Best magic items to use as implements

[Captain Morgan]

Thaumaturge says: Choose an implement from the options to which you have access. You begin play with a mundane item of that type, and you gain the initiate benefit for that implement. While an implement is useful to you, it typically has no value if sold. If you acquire a new object of the same general implement type, you can switch your implement to the new object by spending 1 day of downtime with the new item.

My reading is that if you obtain a cool magic item that fits your implement type, you can turn it into your implement. Which has to be true if you're going to use a weapon implement past level 1. But besides the weapon implement, I'm curious what cool items you could utilize. Anyone got ideas? Feel free to break them up into the different implement categories and share for various levels.

[Red Griffyn]

A similar topic came up on reddit in the last month

You might find some items in there that are worthwhile.

[Sanityfaerie]

In particular, you want it to be a cool magical item that has a benefit if it's in your hands. If it doesn't have to be in hand to use, then having it also be an implement generates no additional value.

So the obvious one for starters is a shield. Should be pretty easy for mirror, might be a bit trickier for some of the others. The Thaum is already pretty action-constrained and has relatively easy access to reactions, so it's not as exciting as it *could* be, but it's still something.

If you can find a way to fit it in, making the thing a caster's targe would let you use Scroll Thaumaturgy without swapping hands. It would be cool if you could somehow make that work with scroll esoterica, but I'm pretty sure that that's pushing it too far.

[Finoan]

I will mention that there is a rules question about whether you even can use a magical item dual-purpose as a Thaumaturge Implement.

The discussion never really went anywhere yet, but it is still an open question.

[Red Griffyn]

Finoan wrote:

I will mention that there is a rules question about whether you even can use a magical item dual-purpose as a Thaumaturge Implement.

The discussion never really went anywhere yet, but it is still an open question.

It isn't open. The number of 'rules' posts I've submitted and never got an answer would surprise you. It isn't an 'indicator either way'

But the rules are fine with it. To substantiate that point we have to cite enabling and restricting requirements surrounding implements. TLDR is that it is specifically enabled to 'all items' and nothing restricts it to any specific subcategory of items beyond what matches the form factor of the specific implement type.

Enabling Wording

Implement Definition:
"Your implement is a special object of symbolic importance: your badge as you treat with the supernatural and a powerful tool if things turn violent. Choose an implement from the options to which you have access. You begin play with a mundane item of that type, and you gain the initiate benefit for that implement. While an implement is useful to you, it typically has no value if sold. If you acquire a new object of the same general implement type, you can switch your implement to the new object by spending 1 day of downtime with the new item. As you advance as a thaumaturge, you will collect up to three implements and unlock the hidden potential stored within each, so you can mix and match their benefits to suit your situation."

Object Definition:
"object: See also item."~PC CORE

Item Definition:
"item: An object you carry, hold, or use. Items sometimes grant an item bonus or penalty to certain checks. ~PC CORE

If we instead use the definition from GM core which contains the bulk of items that definition includes pretty much all items:

Item Definition:
item: An object you carry, hold, or use. Items sometimes grant an item bonus or penalty to certain checks.
activating items 220–221
alchemical bombs 244–245
alchemical elixirs 246–247
alchemical poisons 248–250
alchemical tools 251
ammunition 255–256
apex items 270–271
armor 228–231, PC 271-273
artifacts 300–303
automatic bonus progression variant 83
building items 130–133
buying and selling 48–49, 61
companion items 272
crafting items 223
cursed items 306–307
gems & art objects 298–299
held items 273–277
intelligent items 304–305
investing items 219
item rules 219–223
item tables 320–326
materials 252–254
oils 257–258
potions 259–261
reading items 221–223
relics 308–319
runes 224, 226–227 (armor), 232 (shields), 236–239 (weapons)
scrolls 262
shields 233–235, PC 274
staves 278–281
talismans 263–267
wands 282–283
weapons 240–243, PC 275-286
wondrous consumables 268–269
worn items 284–297

If you go further to that GM core section you'll see that all of these things are items. Some are categorized in various different ways to make grouping/reading easier and provide some structure, but the blanket term item effectively covers everything. You could make your implement a 'relic' from a god if you wanted because it is still an item.

Restrictive Wording
You'll find that all restrictive wording beyond the specific item you could start with at Level 1 (see implement definition above) all come in the specific implement section rules. They typically restrict the form factor of the item but not the specific category. Lets use the 'bell' implement as an example:

Bell Implement Definition:
Bells symbolize the power that sounds and emotions hold over others, soothing with one tone and startling with another. Bells, drums, finger cymbals, and other percussion instruments are most typical, but these implements can be any type of portable musical instrument that is played with one hand. Bell implements are associated with the astrological signs of the daughter and the blossom.

So any item (as enabled by the definition for implement) that is a musical instrument that is played with one hand can work. That could include the Silent Bell for example since it is an item and it is a one handed musical instrument.

I think the primary reason think it must continue to be a mundane item is because they read that you get a mundane worthless item at L1 and then erroneously extrapolated that to be always true. The rules clearly specify you can select an item (not mundane item) at higher levels.

[Finoan]

Red Griffyn wrote:

It isn't open. The number of 'rules' posts I've submitted and never got an answer would surprise you. It isn't an 'indicator either way'

By 'open question' I mean that it didn't get much discussion or analysis. Doing so on that thread would probably be a better idea than doing it here.

[Captain Morgan]

Yes, I'd prefer to just assume my reading is correct for this thread rather than discuss whether or not it is.

[Red Griffyn]

Feel free to point from there to here. I'm not going to resurrect a 1+yr old post with little engagement. The discussion has been had many times. Personally I typically have it on Reddit, and probably have posted 6-8 different times in the last year.

Usually people are more up in arms about an item becoming regalia that could also become another implement (e.g., a sword could clearly be both a weapon or regalia implement). That's a more niche dive in than "could you pick any item for your implement." From the rules for objects -> items and wording on implement the answer is yes so long as you meet the 'form factor' requirements set by the specific implements restrictive wording.