Which magic item would this NPC want? (LikelyWild Beyond the Witchlight spoilers)

[Unoriginal]

Hi folks.

In the Wild Beyond the Witchlight campaign I run, the group is thinking about hiring a mercenary NPC to help them out, and part of the payment would be a magic item of the NPC's choice. This being a magic-backed favor granted by another NPC the group met earlier, the mercenary could ask for any Uncommon or Common magic item, from any of the 5e books, except for a potion or a scroll.

Now, the thing is, unlike the PCs who are pretty new to the adventuring business, the mercenary is *very* experienced, and while he's not the brightest stone in the Ioun's drawer he's seen and learned about a lot of magic items over his long, multiple-planes-and-worlds-visiting career, so I feel like he would know what to ask to give himself the most power, or at least what would be the most valuable option.


Additional info:

-NPC has mediocre at best mental stats and DEX, but decent STR and CON.

-NPC already has a Rare magic melee weapon.

-NPC wouldn't be able to use any item that requires being a Spellcaster to use, and wouldn't ask for such an item even if it was more valuable than any other option on the list.

-NPC would prefers an item he can keep over an use-it-lose-it item, but could still ask for one of the latter if it was worthwhile enough.

-NPC is a melee fighter type.

I was thinking the NPC could ask for Gauntlets of Ogre Power (which would increase his STR mod by 1) or, maybe, for an Headband of Intellect (as he's aware he's not smart, and if he doesn't have any complex about it he knows he would have an easier time staying rich and alive in the business if he had genius-level intelligence). On the other hand, maybe something more outlandish like a Bag of Tricks or an Eversmoking Bottle could be more fun when in play?

What are your thoughts? If more infos are needed I'll do my best to answer and update the OP.

[da newt]

The merc is a melee fighter type? Some possibles below. Some are fun, some are practical but boring, some could be game changing, but I think it mostly depends on who this guy is ...

Broom of Flying
Hat of Disguise (if they want to be incognito all the time)
Cloak of Protection
Gem of Brightness (not popular, but handy)
Mithral plate armor
Periapt of Wound Closure
Robe of Useful Items
Wand of MM
Weapon of Warning

[Unoriginal]

The merc is a melee fighter type?

Indeed. I'll add that to the OP.

[Sigreid]

Periapt of Wound Closure


This right here. None of the other options say quite so clearly to a merc "I'm going to get through this and live another day".

[togapika]

Just go full on odd and give him a Headband of Intellect.
Or for even more fun, an item that does the same for Wisdom, but mostly it just makes him wise enough to know that he should have gone for the Headband of Intellect

[Sception]

Are the party providing this item? If so, is the NPC's choice limited to what the party actually has to give them? In that case, what items are available?

If the choice is not limited to what the party actually has to give him, are they stuck in debt to this NPC until they offer up the named item? In that case a fey NPC, or one with much fey experience, might be strongly inclined to name something unique and nigh unobtainable - Blackrazor, the Sword of Kas, the Wand of Orcus, etc. Any unique magic item famous enough for them to have heard of it but which is also known to be difficult if not impossible to procure.

Alternatively, they might ask for an item that would further some personal agenda or grudge. If they have beef with the cult of Tiamat, they might demand one of the orbs of dragonkind, since if the party manages to get one that would set Tiamat's cult back, and even if they fail they would likely disrupt the cult's operations in the process.

Or the npc might have a grudge with a particular rascally rabbit with a bad habit of picking fights and pulling pranks, and so demand the scoundrel's signature scarf as payment if only to pay back his mischief.


But if we're being boring and practical and just asking for a generic useful bit of rare magical bits that an npc sellsword might like to have, my own warrior type PCs are always eager to jump on cloaks of displacement or magic plate armor once their melee weapon of choice is handled.

[Unoriginal]

Are the party providing this item? If so, is the NPC's choice limited to what the party actually has to give them? In that case, what items are available?

If the choice is not limited to what the party actually has to give him, are they stuck in debt to this NPC until they offer up the named item? In that case a fey NPC, or one with much fey experience, might be strongly inclined to name something unique and nigh unobtainable - Blackrazor, the Sword of Kas, the Wand of Orcus, etc. Any unique magic item famous enough for them to have heard of it but which is also known to be difficult if not impossible to procure.

As said in the OP, the choice is "any Uncommon or Common magic item, from any of the 5e books, except for a potion or a scroll", and the item will be given to the mercenary by a different NPC the PCs have met earlier, who has the power to provide said "any Uncommon or Common magic item".




But if we're being boring and practical and just asking for a generic useful bit of rare magical bits that an npc sellsword might like to have, my own warrior type PCs are always eager to jump on cloaks of displacement or magic plate armor once their melee weapon of choice is handled.

Fair, though part of why I made this thread was to see if people had non-generic bit of not-that-rare magical bits than the sellsword could want.


This right here. None of the other options say quite so clearly to a merc "I'm going to get through this and live another day".

It's an interesting item when you work with a group, but it doesn't protect you from your enemies just attacking you more when you're down, so the "I'm going to get through this and live another day" part wouldn't work out for this mercenary.

If it did heal the wearer this would certainly be on the top of the list.

[Sception]

bluh, missed that part of the setup. My bad. Got too excited at the idea of the party being on the hook for something. :p

[PrinceOfMadness]

The merc is a melee fighter type? Some possibles below. Some are fun, some are practical but boring, some could be game changing, but I think it mostly depends on who this guy is ...

Broom of Flying
Hat of Disguise (if they want to be incognito all the time)
Cloak of Protection
Gem of Brightness (not popular, but handy)
Mithral plate armor
Periapt of Wound Closure
Robe of Useful Items
Wand of MM
Weapon of Warning
I agree with most of this list. In particular, the Hat of Disguise and Weapon of Warning stand out as options that a veteran merc would find highly desirable and get a lot of mileage out of.

[Dualight]

Unless the NPC has (an equivalent to) the Alert feat, I'll second the weapon of warning. Immunity to surprise, a magic weapon, and advantage on Initiative rolls makes for a very impactful item. (My current character uses one, and it has probably saved the party many times, just by denying surprise.) A solo mercenary is unlikely to have frequent use for the 30-foot radius 'aura'(paladins can't match that before level 18), but it would come in handy for escort missions, if nothing else, and again, immunity to surprise is great if you are often on the defending side.
It is valuable even if the merc already has a magic weapon, as the only benefit of the weapon of warning that requires it to be wielded, instead of being on the wielder's person, is the damage, so the only downside to having another magic weapon alongside it is the requirement for attunement that weapon of warning has. I suppose carrying two different weapons at the same time when you are not a dual wielder might be inconvenient, but carrying a sidearm is simply proper preparation when combat is your profession.

[Angelalex242]

Is there any particular reason not to give this man winged boots?

A mercenary doesn't need to help OTHER people fly...

[da newt]

Is there any particular reason not to give this man winged boots? - Yes, the flying broom is superior in every way, but flight is game changer.

As for recommendations, I'd say go with the one that the DM (or whoever is playing the Merc) will enjoy the most. For me, I'd think the hat of disguise, flying broom, and MM wand are probably the most impactful, but a weapon of warning is just really good (maybe a heavy Xbow since he's already got a RARE melee weapon).

[Sigreid]

It's an interesting item when you work with a group, but it doesn't protect you from your enemies just attacking you more when you're down, so the "I'm going to get through this and live another day" part wouldn't work out for this mercenary.

If it did heal the wearer this would certainly be on the top of the list.

1. Mercenaries usually work as part of some kind of group.
2. The device helps them stabilize and recover, not get back up into the fight. What's the incentive to attack the downed foe in the middle of the fight?

[Unoriginal]

1. Mercenaries usually work as part of some kind of group.
2. The device helps them stabilize and recover, not get back up into the fight. What's the incentive to attack the downed foe in the middle of the fight?

This mercenary wouldn't trust anyone he fights with to not kill him and loot his items, if he was to get KOed in a battle.

And to be fair, he'd often be correct in his assumption.