Cursed Items Mini-Handbook

[PlzBreakMyCampaign]

The Cursed Items Mini-Handbook

originally by Akalsaris

Sources:
The SRD
A&EG 144-148


Finding Benefits:
Cheapness
Creative uses for the drawbacks
Mitigating downsides

Good buys:

Armor of Rage (+1 Full Plate)
Cost: 1,600gp (compared to 2,650 for +1 full plate or 1,650gp for masterwork full plate)
Drawback: -4 penalty to Charisma, and enemies gain +1 morale to attacks.
Notes: If you don't care about charisma (like most fighters), this could be worth purchasing, since your armor is magical and will have better saving throws, etc.  The morale bonus against you won't stack with bless or other morale bonuses, and frankly your DM is likely to forget it half the time. 

Bag of Devouring
Cost: N/A
Drawback: eats stuff
Notes: Great for garbage disposal in a stronghold if you can get one.

Dust of Sneezing and Choking
Cost: 2,400g
Drawback: none if used correctly
Notes: Probably the best cursed item on the list.  Stuns targets in a big spread for 5d4 rounds if they make their save, and massive constitution loss if they don't.  2,400g is pocket change by the higher levels anyhow.

Flask of Curses
Cost: 2,000gp
Drawback: All within 30ft when it's opened must make a DC 17 will save or be cursed, taking a -2 penalty on attacks, saves, or skill checks.
Notes: useful for a debuff build such as a hexblade - charge forward and open your flask in the middle of a crowd of enemies!  Also good if you're almost guaranteed to succeed on the will save, like a high level wizard whose familiar opens the flask. 

Gauntlets of Fumbling/Ogre Power
Cost: 1,300g (compared to 4,000g)
Drawback: they fail in combat
Notes: as long as they aren't used in combat, these gauntlets are a pretty good purchase.  Dexterity is useful for open locks and disable device, for example, and strength can be good for swimming, jumping, and climbing, or for friendly barroom brawls.

Medallion of Thought Projection
Cost: 1,800gp
Drawback: you project your thoughts and can't actually read thoughts.
Notes: you might be able to use this to communicate without languages, if you can project general friendly emotions into the mind of an ooze or something.  Might even work for a wildshaped druid.  Reminds me of E.T. or Star Trek too.

Ring of the Evil Eye [DragMag319p65]
Cost: 6,000gp
Drawback: +6unnamed Spot, +2unnamed initiative. All saves & SR to resist Scrying fail.
Notes: Great with Mind Blank where you don't make saves at all. Awful if the DM overrides the RAW and makes this peirce immunity


So-so buys:

Helm of Opposite Alignment
Cost: 4,000g
Drawback: change alignment!
Notes: Good if you need an in-game excuse to change alignments.

Armor of Arrow Attraction
Cost: 9,000g (compared to 9,650g for +3 full plate)
Drawback: -15 AC against ranged weapons.
Notes: this could be worthwhile if you have a persistent protection from missiles or entropic shield up, but overall the price isn't low enough to warrant it.  The 3.0 version, however, is excellent for tanks, as the drawback is a benefit if you want people to target you!

Sword, Berserking
Cost: 17,500g (nothing to compare directly to, but probably around the 36,000g mark for a +2 sword that lets you rage without killing your allies)
Drawback: you go berserk and gain barbarian rage! 
Notes: possibly good for a solo game.  Also decent if you're a frenzied berserker, because hey, the party's already going to try and calm you down!  Iron Heart Surge for a warblade can probably remove this effect, since unlike a frenzied berserker it was forced onto you.

-2 Sword, Cursed
Cost: 1,500g
Drawback: pretty obvious.
Notes: No more 'locked in a dungeon' scenario! Also fine for AMF panic weapon on mages.

Amulet of Sickness (A&EG146)
Cost: 1,300 gp
Drawback: -6 con after damage from CR greater than or equal to level
Notes: If a DM lets you remove & reapply this is great for Con to HP, especially if you are a druid that already is shapechanging into a high con creature.

Belt Cat's Strength (A&EG146)
Cost: 1,300 gp
Drawback: -6 strength when attacking an equal or greater CR
Notes: Great for mook clearing

Cloak of Affront (A&EG147)
Cost: 1,300 gp
Drawback: -6 charisma if you bluff or diplomacy
Notes: Great for a Cha-based non-party face, like for quiet paladin.

Headband of Simplemindedness (A&EG147)
Cost: 1,300 gp
Drawback: -6 int if attempting a int-based check.
Notes: +6 int for a non-int skill taking character? Sign me up.



Very situational buys:

Amulet of Inescapable Location
Cost: 1,000gp
Drawback: you're easy to scry on.
Notes: This has an advantage if you want people to scry on you for whatever reason, like if you're infiltrating a thieves' guild while the rest of the party watches.

Mace of Blood
Cost: 16,000gp (compared to 16,310g)
Drawback: might turn evil (very low DC), must dip in blood
Notes: the price isn't lower enough to warrant the cost in most cases.

Net of Snaring
Cost: 10,000gp
Drawback: only works in water
Notes: who the hell pays 10,000 GP to get +3 to attacks with a freaking net?  This isn't cursed, it's stupid!

Ring of Clumsiness
Cost: 500g! (compared to 2,000gp)
Drawback: you're clumsy and get 20% spell failure
Notes: good to have around if you expect to be jumping off from cliffs and tall buildings quite often.  At 500g, it's pretty cheap to have.

Spear, Backbiter
Cost: 7,500g (compared to 8,302g for a +2 shortspear)
Drawback: hits you on a natural 1
Notes: the 3.0 version is only 2,000g and was worth buying.  This one...ehh.  Not so much.

Boots of Dancing:
Cost: 30,000 gp
Drawback: Irresistable Dance in combat.
Notes: Can mimic other boots! Mimicing Boots of Teleportation: As long as you don't get into combat with them on, you've saved 19,000 gp.  If you must show people around your castle/wizard tower/hollowed out moon, and they need to teleport to do so, you can make sure your honored guests won't leave with their borrowed footwear.  Dunno if there are any more expensive boots usable out of combat.

Vacuous Grimoire
Cost: 6,000 gp
Drawback: 1 Int & 2 Wis drain
Notes: CL20. So it looks like a great spellbook to copy. Cheap enough to make several decoy books.

Goggles of Nightblindness (A&EG147)
Cost: 1,000 gp
Drawback: can only see in bright light after attacking another creature while using darkvision.
Notes: Decent for a healer. Still not worth the cost.

Headband of Hostility (A&EG147)
Cost: 13,000 gp
Drawback: Conjuration (summoning) and (calling) creatures are hostile
Notes: The +4 wis or +4 int is an okay investment if you don't want the +6 version.

Necklace of the Vampire (A&EG147)
Cost: 90,000 gp!
Drawback: Will turn you into a vampire upon 10th finger of death (1/day) use.
Notes: RAI, probably doesn't take up an item slot after the first use (explains the 90k cost rather than 60k). x2 healing rate, 60' darkvision, 3/day vampiric touch. Flavorfully desperate for a Vampiric Savage progression (assuming you even gain the LA).

Periapt of Oblivion (A&EG147)
Cost: 1,300 gp
Drawback: -6 wis after attempting a spot or listen check
Notes: Great for bonus spells & DCs



Bad Buys (no good use known aside from getting an enemy to wear it):

(click to show/hide)

Scarab of Death:
Cost: 80,000 gp
Drawback: Did you not see the cost?
Way too expensive to use, really, but if you can slip this onto an enemy's person (perhaps with a construct or unseen servant), you can hit them with a reflex save DC 25 or die.

Cloak of Poisonousness
Cost: 62,000 gp
Drawback: Same as above
Notes: DC 28 Fort but detect poison notices.

Incense of Obsession
Cost: 200 gp
Drawback: Nearly forces spell use
Notes: Requires being near during meditation time. Likely to cause casters to PWN you.

Stone of Weight (Loadstone)
Cost: 1000 gp
Drawback: Half speed
Notes: Requires being on person. Doesn't even increase weight.

Bracers of Defenselessness
Cost: 1,200 gp
Drawback: -5 AC when CR equal to or above you level.
Notes: Not worth the money for a Karmic Strike build. AC has no OoC uses.

Potion of Poison
Cost: 5,000 gp
Drawback: DC16 Fort or 1d10 con damage, same repeating.
Notes: Most creatures that would swallow you whole can make the save.

Broom of Animated Attack
Cost: 5,200 gp
Drawback: Well, it attacks.
Notes: Appears to have to be used. Perhaps useful for Charm?

Robe of Powerlessness
Cost: 5,500 gp
Drawback: -10 int & str
Notes: Must be worn.

Robe of Vermin
Cost: 16,500 gp
Drawback: -5 init, -2hit, saves & skills. 20+level conc when casting
Notes: Must be worn.

Periapt of Foul Rotting
Cost: 17,000 gp
Drawback: 1 dex, cha & charisma drain / week
Notes: must be worn for 24 hours.

Crystal Hypnosis Ball
Cost: Minor Artifact
Drawback: fascinated with suggestion
Notes: Must be used.

Necklace of Strangulation
Cost: 60,000 gp
Drawback: 6 damage per round
Notes: Can still be identified with Miracle or Wish. Must be worn.

Armor of Vulnerability (A&EG146)
Cost: +1 property
Drawback: All crits confirm.
Notes: There might be a few effects that allow you to 'turn' critical hits, right?

[nijineko]

Cursed Items Handbook Discussion