...of item types.
Most of the items can be grouped into various item types. Only a select few stand out, though not always in a good way.
So here are my personal top3 lists of item types:
A) "LoL, wut" items
The designers have obviously never thought about what the use of their items would actually look like. This leads to items that, while certainly useful in a game sense, make their users the laughing stock of Golarion.
Example:
The peacock feather of friendship (you need to tickle the target in order to cause a charm effect).
Rank 2 - fluff
Here we have an item that was born in three easy steps:
1. take an existing item/spell
2. invent a boastful item name
3. add some fluff (preferably filigree)
Example:
The filigree shawl of freedom for Desnas chosen (aka Freedom of Movement plus flowers bloom wherever you go)
Rank 1 - the blatant auto reject
Nomen est omen. Alas, this group is quite large.
Example:
The child molesters vomit doll of healing in an extradimensional space while providing sneak attack to descendants of Blurb the Daft in passive writing only.
B) Fotm items
To travel to another point in space without traversing any points in space in between has a certain something. Who wants the power to look at distant places when he can be there? So Teleport should be available from Level 2 onwards, at least and in myriad forms and functions.
Example:
Tail of the Nightcrawler (500GP item, Dim Door 1x/day)
Rank 2 - cha, cha, cha, Vienna calling.
Reflections of modern times and a change in communicational habits may be the reason for this type of item, the sending in a can. Still I am amazed about how many variations of "Sending nx/day" people are able to come up with.
Example:
No, please, I've seen enough of those, forever!
Rank 1 - Sleep well, sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite.
It is almost cute how many would be designers are concerned about a good nights rest for your hard working adventuring party. Many might remember a horrible night irl and make it their utmost goal to spare our heroes this ordeal.
Example:
Hugh's Instant Playboy Mansion (you'll never guess what this item does nor what form it has)
C) Imagine
Wow, this item is just wow. Alas, it doesn't really do anything, for like 20 grand. But it will look nice in my castle. If it would only have another effect, like this, or this, that would be so cool.
Example:
The carpet of scintillating petals (creates scintilating petals)
Rank 2 - I had a scream!
Wow, this item is so awesome and it gets even more awesome with every paragraph (jay paragraphs)! Right until the last where a rule is added that makes the whole thing unusable. This is where I sit in front of my screen screaming "stop, stop it you nghlsdkghlökh".
Example:
Will follow (maybe).
[spoiler]Rank 1 - I had a stream!
Wow, what a sweet design. My mental eyes basks in the radiance of this description. I am aaalmost tempted to create an underwater campaign on a distant planet where gravity is upside down because this is the only place where this item would be handy.
Example:
Will follow (maybe), too.
D) Stars will show
Short, crisp, useful, balm for the eye after countless hours of sorting through 280+ word items that give +n to x.
Example:
Key of Closed Doors
Rank 2 - SIAC but oh so sweet!
Yeah, I know, it's really hard to come up with some totally new and never done before. And even moreso with every year this contest runs. But there are other ways: an awesome description can turn even a SIAC into a nugget of gold.
Example:
Last Leaves of the Autumn Dryad
[spoiler]Rank 1 - Perfect 10!
This has what I think makes a superstar item. Evocative, useful, balanced, ruleswise novel and a feel of a playful casual lightness.
Example:
Among others: Rajah's Silhouette
Well... I may be unlucky, I may be a poor observer, but I found PLENTY of poor items (so many that should have been disqualified or that are clearly against the suggestions in the "official" thread under several points of view) and the worst thing is that they keep coming back over and over again!
Not sure why...
Yes there are, the real challenge is to identify the gems between the many many "not good not bad".