| From: | Doctor Doom <JCH8169@*****.TAMU.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Magical Items from White Wolf Magazine |
| Date: | Sat, 28 Aug 1993 01:27:12 -0500 |
NOTE: It is not my intention to foster any claims that these items are within
the bounds of Game Balance. Ne'ertheless, in accordance with the Imperial
Freedom of (other people's) Information Act, as well as the benefit of those
not afforded of the opportunity to view it, it is presented here for your
perusal:
_______________________________________________________________________________
ITEMS FOR ANY REALM
A Shadowrunner's Guide to Enchanted Objects
by Clint Black
Hoi, chummers. Angel here with a little info for my favorite people,
the shadowrunners. This time I'm gonna cover a really wiz subject, magic
items. Say, do I see salivating from the actually active portion of the
audience? Why yes I do, and well I should, for these items are potent. But
they'll probably be in the wrong hands. Oh, and as with all my little
datastore of wisdom, everything in here is the chiptruth until somebody proves
it isn't. So without further ado--I've always wanted to say that--I present a
few of the enchanted objects of the 21st Century.
(Author's Note: In the campaign I'm currently in, we play ShadowRun
using the GURPS rules system. So, for the convenience of anyone else who does
this or for those people who wish to use variations of these items in a
straight GURPS fantasy campaign, I have included a GURPS conversion for all
items. To use these items for GURPS, you need to add a gem to the components
of any hermetic magic item that acts as a Powerstone, and come up with your own
rules for conjuring nature spirits. We use a variation of the Call Guardian
Spirit spell from GURPS Old West. Once you've got that done, you're ready to
rock'n'roll, chummers.)
NAME: CORPORATE PIN FOCUS
Description: Small, circular pins, approximately one-quarter to one-half inch
in diameter, emblazoned with a MegaCorp symbol. They usually come in three
grades, differentiated as silver, gold, and platinum.
Background: These things are the closet thing you'll come to a "mass-produced"
magic item in the sixth world. Even then, they're thankfully rare, although
any mage would be amazed to know how short a time it takes a Corp enchanting
team to make one. Most MegaCorps use a silver-gold-platinum grading system,
but be careful here, chummers, 'cause not everyone uses this system.
Aztechnology, for one, uses a brass-silver-gold system, and at a distance,
brass and gold are fragging hard to tell apart. The silver pin can usually be
found in the possession of the most important mage of a magically active
subsidiary, bodyguards of mid-level execs, or, occasionally, magically active
low-level execs. The gold pin is mostly used by bodyguards of high-level execs
or magically active mid-level execs. Platinum level pins are held only by
magically active high-level execs and bodyguards of the most important person
in the Corp. Note that some ex-wage mage enchanters are making the silver and
gold versions available on the street. Much safer, chummers. Corps don't take
kindly to the SINless wearing their pins.
Powers: Silver +2 Combat Spell Focus, +3 Detect Enemies Specific
Spell focus
Gold: +2 Power Focus, +2 Detection Spell Focus
Platinum: +4 Power Focus
Karma Cost to Bond: Silver: 9; Gold: 16; Platinum: 20
Nuyen Cost to Buy: Silver: 285,000; Gold: 360,000; Platinum: 420,000
GURPS: Silver: 10pt Powerstone and Sense Danger-15; Quirk: the Powerstone
can only be used for elemental spells.
Gold: 20pt Powerstone; Quirk: 10 pts can only be used for
information gathering spells.
Platinum: 20pt Powerstone.
NAME: WINGS OF WARNING
Description: A set of stainless steel aviator wings, just like pilots wear.
Background: Originally created by the shadowrunner Flyboy (may he rest in
peace), these wings have been bouncing around the streets for years now--so
long, in fact, that many talismongers who have had one in their shops have
copied it. Currently, there are more than a half-dozen copies floating around,
one of which always seems to be for sale if you ask the right people.
Powers: +3 Air Elemental Spirit Focus
+3 Personal Combat Sense Spell Focus
Spell Lock
Karma Cost to Bond: 10
Nuyen Cost to Buy: 360,000
GURPS: 15pt Powerstone; Quirk: Elemental Air Spells only, Sense Danger-16
(Self-Powered, Always On).
NAME: THE FENDER MIND-BENDER
Description: Top-of-the-line electric guitar including internal speakers
covered in a swirling array of colors.
Background: That's right, kiddies; the famed Fender Mind-Bender of Johnny
Whisker, lead singer of the Ratcatchers, has hit the open market. Apparently,
Johnny lost his favorite axe in a bet with a certain Rat shaman who promptly
turned it over to a third party. Word on the street says it's for sale if the
price is right.
Powers: +4 Illusion Focus
Karma Cost to Bond: 12
Nuyen Cost to Buy: 300,000
GURPS: 20pt Powerstone; Quirk: only for Illusion and Creation or Light and
Darkness spells.
NAME: BOWL OF BINDING
Description: Wooden bowl, eighteen inches in diameter, six inches deep, with
the symbol for Aquarius engraved in the inside bottom.
Background: How do most magic items end up on the street? That's right; this
bowl was donated to some shadowrunners by a mage with way too many holes in his
body. Its current whereabouts are unknown.
Powers: +6 Water Elemental Spirit Focus
Karma Cost to Bond: 12
Nuyen Cost to Buy: 360,000
GURPS: 32pt Powerstone; Quirk: only for Water Elemental Spirit spells.
NAME: WAND OF BOLTS
Description: A solid piece of steel, fifteen inches long, half an inch in
diameter, and with a hexagonal cap an inch and a half in diameter. Yep, it
looks like a big bolt.
Background: Magical punsters, I would not have believed it if I hadn't seen
this item myself. The great thing about this item is that it can be used by
non-mages. No, really. Look, we're on this run and the mage gets fragged. So
I've got this wand of his in my hand when I turn the corner and run into the
biggest corp guard I've ever seen. I raised the wand up, and then I brought it
down on the drekhead's skull and out he went like a light in the Barrens. Now
that's MAGIC. One of the mage's chummers ended up with the wand, but I heard
he got geeked, too. So I don't know where it is now.
Powers: +3 Specific Spell Focus for Fire Bolt, Mana
Bolt, Power Bolt, and Stun Bolt (also acts like
a club in combat)
Karma Cost to Bond: 12
Nuyen Cost to Buy: 540,000
GURPS: Lightning-16, Fireball-16, Ice Dagger-16, Sleep-16, 2 pts. Power.
NAME: DANTE'S LIGHTER
Description: Oldstyle, liquid fuel cigarette lighter. It is rectangular,
silver, with the letter C engraved in script on one side.
Background: This is the first of three items with the mysterious C
inscription. No one knows who "C" is, but we do know he seemed to have an
affinity for fire spells, as the item demonstrates.
Powers: +4 Specific Spell Focus for Fire Bolt and Fire
Blast
Karma Cost to Bond: 12
Nuyen Cost to Buy: 540,000
GURPS: 30pt Powerstone; Quirk: only for Fire spells.
NAME: FIERY FEDORA
Description: A fine, brown, felt fedora. You know, one of those hats like the
simsense adventurer Indianapolis Smith wears, except with a C stitched in
script on the inside band.
Background: Another one of C's items. This one at least confirms that C is a
hermetic mage who definitely does like fire.
Powers: +6 Fire Elemental Spirit Focus
Karma Cost to Bond: 12
Nuyen Cost to Buy: 360,000
GURPS: 32pt Powerstone; Quirk: only for Fire Elemental Spirit spells.
NAME: HURRICANE RATTLE
Description: Wooden rattle with various beaded leather thongs hanging from it.
The head is circular and covered with white eelskin painted with stormy ocean
scenes. When shaken, it sounds like the far-off peal of thunder.
Background: Remember that big storm that blew in off the sea about two years
ago? Well, right after that, this rattle started to show up. Most shamans
seem to think the rattle caused the storm, but a few believe it was used to
blunt the storm's effects. Me, I just want to know who's got it now and what
they're gonna do with it.
Powers: +4 Storm and Sea Nature Spirit Forms
Karma Cost to Bond: 16
Nuyen Cost to Buy: 480,000
GURPS: 20pt Dedicated Powerstone, Summon Guardian Spirit-20; Quirk: only
summons Sea or Storm Spirits.
NAME: SOYKAF CONJURING DRUM
Description: It's a blue soykaf can just like you get your soykaf in at the
Stuffer Shack. It's about ten inches tall, six inches in diameter, and empty,
with a plastic lid. Just like the toy drum my parents got me for my birthday--
hey, wait a minute.
Background: Shamans say if an item is to call a spirit, it must be something
the spirit will listen to. Sounds like a load of magical drek to me, but in
this case I might believe it. I know nothing calls to me in the morning like a
hot cup of soykaf. The obvious usefulness of this item makes it very popular
in the 'plex. Ownership tends to switch hands on a weekly basis
Powers: +4 City and Hearth Nature Spirit Focus
Karma Cost to Bond: 16
Nuyen Cost to Buy: 480,000
GURPS: 20pt Dedicated Powerstone, Summon Guardian Spirit-20; Quirk: only
summons City or Hearth Spirits.
>>>>>[ Oh, would that it were for summoning soykaf itself! Sirocco should
be
in ecstasy... Soy, in all its many manifestations, is his exclusive cuisine...
My opinion is that if one bothers to consume something, it should be quite a
bit more pleasing than the derivatives and manipulations of the soybean.
]<<<<<
-- Darkwatch <01:16:48/08-28-54>
NAME: MODERN MEDICINE BAG
Description: Despite its name, this looks like a black, oldstyle doctor's bag.
Inside, though, it's set up to hold the equivalent of a modern medkit.
Background: I don't know how many of you know Dr. Theodore Drumming Bear, but
if you did, you probably owe him your life. Teddy was one of those
individuals, a street doc with a heart of gold. The man worked on frigging
credit. At least one patient paid him, though, 'cause that's how he got his
Modern Medical Bag. Well, a coupla months ago someone decided to relieve Teddy
of his bag and life. All I can say it: you picked a real painful way of
committing suicide, you stupid fragger.
Powers: +6 Spell Purpose Focus for Health Spells
Karma Cost to Bond: 18
Nuyen Cost to Buy: 450,000
GURPS: 60pt Powerstone; Quirk: only for Healing Spells.
NAME: THE COMBAT COLT
Description: Silvery Colt .45 revolver with mother-of-pearl inset on the
pistol grip.
Background: I've actually met the mage who made this spectacular device;
she's a lovely little lady from Texas. Don't let the enchanting--ahem--
looks fool you, though. Not only is this a mean magic item, but the gun itself
has been re-bored to use the Ares Predator II Firepower ammo. She told me she
has hermetic and shamanic versions of the formula for sale to the right buyer.
Be warned though: if your not the right buyer, you may get a first-hand
demonstration of what this baby can do.
Powers: +6 Spell Purpose Focus for Combat Spells. This gun carries
six shots with a Damage Code of 6M2 <indicating ShadowRun 1st
Edition -- Doom>, has a concealability of 5, and weighs two
pounds. With one action it can be reloaded with a number of
rounds equal to your Quickness, or completely reloaded with a
speedloader. It cannot be equipped with the reactive trigger
of the Browning Ultra Power <again, indications of 1st Ed.>
Karma Cost to Bond: 18
Nuyen Cost to Buy: 450,000
GURPS: 30pt Powerstone; Quirk: only for Elemental Spells. For GURPS, the
pistol is the six-shot revolver version of the gyroc launch pistol.
NAME: THE-FEATHER-THAT-FINDS (FEATHER OF FINDING)
Description: An eagle's feather with two leather thongs intertwined around the
quill. The thongs extend approximately the same length as the feather and are
beaded on the ends.
Background: This item originally belonged to a shadowrunning Eagle shamanic
adept. Apparently, he used it to find something he couldn't handle. Word on
the street says now it's in the hands of some go-gang's mage. But I'm sure it
will change soon.
Powers: +2 Power Focus; +3 Spell Purpose Focus for
Detection Spells.
Karma Cost to Bond: 19
Nuyen Cost to Buy: 435,000
GURPS: 25pt Powerstone; Quirk: 15pts can only be used for Knowledge spells.
NAME: SAM'S SPYGLASS
Description: Brass magnifying glass, around nine inches long with a four-inch
diameter lens.
Background: I should call this Sorry Sam's Spyglass. Can you believe a wizard
detective who can find his own magic item? Well, at least his story is that he
lost it. I'm not so sure. All I know is it's out on the streets somewhere,
and I do believe in finder's keepers.
Powers: +4 Spell Purpose Focus for Detection Spells and
+5 Watcher Spirit Focus
Karma Cost to Bond: 22
Nuyen Cost to Buy: 600,000
GURPS: 20pt Powerstone; Quirk: only for Knowledge or Information Spells;
Invisible Wizard Eye-16, 3pts of Power and 2pts of Speed.
NAME: STONE OF MANIPULATION
Description: It's a rock. It's gray, weighs about half a pound, and is maybe
three or four inches in diameter. It's a rock!
>>>>>[ Not to put two fine a point upon it, eh? ]<<<<<
-- Darkwatch <01:17:31/08-28-54>
Background: I'm sure it was once part of a bigger rock. For how it got on the
street, please refer back to the Bowl of Binding. It's current whereabouts are
also unknown--dammit, Jim, I'm a decker, not a geologist.
Powers: +5 Spell Purpose Focus for Manipulation Spells
+4 Earth Elemental Spirit Focus
Karma Cost to Bond: 23
Nuyen Cost to Buy: 615,000
GURPS: 25pt Powerstone; Quirk: only for Elemental Earth, Body Control,
Communication and Empathy, Meta-Spells, Movement, and Protection and Warning
Spells.
NAME: FANG
Description: A flint knife with a six-inch blade. The hilt is five inches
long and made of wood wrapped in leather straps.
Background: Fang used to belong to a Wolf shaman I knew. Unfortunately, he
lost a fight. From what I hear, the winner is still carrying the knife,
despite other's attempts to relieve him of it. But that situation could change
at any time.
Powers: +2 Power Focus; +3 Weapon Focus. Flint is
razor sharp. Fang's Damage Code is (STR/2)L2.
Karma Cost to Bond: 28
Nuyen Cost to Buy: 580,000
GURPS: 10pt Powerstone; +2 Accuracy, +1 Puissance, very fine large knife.
NAME: SHAMANIC HEADDRESS
Description: These items consist of a rendition of a totem animal's head with
a short cloak of its fur, feathers, or skin.
Background: Now we start getting into items I can't conclusively prove exist.
In other words, I ain't seen one. However, many shamans support that there is
a headdress for each totem that gives power to the wearer. So, I include it
for information's sake. What's the motto of that paramilitary organization?
Oh, yeah, "Be Prepared."
Powers: +6 Power Focus
Karma Cost to Bond: 30
Nuyen Cost to Buy: 630,000
GURPS: 30pt Powerstone; Quirk: only works for shaman of appropriate totem.
NAME: SHADES OF POWER
Description: A set of mirrored, wrap-around sunglasses.
Background: I know, I know. Everybody has heard the rumors of the totally wiz
magical shades, and any mage will tell you it's fragging stupid to enchant
anything as easily breakable as a pair of sunglasses. I wouldn't have believed
it either if I hadn't talked to a reputable samurai with a penchant for head
shots. He said his team had faced a mage who had no spells up, and yet took
one of his patented shots. Impossible? I've asked around, and do you know
that for the right price you can get a pair of sunglasses made of plasteel, the
stuff they make riot shields from? Maybe there's some truth behind this rumor.
Powers: +6 Power Focus; Spell Lock.
Karma Cost to Bond: 31
Nuyen Cost to Buy: 675,000
GURPS: 30pt Powerstone; Shatterproof with Dark Vision and See Invisible
always on.
>>>>>[ Why not have a Fashion spell focus built into the shades? Then you
can
always look cool in them. ]<<<<<
-- Hangtime <01:18:01/08-28-54>
>>>>>[ Although I am unable to confirm or deny the alacrity of this claim
(nor
shall I comment upon Hangtime's attempt at humor, with a dubious degree of
success); I would hearken one's attention to the utility of one going to the
(considerable) expense of installing Low Light Vision capability into
mirrorshades, as the uses are multiple as well as being quite less conspicuous.
This does, however, generate an amusing paradox: One must don one's sunglasses
to see in the dark. ]<<<<<
-- Darkwatch <01:18:13/08-28-54>
NAME: CANE OF SURPRISE
Description: A three and a half foot long oaken cane. The head is made of
silver and tapers away from the can to create a sharply pointed handle. There
is a silver band, about one inch long, six inches below the head. On this band
is engraved a C in script. When the band is twisted, a sword may be removed
from the longer part of the cane.
Background: That's right, another one of C's items. This one doesn't have the
connections to fire the other ones do, but then it doesn't need it. Oh yes,
one other thing about this mysterious C: There's a legend that one day he will
return to claim his possessions. But then, you know what I think about rumors.
Powers: +4 Power Focus; +3 Weapon Focus. The blunt end of the handle
does normal club damage, the pointed end has a damage code of
(STR)M2, and the sword does damage of a katana.
Karma Cost to Bond: 38
Nuyen Cost to Buy: 890,000
GURPS: 20pt Powerstone; sword and cane have +2 Accuracy, +1 Puissance, and
Shatterproof. Sword alone has Flaming Weapon and Quick Draw and is Super-fine.
Cane does either Base Sw+1 Cr/Imp or Th+1 Cr. Sword does base Sw+2 Cut or Th+2
Imp and is a perfect fencing weapon. Weight 3 lbs (2 lbs sword only).
NAME: THE ANCIENT SWORD OF THE ELVES
Description: Supposedly, a very slim-bladed rapier in a jeweled scabbard.
Background: Now we move from legendary to pure fantasy. I don't know anybody
who believes in a sword made by the elves prior to the Awakening. Except, of
course, for that drunk old elf I met in a bar in the sprawl. Supposedly, this
sword will find the right wielder and lead him to his proper destiny. If
that's not a load of dragon drek, I don't know what is. But then again, he was
the first elf I've seen with gray hair. Probably a dye job--probably.
Powers: +6 Power Focus; +6 Weapon Focus.
Scabbard: Spell Lock.
Karma Cost to Bond: Sword: 66; Scabbard: 1
Nuyen Cost to Buy: Yeah, right. A similar item would probably
cost you 1,415,000.
GURPS: Very-fine rapier with Shatterproof, +3 Accuracy, +3 Puissance, Quick
Draw, and 30pt Powerstone. Scabbard has always-on Missile Shield.
>>>>>[ Ahhhhh... No. I ain't buying this. Next you'll be tellin' me
Excalibur's real. ]<<<<<
-- Jack Hack <01:19:27/08-28-54>
>>>>>[ Even if it DOES exist, I'll be those Elves in Tir Tairgire or Tir An
Nog
have it under lock and key. You can't convince me if this artifact really
exists that it'd just be floating around out there. ]<<<<<
-- Sonic Boom <01:19:35/08-28-54>
>>>>[ Another thing is if it were found, you can be SURE large groups of men
with pointy ears are gonna be a knockin' on your door pretty soon after.
]<<<<<
-- Hangtime <01:19:43/08-28-54>
NAME: ICE
Description: The finest katana you've ever seen.
Background: Even though it hasn't been seen on the streets in a while, a sword
with a history like Ice's deserves some recognition. It got its name from the
physical adept who once carried it. When asked by his team's decker how he
planned to guard it while they slept, he held up the sword and replied, "I've
got some Intrusion Countermeasures of my own." This sword will be back, trust
me.
Powers: +6 Weapon Focus
Karma Cost to Bond: 36
Nuyen Cost to Buy: 740,000
GURPS: Super-fine vibro-katana with +3 Accuracy, +3 Puissance, and Quick Draw
variant (it can be drawn from up to 5 yards away).
_______________________________________________________________________________
Colonel Count von Hohenzollern und von Doom, DMSc, DSc, PhD.
Doom Technologies & Weapon Systems -- Dark Thought Publications
>>> Working on solutions best left in the dark.
<<<
[ Doctor Doom : jch8169@********.tamu.edu ]
^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
"Attack, attack, and when in doubt, ATTACK!" -- Frederick the Great of Prussia
