Ok, so for a campaign I'm running I want to have a magical item controlling whomever attempts to carry it as the behind the scenes big bad evil guy.
I'm looking for help in stating out the intelligent item complete with awesome powers and such. Cost would be great, although it doesn't really matter (more for my knowledge than anything.)
As for the item, I'm a bit hung up on what the actual item should be. I was thinking something like a ring (a bit cliche) perhaps a wand or sword would be better, maybe even an intelligent spell book. The idea is that when an NPC and yes a PC picks up this intelligent item, it's ego is so strong, it will take over the being 99 times out of 100. It should be hard to destroy, perhaps adamantine and probably somehow offensively strong as well.
I know I've been sort of vague, but really all I have is the idea and not the know how here. Any thoughts on how to go about building this out?
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Socks... No one questions socks
or under garments .
There was a blog post by the paizo staff a while back that had some new intelligent item abilities, including one that gave an item back a single charge each day, and one that allowed an item to hide some of its powers.
Finding that post would be well worth your time I think.
Because a Crown of Dominion or Staff of Dominion would be awesome I think.
here was a blog post by the paizo staff a while back that had some new intelligent item abilities, including one that gave an item back a single charge each day, and one that allowed an item to hide some of its powers.
I shall search for this soon. As for the undergarments, while... unexpected, I was looking for something that a lot of different people will tend to use. More than one person wearing the same underpants in a medieval time period just sounds like very bad judgement (and hygiene).
Ability to teleport itself to safety is a must.
How about using a coin, that looks like a common silver or gold piece. This would allow the intelligent item to be passed around, until it makes its way into the hands of somebody it wants to dominate. It's a common enough item that nobody is going to think twice about it, and is easy to hide (the party finds a stash of silver coins worth yadda yadda yadda).
Needs the spell "Magic Aura" permancied on it that way it appears nonmagical.
I do like the coin idea. Won't be quite as offensive on its own, but could bestow some impressive properties to its handler. I'll probably go for that. So, there we have it, the intelligent item is a coin.
Teleportation could be very good indeed. Probably tick the players off, but they'll have to just figure it out.
Thanks for the suggestions thus far.
I do like the coin idea. Won't be quite as offensive on its own, but could bestow some impressive properties to its handler. I'll probably go for that. So, there we have it, the intelligent item is a coin.
Teleportation could be very good indeed. Probably tick the players off, but they'll have to just figure it out.
Thanks for the suggestions thus far.
Once sufficiently into the story, have the players acquire a macguffin to cancel out the coin's escape route.
EDIT: Cool idea, have players call the malevolent spirit within the item to fight it as the big climatic battle.
I once ran a campaign where the true villain was an evil intelligent armored kilt with the ability to make itself detect as a mundane item, cast a few simple buffs (STR/CON boosting mainly) and had a variant of the Succubus' Profane Gift (+2 STAT in exchange for -2 Will, ensuring that its typical users - already weakwilled warriors - wouldn't be able to resist its compulsions). That was a fun game.
I've had a PC build one of these, with the goal "bring [PC] back from the dead".
Put it on a headband of intellect because it was the single most expensive item he had, and he really wanted someone to loot it.
That said, if you want this to be stealthy then something that can be more easily concealed is the way to go. Sort of thing that if it is not distinctive then is a very different style of campaign.
I like the idea of Plaguebringer.
I once ran a campaign where the villain had a necklace with a bound daemon in it. The players had a heck of a time figuring out how the villain could evoke all sorts of special abilities. All sort of problems resulted when the entity got released. Destroying the artifact/relic only released it.
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Have the PCs encounter some sort of minor villain who constantly flips a coin as a habit. He escapes them in the end, but just barely.
Later, they catch him, but he isn't nearly as powerful as he was before, and his mannerisms have completely changed-- almost like he's not the same person. His defeat utterly fails to stop any of his plans from coming to fruition. He also no longer has the coin.
Later, the PCs encounter another villain who displays the same mannerisms and evil plans, and has a few of the same powers, despite being a completely different person. This new villain ALSO has a habit of flipping a coin.
Repeat as necessary until the PCs either figure it out or catch the current coin-holder. What the evil coin does then is up to you-- does it try to dominate one of the PCs, or lie low until they head back to town and spend it, at which point it dominates the blacksmith/potionbrewer/innkeeper? Having an NPC the party already knows suddenly turn on them could be a huge swerve, especially if they depend on this NPC for resources.
I like that idea I think of (I believe) is the character known as two face, heads you live tails well you know lol
I'm liking the story implications and will most likely be doing a lot of this. I'll probably be switching flipping the coin to rolling it across the knuckles (because the coin doesn't want to risk the oaf dropping him).
Right now I just have a dandy, intelligent goblin wizard that wants to destroy normal people as the main villain / party friend. (he's breaking them out of prison). So, I'm thinking of having the goblin search for this coin, not sure what it looks like, just to vex the players. Probably only giving them a bunch of locations to try and find it at.
I like this evil coin idea. It's easy to imagine it 'accidentally' falling out of its owner's hands or slipping through a tear in a pocket or coin purse a la the one ring. Also, it needs telekinesis of some kind so when its anger is aroused it can start throwing other coins from its owner's treasure as an attack. Maybe also have it compel greed from its owner so it has more ammunition/ more other coins to hide amongst.
dotting for interest or possible later post.
Modify a devil talisman. They contain the souls of pit fiends and the like.
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it's possible, I would recommend also to consider:
a powerful rakshasa failed a mission a long time ago and has been reincarnated into a raktavarna. He sees the pc as a good way to regain powers, as he pretends to be the weapon that they need for a quest to "save" the world. At the end of the day, the raktavarna is orchestrating his ressurection as a Rakshasa Maharaja (or I suppose you could go lower level depending on your campaign needs).
Give It Memory Lapse And Modify Memory As SLAs. Boost The DCs However You Can. It Can Now Safely Attempt a Private Domination Without Fear Of Giving Itself Away. Also Great Abilities For Manipulation Of Pawns And Enemies Alike.
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I like that idea I think of (I believe) is the character known as two face, heads you live tails well you know lol
Oh, I didn't mean he flips the coin to make decisions. That would draw the PCs attention to the coin. He just absent-mindedy flips it and catches it as he talks, to keep his hands busy.
Ideally you don't want the PCs suspecting the coin itself is anything but you being dramatic until at least two or three people have gotten their hands on it.
I would also give the coin an evocation spell, like Magic Missile or something. The wielder can then catch the coin in his palm, and shoot a spell with that hand. If the PCs make a Spellcraft check, you can then tell them that he shouldn't have been able to properly perform the somatic component without dropping the coin.
I like that idea I think of (I believe) is the character known as two face, heads you live tails well you know lolOh, I didn't mean he flips the coin to make decisions. That would draw the PCs attention to the coin. He just absent-mindedy flips it and catches it as he talks, to keep his hands busy.
Ideally you don't want the PCs suspecting the coin itself is anything but you being dramatic until at least two or three people have gotten their hands on it.
I would also give the coin an evocation spell, like Magic Missile or something. The wielder can then catch the coin in his palm, and shoot a spell with that hand. If the PCs make a Spellcraft check, you can then tell them that he shouldn't have been able to properly perform the somatic component without dropping the coin.
I knew what you were saying lol but some bad guys are bad at decision making lol
Artifact level sentient sword. The BBEG simply appears to be the guy in spiked armor, but that guy is really just the pawn. Teleport would still be viable. There are always more pawns.
Have the PCs encounter some sort of minor villain who constantly flips a coin as a habit. He escapes them in the end, but just barely.
Later, they catch him, but he isn't nearly as powerful as he was before, and his mannerisms have completely changed-- almost like he's not the same person. His defeat utterly fails to stop any of his plans from coming to fruition. He also no longer has the coin.
Later, the PCs encounter another villain who displays the same mannerisms and evil plans, and has a few of the same powers, despite being a completely different person. This new villain ALSO has a habit of flipping a coin.
Repeat as necessary until the PCs either figure it out or catch the current coin-holder. What the evil coin does then is up to you-- does it try to dominate one of the PCs, or lie low until they head back to town and spend it, at which point it dominates the blacksmith/potionbrewer/innkeeper? Having an NPC the party already knows suddenly turn on them could be a huge swerve, especially if they depend on this NPC for resources.
Ooo, that it a good tell (and I wish I had come to this thread earlier since it was my first reaction too) . Have it as a trademark, ala Azazel singing "Time is on My Side" in Fallen (you know, that film with Denzel Washington.). As a coin, it can also choose to be completely in conspicuous in a pocket or whatever, and use the telltale coin flipping during the "Ah-hah! It was me the whole time!" moment.
With maybe a 1/week teleport (just enough to make a quick get away when the meat puppet it taken out, but not enough so that the party can't play bloodhound to try to flush it out), and the ability to alter its appearance to another coin at will, and suddenly the party will be completely suspicious of each and every damn coin they find. They will start to only accept payments in gems and other valuables, and they will eye anyone dealing with money suspiciously. Remember, the mark of a good villian is to have the party practicing paranoid defensive tactics years after you stop using him.
Also, for even more trickery (in case you are feeling particularly evil), have his victims all take on a red herring such as a cheap crown to make them think that it is the crown that is doing it. Simply giving the coin prestidigitation at will would allow a consistent item that can be easily destroyed, but just as easily replaced. That will infuriate the party to no end as they obsessively try to find ways to destroy the crown that somehow always comes back.
So, there we have it, the intelligent item is a coin.
"Ah yes, the Currency of Nefarious Capricy. Said to transform the souls of those who take possession into twisted shapes filled with avarice.
Legends have told of it underneath the nose of a dragon's hoard, fueling the purpose of these mythical creatures gathering shiny coins and other valuables, or in the tombs of fabled champions long deceased, waiting for the right adventurer to take it from wherever it rests, to turn such an individual from a companion of virtue and compassion into a greedy wretch whose only interest is self-gratification by wealth.
It is written that many have come across this coin and have fallen prey to its foul enchantments. Some say it is the source of all greed, that is it the cause of bandits and thieves whom present themselves all over the world, but who is to say that the coin only awakens a person's true ambitions in their short, withering life?
Were it not for the invention of currency and all things material, perhaps avarice itself would cease to function. Surely, one who eliminates themselves of such values would be free of Greed's grasp. Giving up such worldly pleasures would not be easy; especially with the coin's covetous shimmering and echoing cupidity. But one who succeeds in this path of enlightment would no longer feel the voracity that comes with this token."
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Ooo, that it a good tell (and I wish I had come to this thread earlier since it was my first reaction too) . Have it as a trademark, ala Azazel singing "Time is on My Side" in Fallen (you know, that film with Denzel Washington.). As a coin, it can also choose to be completely in conspicuous in a pocket or whatever, and use the telltale coin flipping during the "Ah-hah! It was me the whole time!" moment.
I must admit, I also love the idea that they catch the NPC who they think is the villain, relieve him of all his treasure (including the coin), then spend the coin in town, and their next BBEG is one of the same merchants they bought their new gear from. Maybe the innkeeper gives the goblin warchief a key to their room? Maybe the alchemist sells them potions of Inflict Wounds spells instead of Cure? Betrayal is a harsh mistress, and can really drive home the idea that their antagonist could be ANYONE...
The black blade magus has a sword that is intelligent and has it's own agenda. Maybe a rogue black blade that was cursed at creation to kill/do whatever/maim/murder people. If it's an intelligent magic item, could you in theory give it a lich like template? Just slap on a template disregarding all the "You can't do this, you can't do that blah blah blah" you are the gm after all.
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I'm forced to think of the Care Bears movie where the villain is in fact a magical book.
Are you familiar with the Legend of Kyrandia computer game trilogy? The second game has a stick that keeps showing up and repeatedly proving very helpful.
The point is, what if you have a shadow-war between an archvillain item and a heroic, helpful, similarly innocuous-seeming item the PCs also keep running into?
Another idea: If you want inspiration for campaign villains your PCs will hate, you've got two very generous fountainheads: Star Trek and The Twilight Zone. Submitted for your approval: An archvillain who manages to put your PCs through the wringer...without ever actually doing anything.
Ok, so for a campaign I'm running I want to have a magical item controlling whomever attempts to carry it as the behind the scenes big bad evil guy.
I'm looking for help in stating out the intelligent item complete with awesome powers and such. Cost would be great, although it doesn't really matter (more for my knowledge than anything.)
As for the item, I'm a bit hung up on what the actual item should be. I was thinking something like a ring (a bit cliche) perhaps a wand or sword would be better, maybe even an intelligent spell book. The idea is that when an NPC and yes a PC picks up this intelligent item, it's ego is so strong, it will take over the being 99 times out of 100. It should be hard to destroy, perhaps adamantine and probably somehow offensively strong as well.
I know I've been sort of vague, but really all I have is the idea and not the know how here. Any thoughts on how to go about building this out?
How about something that doesn't seem to be truly powerful, but which the players probably won't get rid of?
This came up last session on an odd d100 treasure roll:
A small sentient glass bead that can only speak in braille which appears on its surface. Its topics of conversation are limited to the difficulties of watercress farming and its bearing on the world economy.
Now I want to share this crazy story because one of the characters had the background of librarian and it turns out their character knew braille (not in golarion, they are playing people trapped in the sword art game and setting) thanks to a very nice profession roll.
There was much joy as the party asked the strange bead questions and learned about a new unknown world they had entered. The bead contains a great deal of info, but they have to tease it out through rp and the right questions (it can hear them but it responds in braille). The bead has some theories on what it is (collected memories of a venerable council of watercrest farmers), but it could contain great power used by the bead to serve its own interests, a buried megalomaniac conscience (the watercrest empire, or death), a blue dragon's soul, or all of the above.
Another idea would be a sentient sword of dancing (and a touch of AC boosting) with some type of bardic archetypal identity inside. It seems helpful, Shakespearean and into fighting, but there is more to come. What is really going on is a high level bard is inside the weapon deliberately, and has been placed in the path of the pcs so that it can be picked up and later exposed to a high up person or gathering. It will then pull off a tumultuous act causing great suffering and wide-ranging effects at just the right time. Think the count of Monte Christo as a sword.
I must admit, I also love the idea that they catch the NPC who they think is the villain, relieve him of all his treasure (including the coin), then spend the coin in town, and their next BBEG is one of the same merchants they bought their new gear from. Maybe the innkeeper gives the goblin warchief a key to their room? Maybe the alchemist sells them potions of Inflict Wounds spells instead of Cure? Betrayal is a harsh mistress, and can really drive home the idea that their antagonist could be ANYONE...
Oh god, that just might lead to new paranoid patterns that could last through all tabletops games for a decade. Rigging their inn door with traps and explosives will become as commonplace to them as asking to buy 50 feet of rope and a 10 foot pole. At least if you play it well.
A black and white necklace. It's an ancient (insert villian) inside per trap the soul. It has the ability to use trap the soul on nearby creatures effectively taking over the body and trapping the former resident in the necklace.
Add other abilities as thematic and necessary.
Perhaps it's an ancient wizard who put himself into the necklace as a means to gain immortality, only something went wrong. He lost the ability to cast spells ( or something else). He's been trying to correct the mistake for years. Without the ability to cast spells (or whatever) it's increasingly complicated/difficult.
Ok, so for a campaign I'm running I want to have a magical item controlling whomever attempts to carry it as the behind the scenes big bad evil guy.
I'm looking for help in stating out the intelligent item complete with awesome powers and such. Cost would be great, although it doesn't really matter (more for my knowledge than anything.)
As for the item, I'm a bit hung up on what the actual item should be. I was thinking something like a ring (a bit cliche) perhaps a wand or sword would be better, maybe even an intelligent spell book. The idea is that when an NPC and yes a PC picks up this intelligent item, it's ego is so strong, it will take over the being 99 times out of 100. It should be hard to destroy, perhaps adamantine and probably somehow offensively strong as well.
I know I've been sort of vague, but really all I have is the idea and not the know how here. Any thoughts on how to go about building this out?
I did this once. The BBEG was a sentient ring that was essentially an evil Ring of Ultimate Wizardry (doubles the spell slots of each spell level of the caster) with a really goofy high Ego score and a lot of little abilities that allowed it to disguise its appearance and/or move about when it needed to. It was effectively harmless by itself, but its mode of operations basically revolved around leap-frogging itself from one spellcaster up to the next, as it constantly searched for the most powerful caster to be its host body. It's ultimate goal was to resurrect its creator and rejoin him to rule over everything.
The party ended up discovering the ring while helping a scholar who was later murdered. It became apparent that something the scholar had found and was studying resulted in him being killed as a means of silencing him. They later found that it was the ring he had discovered in an ancient dig site. The ring hijacked his assistant's body and murdered the good doctor and set fire to his house (the party found some clues in the remnants). Later the party was trying to track the murderer down, only to find the unwitting murderer dying and muttering about the ring. They saved the assistant but then realized they must be dealing with some sort of cursed thing.
The ring made its way to a local celebrity's hotel room. A sorceress of some worth, she had quite the little menagerie of fans in her entourage. She was kind of a jerk, but the ring was given to her by one of her "fans" he found the ring and wanted to present it to her as a gift, explaining that it was a powerful ring of wizardry. She donned the ring and was quickly taken over by it, which allowed the ring access to 3rd level spells. The adventure ended with the sorceress flying out onto a nearby building and fireballing the hotel before rushing off into the night.
The party was chasing the ring and its host, but sadly scheduling issues prevented us from continuing the game.
Oh, that being said, no matter how strong an item's ego, it's never 99/100 times. It's more like 95/100, or more specifically, 19/20.
I think there's a mythic ability or two to force someone to reroll a save, so you could get that down to 361/400 times.
A lot of great suggestions here. I do like the idea of giving the coin the spells that manipulate memory and will most definitely be giving it constant magic aura and 1/week teleportation. What do you all think should be this coins spell / special ability limit?
Right now I have 2 definite:
Constant Magic Aura
1 a week, Teleportation
Some sort of unluck re-roll ability focused on the holder.
and I may be giving it:
Modify Memory
Memory Lapse
Possibilities:
Magic Missile
Suggestion
(Not yet sure how many times per day or the DCs yet.)
I also really like the idea of the coin waiting for itself to be passed to merchants that the PCs have spent money at.
While I think intelligent swords and weapons are great, I feel like I and my players would have a lot of fun with the subtlety of an intelligent coin, that looks a lot like other coins.
Augury should be a shoe-in (Weal or Woe coin toss).
If you like the Memory spells, why not continue the theme? There's also Share Memory, which the coin could use to show it's current wielder some juicy tid-bit's current location, or nasty thing in it's past, or just to rummage about in their mind for a bit. False Alibi could also be fun, especially for creating false leads for the party to follow.
These are all Bard spells as well. Not sure if that is worth anything, just thought I'd toss it out there to see if it sparks something.
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Have you come about how the coin is to be made yet? I enjoyed what my DM did a while back. I was playing in a group of 6 in an evil campaign were the party is grouped together for there own ends. My character, an Antipaladin, made quite the name for its self as a one who enjoyed means a bit to vulgar to mention here. So the DM sent a group of 5 female Paladins at us on the backs of Unicorns. WE killed all but one Paladin and her mount. The 2 wizards and i had quite the idea amongst us that the DM allowed. Using rituals involving summoned and enslaved Succubi and a whole lot of wizard power. We defiled the virgin paladin with the horn of her own mount and use the blood to temper the blade. The steal was forged out of the paladins bones and celestial armor with the hilt being the Unicorn's horn. A defiled blade for a defiling master.
...A defiled blade for a defiling master.
Dark, and a tad too descriptive, IMO. Don't be surprised if your post gets edited.
Other then that, an excellent descriptive text for an evil magic item. I might just steal that. I enjoy making such items and the evil creatures that create them for my PCs to defeat. Nothing makes a group to a fist-pump like destroying TRUE evil and not just a another batch of raiding orcs.
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...A defiled blade for a defiling master.Dark, and a tad too descriptive, IMO. Don't be surprised if your post gets edited.
Other then that, an excellent descriptive text for an evil magic item. I might just steal that. I enjoy making such items and the evil creatures that create them for my PCs to defeat. Nothing makes a group to a fist-pump like destroying TRUE evil and not just a another batch of raiding orcs.
Ya probably was a bit to descriptive. Thing is i really censored my self a lot. There were some really terrible things going on in that game part of it being an evil game for one and as an Antipaladin you have to literally be the opposite of paladin in almost all regards including its extremes.
I too fall under the fist-pump players when it comes to that. Best part is after all was said and done the same DM had us play a new game were we had our previous evil characters be the bad guys. I played, with this knowledge of course, a female paladin that was part of the same order as the one used in the ritual. That was a most fun fight and even though i killed off a character i made we all knew that it was gonna happen the DM even told us so in the beginning of the evil campaign.
Also a little added note if wondering about the sword. We had the order create and seal a room under the deepest part of the citadel the order resided in just to keeps it out of harms way.
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You also need to start thinking about what the coin's evil plan actually IS.
Since it's a coin, maybe its origin and goals are tied to Abadar, god of wealth? Perhaps it was originally an evil wizard cursed by Abadar, so now it's trying to debauch the currency of the realm? Maybe it hates greedy misers (who would inevitably acquire the coin) and promises them greater riches only to trick them into losing everything? Or maybe it's a form of inevitable, and acts as a "hand in the machine", to enforce a strong economy by making its holder spend all their money (thus ensuring it has a high turnover rate)? Maybe it simply drives its owner to seek out and punish "thieves", and for some reason believes the PCs to be thieves?
You also need to start thinking about what the coin's evil plan actually IS.
Since it's a coin, maybe its origin and goals are tied to Abadar, god of wealth? Perhaps it was originally an evil wizard cursed by Abadar, so now it's trying to debauch the currency of the realm? Maybe it hates greedy misers (who would inevitably acquire the coin) and promises them greater riches only to trick them into losing everything? Or maybe it's a form of inevitable, and acts as a "hand in the machine", to enforce a strong economy by making its holder spend all their money (thus ensuring it has a high turnover rate)? Maybe it simply drives its owner to seek out and punish "thieves", and for some reason believes the PCs to be thieves?
...It needs a plan?
I kind of like the idea of going with a characterization like Azazel, whose motivations were "I am going use this random guy to serial kill because..... what else am I going to do?" and "Well, Denzel Washington beat me. I might as well screw up his life now that my favorite meat puppet is gone".
Ok, for an actual discussion though: while it might seem like a cop out, I kind of like the idea of having a villian that isn't bound by some deep rooted motive. With a motivation, you get routine. With routine, you get predictability. As long as you make it clear that the lack of motive is due to a general ennui and lack of purpose rather than a lack of forethought on the GM, you could make it unpredictable, and thus more dangerous.
Plus, themed villains can get...kind of...well goofy. I mean, the moment the party hears from the barmaid that there is a shipment of coins going through, they will think: "Oh, are we going to have to face Janus again?"
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Well, the players aren't supposed to catch on that it's the same villain every time. If they don't get that it's the coin that caused all the chaos, then they won't get it AGAIN if the coin's new host doesn't have the same M.O.
Plus, then you get the priceless "oh crap" moment when they finally make the connection and realize all the other "villains" were just innocent pawns.
Spell like ability -- inspire gallantry 3/day would be a great ability for a coin if we are still on that.
First give The Coin At-Will Prestidigitation.
It now has a minor telekinesis to move itself or other small things around and the ability "to perform simple magical effects".
Next give it 1/day Magic Aura.
The duration should be high enough it only has to use it on itself occasionally. It can now also throw people off it's trail by making something else look suspicious.
1/week Teleportation, nuff said.
For the reroll power give it the oracle revelation Misfortune.
Add mind-affecting enchantment spells to taste. Suggestion being a good way for The Coin to quickly get itself to the best pawns.
For an attack power I like Burning Disarm
First give The Coin At-Will Prestidigitation.
It now has a minor telekinesis to move itself or other small things around and the ability "to perform simple magical effects".
I was going to suggest the same, but I am unsure whether you can list the user of the spell if they are long enough. Lifting a coin is a simple magical trick, but lifting yourself at least needs some kind of concentration to do right....and I am unsure whether prestidigitation has that power.