Many AD&D® game campaigns reach a
state where the DM and the
players become too accustomed to the magic
items listed in the Official rules. More than
200 are given in the DMG, and while it
may be virtually impossible to bring all of
them into play, there's nothing to prevent
players from reading the descriptions, either
because they want to be "one up" on the
DM, or maybe simply because they?re
interested. Either way, the end result is a
lack of suspense and surprise that takes
away some of the appeal of the game.

One way for a DM to get around this
problem is to modify the appearance or
nature of magic items, so that players'
advance knowledge of the DMG doesn't do
them any good. Another way is to use entirely
new magic items -- and that's where
this article comes in. Here's a selection of
enchanted objects that DMs can choose
from to add an element of the unexpected to
the next NPC or treasure trove that adventurers
come upon. And even these can be
modified, to foil players who might see this
article before their characters have a chance
to experience the items described in it.
Taking a good idea and making it better (to
suit your needs) is the essence of creation,
and that's what the AD&D game is all
about.