I'm looking to create a one shot where players are sentient magical items in a magician's household. I am still playing with story ideas and directions, but does anyone have good resources for research on sentient magical items? I was thinking of PCs like a magical little monkey statue, or cursed necklace. Anyway, I want to build up a stockpile of one shots I can play on short notice if everyone isn't there for the campaign, but I wasn't sure how to run the magical items as characters, so some websites with good resources or advice on the matter would be appreciated!
I'm not sure how you would even go about this lol are the magic items getting character sheets? Or are the magic items so powerful that they control the minds of like normal people, like a teenage boy in the shop that is sweeping the storeroom then finds a magic sword that takes over his mind, which raises his wisdom/intelligence, but the sword also knows how to fight, which would raise his strength (dexterity-finesse).
Furniture out of Disney Beauty and the Beast style? Cool. To keep it a game of D&D, just give everyone normal characters, immunity to poison, and races like "Humanoid Candelabra", "Animated Armor", "Sentient Broomstick", etc. Objects with 'hands' or pointy bits can be fighter/rogue types, no hands some sort of caster. If they are sentient things which can't move freely them that would be a fun game to role-play, but it's kind of already too far removed from normal D&D mechanics to benefit much from using the rule-set.
Perhaps the master of the house has just died and they all awaken with no memory before that moment - uncertain if are they cursed humanoids or enchanted objects. Do they need to escape, or do they need to defend the home from some incursion. Or they were just created by powerful magics and tasked with a non-epic quest, but ambition gets the better of them and they strike out seeking fame and fortune only to find a world unprepared for furniture heroes.
Furniture out of Disney Beauty and the Beast style? Cool. To keep it a game of D&D, just give everyone normal characters, immunity to poison, and races like "Humanoid Candelabra", "Animated Armor", "Sentient Broomstick", etc. Objects with 'hands' or pointy bits can be fighter/rogue types, no hands some sort of caster. If they are sentient things which can't move freely them that would be a fun game to role-play, but it's kind of already too far removed from normal D&D mechanics to benefit much from using the rule-set.
Perhaps the master of the house has just died and they all awaken with no memory before that moment - uncertain if are they cursed humanoids or enchanted objects. Do they need to escape, or do they need to defend the home from some incursion. Or they were just created by powerful magics and tasked with a non-epic quest, but ambition gets the better of them and they strike out seeking fame and fortune only to find a world unprepared for furniture heroes.
I actually really like this and could see it being a fun side campaign with one-shots
Furniture out of Disney Beauty and the Beast style? Cool. To keep it a game of D&D, just give everyone normal characters, immunity to poison, and races like "Humanoid Candelabra", "Animated Armor", "Sentient Broomstick", etc. Objects with 'hands' or pointy bits can be fighter/rogue types, no hands some sort of caster. If they are sentient things which can't move freely them that would be a fun game to role-play, but it's kind of already too far removed from normal D&D mechanics to benefit much from using the rule-set.
Perhaps the master of the house has just died and they all awaken with no memory before that moment - uncertain if are they cursed humanoids or enchanted objects. Do they need to escape, or do they need to defend the home from some incursion. Or they were just created by powerful magics and tasked with a non-epic quest, but ambition gets the better of them and they strike out seeking fame and fortune only to find a world unprepared for furniture heroes.
RegentCorreon, sorry I took so long to respond. My homework load has been crazy lately. Those ideas are on the right track! I did want them to be mobile, beside maybe one that a player could pick for a challenge(I'd have to make up for the lack of mobility but I have several players who would love trying it out.) Those are great suggestions for mechanics as well. As far as I know, no one has created anything for this type of character, so I'm finding it a challenge.
I like your story idea, and I have so many of my own, it'd be hard to choose! I thought about going for an "Aladdin's magic lamp" type setting, a dragon's hoard that are protecting themselves from a thief sneaking in while the dragon is away, a thief is captured, spilling his bag of holding's contents and they need to navigate a city and find a new home.... SO MANY POSSIBILITIES! I'm looking forward to getting a break from school so I can work on developing this and a few others.
I'm not sure how you would even go about this lol are the magic items getting character sheets? Or are the magic items so powerful that they control the minds of like normal people, like a teenage boy in the shop that is sweeping the storeroom then finds a magic sword that takes over his mind, which raises his wisdom/intelligence, but the sword also knows how to fight, which would raise his strength (dexterity-finesse).
SquigsTheTruth, sorry about the delay in response. I've been swamped with homework! Anyway, the idea is actually a lot like what RegentCorreon suggest below. More of a "Beauty and the Beast" type item that can communicate in some fashion and is mobile to an extent. I thought it'd make an intriguing and unique one shot that could be developed easily into more if there is a need. I'm trying to build up my "one shot portfolio" so I can have something prepared to run if I need a last minute thing. The creation may not be simple, but the idea would be that the playing of it would be simple enough for a one shot.
For the non-moving object, perhaps an Amulet of Dominate Monster. It used to just cast that spell for its user, but now it has awoken and become a sort of Wizard (School of Enchantment). It can attempt to dominate anything near it, forcing it to wear the amulet and taking control of that body to move. It can also always summon a small animal (or familiar) to use to move in emergencies so it is never stuck. I do like these aesthetics.
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Hey guys,
I'm looking to create a one shot where players are sentient magical items in a magician's household. I am still playing with story ideas and directions, but does anyone have good resources for research on sentient magical items? I was thinking of PCs like a magical little monkey statue, or cursed necklace. Anyway, I want to build up a stockpile of one shots I can play on short notice if everyone isn't there for the campaign, but I wasn't sure how to run the magical items as characters, so some websites with good resources or advice on the matter would be appreciated!
Thanks!
I'm not sure how you would even go about this lol are the magic items getting character sheets? Or are the magic items so powerful that they control the minds of like normal people, like a teenage boy in the shop that is sweeping the storeroom then finds a magic sword that takes over his mind, which raises his wisdom/intelligence, but the sword also knows how to fight, which would raise his strength (dexterity-finesse).
Published Subclasses
Furniture out of Disney Beauty and the Beast style? Cool. To keep it a game of D&D, just give everyone normal characters, immunity to poison, and races like "Humanoid Candelabra", "Animated Armor", "Sentient Broomstick", etc. Objects with 'hands' or pointy bits can be fighter/rogue types, no hands some sort of caster. If they are sentient things which can't move freely them that would be a fun game to role-play, but it's kind of already too far removed from normal D&D mechanics to benefit much from using the rule-set.
Perhaps the master of the house has just died and they all awaken with no memory before that moment - uncertain if are they cursed humanoids or enchanted objects. Do they need to escape, or do they need to defend the home from some incursion. Or they were just created by powerful magics and tasked with a non-epic quest, but ambition gets the better of them and they strike out seeking fame and fortune only to find a world unprepared for furniture heroes.
Published Subclasses
For the non-moving object, perhaps an Amulet of Dominate Monster. It used to just cast that spell for its user, but now it has awoken and become a sort of Wizard (School of Enchantment). It can attempt to dominate anything near it, forcing it to wear the amulet and taking control of that body to move. It can also always summon a small animal (or familiar) to use to move in emergencies so it is never stuck. I do like these aesthetics.