*casts "enhanced mod resistance"*
*casts "raise thread" on epic level*
Well since i talked recently with a friend about roman warfare i remembered this little project here that still remains unfinished. Following is a list of magic items, i have been toying with. Common magic items may be purchased with the price given in the empire armybook. Point costs are probably a bit off. I also modified the above armylist a bit. I will probably never come around to play this list, as i mamage rarly enough to get a warhammer game, but i want to finish it anyway. Feedback is always welcome, and id like to include some more items, if you give me good ideas
Magic Weapons:Spear of Blood 100p:
It is said that this ancient spear is a relict from the time Mars, the wargod, the slaughterer, the personification of war, walked the earth and gifted his most favourite champion with this weapon. People believe that it has a will of its own, that it unhinges its bearers mind - and that its only happy when it tastes blood.
Counts as spear. The character using this spear becomes unbreakable, immune to psychology and frenzied. The spear of blood can be used in 2 ways.
In the shooting phase it can be used as a boltthrower with the stats given in the rulebook but with S4. The character can move and fire and even use it in a stand and shoot reaction. It will always instantly return to its bearers hand.
Its second use is in close combat. Every blow the character strikes and hits, counts as if the unit in question had just been hit by a bolt thrower with S4, the point of entrance is marked by the position of the model carrying the spear. The "look out Sir" rule dosent apply in cc.
Inferno Blade 60p:
This sword has been forged by Vulkan, god of fire, himself on the order of Jupiter. The sword fought in many important battles, always glowing in a fierce red light, as if it had never left its forge.
Gives flaming Attacks. Any target hit and wounded suffers D3 wounds. Reduces the targets armoursave by 2 points.
Bow of Herakles (Herkules) 50p:
Herakles, son of godfather Zeus (Jupiter) was maybe the most famous greek hero walking the earth. While his bow itself is nothing too special (though it takes a strong man to use it) its arrows are. The second task Herakles had to fulfill for King Creon was to kill the Hydra, a terrible snakelike beast with many heads. With the help of Iolaüs Herakles brought it down and coated his arrows into the creatures highly toxic blood. After that his arrows could kill anything that they could wound.
Counts as Bow with magical arrows. Any model hit by this bow is automatically wounded and suffers D3 damage. Armour and wardsaves apply as normal.
Magic Armours:Armour of Achill 65p:
Achilleus was a famous greek hero, king of Myrmidonen and half god. Together with his weaponbrother Patroklos he fought in the trojan siege. His mother, the see goddess Thetis feared for her son, as a prophecy predicted his early death. So she went to Hephaistos (Vulkan) and pleaded to him to forge an armour for Archill. The god of the forge was moved by the mothers desperation and created a masterpiece. Undefeated in battle Achilleus died to an arrow shot by a coward from behind. His armour was later given to Odysseus who passed it on to Achills son Neoptolemus.
Counts as gromril armour for a basic 4+ save if its magic gets negated. The armour grants its wearer a 1+ armoursave as well as a 5+ wardsave. The Armour already includes a shield.
Shield of Pallas Athene (Minerva) 30p:
Athene, goddess of war and wisdom, once lended her shield to Perseus when he entered the cave of the gorgons, terrible creatures whose visage could turn a man to stone. Athens shield, shining like a mirror, protected Perseus from the sisters magic and allowed him to slay them.
Counts as shield for a 6+ save. Any magic missiles directed at the model or the unit he has joined are reflected straight back to the caster (or its unit) on a 2+.
Helmet of wisdom 25p:
This ancient helmet, holy to Minerva, grants its wearer amazing insight when it comes to strategy and tactics. It is said, that many successfull army leaders, facing overwhelming odds and pleading to Minerva, have carried this gift into battle.
Can only be carried by the General. Grants a 6+ armousave. The wearer becomes immune to stupidy, also his "ld bubble" is increased by 6".
Talismans:Pendant of Justice 40p:
The pendant resembels an owl and has been blessed by Athene (Minerva) herself. Unlike her brother Ares, she preffered fights on equal odds, a notion, that has been transfered to this artifact.
Any opposing model in base contact with the wearer of this item (and the wearer himself) loose any magical effects gained by magical items or magic for the time of the combat. Spellcasters in BtB wont be able to use magic. The effect only applies in close combat.
Talisman of Regina 50p:
This talisman is shaped like a dove. It symbolizes Junos aspect as protector of the state.
Juno is an ancient Roman goddess, the protector and special counselor of the state. She is a daughter of Saturn and sister (but also the wife) of the chief god Jupiter and the mother of Juventas, Mars, and Vulcan. Her Greek equivalent is Hera.
As the patron goddess of Rome and the Roman empire she is called Regina ("queen") and, together with Jupiter and Minerva, is worshipped as a triad on the Capitol (Juno Capitolina) in Rome.
Grants a 4+ Wardsave.
Pendant of perfection 25p:
It is said that Aphrodite, goddess of love, blessed this pendant to overcom the hatred between two rivaling ruling families. It still posesses much of its divine power.
The character wearing this Talisman can not be challenged. Attacks can be directed at him as usual though.
Enchanted Items:Jewel of the Sun 25p:
When its power is summoned this Jewel, blessed by Apollo, shines in a fierce bright light, which amazingly blinds only the enemies of its owner.
Apollo has been variously recognized as a god of light and the sun; truth and prophecy; archery; medicine and healing; music, poetry, and the arts; and more. Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto, and has a twin sister, the chaste huntress Artemis.
Once per game this item can be used at the beginning of any combat phase. Any model in base contact of the wearer need 6s to hit in this phase.
Hecates torch 25p:
Queen of Ghosts is a title associated with Hecate due to the belief that she can both prevent harm from leaving, but also allow harm to enter from the spirit world. Hecate thus has a role and special power in graveyards and at crossroads. She guards the "ways and paths that cross". Thus she is often worshiped as the goddess of entrances.
The character and the unit he is with may use this item once a game to become etherical during their movement phase. If they use this item for a charge, the opponent can only take the reaction "accept attack", as the unit disappears and appears right in front of his eyes.
Jupiters wrath 50p:
Jupiters wrath is a polished staff, formed in the likelyness of a lightning. It was crafted from a temple tree that had been struck during a thunderstorm. It still posseses much of the power that caused its creation.
Bound item, energy level 5. Can cast the fith spell of heaven magic.
Mercurys sandals 25p:
Mercury, messenger of the gods, wears a winged helmet, wings on his feet and carries a caduceus and purse. He was the patron of merchants, travelers and thieves. It is said that he once gave his winged sandals to Perseus so that the hero could cross the waters to reach the Gorgons layer.
Character may move as if flying.
Rubin of darkness 25p:
This precious gem seems to contain a dark flame in its inside, absorbing light instead of giving it away, which is the reason why it is said to be a holy artefact to the lord of darkness.
Pluto is one of the three sons of Saturn. Together, they represent earth, water, and air and the Romans believe that none of these things could be consumed by time, represented by Saturn. After Saturn's defeat, the three brothers took control of the world, and divided it into three separate parts for each brother to rule. Jupiter took control of the skies, Neptune of the seas, and Pluto ruled the underworld. As such Pluto is also the owner of anything mined from beneath the earth.
The gem counts as Bound item, energy level 3. When not dispelled, it casts the 3 spell of the lore of Metal
Helmet of invisibility 50p:
Another gift to Perseus, granted by Pluto. The wearer of the Helmet turns invisible, thus is able to strike anywhere without fear of detection.
Models on food only. The character wearing this helmet may march even if within 8" of an enemy. Enemy ranged attacks need a further +2 to hit and it always strikes first in the first round of combat, even if the opponent normally strikes first.
Arcane Items:
Staff of Aesclepius 25p:
Asclepius, son of Apollo and Coronis is the god of medicine and healing. His mother was killed for being unfaithful to Apollo and was laid out on a funeral pyre to be consumed, but the unborn child was rescued from her womb. From this he received the name Asclepios "to cut open."
Apollo carried the babe to the centaur Chiron who raised Asclepius and instructed him in the art of medicine. He was later killed by Zeus for returning the dead to the living for pay. But his cult lived on.
The staff is a holy artifact of the Asclepius cult. It has been forged to resemble a snake curled around a staff. It counts as a bound spell with energylevel 4. When it is used in the magic phase it will completly heal all wounds of any non mechanic/warmachine model within 6". May also be cast into combat.
Apollos voice 25p:
Apollo is the patron of maybe the most famous oracle in existence. His prophecies always become true, though they are often difficult to interpret.
When this "item" is bought, the gamer may reroll the diceroll at the start of the game that decides who goes first.
Neptuns blessing 25p:
Neptun, god of the sea, he who shakes the foundations of earth, is the patron of all sailers and cities that depend on their harbours for trading. His wrath is a terrible thing to behold.
All terrain pieces that include water features (rivers (even small ones), lakes and swamps mostly) become very dangerous for the opponent. Every time one of his units tries to cross such a terrain piece, they suffer 2d6 S4 wounds without armoursaves as the unit in question gets drowned, blasted away by the suddenly onrushing watermasses etc. They will suffer this consequences as long as they are in this terrain feature.
Crystalpendant of knowledge 30p:
The crystal has the size of a childs fist and seems to glow from an inner light. It is normally kept in a shrine dedicated to Minerva.
The priest carrying this artefact knows all spells of its lore.
Magical Standarts:Aquila 125p:
Roman standarts are the key points of their military structure. Every cohort has its own standart, as has every legion. The aquila, the legion standart not only plays an important roll on the battelfield but also on religios festivals and events. The loss of the legion sign is the greatest shame a legio can suffer and wars have been waged to recover lost standarts.
Any unit with the Aquila is immune to psychology and unbreakable. Due to the blessings they receive from the most powerfull priests, they also grant magic resistance 2 to the unit that carries the standart. If the standart falls, the opponent receives twice as many VP as normal, but the unit that captured the standart will be hated by the whole roman army.
Banner of the crescent moon 50p:
"Come to me shadow for i stand in the light of the moon and i dont fear you!"
These words are written in the old language over this banner holy to Diana, sister of Apollo who was worshipped in two rather separate manners. Often she is shown with a bow as goddess of the hunt. Her other Aspect often shows her with a torch and a moon on her shoulder, as bringer of light to the night. The moon banner shines in an erie light which instills fear among those who are long past this feeling.
Any undead or deamonic unit trying to assault or is getting assaulted by the unit carrying this banner has to pass a ld test or suffer the exact same consequences as if they had failed a fear test.
Banner of the hunt 25p:
The standart has been blessed in a Diana temple. Any unit carrying this banner walks nimbly through any forrest and jungle and treats those terrain pieces as open ground.
So thats about what i have right now. Most item are inspired by the greek pantheon, but is it my fault that the Romans assimilated any god they found?
My personal favourite is the "Banner of crescent moon", the thought of making VC and deamons roll fear tests for once is something very satisfying