Magic items - making them interesting while keeping a fair power level

[Lollerabe]

Hey guys my party is soon to hit lvl 7 and we have gathered enough mats to start crafting some decent items. In our setting you can craft your own items but the problem is we don't really know what we can craft, obviously this is up to the DM but he is already a bit overburdened, so I hoped I could gather some suggestions and input from you guys.

As a rule of thumb we all dislike plain +X items and prefer to keep additive damage dice somewhat low and instead have actives/useful passives.

So fx the flametounge weapon from the dnd is a bit bland and adds to much damg (is the opinion of our table) a + 2d6 Fire damg is a whooping +7 avarage damg per hit.. That's a lot.

The frostbrand weapon from the DMG on the other hand adds less damg but some other cool features (turning off non magical light, frost resistance).

I'll give an example of a weapon I think would be cool (and hopefully fair for a lvl 7/8/9 char) with the hopes that you guys can tell me if it's OP and even better come with some suggestions or links to homebrewed magical items you yourself like.

__ of arcane disruption (any weapon)
This type of weapon is said to be favored by witch hunters and hunters of mages. They are renowned and feared by casters due to their ability to nullify magic. These weapons becomes sheathed in a blueish flame of pure arcane energy when their command word is spoken.

Magical
Adds + 1d4 force damage
When you damage a creature that is concentrating on
a spell with this weapon, that creature has disadvantage on the saving throw it makes to maintain its concentration.
You can cast the spell 'counter spell' once per long rest while wielding this item.

So yeah would that be to much? If so what part would you change and please please do chime in with suggestions for items, or links to cool homebrew that you have used.

Cheers

[pwykersotz]

I like the sword. It's very powerful, but I don't think it's too powerful.

If you're looking for an idea source, try the book Basilisk Goggles and Wishing Wells (http://www.rpgnow.com/product/170895/Basilisk-Goggles--Wishing-Wells). It's got some great stuff in it. It's made to be fairly system agnostic though, so some adjustment might be required.

[N810]

Seems fair, it basically just adds part of mage bane to the swords damage.

[Lollerabe]

Bump, more ideas would be truely welcomed

[Regitnui]

I used Nerzugal's DM's Toolkit to craft magic items: the sorcerer, for example, got a dagger that's invisible to others, but extinguishes torches near him.

[Ninja_Prawn]

Bump, more ideas would be truely welcomed

You looking for homebrewed magic items? *shifty eyes* I gots everything you needs right here...

Let's see... I have cold-themed items (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=20505579&postcount=1), fey-themed items (https://www.dropbox.com/s/s3crmpfdbc5u5x5/Fey%20Creatures%20Complete.pdf?dl=0) (pages 46-48), items based on randomly-generated (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19581845&postcount=2) names, aaaaand... Some advanced crafting rules (https://www.dropbox.com/s/hss8hp08v4dvrh2/Advanced%20Crafting%20Rules%202.pdf?dl=0) you might also be interested in.

Hope that helps!

[Gastronomie]

NinjaPrawn pretty much wins this thread, but not like adding my ideas will hurt.

Not sure if this can be really classified something you'd call a "magic item", but I like handing out weapons with small neat abilities, like "when you roll a 19 with this weapon, you can sing 'We Are the Champions' to treat it as a critical hit", or "when this weapon crits, the enemy is Stunned for one turn, since you rolled pretty darn nice with that attack roll".

Another one I've handed out before is "once per short rest, when you hit with this weapon, you can instantly activate Thunderous Smite on that attack".

And there's lots more. I think I'm gonna make a thread in homebrew and post it here when I'm done, but in the meantime, perhaps this thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?480434-Unique-Weapons-Flamberge-Swordbreaker-Trident-Dagger-Horse-Cutter-and-Stiletto) might be helpful.

EDIT: Thread created (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?498975-Two-New-Uncommon-Magic-Items-The-Trident-of-Sekolah-and-the-Shadow-Dagger-PEACH&p=21153782#post21153782). These weapons may sorta be different from what you wanna make (these already have detailed histories, contrary to how you're gonna create the weapons anew), but perhaps you could take a look at their "abilities".

[JellyPooga]

You mention that you've gathered enough materials to start crafting magic items. My question is; what are these materials?

Are they generic "magic item crafting stuff" with a GP value and that's it, or have you got (for example) a freely given unicorn horn, the heart of a minotaur and a perfect ruby?

If the latter, then the components you have should at least somewhat dictate the end product; a minotaurs heart, for instance, should probably be used for something to do with strength, toughness or finding your way out of mazes.

[Lollerabe]

Thanks a bunch guys, that helped and wp wp ninja ;)

Not really generic, our setting has a soulshard system which means you can 'drain' the soul of casters and mighty creatures alike - different casters/monsters can create different themed items. We just slayed a bone dragon - a pretty tough one at that and drained it, so something cold themed actually seems appropriate.

Again thanks for the input.

[Oramac]

I've always like the idea of PROC based items. Basically, "When X happens, Y follows". For example:

"When you critically strike with this mace, your target is stunned until the beginning of its next turn."

or

"When you cast a spell while holding this [item], roll a d6 (or whatever is fair). On a roll of 6, you may cast a duplicate of that spell at the lowest level possible without expending an additional spell slot."