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I saw a lot of items that were only good for one class and occasionally even a small subset of that one class. This places the item on the whim of the judge liking the class, which is not a very good idea since folks tend to like some classes and dislike others.

Also desirability is certainly a factor. Generally speaking, if players are not fighting over who gets the item, then it lacks some desirability.

See, even Erol Otus agrees :)

In the same way that a dwarf-themed item that "suppresses a dwarf's murderous rage at the slightest scent of gold" fails because dwarves in the Pathfinder RPG don't fly into murderous rages when they smell gold (in fact, they can't even smell gold).

*Cough* Until I get into round three that is :)

The dreaded Dwur of Osmagogue have shamed all Dwarf-kind for eons untold! Unfortunately for all of Golarion, they too have finally reached the surface world above. With mirthless smiles, their melancholy nostrils point them towards the gold-rich cities afar! Woe to the Dwarf who stashes his gold in his underwear! Woe to the Dwarf who has gold fillings!

Based on the above comments, Gary Gygax wasn't RPG Superstar material then(!). The 1st edition AD&D DMG was full of obscure words that I had to look up as an 11-year old. Doing so instilled a love of language that I have to this day. There seems to be a "dumbing down" movement in the RPG industry which I think runs counter to the origins of the hobby.

Good point, although I point out that Gygaxian prose is practically its own narrative form of art. Regardless, most of his items are rather straight-forward with much of the rules in the hands of the DM.

A tip of the hat to Mr. Gygax, whose Harlot table taught me that the difference between a Slovenly Trull, Saucy Tart and a Expensive Doxy are by no means trivial.

Your first inclination is likely the correct one. I am fond of short, clear, and concise writing.

It is probably statistically similar to throwing a weeks worth of garbage into a swimming pool and watching the results.

Let us say the pool drain is the coveted top 32 positions. The discarded cabbage, rotten potatoes, and a Twix that you found out that is not a Twix is all floating at the top to be picked off mercilessly by crows. Some of it fell out on the pool deck even. The congealed applesauce and unidentifiable thing on a paper towel is floating up and down with the currents, usually somewhere in the middle. Just below that is the strangely curious diaper filled with the full pallet of colors - interesting but not a keeper. To the far left is the 4th edition PHB, which is caught in the pool filter, being slowly torn to bits. Cans, jars and other things which have a recycle value between 5 and 0.1 cents is near the bottom. Perhaps a pool cleaner will separate those and redeem their value later. At the very bottom at the pool drain is your wife's wedding ring and your iphone which you accidentally tossed when 'helping' to the clean the kitchen. Quite valuable and unwise to loose. All-in-all, some of the items in the current bobbed up and down but not much else changed as time passed.

I jest of course. I'm sure Greg, Vic, Ross etc could write the query to do as you ask, but I'm not sure why they would want that public.

For me a cool effect > all.

This is my inclination as well, so long as the mistakes are not overt. The best items have a certain je ne sais quoi.. Sometimes its a great effect, or some great flavor, or the item is just damn useful, perhaps the visual of the item/effect is great, or a 'its so obvious and cool why didn't anyone do this before', or maybe the total package is just very elegant.

If an item has that certain je ne sais quoi, then I look for reasons to overlook the faults. Whereas in other item, I am drawn to the faults and look for a reason to salvage it.

After 1200+/- votes I'd say I've run across 15 or so of these items. I would be surprised if they don't make it in. I doubt I will see anymore at this point since new items are rare and I have a bit of voter fatigue, but I enjoyed the process.

Perhaps normal looking trees and rocks, but every destination has some horrid name:

1. Bough of limb-severing orchids
2. Pebble mounds of biting scabs
3. The toad that nods and devours
4. Iron walls which fall
5. The no-where hole
6. Crevice of the Beholder swarm
7. Branches of the hanging sinners
8. Field of writhing feet
9. The rains of pitch and fire
10. Unknown, none have returned

GM: "So, where too?"

As for the timer, I know why it exists but I can't say I enjoy watching the count down much. This has perhaps restricted my own voting.

Instead of a timer, perhaps a limited number of votes per day.

Submit a wondrous item (anonymously) and get in the top 32 of public voting. They could then swap the spot they won with a golden ticket item.

My personal criteria:

Start a 3 for craft wondrous
Raise to the minimum of the of caster level to cast the spells for creation
Raise to the minimum of the of level of feat/requirement for the caster to have for creation
Raise to the minimum of the of caster level to replicate the item's effect
+1 if the item is a passive effect that is never activated
+1 for cumulative effects beyond the first
+1 if the item takes no item slot
+1 if the item's effects cannot be articulated in one paragraph
+1 if the item requires the DM to roll on a random table
+1 if the creator did not bring beer or chips (and dip) for this session
-1 if the item is temporary or has limited charges
-1 if the creator picks up the pizza tab
-1 if the item's activation requires a gross indignity or sacrifice of a party member
-1 if the item can lead to a hilarious PC death
-1 if the item can lead to a hilarious death for the entire party

Migrus Locker

This small locker is carved from fossilized wood and it is usually found chained, sealed and dumped in a long forgotten location. When the locker is unsealed and opened a desiccated hairless cat with a humanoid face lay within, the Migrus. After a few moments the Migrus animates and begins to preen itself clean and creature’s face begins to take the appearance of who opened the Migrus Locker.

The Migrus moves in a strange jerky motion and it will obey simple commands that its master dictates. The Migrus takes a very literal and brutal approach to problem solving and is fond of taking trophies. If the Migrus is slain it decays messily overnight in a glistening slick of putrid fluid. When the dawn comes the Migrus will rise again from the filth, eat the scraps of rancid flesh, and return to its previous duties. The Migrus has attributes of a Cat with the construct type. The Migrus will always do its best to return to its owner and can not be permanently destroyed by normal means.

Moderate transmutation; CL 15th; Craft Wondrous Item, flesh to stone; Price 38,000 gp; Weight 8 lb.