XDMC 31: Forge an Item Set!

Welcome  to the thirty-first Expert Dungeon Master Competition! The primary  purpose of the Expert Dungeon Master Competitions is threefold:   

• To create a resource for new Dungeon Masters drawing on the vast talent pool of the experienced Dungeon Masters of this forum.
• To create a fun and vibrant competition that is sportsmanlike and friendly.
• To showcase the creativity and talent of Dungeon Masters like you.

The best way to keep informed about the competition is to join the Expert Dungeon Master Competition group.  There you can review the rules, archives, and future contest ideas, and  get broadcasts telling you when new competitions begin and when results  are released!

The topic for this competition is Item Set.  This competition asks you to create a unique Item Set for use in a campaign.  Adventurers Vault 2, where Item Sets first appeared, describes Item Sets as follows:

Item Sets

Some magic items were made to work together. When all the items belonging to a set are collected and wielded in unison, their power becomes greater than the sum of their parts. Depending on how much of a magic item set has been assembled, its collective items can grant additional qualities, different properties, and new powers to their wielders.

A magic item set contains four or more items that a character or a party can collect. Each set has at least one set benefit that is revealed when a minimum number of the set's items are used together. Some set items also have individual properties or effects that depend on the number of other set items being used.

To qualify for an item set's benefits, a character must be wielding or wearing one or more items from the set. A stowed item (for example, a magic cloak stuffed in a pack) doesn't count toward a set's benefits (though a sheathed weapon is  considered to be worn). Wondrous items are an exception and need only be carried in order for a character to gain an item set's benefits.

Each magic item in a set can stand alone. No item needs to be used with another of its set to function.

Group Sets

Some item sets are designed to be borne not by a single character, but by the members of an entire party. When a party collects the items of a group item set, the set benefits are determined by the number of allies who possess items from the set. Each character wearing or wielding an item from the set qualifies for the set benefits.

You can also find more information about Item Sets in the following three articles on Wizards' website:   

• Excerpts: AV2 Item Sets -- Battle Regalia
• Excerpts: AV2 Group Item Sets
• Magic Item Sets: Design & Development

Required Elements

In order to enter this competition, your entry must fulfill the following required elements:   

• Name: Name the Item Set.
• Number: The Item Set must have between four and eight items.
• Knowledge: Provide the information characters can know of the Item Set with a successful History check.
• Nuts and Bolts: Provide all stats necessary to include an Item Set in a campaign.
• Group Set: State whether or not the Item Set is a group set.

If you fail to include a required element, you will receive a score of zero in Themes.

Optional Elements

Each  entry must include three optional elements.  If the entry is for a group set, it may include elements from the "General" or "Group" lists. If the entry is not for a group set, it may include elements from the "General" or "Individual" lists. The optional elements in each category  are:   

General Altruistic: Each item in the Item Set affects allies and/or enemies, but confers no direct benefit to its owner. Bloodless: None of the items, or the Item Set as a whole, alters action points, attacks, damage, death saves, defenses, healing surges, or saving throws. Encyclopedic: Each item affects a different knowledge skill. Foe-Specific: The Item Set is designed to combat a foe with a specific type, origin, or subtype. Polyglot: Each item in the Item Set grants the owner an extra language. Ritualistic: At least one item in the Item Set, or the Item Set as a whole, grants a benefit with respect to one or more rituals or to ritual casting. Special Endings:  Either the Item Set as a whole imposes a penalty once assembled, or each item imposes a penalty until the entire Item Set is assembled. Synchronized: The Item Set provides an additional benefit if a power from each item is activated in a single round. Taxidermic: Each item is made from one or more body parts of one or more creatures. Zealous: Each item grants a benefit to an owner who is either chaotic evil or lawful good.

Group Aural: Each item in the Item Set grants the owner an aura, and additional effects if two or more auras from the Item Set overlap. Matching: Every item in the Item Set occupies the same item slot. Multiracial: Each item in the Item Set is intended for use by characters of different races. Role-Specific: Each item in the Item Set is intended for use by characters of different class roles. Individual Assembly Required: Any benefit from the Item Set as a whole requires the items to be physically connected. Ennobling: The Item Set grants the owner access to a noble title. Mundane: No item grants any benefits unless the owner possesses at least one other item from the Item Set. Unlucky: All previous owners of the complete Item Set have met terrible fates; the Item Set is believed to be cursed.

Your entry should list the optional elements you intended to include. If you do not, you will be scored only for those elements the judges happen to notice.

General Rules

Following are some general rules of the Expert DM Competition. The complete list of rules is in the Expert Dungeon Master Competition Group Wiki.   

• Code of Conduct. All entries must comply with the forum's Code of Conduct.
• Contest Duration. Contests usually run for two weeks, beginning with the post announcing the  competition. The Coordinator may extend the duration of the contest at his discretion after consulting the other judges for that competition. However, such extensions should be done very rarely.
• Edits Made at Entrants' Own Risk. A judge may download your entry any time after it is submitted. So any  edits you make might not be considered by a judge. For this reason, you  should submit your entry in as complete a form as possible. Use the preview function liberally. Once winners have been announced, entrants may edit their entries.
• Multiple Entries Prohibited. Each applicant may only submit one entry during the period in which entries may be submitted. Submitting multiple entries disqualifies all entries.  Additional entries may be submitted after the competition closes, but they will not be judged.
• Multi-Post Entries Prohibited. Each entry must be contained within a single post. The judges must ignore any subsequent posts.
• Outside Materials Prohibited. Your  entry may not include material hosted on a website other than  wizards.com and community.wizards.com. Images from your profile gallery may be used. The judges must ignore material hosted on other websites.
• Plagiarism and Peer Reviewing Prohibited. All entries must be the original, exclusive work of the applicant. Entries found to be copying the work of another, or that have been posted for review prior to the close of the competition, will be disqualified.

Judges and Schedule

The contest will run from today through Friday, October 7, 2011. All entries must be submitted no later than 12:00 midnight at the end  of that day (Eastern Standard Time). The judges of this contest are ankiyavon, ClanBattlerage, Fedosu, and Pluisjen, and the coordinator of this contest is wrecan. Good luck and have fun!!

Entry List

1. Cassan's Divine Astral Armor
2. Seeker95's Golden Avenger Full Plate Armor
3. Exultation's Four Winds' Fury
4. Geoffa's Garb of the Shadow Princess
5. Wipxepitl's Chain Gang's Shackles
6. Qube's Relics of the Righteous One

Sep 19, 2011 -- 6:34AM, Qube wrote:

Is there a reason for the 8-item maximum?

Brevity is the soul of wit.

or

Brev'y = wit's soul.