Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Goalsystem Delves Design Log 10: Artifact Items

Every self-respecting fantasy game needs cool magic items!  We've got your garden-variety stuff (magic weapons, potions, etc.), but we also include a few special items we call Artifact Items.  Each one is powerful, carries a terrible cost for its use, and can drive the story along just by carrying it around!

Here's an example of one we just had to do as a nod to what's gone before!

Eye of the Liche-God
Type: Artifact Item
Effects: This incredibly powerful and evil artifact is nothing less than the unliving eye of an Undead demi-god--the vile Liche-God Necraxxus! A character who finds this item must either accept or reject its power. If he rejects it he leaves it where he found it and moves on. Carrying the Eye without either accepting or rejecting its power requires a Magic Adventure Hazard check. If the check succeeds, it is assumed the character can safely dispose of the item after the adventure. If the check fails the item must either be accepted or dropped.

If he accepts it, the Eye becomes bound to him. He immediately, permanently loses 1 Fate pt. from the total he starts each game with. Characters possessing the Eye gain +2D to attacks against creatures with the Undead type. Once per Adventure, the character may spend a special action and invoke the Eye’s power. If this is done, the player should make a Chance roll for his character. Check the following table for the results:

0 Goals = The character suffers 1 Wound; make Save vs. Death! as normal
1 Goal = Gain +2D Hideous Strength
2 Goals = As with 1, and also gain the Petrification power (CC version)
3 Goals = As with 1 & 2, and also gain Life Drain
4 Goals = As with 1, 2, & 3, and also gain Extra Attack.

These powers last until the end of the adventure. Once accepted, it requires a successful Magic Adventure Hazard check to give it up. If the character has used the Eye at least once, add +1 to all TNs for this check.

Characters who use the Eye in play should shift their Alignment one step toward evil at the end of the session. For example, a Good aligned character who uses the Eye once shifts his alignment to Neutral. If he uses it one more time, he shifts his Alignment to Evil at the end of the Adventure where the use occurred.
Cost: 30 pts. 


Thanks for visiting! 

--Scott

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