101 uses of non magical items,

[igorwolfgang]

I would like ideas of fun creative ways to use non magical items in awesome ways, like rope, or lanterns etc, just all the stuff in goods and serveries. like using rope to avoid pit traps. any ideas?

[Quath]

I like to take a look through Ashiel's Guide to Adventure when I'm trying to get my spark going on ideas like this.

[Blueluck]

Here's a link to most of the usable items.

[harmor]

Meat, chunk of - you'd be surprised how useful this is when doing a Handle Animal or Wild Empathy check (at least a +2 circumstance bonus)

Soap - plus some water from a Waterskin for a poor-man's version of Grease

Fishhook - used with Mage Hand to carry something magical

Drill - make your own peep hole (DC 15 Preception check)

Piton or Spike, Iron - used to jam a door you want closed (at least a +2 to the break DC)

Saw - can't break down a door, use a saw to cut its hindges (5 + Str Mod damage per round, bypassing hardness I think)

[boring7]

Chain + Padlock - like a rope for binding stuff/people, but harder to break and you don't need skill with knots.

Bellows + lantern oil = low-order explosive (good chance of "poof no eyebrows")

Crowbar - everything made of wood and the occasional combine soldier breaks, less hassle than a portable ram

Needle & Thread - You'd be surprised how often my characters end up naked...nice to have a means of cobbling together replacements.

Grappling hook - beyond the obvious, it's a hook strong enough to hang something heavy off of, like a suspect while you're questioning him because you're the g~&~$$n batman. Also works for a heavier version of Harmor's fishhook suggestion

Canvas - rainwater collecting, building stretchers, tents, clothes, boat oar, and fuel for the campfire.

Hand Mirror - signaling, avoiding gaze attacks, seeing around corners.

Candles - creating ambiance or intimidating targets, (someone who is ignorant of magic will not like being inside a chalk circle with candles and runes on it) and wax ones can make double as sealing wax for making sure certain doors don't open when you aren't present, certain letters don't get opened without your knowledge, or certain fighters find their helmet visors are now sticky.

Rowboat - provides total cover from above, keeps out the rain, with proper resistance magics it can get multiple people across hostile fluids (acid, boiling water, boiling oil) instead of one per resistance spell. Also makes good firewood.

Bell + string makes a good primitive alarm, but an even better distraction if you can set it up in front of a patrol.

Bear Trap - Get several, lay them out in a hallway, call them "Dire Caltrops"

Flotation device - doubles as a seat cushion.

Net, fishing doubles as net, entangling. though easier to break.

Scent nullifier or extremely powerful scents can daze creatures with keen noses if you manage to give them a snootful. That may just be a house rule, but it's a reasonable one.

Anvil - Aside from actually explaining how you mend your gear on the road, the ACME brand anvil is excellent for dropping from high places onto targets and then weighing down their corpse when you toss it in the river.

[Tiny Coffee Golem]

drill with an adamantine tipped bit. Drill a hole in almost anything.

[VRMH]

Flour makes the invisible visible. You can throw it into an open fire and create a great cloud of sparks. You can sell it again and make no loss on the deal. And... you can make pizza!