I've decided to go on a nostalgia trip for a while. I've a friend who works as a creative writer at BioWare Austin on the upcoming "Star Wars: The Old Republic", currently working on the bounty hunter storyline. SW:ToR is built on (a heavily extended) HeroEngine, so that mention of Simutronics piqued my interest in GemStone for a bit. I futzed around with a trial account for a bit before I decided to re-up my old account for a while. I also ran into Earnor and Naamtar during 5 years of World of Warcraft, which at least kept GemStone in my mind.
"a shimmering steel katana"
This is falchion based as best as I can assess, making it very much of the old school.
Bard-sung base value of 600,000. 5lbs. Bard-sung and field-verified to impart a +27 bonus -- I believe unmodified copies were +17, so this has seen some additional work. Crit weighted, but not sure of the extent -- probably heavy. Originally purchased from Earnor for some godawful sum of coins earned from more time in the East Tower than I'd care to mention.
"some black side-strapped brigandine"
>examine my brig
Dyed an inky black with a shiny hard finish, this brigandine armor is notable for the rows of silver-buckled straps that run down both sides, adding ornament as well as secure fastening. Each wide buckle is brightly polished and crafted to fit snug against the armor. You also notice a small enchanter's glyph.
Bard-sung base value of 5,850,000. 22lbs. Bard-sung and field-verified to impart a +35 bonus. Somewhat critical padded. As far as I remember this is one of two in existence, and was purchased at a official GM run auction run somewhere between 1996 and 1999. This may also have additional lore if sung to by a very experienced bard, but I may be thinking of something else in my possession.
"a veniom-bound rolaren tower shield"
Bard-sung base value of 1,600,000. 10lbs. Bard-sung and field-verified to impart a +40 bonus. This is an old-school tower shield... from before real shield mechanics were in place.
Then there's just the "run of the mill" fel-hafted vultite waraxe (further worked to 5x), forest green brigandine, lightened spidersilk backpacks and cloaks, heavily altered clothes, etc. I have a mountain of things to go through. Just curious to see what else folks may know about these items.