changed my mind, one more thing- do watch all the formatting issues in future Rounds that the other judges mentioned. They’re important and even though I won’t be a special guest judge, I will be looking at them. Don’t let an easy Round One success go to your head! Now celebrate!

Regarding the aura, you just need to put ‘none’ in there.

Magic aura can be trumped by identify amongst other things. While the Aura distracted me at the start, I'm now starting to feel this is actually the best way to list it.

Jim Groves wrote:

Regarding the aura, you just need to put ‘none’ in there.

Magic aura can be trumped by identify amongst other things. While the Aura distracted me at the start, I'm now starting to feel this is actually the best way to list it.

We'll have to agree to disagree, Matt. I think that is far too cluttered.

I also draw upon the precedent of the pathfinder pouch from Seeker of Secrets, which has a similar non-detection effect and is formatted as I described. I would just leave it to GM to deal with the identify possibility, as it does specify magic aura.

Besides, if they're suspicious enough to insist on identify prior to smelling the bloom, odds are the jig is up anyway.

;D

No problems :-)

I was hoping there was a precedent like that.

No problems :-)

I was hoping there was a precedent like that.

You're a good sport! After ten minutes I felt like a jerk for writing that! I'm saving my good behavior for the contestants I guess.

This item is awesome, congratulations (easily my favorite of the right hand column). This combines together two things I see fantasy assassins doing - leaving behind a flower as a cool ego signature and finding new and sneaky ways to deliver poison.

Wow, nice going. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like this, but it's a really solid effect with some great fairy-tale resonance and a clear place in the game.

In terms of wordplay, the 'stop and smell the roses' bit was a little cutsie for my tastes. I also find that the way you worded it evokes an image of a shady guy walking up to someone saying "Here, smell my flower!" What, are you an assassin or a clown? The bit about diplomacy checks could have just been left out I think; it's a pretty open-ended effect (which is good!) and you can trust the DM to call for whatever rolls are necessary to deliver it. In my mind, the best way to use this is to know your target's habits and then to leave it somewhere he'll notice, but again, that's what DMs are for.

I wonder how mean it would be to assume poison/drug equivalency and have some sinister, flamboyant mage planting highly-addictive substances in these... Hell, the very decadent may simply use them as a more convenient alternative to droughts and needles.

I love the Snow White, eat-the-shiny-apple vibe of this item. I agree with Nicolas that you went a little too cutesy with your description, but I can forgive that because I really like what this item does and how it does it. I can easily envision a dozen ways I want to slip this into a game, both as a DM and as a player. Congratulations on becoming an RPG Superstar!

Wow, this looks like a fun item. Perfect for a murder mystery, whodunnit session!

I really like this too. Subtle, but it has everything it needs.
Re: Detect Poison, I could even see the item NOT evading that spell...
After all, most people don`t expect flowers to be poison, and the item is already depending on Diplomacy/Bluff checks or the target willingly subjecting themselves to the item. Either way, good job, and good luck in future rounds!

I definitely didn't mean "drought" in that last sentence. I think there's a word which goes kind of like that and means "thing you drink", but now I'm not so sure.

And yea, this is a fantastic DM-toy for murder mysteries. You could use it against the PCs later in the adventure and see if they connect the dots.

Very, very cool item. I agree with what most of the other commenters said about its virtues and flaws. I really like the added touch of Profession (gardener), implying that you couldn't use any old flower from the field- you must grow some specifically. My devious GM subconscious is already bubbling with plot ideas here... smart PCs would be clued into who's killing people and leaving these flowers behind eventually, and then start investigating local gardeners.

While I'm not exactly keen on it defeating your standard "detects" (my PCs really howl when they find out that their abilities don't work!), I agree with Quandary that most people don't walk around casting detect poison on every rose they smell! And a really smart assassin is NOT going to even bother with an "in-person" Diplomacy attempt to get someone to smell it, they're more likely to get it to the victim via an unknowing accomplice, or some more subtle method.

Congrats on making the Top 32, Nick!

Nicholas, the word is "draught." This is where 30 years of being a gamer mesh well with being a "retired English major."

I was put off by the phrase

all a would be killer need do is convince their target to stop and smell the roses.

It made me feel like the item is a joke.

I would prefer that the time of onset be five or ten minutes. As an assassin I want additional time get away from my target.

I don't think players wanting to construct the item will like the five ranks in the gardener profession, but it is flavorful.

Thanks Keith! That was actually my first guess, but Firefox flagged it.

The 'Profession (gardener)' thing reminds me of a story I read a while back.

Also, if a PC wants to make the item, he really just needs to hire a gardener to help him for the day. Other characters can help you meet prerequisites.

Beware Red Mantises (Manti?) bearing red roses.

An interesting item which sparks some good ideas. I like it.

I like it, but the formatting problems detract. Minor writing quibble: when listing variant forms of an item, I suggest doing it at the end. Something like "Though most commonly a rose, any flower may be used in the crafting of the item". Mainly because it's a minor detail, so it shouldn't be your lead.

I like the fairy tale aspect of it, and welcome Pathfinder getting more of these elements to go with Irrisen and the witch class.

I'm worried that this item is too badass.

If an item can be combined with a single spell (glibness) for an auto-poison with any poison just seems too powerful.

I would prefer if there was some way that the item could be detected or weakened, otherwise the Hemlock / Deathblade / Dark Reaver Powder / Black Lotus Extract / etc. uses of this are super-awesome for 350gp.

Ive been waiting for the item that jumps out at me and says "this is the one", and I think this one is it!

I think this is a great idea and the weakness that is not mentioned but kept popping up in my head doesn't guarantee that it will work 100% of the time. But that's a good thing in my book.

What kept popping up in my head is that the intended target may not be the one to sniff the flower. This can very well lead into an adventure hook nicely.
Assassin prepares the flower, delivers it to targets location, servant arranges flower in a vase and gives a quick sniff before putting the vase in targets room. Servant is now dead and the target doesnt know he/she is the intended victim and the assassin can just try again. The PC's are hired to find the the cause only after 1/2 of the targets staff and/or family has been killed and no one knows how/why.

I like it and can say this may be my favorite item so far. I cant wait to see your round 2 entry. Well done and congrats!

Nick, congratulations on making it into RPG Superstar! Your item is tightly designed and fills a neat little low-level niche. You've addressed in your description a number of questions that would come up in normal play, so you've shown both creativity and the ability to think through an item's application. If I had one quibble about this, it's that it relies on a specific tactic that doesn't have much staying power. Maybe an NPC uses this on the party, which is how the party learns about the item. After that a PC tries this a couple times and then the shtick gets old and everybody catches on. But it does open the door to creative play and so maybe in the right group this item shines for a longer time. In any case, it's a really inventive item and well thought-out. I like it, and look forward to seeing what else you've got.

My assassins feel so unelegant now. They'll be stabbing the PCs with sharp pointy swords, however, their other victims...hmmm, not a bad idea. Congrats!

This dastardly item puts the line, "Every rose has it's thorn," into a new perspective! Well done! Very cool item. A close wow factor for me. Love the way it changes the delivery method of posions. Good Luck in Round 2!!

This is a nice item, and a deft use of lower power spells incorporated into an item in a way that wouldn't immediately jump to the top of my mind. Quite a bit of a niche item, but that's just me nitpicking.

I approve. :)

Quite elegantly done. Great item for enhancing the assasin class by fulfilling an archetype (ironic ... or perhaps not)

I'm worried that this item is too badass.

If an item can be combined with a single spell (glibness) for an auto-poison with any poison just seems too powerful.

I would prefer if there was some way that the item could be detected or weakened, otherwise the Hemlock / Deathblade / Dark Reaver Powder / Black Lotus Extract / etc. uses of this are super-awesome for 350gp.

If you have glibness running you could probably just get them to kill themselves with poisoned coolaid. You don't need a rose to do that, the rose is just more stylish.

This is why I think it isn't always a good idea to mention specific, unrelated skill checks in items like these. It leads some readers to regard the check as part of the item's mechanics (i.e, the diplomacy check is your "attack roll"), rather than just running the situation as they normally would.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is the first living plant / animal that I've ever seen which falls under the mantle of "Wondrous Item".

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is the first living plant / animal that I've ever seen which falls under the mantle of "Wondrous Item".

I sort of feel this should also be something you'd find in a campaign setting book under "Adventuring Goods, Other" or something.

That said, I really, really like it.

Requiring Profession: Gardener strikes me as something stuck on just for giggles, and seems like an unnecessary restriction.

Assassin's Rose

Eric Bailey pretty well summed up my assessment of this item - you're probably not gonna pull this trick off more than once. On the other hand, if I can get a sorcerer so paranoid about rose bushes and corsages that he burns through spells using identify to sniff out the next bad one, then that's a plus in my book. :) Nice job, sir.

Ok, profession gardner is a nice touch, from the way I see this item being used.

CSI:Golarion.

This thing gives divination magic fits, skills fits "Hmm, detect poison shows poison, it appears he died from an injected poison, but there's no clear sign of injection." *takes off sunglasses* "We seem to have missed the point."

The profession gardner is actually valuable, to reduce the number of suspects who might have sold this thing. This is a mystery DM's nightmare. Even funnier, since the person has to volunteer to take the poison in, a DM could honestly answer a divination question of 'who killed Bill' with 'Himself' since it was his action that poisoned him.

Count me as a solid 'yes' for the potential this item opens up.

First of let me thank you for this idea. It just helped me out of a tight situation (I set my Pcs on a mystery hunt without knowing the exact premises of the mystery myself), and allowed me to wrap up a situation that threatened to dangerously stagnate in an elegant and memorable way. Mind, i didn't use your item, just the basic idea though.

That said I love your item as it is too. I have seen quite a few assassination items that haggled with ways to poison someone without registering as poison or magic and your idea leaves them all in the dust, simply because of the unique method of delivery ( most items I saw where decanters), I mean, if you have magic to poison someone, why stick to the old and thread ways? go somewhere else, somewhere nobody expects danger. And you really show this kind of inspired thinking.
this item could easily make my Top.
I am really looking forward to seeing your archetype and if it shows the same level of deep and intelligent in-game thinking.

Honestly, any item that A) is designed to be used by assassins and B) isn't easily fooled by 0-level cantrips is a well designed item in my book - too many times (far too many!) designers and writers completely fail to account for the abusability of Detect Magic in the Pathfinder setting. So, Kudos on that, and on a well-thought-out (if a bit niche) item.

Congrats on making the top 32!

CSI:Golarion.

This thing gives divination magic fits, skills fits "Hmm, detect poison shows poison, it appears he died from an injected poison, but there's no clear sign of injection." *takes off sunglasses* "We seem to have missed the point."

*GROAN* Morris, you're not making my workday any easier with stuff like this. =)

Congratulations Nick!
Strength (Overall): 14
Dexterity (see time in my campaign): 12
Constitution (long-time keeper): 14
Intelligence (mechanics): 14
Wisdom (writing craft): 12
Charisma (flavor/visuals): 14
I think the strongest part is the 'character' different assassins gain from this. Though breifly mentioned, it echoes through the whole item. I think many players will not go in for the RP part of the game, but for those that do this is a nice item. Allowing various poisons to become inhaled is a nice touch too.

Again, congratulations! :)

First of let me thank you for this idea. It just helped me out of a tight situation (I set my Pcs on a mystery hunt without knowing the exact premises of the mystery myself), and allowed me to wrap up a situation that threatened to dangerously stagnate in an elegant and memorable way. Mind, i didn't use your item, just the basic idea though.

I don't know if this would be considered cluttering up Nicks, thread, but I'd love to hear about that! I think it kicks ass when stuff like this influences an actual game, even if it's just the basic idea.

...stop and smell the roses...

seemed like a good idea until I hit submit, in fact, after a million re-reads I sorta stopped seeing it.

Thanks for all the great feedback and support everyone. And thanks again to the judges.

Azmahel wrote:

First of let me thank you for this idea. It just helped me out of a tight situation (I set my Pcs on a mystery hunt without knowing the exact premises of the mystery myself), and allowed me to wrap up a situation that threatened to dangerously stagnate in an elegant and memorable way. Mind, i didn't use your item, just the basic idea though.

I don't know if this would be considered cluttering up Nicks, thread, but I'd love to hear about that! I think it kicks ass when stuff like this influences an actual game, even if it's just the basic idea.

Discuss away. I love hearing about other people's games, especially story heavy ones. Always looking for new ideas for my own game. Clutter away, go on tangents, get off topic!

See you on the other side

Azmahel wrote:

First of let me thank you for this idea. It just helped me out of a tight situation (I set my Pcs on a mystery hunt without knowing the exact premises of the mystery myself), and allowed me to wrap up a situation that threatened to dangerously stagnate in an elegant and memorable way. Mind, i didn't use your item, just the basic idea though.

I don't know if this would be considered cluttering up Nicks, thread, but I'd love to hear about that! I think it kicks ass when stuff like this influences an actual game, even if it's just the basic idea.

Ok, since Nic and Nic want to hear ;)

Beware: This spoiler contains a lengthy exposition of the current plot of my campaign, how the problem came to be, how the idea helped me out and how the situation was resolved.

Interesting item. Works well as a low-cost item that I can see people of all levels wanting. Good show!

Azmahel,

Sounds like a great story. I've always loved the idea of sigil, but when we went there in "expedition: demonweb" I was amazed at my in character reaction. I was so elated and stunned, even though I as a player knew all about the place. I've also always wanted to run ancient greece, but never in a million years did I consider running them together. I suppose every deity has representation in sigil though.

Glad my "harmless beauty as delivery method for destruction" worked out for you. Thanks for seeing the potential.

Assassin's Rose

Aura faint illusion and conjuration / none (see text); CL 3rd
Slot --; Price 350 gp; Weight --
Description
While not necessarily a rose, this magically augmented blossom is certainly a favorite of countless assassins, many using signature flowers befitting their style. A convenient, controlled and undetectable means of delivering a dose of poison, all a would be killer need do is convince their target to stop and smell the roses. By exposing the flower to a dose of poison, the flower absorbs that dose, converts its delivery method to inhaled, and activates a Magic aura to conceal the deadly qualities of the bloom. This foils not only Detect Magic but also Detect Poison, furthermore the onset time of the poison is increased by a full minute. Charging the flower with poison is considered readying the poison for use, and as such a user risks poisoning themselves. This process takes 1 hour, during which time the Rose must remain in contact with the poison. Once charged a Rose may be safely handled, but only retains its poison for 24 hours after which it decays rapidly, any poison contained in the bloom is lost. Unlike other inhaled poisons, the poison held within the Assassin's Rose does not fill a 10ft cube, but rather it is released only against an individual smelling the flower. Convincing a target to smell the Rose may require the use of the diplomacy skill. If the poison is released the rose becomes a normal flower in all respects, but may not be re-enchanted into another Assassin's Rose.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, Magic Aura, Delay Poison, Profession: Gardener 5 ranks; Cost 175 gp

Disclaimer:

Is the item Pretty?
See below.

Does the item help a demonic seductress to keep a paladin house pet?
No.

Is the item otherwise useful?
Probably, yes.

Other Comments? (including World Domination potential on the evil laughter scale, where appropriate)
It seems to me that you've invented not an item, but a process which takes about a day or so to take place and can be used to prepare items (in this sense any flower of sufficient quality as to be capable of imbuement with magic, although you've opened a whole box of arguments there) to be loaded with toxins. Now at this point I start wanting to know a lot of awkward things which you haven't answered, such as what effect on any regular decay processes does the process have between applying the magical process and actually adding a poison to a flower, can you treat (assuming you have an outdoor workshop/laboratory or a portable plant) flowers which are still on the bush or tree so to speak, and can you load a bloom with any poison, or are only regular inhalation toxins suitable for use?
However, the process does have a very definite upside, in that it makes succubi companions even more desirable (!) for wealthy potentates and businessmen, who will now need a companion who won't keel over at the first whiff of something toxic to sniff bouquets, buttonholes and table arrangements for them. Once word gets out, I can envision 'chief flower sniffer' being very speedily added to the roster of bodyguards, food-tasters, dimensional lockers, and so forth of a number of very powerful but careful men and women.

Gollum Rating:
So juicy-sweet.

I love subtle items. Who would suspect a flower of being a source of danger? A character wouldn't be able to get by with this more than a couple of times in any one place; That's easily solved by moving frequently or keeping this delivery system for specific cases.

Very nice item. :)

Oh I like this one. :)

This is great! Now my alchemist has something to add a little color to his formal wear! I can see all kinds of fun applications for this item, especially if you throw suggestion into the mix.