Spellbreaker Gauntlets

[James Raine]

Spellbreaker Gauntlets
Aura moderate abjuration; CL 7th
Slot Hands; Price 22,500 gp; Weight 2 lbs.
Description
Spellbreaker gauntlets allow the wearer to break magical barriers and defend their allies.

Three times per day as a standard action, a wielder of spellbreaker gauntlets may attempt to dispel non-instantaneous magical barriers (such as a wall of force, a forcecage, or a resilient sphere, but not a wall of stone) by substituting a Strength check for a caster level check. If the wielder has a bonus to sunder attempts, they may also apply this bonus to their Strength check. If such a barrier has an effect for coming in contact with it or moving through it, he must make a saving throw as if he had interacted with or moved through the barrier.

In addition, when a line, burst, emanation, or cone effect includes a wielder of spellbreaker gauntlets within it, the wielder may spend an immediate action and outstretch an empty hand to alter the effect's shape to protect his allies. He willingly forgoes his normal saving throw (if any) and his spell resistance (if any), taking the effect's full affects, but is treated as a wall or other obstructive object for the purposes of determining the effect's area. Further, he creates a 15' cone originating in his square and directed immediately away from the origin of the triggering effect. Creatures in this area are not affected by the triggering effect.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, bull's strength, dispel magic, lesser globe of invulnerability; Cost 11,250 gp

[Neil Spicer]

Interesting idea. An abjurative item that lets you potentially dispel magical barriers (with a Strength check rather than a caster level check) or shape the affected area of certain spells. I'm not quite sure the execution is all there. It's a complicated item to try and describe. And, speaking of description, I'm annoyed that they didn't really tell us what these guantlets look like. Granted, they're gauntlets. How much description do we need? But at least tell us if they look extraordinary in any way. Or are they completely mundane in appearance?

Looking across the entire entry, there's quite a few missteps in presentation and the proper ways of referencing game terminology. That's something a designer could be trained further on, I suppose. On sheer mojo, however, there's something appealing to me about this item's concept. It might at least warrant hanging around a bit.

Weak Keep.

[Sean K Reynolds]

Designer needs to be careful of affects/effects errors.

I like the concept. It's a little rough, but worth holding for now.

Keep.

[Ryan Dancey]

This is one of those items that I expect lives most of its life in the character's bag of holding except when it's the magic-bullet solution to a huge problem. However, the ability to shield members of your party from incoming unexpected damage might be enough to get a character to wear them continuously and that's a meaningful choice.

The item's text is a little rough. Nothing a pass through a good editor couldn't clean up, but you want to require as little of that as possible when you're trying to make a good impression.

I recommend that you vote for this designer.

[Clark Peterson]

Wow. These are powerful. For 22,500 these are a big deal. I have cost concerns.

I dont think the first power is that interesting. Sure, it is kinda neat--let the fighter break down the magical wall. OK, got it.

Its the second power that is really interesting and I am trying to wrap my head around. I can't point to it, but something tells me there is something missing that I am not seeing; problem is I can't put my finger on it.

Basically, fighter with these gloves can take the full brunt of "a line, burst, emanation, or cone effect" and then create a shielded cone of protection immediately behind him as if he were a wall. I note, things subject to this effect include dragon breath weapons. The item itself doesnt specify just spell effects, which I think is the likely intent of this item (since its called spellbreaker gauntlets not gauntlets of dragon warding or whatever). I think that is a misstep.

BUT all that said, this gets a keep from me. I want to see what this author has.

Once again, as I often say, wondrous items are sometimes at their best when they dont just grant spell effects but they do something fun with rules systems--in this case, dispelling walls and interfering with area targeting. That is good design.

Keep.

[Sean McGowan]

What I like:
My first reaction was that this was a slotted item that didn't really have a slot- in other words, that it was one of those things you keep tucked away until needed, then you put it on, do whatever it does, then put it away again. But, after reading a bit further, I can see why a character (with a bit of a martyr syndrome) would keep them all full time, so that pet peeve goes right out the window. Smart. And speaking of the reason you'd keep them on 24/7...
What I love:
The second effect is pretty damn awesome, I think. Honestly, this is the superstar core of the item here; given my issues with the first ability (more on that below), I'd have loved to see you focus more on this effect. "No AoE for you, wizard! (Ow. Ow ow ow.) Get 'im, guys!" It doesn't say whether there's any kind of daily limit on that; maybe the intent is that taking full damage/effect from a spell is an effective limit on its own, but personally I'd have liked to see that be part of the 3/day uses of the gauntlets.
What needs a little sumptin' sumptin'...
I'm honestly not sure how much use making a strength check to dispel magic effects is. Even assuming this is on a fairly well-tanked out fighter, then barring exceptional circumstances his total strength bonus is still going to be far behind the caster level of whoever in the party has dispel magic prepped. Maybe the intent here is that it's a backup dispel; used for when the party caster blows a caster level check in a dispel attempt, or when they're just out of prepared dispels. Or you could toss a bunch of strength buffs on the fighter and in the few minutes of Hulk, Jr. that he experiences then his strength checks will be through the roof and the wall of force that's blocking off the treasure room won't stand a chance. But... sorry, to me, that in itself is just not stellar enough to make me really feel the need to have these around. Fortunately, you added in an effect that is that stellar, but it feels like that should have been the primary effect of the item overall, with this either omitted or as the 'additionally' part of the description.
All in all...
It's half an item that makes me go 'blah' and half that makes me go 'wow.' Fortunately, in this contest, even a little bit of wow makes up for a whole lot of blah- so half and half brings your account well into the positives here. Congratulations and welcome to RPG Superstar!

[Jerall Toi]

Sure, Dexterity adds to AC, Reflex saves, initiative, a whole bunch of skills, ranged attack rolls, melee attack rolls, and even melee damage rolls. However, Dexterity cannot dispel magic. Dispelling magic takes real muscle.

I actually like both of this item's powers. I think that you should have used the spell sunder barbarian rage power (UC) as a base for the dispel ability. A pure Strength check probably won't work in most circumstances. However, that's a relatively minor tweak. This power, on its own, would probably make for a fairly decent item, but the second power pushes it into Superstar territory.

Shaping spells in this manner hasn't really been done before. I think you did an excellent job of making the mechanics as clear as possible.

Welcome to the Top 32. I'm looking forward to seeing your organisation next round.

[Sam Zeitlin]

The first power is just another "negate a specific spell/item" power, but the second is quite cool. I like the image of a huge barbarian or whatever blocking a spell with his mighty fists. Good use of the cone template.

[Iain Reid]

I think this item is pretty cool. From a player point of view, one of the first things I would look at is the price, and for 22.5K I say "would my party benefit from this?" and the answer is yes. As Sam says, it's perfect for a mid to high level barbarian or fighters to protect their party and is cinematic too.

It's also quite interesting in that it dramatically raises the importance of the placement of your characters, adding more strategy to the battlemat.

EDIT: Now read through all 32 items and I think this is my favourite!

[Scott Fernandez]

I had a psychic warrior character that would've loved these gauntlets to help draw fire for his party. I can see any tank style player suck up the full force of a spell to shield his less beefy allies. Quite a few gamers live by the saying, "the best defense is a good offense" but some of us know that defense focused characters are fun to play too! Great job James.

--Vrocking Grasp

[Paul Brown]

I love it! AM BARBARIAN needs to come in and endorse these.

[Mr. Swagger]

That second ability is one I don't like and enough for me to send it away, but once again I am not a judge. Congratulations, make the most of it.

[magusapollo]

Congratulations!

This is definitely something I'd consider having on a character, and especially a superstition/witch hunter/spell sundery-type of barbarian, both effect and theme-wise. Heck, even the wizard going "Hey, I'm awesome in the line of fire, too!" would be pretty cool.

Here's to your continued success!

[AM BARBARIAN]

Isaac Duplechain wrote:

I love it! AM BARBARIAN needs to come in and endorse these.

BARBARIAN ONLY ENDORSE THINGS AM OF CERTAIN LEVEL OF AWESOMEITUDE.

FIRST ABILITY AM LIKE SPELL SUNDER, BUT AM CRAPPY. AM ONLY STRENGTH BASED. BARBARIAN HAVE STRENGTH SURGE, SO AM ALWAYS SUCCESS, BUT ITEM AM MAKING FIGHTERS CRY AS YET AGAIN BARBARIAN AM MAKING THEM LOOK BAD. BUT IF BARBARIAN, AM NO USE, BECAUSE WHY NOT SPELL SUNDER AND SKIP MIDDLEMAN? MAYBE LOOK LIKE SPELL SUNDER LATER, SCALE BETTER WITH DISPEL CHECKS.

SECOND ABILITY...

BARBARIAN CRYING MANLY TEARS. PUT HAND OUT, BROFIST LIGHTNING, LIGHTNING AM OVER, BARBARIAN AM WINNER. SERIOUSLY, THAT COOLEST THING EVER. WANT STOP DEATH LASER? PUNCH. FIREBALL? PUNCH. COLOR SPRAY? PUNCH. MOST EPIC BROFIST OF ALL TIME.

A+, NOT SUNDER ITEM.

[James Raine]

In retrospect, I would probably change the way the dispel works to something more like CMB/Sunder vs. the spell's traditional DC, or rob the spell sunder ability (which admittedly I didn't know existed). Still, I'm glad I made it through and am totally stoked for next round. I spent the past hour throwing together a few concepts. We'll see which one I end up using.

[Dan Jones]

I want to see a tank wearing these gloves battle a spellcaster wearing my glove! Fun fun fun!!!

[true_shinken]

Congrats, Fax Celestis! I'm rooting for you!

[Crysknife]

Cool, I can really imagine my barbarian do that!
That is, trying to do that, at mid-high level the DC could be too high for the first effect (unless using strength surge)

[RonarsCorruption]

I would have liked any sort of physical description of this, and the first ability is a little meh, but the second ability... wow.

I think AM BARBARIAN said it best; punch all the spells. Extremely cinematic, very cool and fresh and new. I only wish you didn't feel the need to add in such a weak first half of the item.

Oh well, I'm gonna go punch some fireballs now.

[Curaigh]

Congratulations James,

I like the idea of breaking magical barriers but this did not do it for me. Creating a shadow in AoE spells? That is really cool and something we have seen in how many TV shows, books, and movies? More than enough to be in the game before now. :) Good Luck.

[Curaigh]

What does 'forgoes his normal saving throw' mean? I can see the answer breaking this item in two different ways already....

[Trinam]

That actually raises a good point.

Can a barbarian with superstition use this? I want to say 'yes' as it would be more specific than superstition's text, but it would allow beneficial bursts through too.

[James Raine]

Curaigh wrote:

What does 'forgoes his normal saving throw' mean? I can see the answer breaking this item in two different ways already....

He fails it. Specifically:

Quote:

He willingly forgoes his normal saving throw (if any) and his spell resistance (if any), taking the effect's full affects, but is treated as a wall or other obstructive object for the purposes of determining the effect's area.

Trinam wrote:

That actually raises a good point.

Can a barbarian with superstition use this? I want to say 'yes' as it would be more specific than superstition's text, but it would allow beneficial bursts through too.

That's how I'd work it too: he can't take a saving throw due to how the spellbreaker gauntlets work. Superstition requires a saving throw, but the spellbreaker gauntlets remove the saving throw, so these would supersede. However, beneficial burst/line/cylinder/etc. effects would trigger the spellbreaker gauntlet's spell shielding ability.

[Paul Brown]

The more I think about it, the more I feel that this is my favorite item this year. I think it would also be really cool if you could "channel" the abilities through a shield as well.

[James Raine]

Isaac Duplechain wrote:

The more I think about it, the more I feel that this is my favorite item this year. I think it would also be really cool if you could "channel" the abilities through a shield as well.

I wanted to include some text about being able to move as part of the immediate action, but I was concerned with what kind of range would be both significant and not overpowered, so I left it off. The other thing I left off was the ability to absorb some of the incoming spell and return fire with it (same CL, same DC, etc), except shaped as a ray or line (your choice) originating from your square. You'd use the line for closer targets so you can AoE, the ray for longer-ranged return fires. Mostly I left it off due to space and clarity issues.

Still, I just love the mental image of a knight jumping in the way of his companions, taking the full force of the spell, then roaring and throwing some of it back at the caster.

[AM BARBARIAN]

James Raine wrote:

Still, I just love the mental image of a knight jumping in the way of his companions, taking the full force of the spell, then roaring and throwing some of it back at the caster.

BARBARIAN LIKE WAY TALKY MAN THINK. BARBARIAN KEEP EYE ON TALKY MAN FUTURE WORK.

TALKY MAN NOT LET BARBARIAN DOWN, IF THINK LIKE THAT ALL TIME.

CONTINUE BEING AWESOME.

[Ice Titan]

MY HAND WILL EAT IT UP!

That's an awesome item.

[doctor_wu]

I worry about casting resist energy on the wearer of these and then excluding the other party memebers.

[James Raine]

doctor_wu wrote:

I worry about casting resist energy on the wearer of these and then excluding the other party memebers.

Considering the variety of effects that this can interact with that don't even deal an energy type, I don't see it as much of an issue.

[Thunderbuckets]

Without question, my favorite item of round 1. I was predisposed to dislike it, because the name is so generic (and in the past, we've seen Spellstrike Vambraces or Spell-catch Gauntlets in the top 32, neither of which wowed me, so it felt like another generic enh item on that alone.) Then we get into the meat of the matter: smashing down magical walls and PUNCHING SPELLS TO KILL THEM is one of the funnest, most amazing concepts I can picture. There are so many character concepts created by this concept; the mechanic mixes melee and magic in a really smooth, really well-put-together manner, and I adore it. It's a feeling no other item this year fully captured, and is one of the only things on the list that I, as a character, would beat up another character for. It is cinematic, memorable, and - the key for me - fun. Very very fun.

Congrats on my Legacy position; you're getting a vote from me for every round you're in the contest.

[Garrett Guillotte]

This was one of my five favorite items in the Top 32.

Of all of the items in the 32, this is the one I most expected to already exist. I'm genuinely surprised that there isn't an ability or item that fills this role, and I can't find any faults with James' implementation of it.

It's a natural fit for a party's tank, and like a lot of people in this thread, I don't know anyone who'd play an RPG and turn down an item that lets them beat spells to death with their fists. Cool power, cool description, clear utility.

EDIT: I just thought about a Barbarian with this vs. caster with Claw of the Crawling Spell and lost five minutes of my day.

[James Raine]

If I were to rewrite this item with the above comments (changes OOC'd):

Spellbreaker Gauntlets
Aura moderate abjuration; CL 7th
Slot Hands; Price 22,500 gp; Weight 2 lbs.
Description
Spellbreaker gauntlets allow the wearer to break magical barriers and defend their allies.

Three times per day as a standard action, a wielder of spellbreaker gauntlets may attempt to dispel non-instantaneous magical barriers (such as a wall of force, a forcecage, or a resilient sphere, but not a wall of stone) by making a Strength check against a DC equal to the spell's standard DC. If the wielder has a bonus to sunder attempts, they may also apply this bonus to their Strength check. If such a barrier has an effect for coming in contact with it or moving through it, he must make a saving throw as if he had interacted with or moved through the barrier.

In addition, when a line, burst, emanation, or cone spell includes a wielder of spellbreaker gauntlets within it, the wielder may spend an immediate action and outstretch an empty hand to alter the spell's shape to protect his allies. He automatically and willingly fails his normal saving throw (if any) and forgoes his spell resistance (if any), taking the spell's full effects, but is treated as a wall or other obstructive object for the purposes of determining the spell's area. Further, he creates a 15' cone originating from the corner of his space furthest away from and directed immediately away from the spell's origin. Creatures in this area are not affected by the spell.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, bull's strength, dispel magic, lesser globe of invulnerability; Cost 11,250 gp

[Cassey]

Coolest item of the round for me. :)

[Mark Thomas]

Pretty spectacular item, lends itself to highly dramatic moment,(which after all is the reason we play)and ups the ante in the warrior vs mage arena.

Very nice!

[Ask A RPGSupersuccubus]

James Raine wrote:

Spellbreaker Gauntlets

Aura moderate abjuration; CL 7th
Slot Hands; Price 22,500 gp; Weight 2 lbs.
Description
Spellbreaker gauntlets allow the wearer to break magical barriers and defend their allies.

Three times per day as a standard action, a wielder of spellbreaker gauntlets may attempt to dispel non-instantaneous magical barriers (such as a wall of force, a forcecage, or a resilient sphere, but not a wall of stone) by substituting a Strength check for a caster level check. If the wielder has a bonus to sunder attempts, they may also apply this bonus to their Strength check. If such a barrier has an effect for coming in contact with it or moving through it, he must make a saving throw as if he had interacted with or moved through the barrier.

In addition, when a line, burst, emanation, or cone effect includes a wielder of spellbreaker gauntlets within it, the wielder may spend an immediate action and outstretch an empty hand to alter the effect's shape to protect his allies. He willingly forgoes his normal saving throw (if any) and his spell resistance (if any), taking the effect's full affects, but is treated as a wall or other obstructive object for the purposes of determining the effect's area. Further, he creates a 15' cone originating in his square and directed immediately away from the origin of the triggering effect. Creatures in this area are not affected by the triggering effect.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, bull's strength, dispel magic, lesser globe of invulnerability; Cost 11,250 gp

Disclaimer:

This post constitutes the views of a (very advanced) CE aligned succubus. Being such, Ask A RPGSupersuccubus is at complete liberty to change her mind on anything without giving any notice whatsoever. For those of you who missed last year (or as a reminder for those whose memories have failed) Ask A RPGSupersuccubus subscribes absolutely to balance, fairness is a term applicable to assessing either hair colour or more general beauteousness, and logic in these reviews – in the sense that balance is what a couple of mortals on opposite ends of a plank pivoted on a rocky spire above a drop of several hundred feet into a pool of molten basalt frantically try to do, fairness is a term used to assess hair coloration and logic is something which proves anything a demon of adequate status and charm requires it to demonstrate.

Note:
Ask A RPGSupersuccubus acknowledges the efforts of the ready supply of willing victims on the ‘Nine Blazing Months’ items thread, who inadvertently contributed to the development of weapons-grade questions for use in this round.

Fair is foul and foul is fair supposedly (trust a mortal to make up a piece of complete mumbo-jumbo – it is of course generally impossible to get anything much fairer in any context which actually matters than a succubus). Basically, though, does this item have any useful application in a spa?
Unlikely, unless one is preparing for a possible assassination attempt.

Assuming for a moment that it’s more convenient to pay taxes than to circumvent the system, does this item look likely to be a tax-deductible business expense for a succubus art-dealer?
Again, this is more a sort of stick-it-on-a-(optionally expendable)-bodyguard item, though at least in the fine arts business, depending on whom one is dealing with (some clerics of Shelyn are, alas, particularly untrustworthy) there might be some justification for having a bodyguard to stick these on. Depending on one's clientele and merchandise, these might be considered a convincing business expense.

Is the item useful in a strawberries-and-cream-tea context?
No.

Other Comments?
The physical description of the item listed in the presentation above is lacking, beyond that they are 'gauntlets'. Since the 'sample' pair which were supplied to me were apparently mismatched, with the right hand one being rusty chainmail, whilst the other was plate enamelled pink with purple polka dots, presumably this is intentional and the appearance and manufacturing technique is random.
Note that a pleasantly chaotic range of appearances of even pairs of functionally 'matched' gauntlets is to some extent acceptable for an item mostly for bodyguard use, not least because it serves the important function of irritating any baatezu encountered...

Gollum Rating:
Ratings of items are prosaic and unfashionably conventional this year. Although rules are there to be broken (so long as they do not involve the dread lord, Orcus) as a general rule no items will thus be rated this year.

[Set]

James Raine wrote:

Three times per day as a standard action, a wielder of spellbreaker gauntlets may attempt to dispel non-instantaneous magical barriers (such as a wall of force, a forcecage, or a resilient sphere, but not a wall of stone) by substituting a Strength check for a caster level check. If the wielder has a bonus to sunder attempts, they may also apply this bonus to their Strength check. If such a barrier has an effect for coming in contact with it or moving through it, he must make a saving throw as if he had interacted with or moved through the barrier.

This would be a hot property for a magic weapon, as well, although, obviously, that wouldn't qualify for Superstar.

As I'm sure someone has already pointed out, while it seems obvious that the gauntlet-wearer is supposed to touch the ongoing effect (through the taking damage mechanic in the last sentence), it isn't stated so directly. Ideally, that should be stated, since the spell it is based on, dispel magic, has medium range.

Quote:

In addition, when a line, burst, emanation, or cone effect includes a wielder of spellbreaker gauntlets within it, the wielder may spend an immediate action and outstretch an empty hand to alter the effect's shape to protect his allies.

That's a very cool visual, although the requirement to have a free hand seems like it could prove overly restrictive.

This second property seems like it would make a great shield (or weapon) property, and have a cool sort of comic-book / cinematic feel to it (with the shield version protecting the bearer, as well as those directly behind him).

A specific version that only applied to evocation spells, or a dragonslayer's shield that only applied to dragon's breath weapons, could be funky, as well. I like the versatility of the base concept!

[James Raine]

RonarsCorruption wrote:

I think AM BARBARIAN said it best; punch all the spells.

Like this?

[AM BARBARIAN]

James Raine wrote:

RonarsCorruption wrote:

I think AM BARBARIAN said it best; punch all the spells.

Like this?

WHY YOU HAVE PICTURE OF MOM?

[James Raine]

Because she's a pretty classy lady, that's why.

[Luthia]

Congratulations on making it in and good luck in the coming rounds!

Analysis
The Name: I like this part of your item a lot. It matches the item, it's fairly good at catching my attention and it seems creative.

Effect: I don't like this much. Honestly it annoys me a little to let the fighter to break through magical effects. The area spell protection is a little powerful for my taste. That said, I can see you have a good idea and enough skill to design it well. It's something the game lacks, so you found a good space here. My case against this is purely personal.

Description: You seem to have managed a lot with your rewrite, so I'll assume you've already gotten some decent advice on description. Calling someone wearing a glove "wielder" strikes me as weird. I'd use "wearer", if I were you. Pure technicality, but I like those.

[Sinosaur]

This is my favorite item of the first round so far.

Good points: *The name is just plain cool, if I saw this in a magic item section, I'd definitely pause to read what it does.
*The idea behind it is really exciting, and it calls to mind awesome images
*The abilities it grants are utilitarian and have downsides to their epicness. A touch of martydom to do something amazing is appreciated.

Weak points: *Like a lot of people, I'm a little iffy on whether the punch through magic barriers ability works well enough to be useful (I'd hope for at least a coin-flip chance at success with a decently strong character.
*I don't know if this is an actual minus, but needing a free hand drops some utility for protection. There aren't a lot of character builds that keep a hand open, especially not defensive ones. Although, I could probably talk a GM into letting me drop my shield to the ground as part of the action, so it's only a minor point.

Congratulations on the Top 32, and I do want to reiterate that this is the sort of item I'd love to see in game to the point where after I found it, my bulky barbarian or fighter would likely keep them as a signature item for their entire adventuring career.

[Curaigh]

James Raine wrote:

If I were to rewrite this item with the above comments (changes OOC'd):

Spellbreaker Gauntlets
... He automatically and willingly fails his normal saving throw (if any) and forgoes his spell resistance (if any), taking the spell's full effects, but is treated as a wall or other obstructive object for the purposes of determining the spell's area.

This is the heart of my question-no save vs. failed save. A failed save with improved evasion still only takes-half damage which is different than takes 'spell's full effects.' Not to detract from your item, I would simply need to know the answer before my party (50% rogue) ran with it :)

[James Raine]

Your rogues are sitting on a smaller HD and CON as a secondary/tertiary stat. If they really want to improved evasion away half the damage, go for it: they're still not going to be able to handle it as well as a class like, say, the barbarian.

If you can get improved evasion on your tankbarian and want to brofist the lightning and get hurt less, go for it. That's a clever use of the item, and there's no reason I should specify one kind of reduction works (resist energy), but another doesn't (improved evasion). That's just telling rogues "UR DOIN IT RONG", and an item (particularly an item like this) should expand the way you play the game, not restrict it.

[James Raine]

Sinosaur wrote:

*I don't know if this is an actual minus, but needing a free hand drops some utility for protection. There aren't a lot of character builds that keep a hand open, especially not defensive ones.

Well, you can take one hand off of a two-handed weapon with no action. Alternatively, you can wear a buckler (which keeps your hand free), wear a ring of force shielding or some other shield-generating effect, or even (as you said) drop your shield (or your weapon). There's options, and requiring a free hand means that there's a decision as to whether or not you can afford to use this beyond "I have lolhp, I'll be fine."

[Sinosaur]

James Raine wrote:

Sinosaur wrote:

*I don't know if this is an actual minus, but needing a free hand drops some utility for protection. There aren't a lot of character builds that keep a hand open, especially not defensive ones.

Well, you can take one hand off of a two-handed weapon with no action. Alternatively, you can wear a buckler (which keeps your hand free), wear a ring of force shielding or some other shield-generating effect, or even (as you said) drop your shield (or your weapon). There's options, and requiring a free hand means that there's a decision as to whether or not you can afford to use this beyond "I have lolhp, I'll be fine."

Oh yeah, you can hold a two-handed weapon in one hand when not attacking. Okay, that opens it up to pretty much everyone but TWFers and sword and board, which leaves enough reasonable options that I'll remove that potential minus.

I really do love the item you thought up and am looking forward to what you come up with for the rest of the contest.

[shujan]

Wow, this is definitely one of my favorites.

At first it seemed like an item that would get put in a player's backpack and only come out when the occasion called for it. Then I remembered the old Yuan-Ti Psychic Warrior I played back in 3.5 who would graft gauntlets on and punch/claw his enemies.

For any brawler types, this is definitely a signature item that would never come off.

[Mark Hart]

I can think of several characters types who would absolutely love these gauntlets. They allow characters to do something neat that normally can't be done, which in my book is the foundation for an awesome item.

The visuals are great, imagining a warrior or barbarian pounding away on the lich's resilient sphere, much to the lich's chagrin.

[Dan Jones]

Garrett Guillotte wrote:

This was one of my five favorite items in the Top 32.

Of all of the items in the 32, this is the one I most expected to already exist. I'm genuinely surprised that there isn't an ability or item that fills this role, and I can't find any faults with James' implementation of it.

It's a natural fit for a party's tank, and like a lot of people in this thread, I don't know anyone who'd play an RPG and turn down an item that lets them beat spells to death with their fists. Cool power, cool description, clear utility.

EDIT: I just thought about a Barbarian with this vs. caster with Claw of the Crawling Spell and lost five minutes of my day.

Yeehaw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wizard: "I shall crush you with my wall of force!" *wiggles fingers*

Barbarian: "Me smash your flimsy wall of force!" *smash*

Fun fun fun!!!!

[Ragwaine]

Wording on this one is pretty confusing. At first I thought the spell was being fired back at the opponents but not having any affect. But after reading other comments I realized he was creating a safe area. I don't see a lot of player's willing to take the full brunt of a spell to protect everyone else but it is a cool visual. I also like the idea of beating down a spell barrier.

Can't wait to see what you come up with next round. Good luck.

[Eric Morton]

Threat Analysis

You could be serious competition because.... you were unanimously voted into the Top 32, despite concerns from the judges. Which makes perfect sense, because this item is just cool. Cool with a capital Kewl. This is what Superstar is all about.

You could become an even bigger threat in future rounds if... you clean up your presentation a bit and make sure everything is balanced (because this one is probably missing an X/day limitation somewhere). But still, you're on my list of competitors to beat in this competition.