A potentially interesting (if gross) magic item occurred to me today but I'm having some trouble on the design.
I'm thinking of a pair of slippers that slow the wearer's normal movement and leave a trail of slime.
Something like their movement through regular squares costs double and difficult terrain cost four times normal - but any square they've moved through in the last 10 minutes(?) hour(?) is considered slime covered (slimed) and only costs 1 square (even if it was originally difficult terrain)
For creature without the slippers, slimed squares are treated like a weaker version of grease?
The issues are - I don't really want faster movement to mean that the wearer can slime more squares - the movement is limited by the slippers ability to create slime - so I kind of want to say small slippers restrict movement to no more than 10', medium no more than 15' and large to 20' - and give half-priced movement in slimed squares - but I don't think there's a precedent for 1/2 price movement.
Also, pricing is going to be difficult. Any suggestions?
"SLIME: A mucous, viscous, or glutinous substance exuded from the bodies of certain animals, notably fishes and mollusks: as, the slime of a snail. In some cases this slime is the secretion of a special gland"
<gag>
Rather than restricting movement maybe restrict the amount of squares slimed per round? If you can move normally but only slime 15' per round then for a continuous trail you'd be limited to that 15' but not crippled otherwise.
It does look like a joke item. If it might break suspension for your players - don't do it. You'd know them better than I of course.
This is an excellent cursed item. Make it appear to be boots of haste, then hit them with the slugginess when they put them on.
I'm hiding is correct; I did also think of it's potential as a cursed item, but I'm really going for something that is situationaly useful or useful with forethought and effort.
It might be best in the hands (on the feet?) of an NPC who could have the whole battlefield (small cavern) slimed up and ready to go at the beginning of an encounter.
I really like the concept behind this item. It could be useful in the hands of a clever player, and it's a bit icky—definitely not something you'd want to wear around the house. I think the design direction you've indicated could use a bit of massaging. For what it's worth, I'll give it a shot.
You probably don't want to have the slippery slime effect active all the time. Anyone wearing the slippers would be permanently banished to the back of the marching order, and greasing up the party's backtrail sounds kinda dangerous. You don't want to have to keep constant track of the exact squares the wearer moved through, especially if the trail's duration is short enough that you're also tracking round-by-round slime removal.
I suppose a character could get around the problem by changing shoes, if you don't mind the inevitable Mr. Rogers references.
How committed are you to the speed reduction aspect of the slippers? It certainly fits the theme of the item, but it also moves it further into joke territory. "They're sluggish! Get it?" Movement speed is important and I wouldn't penalize it lightly. Allowing the item to scale in utility with speed doesn't strike me as a bad idea.
So, with all that in mind, here's my quick pass at statting these slimy slippers up. I've added an always-on effect, providing both a benefit and a drawback, and put some limitations on the full-on slime trail.
Sluggish Slippers
Aura faint abjuration; CL 7th
Slot feet; Price 4000 gp; Weight 1 lb.
Description
These slughide slippers are the color of old snot and faintly warm to the touch. When worn, they leave behind a thin trail of slime, which decays after an hour but provides a +2 circumstance bonus to anyone attempting to track the wearer. A character wearing the slippers suffers no penalties for walking across greasy or slimy surfaces, including the effects of Grease. The slippers provide no particular benefit when traversing ice or similar sheer surfaces.
Three times a day, the wearer can activate the slippers, causing them to spew out copious quantities of slime. The wearer's current square, and any other squares she walks through, are coated in slippery goo, to a total distance of 60 ft. Slimed squares are treated as if affected by Grease. The slime lasts for one minute after the slippers are activated. This ability can only be used while standing on a solid surface.
Construction Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, Freedom of Movement, Grease; Cost 2000 gp
Sluggish Slippers
Aura faint abjuration; CL 7th
Slot feet; Price 4000 gp; Weight 1 lb.
Description
These slughide slippers are the color of old snot and faintly warm to the touch. When worn, they leave behind a thin trail of slime, which decays after an hour but provides a +2 circumstance bonus to anyone attempting to track the wearer. A character wearing the slippers suffers no penalties for walking across greasy or slimy surfaces, including the effects of Grease. The slippers provide no particular benefit when traversing ice or similar sheer surfaces....
Fantastic! Thank you!