I echo what axlerowes said to start. In short, if he's one cool dude, what makes him cool besides his clothes? Clothes are not enough.

More on his special equipment might be nice. You've mentioned the motorcycle, the mage seeking missles, the mana-sapping grenades, and the blood-infusion gun, all serving to destroy mages. What about other threats? What about protection from spells? What about dealing with mage summoned creatures and constructs? I would also assume most mage-types have buddies. If you are in the shadowrun world (I immediately thought you were talking Rifts when I started reading your submission) wouldn't it also stand to reason that the mage also carries technology that needs to be surpassed to be a good mage hunter. These a just thoughts on further development of your idea.

Also can he shapechange back (and forth) into a dragon at will? If so does he only retain human form to keep the locals happy? Why not do his hunting in natural form? Just wondering.

It seems to me technology always becomes the enemy to magic in the end. Good stuff. Go to Comment

This is a very good submission. My only complaint would be that there are so many other skull lanterns yet to be made. This feels like a teaser.

Another lantern might control one particular ghost and the wielder can use (or force the ghost to use) a "fear" power over anyone who sees the lantern. Thereby keeping your "rituals of the night" undisturbed. Make a mistake, such as breaking the lantern, and the ghost goes medieval on the wielder.

Another lantern might summon a specific ghost and force them to answer a number of questions.

Another lantern might act as a "turn" ability on all undead who see it. But if the candle goes out the wielder is now the number one target of all undead in the time zone.

Another lantern might act as a trap for a spirit. Someone who unknowingly touches the skull is instantly spit out of their body and the waiting nearby spirit is granted immediate possession of said body. The new person is stuck in a limbo waiting for someone else to touch the skull.

Anyway, I think I'll shut up now. I could go on for a while. You get the idea. Good submission. Go to Comment

I like the Crumenorix. It's a mystic's 'tool of the trade' from alchemy all the way to wizardry. It would also make sense to think of a Reaper collected souls in one of these, possibly adding an interesting subquest to getting someone resurrected. Just a question about the "Wee Folk" section... If it is a mutual relationship, how does using a Crumenorix benefit the wee folk? I mean having a place to hide, sleep, or 'zone out' is handy but not extremely important to wee folk (that is, wee folk with no depression problems. It just might be the ticket for one who is suicidal and looking for a place to go numb:)). Is there another benefit that you were thinking of that somehow didn't get put in or fully explained? Again, I liked this submission, and although it seems like every fantasy witch I've ever heard of, must use one of these, it was nice to see explained the way you did. Great stuff. Go to Comment

Only voted Go to Comment

Thank you for the comments. FYI I only presented it in a salesman type way for fun and to see if I could sell it to you as authors or DMs. Yes, I would think an object like this would be very rare and if it were on sale I would suspect something pretty bad to come of it (i.e. a dumping feature similar to the damning sack by valadaar). I think that utility magic is always underrated and perhaps the power level of this item is too high. Go to Comment

Up to 29 leaders with their quirks and 1 insane child. Good Stuff Go to Comment

Just so I don't mess this up again in the future... What was wrong with the stats? Thanks. Go to Comment

Obviously, feel free to tailor to your uses. Here's what I had in mind: When it's fully charged, the wearer looks like they just went for a bath in a river of blood. As it looses charges, the points of impact are 'dried' and become the original brown color. So yes, I agree with your statement that the wearer of a slightly charged blood cloak would look like a crazed murderer with just a few splatters. If the wearer receives a cut, his own blood makes a big red spot on the cloak at the point of the hit just like blood would spread in normal clothes.

Thanks for the comment. After all these years you wonder if anyone looks at your old submissions anymore. Go to Comment

Very, very nice. Like the weapon, like the story, and I like how it all ends. Golf clap. Go to Comment

Altogether a good idea. A little more detail would be helpful. For example, is it expensive? Is it plentiful? Why does it shred/damage the mind? How does it change the magic as it's created? Can one magic user tell that another is dosed? How does the drug effect a psionic? Can prolonged exposure produce permanent night vision/light sensitivity? Just a few thoughts on how this could be developed further. Go to Comment

Wow, well done.  I think there's more detail than I would use but hey, more is merrier.  Great sub!

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I am very impressed by this submission. I've been mulling over the essence, motivations, abilities, genesis, and the future of fire aligned creatures and magic users for a long time. I always burned it down to a simple tool to conquer. Thanks to this submission, I see more directions to take it than ever before. I thank you. If there is anymore you have on this subject... I am all ears. Go to Comment

Interesting.  Just a few comments, I'd like to make.  First, I take it the perfect ink whether used or not will vanish when they die/return to hell.  That in itself could be a lever for another deal.  Second, I think that one of these critters would make an excellent hell's attorney type of a character.   Third, it seems odd to me that the souls of the dead children (and Mephistori) are somehow in the devil's bodies.  Does that mean that the devils wanted to return to their respective families?  Like I said interesting.  I have a use for this.

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Very helpful reminder to GMs. I would suggest reviewing articles like this every so often just to make sure you aren't picking up any bad habits. Go to Comment

Very good submission. It's obvious, you've put some good time and effort into this, with a very clear mental picture of what you saw as a familiar. I really like your take on this. I thought the "knack" idea was quite good and logical.
However, I agree with MoonHunter and would say that you did perhaps missed a base or three.
1 - I think that Summon Familiar III needs a bit of a facelift, after all size isn't everything... when it comes to familiars that is. Even when it comes to showing off to your peers, wizard types, of all people, know appearances are deceiving and the bigger dog doesn't always win.
2 - Also, from your rework of the familiar, I'm not exactly sure how loyal the familiar is to it's master, especially when talking about the infernal familiar. When would a familiar use it's knack(s)? Out of loyalty? In a life and death situation? Why would a familiar hide it's knack(s) from it's master?
3 - Finally, you could have further developed the proper balancing of familiars, powerwise. What I mean is when discussing exotic familiars you said, "If a magic user is able to summon a familiar to emulate a creature with beyond normal abilities, the familiar will not have those abilities." What is normal? Flight for example is a fantastic ability (which has led to power abuse in many a game), which any winged familiar seems to come with, exotic or not. Therefore, why would I want to have a black cat, a rat, or a toy poodle as a familiar when obviously the versatility of an owl, a raven, or say a large dragonfly, would in almost every situtation be a better choice? Just a suggestion, the impression I get when you tiered the familiar summoning process, is that the higher the level of the spell the more bang you get for your buck (except perhaps the third tier). Why not make exotic familiars higher on the totem pole and let them keep their specials and arrogance? Why not give the flightless familiars an extra special or some other compensation?
In all seriousness, I really liked it. I felt concerns as I read it and if I could have brought up my thoughts in a less wordy manner I would have. I think this submission could be nigh unto perfect with some attention to the foundation. I thought the human familiar idea made perfect sense and I could see how a dark or desperate wizard might abuse this. Finally I liked the explanation of banishing a familiar, a huge faux pas of the wizarding world. Without any changes, I still think this is a very useable, stellar submission. Thanks. Go to Comment

Excellent idea. Of course it works best if it's used regularly. I plan to put something up after my next gaming session. Go to Comment

I like 5, 8, 15, & 23. Should almost be renamed, 30 Cursed Rings. Go to Comment

22.) Arkanik's Doppelganger Prosthetics

Arkanik was a wizard researcher who spent most of his days studying shape changing creatures like doppelgangers, changelings, mimics, and so forth.  He was maimed from a childhood incident and was forced to live with a painful prosthetic most of his life. Eventually became interested in a mutal relationship with less intelligent shape shifters.  And so the Doppelganger Prosthetics were born.

The prosthetic is actually a separate shape changing creature with very little mind.  Initially it is sculpted into the limb it was meant to replace and attached.  As it's owner uses it, as the said limb, it strengthens and better acts in that capacity.  The limb must be separated daily, fed, and cleaned (it has it's own waste disposal system).  The limb will develop it's own 'personality' with it's own sets of likes and dislikes.  If treated well, it will act well.  If treated poorly it will betray or leave it's owner.  Overtime the prosthetic will learn it's owners disposition and emotions and act in compliance or rebellion to that emotion depending on it's treatment.  This 'pet' of an appendage might even seek retribution upon it's master's killers if such an event should occur.

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Very interesting.  Who would want regeneration of limbs when you can have something interesting instead?  Nicely done.  I hope we are able to get to 30.

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Well done, I enjoyed the read.  I look forward to using this.  I'll let you know how it goes.

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