Your favorite non-magical item from D&D?

[gadren]

Hey everyone! Tell me your favorite non-magical items from D&D 3.0/3.5/PF! Why are they your favorite?

My two favorite are:

The tanglefoot bag, because it is a great way of keeping enemies from running away at low levels.

The holy water sprayer from the 3e Arms and Equipment Guide, because I just think the idea of going into a dungeon, and spritzing undead with a waterbottle like they are a bad cat or something just makes me giggle. "Bad zombie! Bad!"

EDIT: Also, please say what books the items are from so other people can check them out!

[The-Mage-King]

Shapesand and Aboleth Mucus.

The first is incredibly versatile for being non-magic, and the second is just plain dirty to use.

[Ruethgar]

No longer an item per se, but I made a race from a Create Device Tree Staff that was loads of fun for the great ability to customize them with racial spells you want to fit a theme(or just maim and murder).

Edit: Quintessential Druid and Ravenloft Legacy of Blood

[Windstorm]

Sashling from races of the wild. p170.

easy to keep stuff on your person unnoticed, and has saved me no end of grief in multiple campaigns. "its just a fashion item!" :smallwink:

[Crake]

Fake tooth with hidden compartment. From complete adventurer iirc, though might be complete scoundrel

[Afgncaap5]

Rust Cube. Definitely Rust Cube.

And in the same family of non-magic items... the Eggshell Dust Grenade.

[sleepyphoenixx]

Shapesand (Sandstorm) is definitely one of the best. Also seconding the Eggshell Dust Grenade (OA).

[dethkruzer]

Basically everything from Complete Scoundrel, and the potion bladder from DotU.

[NevinPL]

Gems from DMG (better alternative to tons of gold, platinum coins).
Marbles from AE (fun, fun, fun :D).
Potion Belt from FRCS (all my players, and almost all NPC's have them).
Sunrods from PG (non flammable\methane igniting, and "atmospheric" replacement for torches, lamps).
And more.

[BWR]

The entire list of stuff from Complete Thief's Handbook. Most of it was adapted in Complete Scoundrel.

[ArcaneGlyph]

Collapsible pole.

[Mutazoia]

A small silver mirror.

You can use it to look under doors to see what's waiting on the other side.
You can use it to reflect gaze attacks
You can use it to signal others from a distance (indoors or out)
You can use it to angle a beam of light (sun beam) into a darkened area
Place one at the bottom of a scroll case, cast Continual Light on a piece of quartz, stuff the quartz in the case on top of the mirror and presto, you have a flash light. (Use a scroll case with a lid so you can "turn off" the light when necessary).
Sharpen one edge and you have a handy emergency knife. (Fit it into a cheap wooden frame to conceal the sharpened edge and prevent you from slicing open your back pack.)
Use the old Glasssee spell on the reverse side and you can have mirrored sunglasses (that also reflect gaze attacks).

I'm sure I'll remember more uses upon *puts on mirrored glasses* further reflection....

[Shining Wrath]

A small silver mirror.

... SNIP ...

I'm sure I'll remember more uses upon *puts on mirrored glasses* further reflection....

I saw what you did there.

[Togo]

Empty barrel.

Because technically when that overpowered rocket-tag magical attack comes at you, it hits the barrel, not the guy hiding inside...

[CyberThread]

Flour
Water



Cake

[grarrrg]

A small silver mirror.

... SNIP ...

I'm sure I'll remember more uses upon *puts on mirrored glasses* further reflection....
I saw what you did there.

I do believe you spelled
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!
wrong.

[Slipperychicken]

I really like the hang-glider from A&EG. There are so few options for "mundane" flight (which don't involve getting a demon to stitch wings to one's back) that it's refreshing to see. Also, its combination of strengths and weaknesses make it feel very balanced relative to other flight options.

[HaikenEdge]

Aboleth Mucus.

Because, when your DM pits your 1st level character against a Wyvern, it might be your only win condition.

[LTwerewolf]

Dust grenades from OA.

[Telonius]

One square yard of linen or silk (PHB, p. 112). Most useful items in the entire game.

[Rijan_Sai]

Shapesand (Sandstorm) is definitely one of the best. Also seconding the Eggshell Dust Grenade (OA).
Out of curiosity, how many EDGs could you get from 1 jar of Ss? (Hey, it's a non-magical, non-masterwork item, and you're really only shaping the shell, while "breaking down" the grains of sand inside to the consistancy of dust...)


A small silver mirror.
*snip the many fun ideas for focus*
Use the old Glasssee spell on the reverse side and you can have mirrored sunglasses (that also reflect gaze attacks).

I'm sure I'll remember more uses upon *puts on mirrored glasses* further reflection....
I've often wondered if something like that might work...


Flour
Water



Cake
LIES!

Also, seconding (thirding? fourthing?) Shapesand. So many uses, it's pretty much everthing here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/goodsAndServices.htm#adventuringGear) and here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/goodsAndServices.htm#toolsAndSkillKits), several things here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/goodsAndServices.htm#mountsAndRelatedGear), (potentially) anything here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/goodsAndServices.htm#mountsAndRelatedGear), and (according to some interpretations) many things here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/goodsAndServices.htm#specialSubstancesAndItems).

Depending on how much you have and can control, it's your whole (mundane) kit in a bottle!

[Stoneback]

Hard rubber ball, about the size of a tennis ball. Dungeoneer's best friend.

[Rejusu]

10ft pole, PHB. If you can't find a use for one in a given campaign you're not trying.

[Tetraplex]

For me personally, it's
Silver Mirrors
Rubber Balls (See above lol)
Liquid Sunlight (Alchemical, concealable, never runs out and shed light like a torch? And you want me to use this as a [I]weapon[I], WotC?)
*Flasks of acid. Who needs lockpicks, etc?
Basically all alchemical items are crazy versatile.

But one of my current group, when building his first character, discovered Eggshell Dust Grenades. His rogue is now walking around with an entire Haversack pocket full of them at all times he loves them so much. Daggers, too. He's come up with several creative uses for daggers. I'm rather proud of myself for showing them how freeform item use can be.

[Thiyr]

The contents of the Type I Indespensible Haversack (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8235865#post8235865), By Shax.

Because when you need to be prepared for anything, Shax can help.

Hey, shameless advertisement of someone else's stuff is still totally legitimate.

[CSeiberlin]

Block & Tackle.

It's boring but I've seen it get parties past more obstacles and\or traps, allow them to haul away more lewt, and help reduce 'dens of evil' to rubble a surprising number of times.

Amateurs stop with a 10' foot pole, professionals pack a block & tackle.

[Alanto]

Caltrops, definitely. Stop charges, irritate enemies, and (as our Rogue decided to test last session) handy Rust Monster bait.

[NoACWarrior]

Spell component pouch.
An item so important to spell casters that it requires an entire feat to replace.
All for the low cost of 5 gold.

Mule + Saddle (Pack)
A non-magical item which holds almost the same amount as a Bag of Holding Type 1 for about 1/190 of the cost (2500 vs 13 gp).

Peasant's outfit.
When you spent every gold piece on that fancy sword of yours and you make sure you aren't naked (1 sp). Clerics, there are times when you aren't wearing armor you know...

Bedroll.
Because you don't always have access to an Inn... or can't afford a 1/2 star one (2 sp vs 1 sp).

Guard dog / attack dog.
Because an attack dog can kill goblins most of the time, why buy a magic weapon when you can buy 40 of these non-magical items (1000 vs 25 gp).

Cart.
Because the barbarian wants to flex his muscles and rage while the party is worn out. Also doubles as a massive improvised weapon (15 gp).

All of the above are from PHB.

Edit: Thanks Shining Wrath! I totally missed the saddle portion.

[roguemetal]

Shapesand - Easily the most versatile (reusable) item in D&D. Chaos flask is technically better, but is one time use.

Chaos Flask - Exchangeable for any mundane item, including poisons, with almost no limitations for fairly cheap. Breaking the economy is always a good investment.

[Shining Wrath]

I'd argue that Tanglefoot bags, alchemist fire, and that ilk, are magical, because in a D&D world they certainly aren't chemistry.

Let me put in a word for the humble adamantine dagger. A wonderful lock pick, a great way to deal with nasty engulfing monsters, and in a pinch you can tunnel through solid rock with them - slowly.

Let me second the vote for the mule, although the carrying capacity is technically zero until you add a saddle, which ups the cost considerably.

[Rejusu]

Well considering that by RAW you need to be a spellcaster to craft alchemical items you could make a case that they are (at least in some way) magical. However they all function within an AMF so...

[gadren]

Well considering that by RAW you need to be a spellcaster to craft alchemical items you could make a case that they are (at least in some way) magical. However they all function within an AMF so...
Interesting. I never noticed that before. I guess, technically, an artifcer can't create alchemical items then, which is kind of silly.

I also note that Pathfinder did away with that stipulation.

These have all been great suggestions. Anyone got more?

[Stoneback]

Since when are pits and gaps in D&D less than 10' across? I would say that real expert dungeoneers would carry poles that are 11' long at the very least.

Another one someone mentioned: a cart and mule. If you really wanna be prepared, or need to haul the odd jade idol back to town, saddlebags just won't cut it.

[sleepyphoenixx]

Another one someone mentioned: a cart and mule. If you really wanna be prepared, or need to haul the odd jade idol back to town, saddlebags just won't cut it.

Don't forget the crowbar. Because if it's bolted down that just means it's probably worth more!

[Hyena]

Gnomish quickrazor. Because come on, this is the most awesome weapon in DnD.

[gadren]

Gnomish quickrazor. Because come on, this is the most awesome weapon in DnD.

From which book?

[grarrrg]

One square yard of linen or silk (PHB, p. 112). Most useful items in the entire game.

That item really comes into its own when you're hitchhiking in a Spelljammer setting though...

[Shining Wrath]

In honor of the late great Douglas Adams, I suggest: a towel.

What? Why is everyone looking at me funny?

There's also something to be said for the humble iron spike. Helps with climbing; slows down Rust Monsters; use it to keep the door shut while you're resting in a dungeon room.

[grarrrg]

In honor of the late great Douglas Adams, I suggest: a towel.

What? Why is everyone looking at me funny?

:smallconfused:
Look at the post directly above yours.
Link (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DontExplainTheJoke)

[Dalebert]

Bandolier in PF are pretty awesome just because. They're frackin' bandoliers!

[gadren]

Bandolier in PF are pretty awesome just because. They're frackin' bandoliers!
Makes me think of 90's comic books: http://i.imgur.com/f9Uy6.jpg
You're not a 90's comic book artist by any chance, eh?

[Erik Vale]

Shapesand. Because it's all items for the low low price of 100gp/12lb

[CockroachTeaParty]

So many pouches... Why....?

[grarrrg]

So many pouches... Why....?

CockroachTeaParty, meet Rob Liefeld-style
Rob Liefeld-style, meet CockroachTeaParty

Really, the MASSIVE number of pouches/bandoliers/etc... is the LEAST of his problems.

[Slipperychicken]

So many pouches... Why....?

Yeah, those outfits are like, 3 steps away from being space marine armor.

[gadren]

Note to self: Make post in home brew section on the Liefield armor enchantment.

[Zetapup]

From which book?

The gnomish quickrazor is an exotic weapon from Races of Stone which is great because it can be drawn and sheathed as a free action. Combining this with iaijutsu focus on a factotum is pretty awesome.

I'm going to second the people saying shapesand. One of the most versatile items and very cost effective.

[gadren]

I'm going to second the people saying shapesand. One of the most versatile items and very cost effective.

I think at this point its less of a second and more of a twelfth. ;-P

[ben-zayb]

No mention of Rod of Ropes (Complete Scoundrel) yet?

[YossarianLives]

Don't know why but I've always loved falchions.

[Slipperychicken]

Don't know why but I've always loved falchions.

I still find it strange that curved blades in dnd get a critical threat range of like 18-20/x3, even when they're otherwise identical to their non-curved counterparts.

[Honest Tiefling]

Don't forget the crowbar. Because if it's bolted down that just means it's probably worth more!

I actually was going to suggest that rope, chains, sacks and crowbars can come in handy quite often. One of my players always starts with a crowbar.

[The Trickster]

Spell component pouch. Access to all kinda of random stuff.

Or chalk. I've used chalk for all kinds of things, from writing messages to dusting an area in a dungeon to remind myself that I had been there.

[Thiyr]

No mention of Rod of Ropes (Complete Scoundrel) yet?

Probably because it's a magic item.

[ben-zayb]

Probably because it's a magic item.It has a very mundane feel, though, so apparently I thought it was mundane. *shrugs*

[Thiyr]

It has a very mundane feel, though, so apparently I thought it was mundane. *shrugs*

S'okay, I don't blame you. It's basically the traditional comic book grappling gun, and I'm quite the fan of it personally. But like most cool things in the game, it comes back to the magics. Alas.

[Slipperychicken]

S'okay, I don't blame you. It's basically the traditional comic book grappling gun, and I'm quite the fan of it personally. But like most cool things in the game, it comes back to the magics. Alas.

Grapple Gun + Hang Glider + Tall building = Flight?

[Vogonjeltz]

Masterwork artisan tools, useful for almost every build

[ben-zayb]

Ok, probably not generally useful, but an Elvencraft Riverine Longbow (300gp + 5000gp/lb + Masterwork Cost) would be awesome. Basically a mundane nigh-indestructible "wall of force" for a versatile weapon.

[Thiyr]

Grapple Gun + Hang Glider + Tall building = Flight?

Assuming you rule the glider to work like Raptorans and the like pre-flight...kinda? Might be hard to use the rod of ropes to get enough consistent lift if there's not enough building, though.

And the riverine longbow is interesting. It works, for some reason the idea of a flexible wall of force (It would have to be in order to work as a bow) just itches my brain...

[gadren]

Ok, probably not generally useful, but an Elvencraft Riverine Longbow (300gp + 5000gp/lb + Masterwork Cost) would be awesome. Basically a mundane nigh-indestructible "wall of force" for a versatile weapon.

What is Riverine from?

[Slipperychicken]

What is Riverine from?

Stormwrack. People sometimes refer to the book as "It's Wet Outside".

Riverine is essentially items made out of forcewall, with water sandwiched between the forcewalls. Almost nothing, short of a disintegrate spell or Disjunction, can destroy a Riverine item.


Personally, my favorite thing to do with riverine (idea stolen from Darrin IIRC) is to make a +1 Flying Sizing Riverine Gauntlet. With ~11,000 gold, and you've suddenly got a flying invincible hand made of magical force which follows your orders and can grow or shrink to any size you can imagine.

[gadren]

Stormwrack. People sometimes refer to the book as "It's Wet Outside".

Riverine is essentially items made out of forcewall, with water sandwiched between the forcewalls. Almost nothing, short of a disintegrate spell or Disjunction, can destroy a Riverine item.


Personally, my favorite thing to do with riverine (idea stolen from Darrin IIRC) is to make a +1 Flying Sizing Riverine Gauntlet. With ~11,000 gold, and you've suddenly got a flying invincible hand made of magical force which follows your orders and can grow or shrink to any size you can imagine.

And its not a magic item? You could take it into an anti-magic field and it'd work just fine?

[TuggyNE]

And its not a magic item? You could take it into an anti-magic field and it'd work just fine?

It's magic like wall of force, so yeah, it's not dispellable and it's not suppressible by AMFs.

[gadren]

It's magic like wall of force, so yeah, it's not dispellable and it's not suppressible by AMFs.

Well a Wall of Force can still be dispelled by M's Disjunction. So it is magical, though you are right about it standing up to an AMF and lesser dispels.

[Sith_Happens]

I'd argue that Tanglefoot bags, alchemist fire, and that ilk, are magical, because in a D&D world they certainly aren't chemistry.

There's a line tucked away in the Planes section of the DMG stating that matter on the Material Plane is made of the classical elements. So D&D chemistry is pretty much anything goes.

[sleepyphoenixx]

And its not a magic item? You could take it into an anti-magic field and it'd work just fine?

The weapon itself would be fine. The magic item enhancements would still be suppressed.

[Shinken]

I like swords.