Shadders's page

Congratulations top 32! Nice work. :)

Thanks Sean & judges. It's great to hear your thoughts!

Interesting. I've seen 9 people's other lists. I haven't calculated how many unique items there are on these lists - over 100, I'm guessing.

But two things were quickly apparent:
* 20 out of the 26 items on my list do not appear in any of these other lists.
* I'm feeling strangely affirmed in my decision not to design a monster yet. :-P

Thanks everyone who has messaged me. I hope your item appeared on my list. Hang on. Ummm... Maybe that should be, "I hope your item appeared on Feros' list!"

Why not jump in? PM me your list and I'll return you mine. I'd be interested to understand others’ tastes and hope I can encourage a few people whose items appear only list? (I only made Star Voter though, so there would be plenty of items I didn't see.)

Perhaps someone who is on top of this thread could make a list of everyone who has volunteered to share lists!

Only 20% removed, but the difference to voting is palpable. On the whole, the pairs of items I am seeing now are much more evenly matched.

Two brilliant items paired up against each other. One I've seem before, the other is new to me.

Still working out which way to go...

EDIT: Equally good, so a technicality decided it. For one item the aura strength matched the caster level; for the other it didn't.

Great idea! An item which allows a very specific bending of the rules, and executes it with panache.

Just added another item to my keep file. It's not my usual style, in that it just gives a few basic bonuses. But the visual is fantastic, and I reckon the right player would love using it.

Not counting my own item I currently have 7 "keeps", although I did start compiling this list rather late in the piece. I don't consciously favour longer or shorter entries. That said, 6 out of my 7 keeps are 200+ words.

I found a well written spell altering item I just copied into my keep file. It's not overpowered, like some of the items out there, but would still be handy for spell casters and has a consistent theme.

Just found a well-themed and evocative blood item that I like. I wonder if it's the same one others have hinted at on this thread.

Neil, Treppa & Cheapy - thank you!

I recently saw one oddball item which made me stop and think, "when would anyone use that?" I realised its single function could be used offensively, defensively, to help a group buff before an encounter, and probably in many other unforeseen situations. It's potentially open to abuse, but some tweaking of the mechanics could fix that. And I like the originality and quirkiness. Keep.

Love this thread! Great idea!

It's a bit vague, but I look for items that will be fun for everyone when played.

So rather than items which just buff characters so they overcome challenges by sheer (magically enhanced) power, items that encourage the players to be creative. The most memorable encounters are usually those where the characters have attempted something unexpected - even if it flopped spectacularly. I've seen plenty of items this year that give characters nifty little powers that will require ingenuity to utilise. Some of the terrain items others have mentioned fit into that category.

On the flip side, as a GM, I like items that will help me craft encounters which are a bit different. There's one simple, expendable, low powered evil item in this year's contest that I think is great, and might well use in the near future. Anything that will save an encounter from the routine of [hit monster with axe] - [repeat until it's dead]. As a GM, if I can keep players on their toes, that's when they are most engaged and will have most fun.

I also like things that are cinematic, so a bit of flavour text or an evocative title gets a thumbs up from me.

Over in the other thread people often complain about 200+ word counts. Quite a few items in the CRB are 200+. If that's what it takes, go for it. (Disclaimer: items I submit tend to be on the longer side. So maybe I'm biased.)

Finally saw the married couple item! Haha.
And an item one could easily lose their head over...

Still waiting to see:
- 50 word item
- apology item
- 1.8 million gp item
- Hitch Hikers' Guide item
- ACME item

I think I've hit most of the other crowd favourites. This thread has provided some entertaining puzzles to enliven the voting process.

I'm going to go back to voting.

Everytime I look at this thread I like this community a little bit less.

It can be pretty merciless. Thanks for pointing that out - I'll try to be more gentle if I comment in the future.

Lots of items cop criticism because of what this competition in particular is looking for.

But in an actual home brew campaign, who really cares? There are items I consistently vote down here which could still be loads of fun around a table.

Outside of this competition, if your gaming group enjoys it and it makes your game fun, that's all that matters. No one at your game table will care whether you got the price right, remembered to italicise spell names, or just happened to design a torc the same year six other people did.

It's good to see so many people getting into the spirit of a fantasy RPG and then sharing their creativity publicly in this competition.

To Whom It May Concern

I voted for your item twice now as it was better than the competition, but I'm not sure why you used that word in the title. You know the one the word that isn't reflected anywhere in the description. Yeah that one. When the top 32 are announced maybe you can explain it.

Thanks

Sincerely
Confused Voter

Because it sounded like the other word in the title. It even used most of the same letters.

Glad I can be of assistance.

Sincerely,
Rhymer Designer.

No, constant stream of items. Some of the players in the campaign I run actually bother investing ranks in that non-combat related skill.

Hello item. I believe we met before... in Harry Dresden's cellar.

Magical crayon vs magical eraser.

Wait a second, it does what? No way am I letting my kid get their hands on that!

Whoa! That designer definitely digs alliteration!

I'm pretty sure most circus troupes have a few performers with that item...

27) Attunes

Extremely precise six digit price-tag: 243,872 microlitres of imported liquor.

Meddler’s Mirror
Aura moderate divination; CL 11th
Slot none; Price 45,000 gp; Weight 6 lbs.
Description
This eight inch hand mirror is constructed of elegantly wrought silver, with oval head and short handle. Once per day the user may bind the mirror to something it is currently reflecting (a location, object or creature). The mirror generates an invisible, intangible magical sensor which remains linked to its target for the next 24 hours, moving with the target and always retaining the same relative position (distance and facing) with respect to the target as the mirror had when activated. A targeted creature or object attended by a creature is permitted a Will save (DC 18) to negate this effect.
While the sensor is in place, the mirror’s user may, as a standard action, cause it to display whatever is currently detected by the sensor. The image in the mirror’s surface appears exactly as if the mirror were now being held in the position occupied by the sensor. Typically the target is observed, however, at times the sensor’s line of sight may be obstructed, for example, by an intervening wall. The sensor’s input may be dismissed from the mirror’s surface (a swift action) and recalled as many times as desired.
Once per day while the mirror is drawing on its sensor, the user may cast a spell through it, targeting anything visible in the surface. A shimmering image of the caster appears briefly in the sensor’s position, and the spell issues from this image. Spells with a range of personal or touch may not be cast through the mirror. As soon as the spell is cast, the mirror’s magic for that day is expended and the sensor winks out of existence.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, clairaudience/clairvoyance, dimension door, scrying; Cost 22,5000 gp

My first RPGSS entry, posted here exactly as I submitted it. I.e. 300 words with no blank lines between paragraphs. Having voted 500+ times, I now realise that was a problem right there :(

I didn't make the 89. I'm keen to hear what people thought and why it was voted down. Thanks!

Especially as regards mojo and cinema, learning to write a better monster or tactical encounter may also help one write a better wondrous item!

Not to mention give us plenty of inspiration for our own home brew campaigns!

Thanks Clark, Sean & Vic for providing the top 89 list and explanations of voting data.

As someone who didn't make the 89, it tells me I have a lot to improve on for next year.

Great contest. I've enjoyed the whole process.

Awesome top 32. Congrats guys, and great work judges!

Nice link Ciretose. :-)

Ahhh... memories of childhood watching that clip when it was #1 on the Autralian charts.

One theme I haven't seen mentioned yet is items which manipulate the user's or someone else's soul.

It's not particularly driving me bonkers though.

Removing the bottom 25% has definitely improved the voting experience. Good decision.

I'm curious - will there be another cull after the second week of voting?

Woodengolem, I kind of hope you are wrong, because I want to see more of the awesome items and get to vote for them!

On what are you basing your theory that "items with less votes get called up more frequently"?

There are three weeks of voting to go. Are we doomed to see only the bottom of the field?

Garrett Guillotte, I have a little chuckle now whenever I come across a "Billy Corgan" item. Thank you. :-)

I think most of the items I have seen so far are highly creative and would be fun to use in a game. I'll have to start a list somewhere of ideas I could rip off for my campaign.

Thanks judges and Paizo crew for putting on this contest!