Numenera has a category of items called 'oddities' that fit your description. You might want to check it out for inspiration.
How about really useful items like these...
Tacticslion
85: Cleric-in-a-can
Amulet of Barely-There-Magic wrote:
Amulet of Barely-There-Magic
Aura faint various; CL 1st
Slot neck; Price 13,680 gp; Weight -
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DESCRIPTION
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This amulet (probably something like a holy symbol of a bunch'a' gods all smushed 'round the edges or somethin', I dun'no) can be used to entirely replace your cleric's orison special ability by 8th level, and probably a bit better (since you don't have to be seen casting enhanced diplomacy).
Constant: detect magic, detect poison, enhanced diplomacy, read magic
Command Word: create water (2/day), mending (1/day), purify food and drink (3/day), stabilize (3/day)
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CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
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Craft Wondrous Item, all the orisons used above, Cost 6,840 gp
Hook: I dunno, like, someone wanted to make people think gods're awesome'r somethin', ya'know?
I was requested to paste this here from another thread. In that thread I (am planning on, at the time of this writing) mention(ing) an intelligent variant, with straight 10s in the scores, empathy, and the secretive additional trait which increases the cost by 500, and makes the ego a value of 1.
Amulet of Barely-There-Magic (Intelligent) wrote:
Amulet of Barely-There-Magic (Intelligent)
Aura faint various; CL 1st
Slot neck; Price 14,680 gp; Weight -
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DESCRIPTION
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Alignment N (compatible with all alignments); Ego 1; Senses normal
INT 10 WIS 10 CHA 10
Communication empathy
The amulet's powers are not discernible by detect magic or identify. The special powers can be identified with analyze dweomer. The powers and the abilities of the base item can be learned normally. The amulet will use its stabilize ability on a wearer, if the bearer needs it.
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DESCRIPTION
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This (sort of) intelligent amulet (probably something like a holy symbol of a bunch'a' gods all smushed 'round the edges or somethin', I dun'no) can be used to entirely replace your cleric's orison special ability by 8th level, and probably a bit better (since you don't have to be seen casting enhanced diplomacy).
Constant: detect magic, detect poison, enhanced diplomacy, read magic
Command Word: create water (2/day), mending (1/day), purify food and drink (3/day), stabilize (3/day)
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CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
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Craft Wondrous Item, all the orisons used above, Cost 7,340 gp
86. amulet of defensive spells
This stores 3 spell levels (Such as 3 shield spells) that activate defensively(Spells must come from the wearer). Construction costs will be posted when I get them.
Hook: The emblem of a family of magic users is engraved on the back as well as a password that a secret society of do gooders will respond to.
Special Discoveries..
A peppermint candy that heals one point of damage a round. After it heals the tenth point of damage it's gone.
Chances are if I want to add it for Flava I will either make it partially cursed so they have to work to get rid of it. Or wait till giving them something they will never let go won't break the game.
Numenera has a category of items called 'oddities' that fit your description. You might want to check it out for inspiration.
Numenera Oddities..
I just created a link to something they want money for and acted like I was helping. I'm so ashamed.
Goth Guru, 5 hours, 11 minutes ago
66. Teddy Paladin
This adorable teddy bear in shining armor is also a phylactery of faithfulness. When the holder considers something the GM might punish them for, he delivers a small shock (1D4 subdual) and says in his cute little voice, “Oh no, don’t coup de grass sleeping monsters, that’s not nice.”
Goth Guru, 5 hours, 11 minutes ago
66. Teddy Paladin
This adorable teddy bear in shining armor is also a phylactery of faithfulness. When the holder considers something the GM might punish them for, he delivers a small shock (1D4 subdual) and says in his cute little voice, “Oh no, don’t coup de grass sleeping monsters, that’s not nice.”
Awesome.
I gave my Skull and Shackles crew a set of 4 items that were basically kids dress up toys. The Regalia of the Crimson Hare, it had a wooden toy sword (that functioned as the ironwood spell), a red shirt with a bandolier (cloak of resistance), a pearl of power plush Crimson Hare. There was a whole story about the Crimson Hare who was a sort of robin hood/zorro figure who was from an Andoran propaganda children's story sort of like Redwall. The items were actually toys that were cursed. So they were beneficial but after time people gained rabbit features, fur, legs like a rabbit, ears and so on. I was really hoping someone would take two or more of the items and instantly become the Crimson Hare.
Numenera has a category of items called 'oddities' that fit your description. You might want to check it out for inspiration.
I believe the term used in that system is "cypher"; a maybe-useful, maybe-just-funny item that you find once in a while, and each player is limited in how many she can carry, to keep loot lists manageable.
Or are oddities a distinct mechanic? I don't recall.