The Tavern

Inspired by the Amulet of Mighty Fists thread, two ideas for UC brand items. Basic parameters:

* Just More Damage is not very interesting, so probably not {flame} or {freeze} or {elec} or {drain}
* {vamp} and {antimagic} UC is kind of Vine Stalker's schtick
* Gloves are a pretty good slot, so you don't wind up with branded Blade Hands or claws
* Flavor is fun

So!


Hated by Zin, because of course*. The sInv is because {chaos} turning monsters invisible is really irritating; flavor-wise the crabs have it anyhow. Very very rarely, Yiuf could spawn with these instead of his staff.


Basically just a distortion-for-UC-folks unrand. No removal penalty, because there's no particular reason for one here — you're not gonna wear 'em by accident, and "swapping" is already possible. Allows wielding other weapons or melding to suppress the effects. Provides no AC, but does give EV. One other alternative would be to give it no EV, but provide an auto-regenerating Shroud of Golubria effect — more complicated, but maybe more flavorful.

* Actually does Zin really not hate chaos brand? Wiki doesn't mention it but huuuh?

The +0 gloves "Bad Touch" {painUC}

Magically crafted by a particularly heinous Lich, these bony gloves allow the wearer to inflict immense pain on the living with an unarmed strike.

Opens up that UC + necromancy playstyle. You could have the glove enchant increase when a skeleton having enemy is punched to death, capping out at +5 and decaying over time, if it isn't gimmicky enough.

I'd probably have it change slaying and do it on killing anything susceptible to pain, but yeah I like it.

the +2 Gloves of the Templar {Holy WrathUC}

Because by late-game this is really what every UC user wants. Maybe toss on an rN/rTorm ego to be fitting.

also just going to reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee over my first decent idea actually being considered legit

I think it'd be worth it thinking of an oddball brand that doesn't already have a place in the game.

So the first thing I thought was silver. "Claws of the Silver Crab". Give claws 2, silver, ancient crab loved by Zin and torn to pieces by its own vicious chaotic progeny.

But there are a few silver items in the game. There also are explosive weapons (devastator and firestarter). Disarming too.

I'd like perforation, like "you punch this guy, and the guy behind him!", but it looks like it would actually be quite boring with positioning. Also, again with the "make an optimal position (corridor) even more optimal".

Something that isn't a brand yet are "gloves of the shattering fist" and "glove of the hurricane". Shattering fist: added damage against land-based enemies, hurricane: bonus against flying enemies.

@Shtopit

I like the concept, but here's a permutation of that:

1) The generic brand-type gloves become a new item...maybe gauntlets? Generate commonly enough.

2) There are then unrand versions of gauntlets that do interesting effects...for one example, replace the shillelagh unrand (I mean...a club? really?) with gauntlets that do the same thing (the shatter effect).

Isn't that exactly the same idea as your previous idea, but replacing amulet with glove. I still don't see a reason for "your weapon slot is now your glove slot".

I don't see a problem with an unrandart, because it'll just does what an unrandart does normally. Though I would prefer that such a glove unarmed attack unrandart would have a damage flavour that is unusual. Maybe a "glove of shadow boxing" that does shadow stab attacks or "gauntlet of the water elemental" that does engulfing effects , or "Fist of the Imperial Myrmidon" that reduces magic resistance.

Duvessa thanked a post that included the phrase "Imperial Myrmidon"? I demand an explanation for this hypocrisy!

(reference: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=23390&start=0)

In short (so you don't have to read the whole post):

What about gloves of confusion, basically the confusing touch spell, but permanent?

Since it's probably fallen through the history floor...

My idea was a (non unrand) pair of gloves that don't add any AC, but any enchantment increases to-hit but not damage for unarmed only. With a bonus ability that they don't meld into any form so the +to-hit is available in any form.

I have the plus to UC hit only and the non-meldy parts working, but see no way to do the zero AC or enchants go to +hit instead of AC.