Cantrip-Based Items for PF1

Yes, these are yet more inexpensive, nonconsumable items for 1st edition Pathfinder, but these are all united by being based on cantrips. The idea is to create items that boost the utility and functionality of low-level spellcasters in a different way that giving them minor scrolls or wands. These items popped into my head over the past few days, inspired by a conversation I had with longtime (37+ years) gaming friends earlier this week. (I’m also making them available to my wife, who is running a currently-5th-level PF1 campaign, in case she wants to pass them out as loot).

Blooddrop Pin
Aura
faint necromancy; CL 3rd; Slot head or shoulders; Price 1,500 gp; Weight
This long silver pin has a bright, blood-colored, teardrop-shaped garnet in the handle. It can be worn as a hairpin (taking the head item slot) or as a cloakpin (taking the shoulder item slot). It can also be used as a Small or Medium dagger without being considered an improvised weapon, but its base damage is 1, rather than 1d4. A spellcaster who has the bleed cantrip on their class list can learn it from the blooddrop pin as if the pin was a scroll, without damaging the item. The pin also allows the spell bleed to be targeted on a creature with a positive hp total, causing them on a failed save to take 1 hp and gain a 1 hp bleed effect. Multiple bleed spells cast on a target in this manner do not increase the bleed effect to more than 1 hp/round.
Craft Wondrous Item, bleed; Cost 750 gp

Brightstrap
Aura
strong (no school); CL 17th; Slot —; Price 250 gp; Weight
A brightstrap is a silvery silk-and-leather strap roughly 6 inches long that can easily be tied to a weapon, torch, holy symbol, belt, glove, or most other common adventuring equipment. A spellcaster who has the light cantrip on their class list can learn it from the brightstrap as if the strap was a scroll, without damaging the item. When a spellcaster casts the light cantrip on a brightstrap, it does not count against their maximum of 1 active light spell at a time.  This item does not grant the ability to cast light, just to modify the spell if the caster already has access to it.
Craft Wondrous Item, continual flame, light; Cost 125 gp

Charcoal Cord
Aura
strong (no school); CL 17th; Slot —; Price 1,500 gp; Weight —The charcoal cord is a short length of dark gray cording that appears to be covered in charcoal, though it leaves no powder or mark behind. The cord can be worn nearly anywhere on the body (wrapped around the wrist, tied to a belt, used to hold back hair, etc), and does not take up a magic item slot. A spellcaster who has the detect poison cantrip on their class list can learn it from the cord as if the cord was a scroll, without damaging the item. Three times per day, the charcoal cord allows a character casting detect poison to do so as a move action. This item does not grant the ability to cast detect poison, just to modify the spell if the caster already has access to it.
Craft Rod, Craft Wondrous Item, Quicken Spell; Cost 750 gp

Guiding Star
Aura
strong (no school); CL 17th; Slot belt, body, chest, or shoulders; Price 1,500 gp; Weight
The guiding star is a fine cloth sash with small patterns matching constellations sewn into it. It can be worn as a belt, shoulder sash, chest wrap, or numerous other ways that allow it to take one of a number of magic items slots (see above) and still function. A spellcaster who has the guidance cantrip on their class list can learn it from the sash as if the sash was a scroll, without damaging the item. Three times per day, the guiding star allows a character casting guidance to have the spell last up to 10 minute pers level (until discharged). This item does not grant the ability to cast guidance, just to modify the spell if the caster already has access to it.
Craft Rod, Craft Wondrous Item, Extend Spell; Cost 750 gp

Ring of Trifles
Aura
feint transmutation; CL 7th; Slot ring; Price 500 gp; Weight
A character able to prepare cantrips can prepare one additional cantrip when wearing this ring. The ring must be worn or 24 hours before it can be used.
Forge Ring; Special creator must be able to prepare cantrips from at least 2 different class spell lists; Cost 250 gp (1st)

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About Owen K.C. Stephens

Owen K.C. Stephens Owen Kirker Clifford Stephens is a full-time ttRPG Writer, designer, developer, publisher, and consultant. He's the publisher for Rogue Genius Games, and has served as the Starfinder Design Lead for Paizo Publishing, the Freeport and Pathfinder RPG developer for Green Ronin, a developer for Rite Publishing, and the Editor-in-Chief for Evil Genius Games. Owen has written game material for numerous other companies, including Wizards of the Coast, Kobold Press, White Wolf, Steve Jackson Games and Upper Deck. He also consults, freelances, and in the off season, sleeps. He has a Pateon which supports his online work. You can find it at https://www.patreon.com/OwenKCStephens

Posted on January 7, 2022, in Game Design, Pathfinder Development and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.

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