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Thread: Your favorite mundane items
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2011-01-06, 02:05 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2010
Your favorite mundane items
I'm looking for small mundane items that could come in handy in various circumstances. For this exercise alchemical items are not mundane. So far I have the obvious: caltrops, bag of flour, bunch of rope. I'm trying to simulate a crazy prepared character. Items do NOT need to be listed in a sourcebook to be considered, but they do need to be something easily available to a medieval society. Preferably nothing that would cost over 100gp - I'm looking for little kit things, not big purchases.
Ideas, playground?
Edit: Before anyone says it, stuff like shapesand and whatever feat it is that lets you pull out small items without having bought them beforehand are not in play. It's a PF core only game, with the addendum that mundane items not listed may be purchased for a reasonable price.
Edit 2: Mundane here means "exists in real life, or could easily be crafted in real life in a medieval society." So no aboleth mucus or gnome springwalls, as they don't exist in this world.Last edited by WarKitty; 2011-01-06 at 03:11 PM.
Hail to the Lord of Death and Destruction!
CATNIP FOR THE CAT GOD! YARN FOR THE YARN THRONE! MILK FOR THE MILK BOWL!
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2011-01-06, 02:10 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2007
Re: Your favorite mundane items
I'm a fan of getting a crowbar and several bags of marbles (A&EG).
Last edited by senrath; 2011-01-06 at 02:10 PM.
Originally Posted by SkyBoundFencer
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2011-01-06, 02:10 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2010
Re: Your favorite mundane items
Iron pot to cook that rabbit the ranger found, pour boiling water/oil on invaders while defending a castle or just plan smash someones face with it if they ambush you while the party is breaking camp and doesn't yet have it's weapons and armor
Edit: I've recently been made to rgeret no having a set of manacles on me several times in two different camapaigns. Grappling hooks are useful at low levels but become particularly useful in an urban campaign or arc where magic is heavily regulated in-cityLast edited by Sarakos; 2011-01-06 at 02:25 PM.
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2011-01-06, 02:11 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2010
Re: Your favorite mundane items
Hail to the Lord of Death and Destruction!
CATNIP FOR THE CAT GOD! YARN FOR THE YARN THRONE! MILK FOR THE MILK BOWL!
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2011-01-06, 02:11 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2010
- Location
- Florida
- Gender
Re: Your favorite mundane items
Soap. Because nothing confuses a Dwarf more than handing him a chunk of soap and nodding at him mysteriously.
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2011-01-06, 02:13 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2007
Re: Your favorite mundane items
Yeah, a crowbar'll fit. It's only a couple feet in length, and only weighs 5lbs. It's also pretty cheap at 2gp.
Last edited by senrath; 2011-01-06 at 02:13 PM.
Originally Posted by SkyBoundFencer
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2011-01-06, 02:16 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2010
- Location
- New York
- Gender
Re: Your favorite mundane items
I like small mirrors, I usually carry two at once. Good for signalling w/o magic if the party splits, looking around corners, killing that one random medusa that wanders up to the party, etc.
I also always carry a quarterstaff, all the core classes can use it as a weapon, it's about 60% as good as a as a 10ft pole (6ft quarter staff), and fits in a handy haversack.
Prybar, because sometimes you want the uppity rogue with his sissy 'open lock' skill to suck it.Last edited by Elric VIII; 2011-01-06 at 02:17 PM.
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2011-01-06, 02:17 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2010
Re: Your favorite mundane items
I suppose I should provide a current list:
Spoilerale (5)
armor grease
belt pouch
journal book (stat as travelling spellbook)
caltrops, 5
canvas, 2 square yards
chalk, 5 pieces
climber's kit
dagger, 4
dark reaver powder
darts, 20
disguise kit, 2
drill
drow poison, 10 doses
Everburning torch
flask, 6
flint and steel
healer's kit
ink
Jewelry
lamp, 2
leeching kit
marbles,3
oil, 2 pint
parchment (10)
pen
Purple worm poison, 1 dose
rations, 10
rope, 50ft
sack
sealing wax
ring, poison pill (2)
smokestick
soap
spell component pouch (2)
tanglefoot bag
torch, 3
waterskin
whetstone
Winter blanket
wrist sheath, spring-loaded (2)
I know not all of those are strictly mundane, but should give you an idea. I'm a bard and the party stealth and trap person.Last edited by WarKitty; 2011-01-06 at 02:17 PM.
Hail to the Lord of Death and Destruction!
CATNIP FOR THE CAT GOD! YARN FOR THE YARN THRONE! MILK FOR THE MILK BOWL!
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2011-01-06, 02:44 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2007
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Gender
Re: Your favorite mundane items
I've always been a big fan of Gnomish Springwalls (A&EG), for that nonmagic battlefield control we all occasionally crave.
I've also favored a creation of my own which I call a Gnomish Lantern, which is basically a bullseye lantern which can be converted into a hooded lantern by unscrewing the lantern from its base so the base lowers and throws light in all directions. Because, seriously, I can never decide which kind of lantern I'd rather have, so why not both?
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2011-01-06, 02:45 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
Re: Your favorite mundane items
Five pieces of chalk is not enough, I've found.
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2011-01-06, 02:48 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2010
- Location
- Nomad
- Gender
Re: Your favorite mundane items
Negotiation aids: Manacles, a sledge hammer, and a big scary guy to hold them.
Also, 20 foot ladder. It's funny to carry around; though there are restrictions on carrying capacity, I haven't seen anything on carrying size.If something doesn't work, hit it.
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2011-01-06, 02:50 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2009
- Location
- Central Florida, USA
- Gender
Re: Your favorite mundane items
Combat Aids: Aboleth Mucus and Eggshell Grenades (Dust).
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2011-01-06, 02:53 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2010
Re: Your favorite mundane items
Last edited by WarKitty; 2011-01-06 at 02:55 PM.
Hail to the Lord of Death and Destruction!
CATNIP FOR THE CAT GOD! YARN FOR THE YARN THRONE! MILK FOR THE MILK BOWL!
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2011-01-06, 02:59 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2010
- Location
- Not Here
Re: Your favorite mundane items
I know I've crushed chalk to find invisible enemies. One piece coats a large creature, apparently. It's cheaper than flour, I think.
Besides, you need flour to explode things.
And how did people forget the Rubber Bouncy Ball from Dungeonscape? Throw it down a corridor to check for traps or just bean someone in the head with it.
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2011-01-06, 03:02 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2010
- Location
- New York
- Gender
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2011-01-06, 03:03 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2010
- Location
- London, EU
- Gender
Re: Your favorite mundane items
A Jar of Lard.
Uses include: Lubricant, Grease, Insulation, Waterproofing, ..., oh and you can even eat itπ = 4
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2011-01-06, 03:04 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2009
- Location
- New Hampshire =(
- Gender
Re: Your favorite mundane items
Candles can be useful. Not only are they super cheap light sources, they're great delayed fire-starters and sources of wax, which can be used to gum up all types of devices and as temporary waterproofing for small objects.
As an added bonus, I hear they're also quite romantic
Crazy prepared, indeed...
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2011-01-06, 03:06 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2010
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2011-01-06, 03:08 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2010
- Location
- Finland
Re: Your favorite mundane items
Last edited by Greenish; 2011-01-06 at 03:09 PM.
Quotes:Praise for avatar may be directed to Derjuin.Spoiler
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2011-01-06, 03:13 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2010
- Location
- Sacramento, CA
- Gender
Re: Your favorite mundane items
- Small containers (e.g., sacks, vials, flasks) to gather up and store something you find and want to keep.
- A scroll tube with a few sheets of parchment, paper, or papyrus
- A razor (unless you've got a cantrip that duplicates the effect)
- A comb.
- A skinning knife.
- Fishline and hooks.
- Cookpot and/or frying pan.
Recent homebrewed necromantic spells (PEACH):
- Hungry Mists (yay, ghost rat swarm!), Long Shadows of the Grave (watch those undead run), Caress of Infinite Pleasure (pain, pleasure, it's all necromancy)
- Deep Sleep (a good night's rest in one hour)
- Envivifying Ray (boost the living, harm the dead)
- Khefernatra's Gracious Wound Refusal ("No, no, really, it's too much. You keep it.")
- Sun Scarabs (glowing undead eating bugs)
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2011-01-06, 03:20 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2010
- Location
- New York
- Gender
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2011-01-06, 03:24 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2010
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2011-01-06, 03:31 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2010
- Location
- New York
- Gender
Re: Your favorite mundane items
Holy Symbol is probobly only useful to a Cleric (which I was) disregard that. Although, I suppose you could bluff people into thining you're a holy man, using it for a circumstance bonus.
Bag of Rocks is to create noise/distract guards and to check for traps like pressure plates. Also, rocks are pretty easy to find, you're mostly just buying a bag.
Also, according to Douglas Adams, a towel is invaluable. So it can't be a bad idea. "DON'T PANIC"
EDIT: For the holy symbol, think Assassin's Creed I, blending in with the monks.Last edited by Elric VIII; 2011-01-06 at 03:35 PM.
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2011-01-06, 03:31 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2005
- Location
Re: Your favorite mundane items
Here's a few ideas:
Hidden ankle sheath with dagger
An abacus - For performing complex calculations on the fly. See if your DM will let you use a calculator in real life if you have this with you.
A live mouse - useful to test for poison. keep it in a cage as a beloved pet until it croaks.
Spices - a useful trade good, and a valuable amount can be carried in small vials. Plus it makes food taste good.
A cold weather outfit - for that +5 bonus on fortitude savves
A pork sausage spiked with sleeping drugs - Useful for knocking out guard dogs and other monsters.
An hourglass
A compass
An astrolabe
A set of global and local maps
A magnet
A bottle of very strong whiskey - it can sterilize water and wounds, or be used to bribe people
Ice skates
Snowshoes
Hammer & nails
Sling and metal bullets - and when you run out of ammo you can use pebbles
String - when a rope is just too thick
A horn or whistle - useful for alerting allies
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2011-01-06, 03:38 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2007
- Location
- Meraya, Siraaj
Re: Your favorite mundane items
A halfling on a 10-foot pole. It's good for everything! (except the halfing)
But seriously, I was always partial to Greek fire, especially in a naval setting or as a guaranteed troll-killer.Currently playing: Jathal Darsha'an; Linie
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2011-01-06, 03:44 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2007
- Location
- In your head.
- Gender
Re: Your favorite mundane items
a sheet of lead.
a brick (no joke, it actually came handy once...)
a set of springs
magnets if possible
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2011-01-06, 03:47 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2010
- Location
- Finland
Re: Your favorite mundane items
Quotes:Praise for avatar may be directed to Derjuin.Spoiler
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2011-01-06, 04:06 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2007
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Gender
Re: Your favorite mundane items
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2011-01-06, 04:11 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2010
- Location
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Gender
Re: Your favorite mundane items
I vote for more tanglefoot bags. Those things are just darn useful.
EDIT: Depending on level. Based on some of the stuff you have, I would guess you're at mid-levels or thereabouts, so they might be slightly less useful at that point.Last edited by ArcanistSupreme; 2011-01-06 at 04:13 PM.
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2011-01-06, 04:12 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2010
- Location
- Sacramento, CA
- Gender
Re: Your favorite mundane items
At least in past editions (not positive about 3.5 without looking it up) holy symbol could be used for touch attacks vs undead, doing damage equivalent to holy water. Even better, they bypassed any DR they might have.
And, as already mentioned, it can be used to ward off vampires and is good for that alone.Recent homebrewed necromantic spells (PEACH):
- Hungry Mists (yay, ghost rat swarm!), Long Shadows of the Grave (watch those undead run), Caress of Infinite Pleasure (pain, pleasure, it's all necromancy)
- Deep Sleep (a good night's rest in one hour)
- Envivifying Ray (boost the living, harm the dead)
- Khefernatra's Gracious Wound Refusal ("No, no, really, it's too much. You keep it.")
- Sun Scarabs (glowing undead eating bugs)