I’ve been designing a lot of magic items recently, first with a Ravnica or Theros flavour, and now focused on domestic items that non-adventuring Dungeons & Dragons characters might use.
The Magic the Gathering items were hard to think of, especially as so many had been created already. Now that I’ve moved on to the pure D&D theme, I’ve found myself full of ideas.
Like, so many I can’t possibly develop them all.
I didn’t realise there was such an interesting and obvious vacuum in the game, but in a world filled with magic, it’s surprising that so few of the common folk would use it, or that an enterprising enchanter hadn’t come along with ideas to make lives easier, or more fulfilling.
I’ll start with the easiest one I managed to come up with, which I pitched for the chance to join the project – a Pease Pudding Pot.
Based on the nursery rhyme, it can heat up it’s contents in a short time (but not instantly), and any pease pudding made in it stay fresh for nine days.
Simple, right? How have I not seen this made previously? Did I just miss it?
More complex items, like a magic pie dish or knitting needles, are clearly missing from the game because the design space focuses more on what an adventurer might need or covet. But all of these items could still appear in a treasure hoard, ancient tomb, or dragon’s lair.
Others, like tattoos that confer utility cantrips such as light or druidcraft, are fun to design but probably wouldn’t be useful to adventurers. A sidekick or NPC using one would be a nice touch though.
Anyway, it’s been fun, and I’m currently staring at about 40 items that need developing or finishing off.
I’m still the happiest about the pease pudding though.
jot jot ïota 