TTRPGS - My love of orbs or how to quest for magical items.

When I think of your typical wizard I see an old man stooped over at a desk, back crooked with age, fingers like ancient wood all knotted and twisted, eyebrows furrowed and bushy resembling twin dark caterpillars.

And between his hands, the object of such concentration. An orb, a shining, shimmering, twinkling brilliant orb.

Covering all of the hues of the rainbow and ranging from crystal clear to a murky blur. I think orbs are due for a resurface within the TTRPG community.

How do we add these magical artifacts to our games? Are they found? Created? Wished into existence?  I say all of the above and more. 

What's important is the story behind the orb. How was it created? Why was it wished for? Who found it? These are the questions that build quests that build campaigns.

Further questions and plot hooks continue, what base material was used in the cast? Was any other material used? What forge was it cast in? What heat was used? 

With these basic questions suddenly a wizards quest for his own personal orb could take years of time to complete.

Have an orb on the house.

Sanguine Orb: 1 handed, when a spell damages a target the wielder of the orb recovers 1 hit die worth of damage.

Recipe: A pound of virgin sand combined with the ground body of a vampire count. Melted in a thrice blessed Kiln that has been fired by willow stakes used to slay the counts spawn. Cast when a full moon is setting and a new sun rises.