MAW OF URGATHOA
Aura Moderate transmutation; CL 9th
Slot face; Weight 1 lb; Price 14,000 gp
DESCRIPTION
This mask is invisible when worn, but makes the wearer's face appear sickly, and makes their teeth grow thin and sharp. The wearer gains a primary bite attack which deals 1d6 base damage, immunity to ingested poisons and a +4 profane bonus to intimidate and saves against disease.
The mask also grants an additional ability (3/day), usable only when the wearer succeeds a grapple check to pin. Instead of being pinned, the target is extradimentionally “swallowed”, taking 1d6+6 bludgeoning and 6 acid damage each round. The target can escape by using a light slashing or piercing weapon and dealing 20 points of damage to the “gullet” (AC 12). If they do, the wearer takes 20 damage and the target bursts from the wearer, making the mask unusable for 5 rounds. If the target dies their body is expelled, granting the wearer the benefits of a death knell spell. If the mask is removed or disabled any swallowed target is immediately expelled.
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, giant vermin or black tentacles ; Skill Knowledge (Religion); Cost 7,000 gp
Kobold Press
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Huh, I could swear we had an item very similar to this last year.
It's not bad (better than the one I remember, at any rate), and granting a swallow whole could be entertaining. But the conditions to cut your way out seem too easy, and the costing seems low.
I'm sort of indifferent to this one, overall. ANyone?
We had this EXACT item last year. It made the top 32. But after it was announced as a winner, it was determined to be over word count and it was disqualified. Much to my chagrin.
I loved it last year, I love it this year.
I was hoping this guy would resubmit it. I also hope the Kraken Crown is resubmitted.
I vote KEEP but with one caveat--I want the tech guys to verify it was submitted by the same person as last year. It would be totally cheesy for someone else to submit this.
Clark
I really like this item and because of the events of last year I really think we should embrace this item and advance it. Just my personal opinion.
By the way, Wolf, I dont think you loved this item last year either :) Nope, in fact you didnt. I just went back and checked last year's comments. You are consistent :)
Plus, PCs with swallow whole? That is just rad!
Vic, Gary, can you check this? I'll post in the general forum.
I like mask items that give you a bite attack, and the swallow whole mechanic is cool because it's something that rarely works in the PCs' favor.
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
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Congratulations on making it into RPG Superstar - AGAIN! 2009-style!
I thought this name sounded familiar, and so it was. It was funny reading the item because I wrote up a swallow-whole rod of the serpent variant for the recent Osirion book. Like Sean I find the swallow whole mechanic fun, and especially since it gives the PCs a chance to turn the tables on the monsters. It's hard to get to use it, since you have to succeed at TWO grapple checks to activate, which is plenty enough of a limitation for me to not mind if the swallow and bite effect is pretty strong. The addition of the death knell if you kill your swallowed victim is a nice touch and adds to the flavor (pun intended for this item).
I will point out the fact that I am a little surprised that you had an entire year to marinate on this item and yet there are still spelling/punctuation mistakes in it, but I'm not the police of that kind of stuff. I think the cost is fine, given the relatively modest continuous effects (ingested poisons and diseases, neither of which come up very often, a primary bite that does less damage than most weapons, and a nice intimidate bonus) and a primary power that, while pretty strong, requires a good bit of effort to use.
Summary: I like it. It's creepy and nasty and fun. It does a number of different things but all within a theme and none of them overboard on power for the cost. A good name and a little dash of Pathfinder/Golarion flavor on top. I think this is just about right. Good job!
aka Robert G. McCreary
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I remember this from last year. It seemed pretty cool, and kudos for resubmitting it. Looks like it still works, even with a reduced word count. ;) I agree with the others that swallow whole for PCs is good mechanic. I also like the Pathfinder tie-ins - swallowing for gluttony, and death knell for undeath. Nice touch. Jason makes a good point about the difficulty of grappling using the mask, and brings up a few questions related to the new CMB/Grapple rules in Pathfinder Beta:
- Does grappling with the mask provoke an AoO, or does the mask have the equivalent of improved grab?
- Does the wearer take the -4 penalty on the CMB roll for not using his hands?
- Pinning an opponent normally gives the grappler the grappled condition. Is that the case with the mask too?
I know we're using new rules, but it's not just new magic item creation rules. I would have liked to see some consideration of the how the grappling rules have changed from 3.5 to Pathfinder.
That being said, it's still got tons of flavor, and a fun mechanic for PCs to play with. It made it through last year, so I'm looking forward to seeing you what you'll bring in the following rounds. And Congratulations on joining the ranks of RPG Superstar! Again! :)
Contributor, RPG Superstar
aka Leandra Christine Schneider
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Welcome here again!
I also think it was wise of you to try it with the same item this year and I enjoy reviewing it. The effect the mask has on its wearer's face is cool and grabbed me. In all, this item has a few minor benefits (immunity to ingested poisons and a +4 profane bonus to intimidate and saves against disease) and the very major bite attack and swallow.
I even tend to value the bite attack more than the grappling pinning ability (although this one has the cool), because an extra attack (at -5) just needs a source of extra damage (like sneak attack) to become awesome.
Super awesome. Maybe even a bit too awesome for the price?
Positive:
Nice style with the invisible mask that is altering the face. These are premium flavour words I’m never going to complain about.
The swallow whole ability is enjoyable and adds uniqueness.
Negative:
The bite attack on top of everything else is a bit much in my opinion. I mean if you could use the bite as a standard action only instead of gaining it as a natural attack, that would have been different.
After reviewing all other items:
I am inclined to like this even more because many items went a little over the top, so that is not that bad when viewed in comparison. Neat and creepy style that leaves me….hunger…for more of your Superstar stuff.
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4
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Wait ... it's a mask that lets me SWALLOW MY OPPONENTS WHOLE?
You had me at "Maw".
*grin*
Okay, so there are some technical issues, all aptly covered by the Judges above. But this entry is about two things:
1. Your triumphant return to the Superstar! stage, and ...
2. A mask that lets me FREAKING SWALLOW MY OPPONENTS WHOLE.
I'm pleased as punch, and I heartily, thoroughly want to see you rock out these next rounds of Superstar! Congratulations, and well-done!
This is pretty cool and will be making it into my home game. Nothing bad to say about it initially jumps to mind.
Casey! You didn't pass this through spell-check? Aw, man...
Still, glad to see you make it.
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 6
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Dedicated Voter Season 6
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It took guts to resubmit the same item. Happy it paid off for you, and glad you made it back in - I was one of those who benefited from your misfortune last year.
I agree with the Superstar crew that the item could have easily been made to fit into the PF RPG rule a bit better.
Nitpick: the maw of Rovagug seems like a better fit to me. Although we already have that in Alkenstar...
Any chance we'll see a gnome or a halfling making use of it this? :)
Another very evocative item. It isn't something everyone would put on, but it will be loved by players aiming for a darker tone and gruesome villains.
You swallow your adversary - it's wow-stuff right there. Imagine a halfling villain using this mask - I can see the dazed expressions even now.
I'm very tempted to include this item in my game!
Om nom nom nom... I'm digging this item a lot. It's also very cool to see the author back in the top 32 after last year's technicality disqual.
You have a good chance of snagging me with any item linked to Urgathoa anyway, but this one with the swallowing mechanic is just rocking.
*Imagining the looks on the player's faces as Joe the Barbarian is swallowed by the sickly looking punk with the funny teeth*
Priceless :) This item is nicely designed, good draw backs for something belonging to Urgathoa, and just kewl for the drop-jaw factor on the player's faces :)
I immediately knew the name was familiar, now I know why. :-)
I like the item, it's a solid concept and well-defined. Oh yeah, and it's destined for massive fun in play.
I'm a little leery of submitting the same item twice ("That all ya got?"), but I'm in favor of voting for it just to see if you do have anything else.
Currently first tier for me.
Now this is a delicious item; congratulations in making it to the second round!
As I read the description, it has no actual impact on any grapple attempts; the character has to succeed in pinning their opponent on their own, and it's only after a target is successfully pinned does the swallow whole ability take effect.
That said, while it can be used three times a day to eat up the competition, and the size of creatures that can be swallowed is going to be inherently limited by the creatures a character can successfully pin, it says nothing regarding how many creatures can be contained within the extradimensional space at any one time. And I have to agree, the bite attack is probably unneeded.
I never did submit an item in time, so I have no vested interest in this one way or the other, but I feel I should point out that as of last year, didn't this item become the property of Paizo?
It did, but the judges stated we could submit entries from last year if we wanted. And in this case, considering the circumstances, I think such action was warranted.
Nitpick: the maw of Rovagug seems like a better fit to me. Although we already have that in Alkenstar...
I agree, it seems like an item much better suited to the Rough Beast than the Pallid Princess. I'll probably make such a change when I nab it for a side quest in my upcoming RotRL campaign. :D
Wait ... it's a mask that lets me SWALLOW MY OPPONENTS WHOLE?
You had me at "Maw".
Agreed. Definitely one of the best names for an item....It's very stylish and an interesting design concept. It reminds me somewhat of a mask that appeared in Return to the Tomb of Horrors, but unique enough to stand on it's own...Well done.
The Maw of Urgathoa has nice flavor, though the mask has a little too much going on with it to sit well with me mechanically.
Also, it is written a bit poorly.
I'm glad the judges liked it though, you definitely deserve a second chance, I look forward to seeing what you'll bring to the next round.
I can instantly imagine several uses to this item both in a game as well as in a story, and I like that!
Be it a wolverine-like anti-hero or a bestial villain, this item sure is a surprise for any party (of heroes or villains) and have very interesting effects to add up to it, like the facial 'deformation', the dimensional pocket and expelling the body.
Good work!
When I read off the name of this to my significant other I got, "Wow that sounds cool!" I think the item matches the name.
I also *love* the play off the Gluttony Domain 8th level spell from Dragon Magazine - most excellent.
Agreed though, underpriced just a bit.
Also gaining a "primary bite attack" is slightly vague mechanics-wise. Does that make any weapon attacks (or other natural attacks) secondary? I would generally assume it should be a secondary bite attack (as another seemed to) at -5, with half strength, without explicit text to the contrary.
Of course.. that might have put it over 200 words :)
I love this item. Its got a lot of flavour, and I could have a lot of fun with it.
RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka JoelF847
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Very cool, evocotive item, but if anything, I think it's underpowered without an improved grab ability and/or a bonus on grapple checks, since it's quite hard to pull off without being a fighter type with the right improved grapple feats. Also, I'd want to see a limitation on the death knell effect to only activate if the swallowed creature was living - it shouldn't kick in for undead or constructs.
It's really interesting. I like the concept of it, not too sure about some aspects of the execution. For example: why a profane bonus to intimidate and saves? Also, why isn't death knell part of the creation requirements? Actually, making death knell a requirement would probably explain the profane bonus as well, wouldn't it? One other thing is that it isn't specified is where the target (or corpse) 'bursts' out to. For example, could you take the mask off and drop the swallowed target off a cliff?
I like the way this item uses the existing grapple rules in a new way.
You know, the more I think about this item, the more I like it. There are tons of good alternative powers you could give an item like this. What about one that consumed the body and gave you a breath weapon for a little while or even let you spit the enemy as a weapon(like Yoshi or Kirby!)
Very interesting and rather... unsettling.
If I were to use this, I'd make the extra-dimensional space the actual stomach of some awful creature lurking somewhere deep in the Astral. One that sometimes demands to be fed. And the item should be cursed so you couldn't get rid of it, of course.
Nomnomnom!
Mmmm...tasty. This is just all kinds of fun -- and it can fit into a serious game (where it becomes seriously creepy), or a less serious game (the mental images..."where'd the ogre go?" "I ate him." "No, really." "No. Really.")
Congrats on Top 32!
Very unique in its Cthuloid grossness. It'd be a great item for an evil cleric. Congrats for making the top 32!
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RPG Superstar 2013
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
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Man...I am torn up about this item. It is very popular, but I struggle with how it is written. I struggled with its prose last year, too. It also has formatting issues (italicizing, using a nonCraft or Perform skill, capitalizing the Intimidate check),and doesn't really appear written for the Pathfinder rules set (which should mention a combat maneuver check to grapple an opponent). Finally, it just looks to me like a bunch of words were taken out and sentences combined to make the same item fit the word count. I would have expected a resubmitted item to be new and improved.
I also can't separate it from the bite of the king spell in the Spell Compendium and Libris Mortis. I also could swear I read a thread where last year's contestants were advised not to resubmit their items on the grounds that judges would view that as non-creative.
However, it's in. Please don't mistake my response for sour grapes. I hope what I wrote above seems at least reasonable. I think the reason I don't overlook these flaws for the concept is that the spell (and I think another mask) exists somewhere else and so its grotesque novelty is lost on me.
Of course, it isn't an SRD item, and with Pathfinder being a newish game, Pathfinder version of some clever (if obscure) items are bound to be made...
I'm sorry I can't give it more love than I have. You do your best with this contest, and improve your writing for the villain round so I can get over it and vote for ya!
This is the last item for me to comment on. And it seems like it's sort of the "gonzo" item of this year's competition. A mask that lets you swallow your oppoonent?! It's equal parts cool and shocking at the same time. I like the extradimensional gnashing effect woven into the mechanics of it. Very nice concept and executed very well. Welcome to the Top 32 and good luck in the villain round...
My two-cents,
--Neil
Huh, I thought I posted a couple days ago but I hear these boards can be occasionally unreliable. Let's see how much I can reconstruct:
* Does grappling with the mask provoke an AoO, or does the mask have the equivalent of improved grab?
* Does the wearer take the -4 penalty on the CMB roll for not using his hands?
* Pinning an opponent normally gives the grappler the grappled condition. Is that the case with the mask too?
You do not actually grapple with the mask, it grants a grappler a new option instead of pinning to swallow. The second grapple check to pin doesn't provoke so neither would this. Similarly since is appears that with swallow whole the target is no longer grappled once swallowed I see no reason to have them be grappled with the mask.
The bite attack on top of everything else is a bit much in my opinion.
It actually didn't occur to me that was a possibility until I heard it mentioned here. I am inclined to agree with details later.
You didn't pass this through spell-check
Oh, it's much worse than that. I saw "extradimentionally" come up as misspelled in Open Office and went "Right, a word like that wouldn't be in the dictionary" even added it as correct since "extra" was correct and how else could you spell "dimentionally"? This is by no means the beginning of my trouble with the English language as Demiurge can attest (like pronouncing a 't' at the end of 'across', replacing the 'i' with an 'a' in 'miracle', etc). I already made sure my next entry got proof read a few times.
Any chance we'll see a gnome or a halfling making use of it this?
One neat feature of the Pathfinder Beta rules is that size is less important when grappling, so it is by no means unreasonable for a small character to pin a medium one.
And as a side note I also envisioned this item being used out of combat as much as in combat to eat a whole hero's feast or ritualistically devour a bound or unconscious sacrifice.
I agree, it seems like an item much better suited to the Rough Beast than the Pallid Princess.
I did notice that it seemed like Rovagug, Urgathoa, and Lammashtu all had a change to have an item that you swallow whole, but I almost like that. Rovagug and Lammashtu would obviously give you a big tooth-filled mouth, dropping the poison and disease resistance for something else, and if I were making three variations I'd get rid of the bite attack on Urgathoa all together.
I agree that this item is probably sufficiently different from the Acerak mask, however, which was made from a fiend twisted by magic.
Really? Awesome. I don't think our party ever made it that far but that makes me wish we did.
For example, could you take the mask off and drop the swallowed target off a cliff?
Well, in the same way you let go of someone you're pinning and drop them off a cliff, sure. Presumably in both cases they'd be allowed a reflex save to grab on to the ledge before plummeting.
If I were to use this, I'd make the extra-dimensional space the actual stomach of some awful creature lurking somewhere deep in the Astral. One that sometimes demands to be fed. And the item should be cursed so you couldn't get rid of it, of course.
Clearly we think alike! After I read the Ecology of the Bag of Devouring I wrote out a prestige class based on forming a symbiotic relationship with one, trading regular feedings with increased extradimensional storage, acid geysers, and a rope trick-like effect.
And it seems like it's sort of the "gonzo" item of this year's competition.
"Gonzo" is really my only setting, I've been trying my hardest to tone things down for the competition, which anyone who's seen my campaigns or even characters can probably attest to. Actually, I seem to remember two years ago at Penny Arcade Expo Demiurge1138 made someone at the Paizo booth very very sad when he informed him that I consider the 3.5 Fiend Folio to my my favorite player resource.