Staring at a page of +1 swords and +2 rings of protection... I was wondering if someone might know of a good random table for magic item flavour. A couple of examples I've come up with so far:

Battle axe +1 (Darkblood). Any wounds incurred bleed a dark maroon colour instead of red

Wand of Device Negation (Grinder). Any attempt at using a device targeted by this wand will make a sound like a someone grinding a gear without putting in a clutch.

Plate +1 (Bounceback). Failed attacks against the armour cause the attacking weapon to bounce back as if it had hit rubber.

This flavour doesn't have any mechanical effect - though it could if the player is clever. I'm looking to make magic items more unique.

I seem to recall a game where actions related to the original item's owner released successively more powerful attributes of the item. It was pretty good but would only really be useful in a game where magic items were relatively rare, the sheer amount of work involved in cooking up a legend for each individual item and actions to unlock the powers, never mind the powers themselves, would be impressive.

And then of course the PCs might not want to get that sidetracked just for an extra +2 so it might all be wasted.

Thanks, I like the idea of rare and historied magic items. At our current low-level game, the adventurers aren't going to be seeing anything like that yet.

I'm thinking more along the lines of what I've seen for potions: random tables to determine taste, colour, consistancy, etc.

Quote from: The Traveller;570932I seem to recall a game where actions related to the original item's owner released successively more powerful attributes of the item. It was pretty good but would only really be useful in a game where magic items were relatively rare, the sheer amount of work involved in cooking up a legend for each individual item and actions to unlock the powers, never mind the powers themselves, would be impressive.

And then of course the PCs might not want to get that sidetracked just for an extra +2 so it might all be wasted.

It could have been Earthdawn.  I always loved that form of magical flavor.  It isn't a 'sword +2', but a weapon once used by a desperate warrior to deal the dying blow to a Horror, changed forever by the experience.

I think D&D's concept of the magic item shop runs contrary to this idea, though, so YMMV.

Quote from: mcbobbo;571390It could have been Earthdawn.  I always loved that form of magical flavor.  It isn't a 'sword +2', but a weapon once used by a desperate warrior to deal the dying blow to a Horror, changed forever by the experience.

That sounds like the one, very Warehouse 13 vibe. I haven't tried it yet but it looked really fun, if laborious to set up.

Yeah, Earthdawn is like that. So is High Valor, if you choose to spend your "experience" on the weapon.

Quote from: languagegeek;570871Staring at a page of +1 swords and +2 rings of protection... I was wondering if someone might know of a good random table for magic item flavour. A couple of examples I've come up with so far:

Battle axe +1 (Darkblood). Any wounds incurred bleed a dark maroon colour instead of red

Wand of Device Negation (Grinder). Any attempt at using a device targeted by this wand will make a sound like a someone grinding a gear without putting in a clutch.

Plate +1 (Bounceback). Failed attacks against the armour cause the attacking weapon to bounce back as if it had hit rubber.

This flavour doesn't have any mechanical effect - though it could if the player is clever. I'm looking to make magic items more unique.

Neat idea.  I've found sometimes just naming a weapon has that effect.

Anyways, don't know any random tables for either (names or "flavour"); I'd love to see some though.

RPGPundit

I'll play.

Random magic effects for swords:

1 - wounds made by this weapon bleed an unusual color
2 - wounds made by this weapon are not visible unless pried open
3 - weapon appears to absorb blood from the wounds it makes
4 - emits constant low hum when unsheathed
5 - blade lengthens and retracts up to 5 inches during course of combat, as appropriate to the wielder
6 - shiny blade actually functions as an effective, if skinny, mirror
7 - sword occasionally or on command changes form to another sword type with the same base stats, i.e. from cruciform longsword to basket-hilt broadsword, etc.
8 - sword blade exhibits moderate magnetism
9 - if placed in liquid, the sword floats
10 - sword looks much heavier or lighter than it actually is
11 - sword glows only during a particular phase of the moon, or a season, or a certain day of the year
12 - blade of the sword is never clean and cannot be cleaned
13 - blade grows fairly hot if left in the scabbard for over a couple of hours
14 - when grasped and unsheathed, the sword creates an illusion of a second, identical sword 3-6 inches away
15 - sword seems to be entirely dull except when used in combat with intent to kill or maim
16 - sword displays the story of the last fight it was used for in etchings along the blade
17 - sword's pommel adopts the form of the head of the sword's last victim
18 - sword vibrates, not uncontrollably, in the presence of anger or another emotion
19 - blade is unusually effective against inanimate wood/stone/bronze/ other material not commonly used in armor
20 - animals are frightened of the sword when unsheathed
21 - sword beats aside opposing blades with unusual power
22 - blade occasionally blinks in and out of existence when a blow would otherwise be parried
23 - sword insists on being wielded in the left (or right) hand, and can be done so at no penalty to the wielder
24 - for brief moments during a fight, the sword moves of its own volition

Fuck if I'm spending any more time looking at fight threads tonight:

Random Properties For Armor

1 - the armor appears as normal clothing, but only when not worn
2 - suit of armor is, itself, invisible or insubstantial in appearance
3 - appears to be made of a different material than it would ordinarily be constructed from (for example, shell, copper, wood, glass, and so on)
4 - smells very strong (repulsive or attractive) to certain animals
5 - fills wearer with a particular emotion (joy, anger, jealousy, etc.) when donned
6 - wearer is unable to sleep (normally?) with this armor on
7 - turns away sharp edges that are held within a few inches of it
8 - the wearer of this armor grows taller or shorter by a foot, or less
9 - the armor confers extraordinary alcohol tolerance
10 - the armor burns or corrodes any cloth that is used to cover it, or its sigil
11 - a particular facial feature of the wearer changes; eye color, beard, etc.
12 - inscribed on the armor are the names of all that have been killed (optionally: and will be killed) by anyone wearing it
13 - the armor attracts flies or some other type of small vermin
14 - wearer of this armor walks with an apparent, but non-hindering, limp
15 - wearer of the armor appears to vanish when the armor is donned; the armor itself, and any other items worn or carried, remain visible
16 - wearer of the armor appears to assume a bestial humanoid form
17 - smoke, steam, blood, or ichor begins to issue from the joins in this armor after 1d6 rounds of combat
18 - wearing this armor instills a fear of a particular type of weapon in the wearer
19 - scars begin to appear on the body of the wearer of this armor after 1d6 hours of wearing it whether the wearer is wounded or not, continue to appear until the armor is removed, and only vanish after a week of not wearing it
20 - weapons wielded against the wearer of this armor feel 50% heavier

Randomness!

1  Weapon hums when used like electricity through old wires.

2  Weapon demands "blood."   Must do at least 1 point of lasting damage or it cannot be sheathed, or redrawn.

4 Weapon has the names of every wielder inscribed upon it in tiny magical script.

5 Weapon draws the eye of onlookers, no matter how old or worthless it appears.

6 Weapon is made of unusual materials (Sword of Wood, Mace of Ice) it works perfectly regardless of its construction.

7 Weapon causes those around it to hear whispers that are not discernible.

8 Weapon brands its wielder upon the palm when first drawn with its name.

9 Weapons has unusual decorations for its purpose (a sword of slaying has butterfly decorations, an axe of fire has image of crashing waves)

10 Weapon has unusual feature for its type. Sword returns when thrown, a spear that digs/drills for water.

11 Weapon has strange ability to keep the wielder clean.

12  Foes killed by the weapon are drained of all (pick one: moisture/color)

13 Weapon is marked by an unlucky number, despite its positive abilities.

14 Weapon depicts the wielders love interest as a cameo on the hilt/crossbar

15 Weapon feels colder/warmer to the touch than it should. (But doesn't protect the wielder any more than normal.)

16 Weapon keeps track of those slain in tiny images on the surface

17 Weapon has no identifying marks of any kind.

18 Weapon improves fertility in owner.

19  Peals like a bell when it lands a blow.

20. Weapon weeps when wielder kills someone with it.

20

These are all pretty neat, I suppose.

RPGPundit