| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
So, recently I was statting up some low-level NPCs -- artisans and townsfolk, that sort of thing.
And I realized when assigning them gear that if you closely follow the rules for NPC creation, there's a bit of gap where you have too little gold to purchase magical items but way too much to spend on ordinary gear. I mean, the local blacksmith walking about town in full plate seemed excessive. Instead, how about some magic items for the common person?
This was perhaps the only item I came up with that was actually of practical use:
Tradesman’s Charm
Aura faint transmutation; CL 1st; Weight —
Slot neck; Price 100 gp (+1); 400 gp (+2); 900gp (+3)DESCRIPTION
These simple silver pendants come in a variety of shapes, but all of them are iconic of a particular craft or profession: a miniature anvil for a blacksmith, a book for a bookseller, a cleaver for a butcher, and so on. When worn, a tradesman’s charm provides a competence bonus to one specific Craft or Profession skill chosen at the time the item is created.CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
Craft Wondrous Item, crafter’s fortune; Cost 50 gp (+1); 200gp (+2); 450gp (+3)
But that got me thinking about other options. Here are a couple of the completely frivolous examples:
Age-Defying Face Powder
Aura faint transmutation; CL 1st; Weight —
Slot none; Price 100 gpDESCRIPTION
This silver compact, embossed with images of lambs, spring flowers, and frolicking youth, contains a small brush and powder, which, when applied to the face of a middle-aged or older humanoid as a standard action, reduces the person’s apparent age by one step (from venerable to old, from old to middle-aged, and so on). This does not affect the user’s ability scores, merely their cosmetic appearance, and the effect wears off at sunrise the next day. Multiple applications do not stack, and the powder has no effect on anyone younger than middle-aged. The compact contains enough powder for 10 applications after which the compact loses any magical properties.CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
Craft Wondrous Item, youthful appearance; Cost 50 gp
Apothecary’s Spoon
Aura faint universal; CL 1st; Weight —
Slot none; Price 50 gpDESCRIPTION
Originally developed by alchemists to make noxious medicinal tinctures more palatable, these long, spiral-handled spoons have become common among upscale bars and taverns, where they’re used to craft artisan libations. As a standard action, the spoon can be stirred into up to one pint of liquid to impart any flavor the user desires. If the liquid is not consumed within one hour, the imparted flavor fades away.CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
Craft Wondrous Item, prestidigitation; Cost 25 gp
Please do post your own examples if you have them...
To bridge the noticeably large gap between masterwork items and magic items I've made special materials more available in my world. Basically by halving the costs of special materials. As well as coming up with a few new ones of my own.
I don't have my notes in front of me but I think it was basically as follows.
1-2 = set of mundane gear.
3-4 = set of masterwork gear.
5-6 = set of special material gear.
7-8 = set of +1 magical gear.
etc.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I noticed the Paizo folks sometimes do something similar by maybe adding gemstones or precious metals to a piece of ordinary gear, which works too.
Here are a few of the other items I came up with:
Comb of Colorful Coiffures
Aura faint universal; CL 1st; Weight —
Slot none; Price 50 gpDESCRIPTION
These silver hair combs inlaid with abalone images of peacocks are popular among young aristocrats who attend masquerade balls and similarly showy social events. As a standard action, the comb can be drawn through one’s hair to change its color to any hue the user wishes. The color persists for 24 hours, after which the user’s hair returns to its natural color.CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
Craft Wondrous Item, prestidigitation; Cost 25 gp
Everheating Platter
Aura faint universal; CL 1st; Weight 2 lbs.
Slot none; Price 100 gpDESCRIPTION
These sterling silver serving trays, ornately edged with an embossed flame-like motif, can hold up to five servings of a food item. Any food items placed on the tray will be kept warm at an appropriate serving temperature. The platter does not cook or preserve food in any way, and any food left there for an extended period will become dry and inedible.CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
Craft Wondrous Item, prestidigitation; Cost 50 gp
Forgestone
Aura faint transmutation; CL 3rd; Weight 10 lbs.
Slot none; Price 800 gpDESCRIPTION
A favorite item of travelling smiths, this one-foot-diameter slab of polished obsidian feels cool to the touch, but any mundane metal item held against its surface soon becomes white hot and malleable. Although a forgestone heats metal too slowly for any practical offensive application, it provides blacksmiths and other metalworkers a portable substitute for the traditional forge. The forgestone also allows for the more nuanced application of heat, providing a +2 circumstance bonus to Craft skills related to metalworking.CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
Craft Wondrous Item, heat metal; Cost 400 gp
Check out this thread about hedge magic spells and make an item out of the spells found there...