Curse you Timmy Turner! Timmy Turner, the mischievous boy with his magical fairy godparents, has caused nothing but trouble for everyone he encounters. Despite having the ability to make unlimited wishes, Timmy always manages to find a way to make things worse for himself and those around him. Firstly, Timmy's selfishness is truly infuriating. He constantly uses his wishes for personal gain without considering the consequences. Whether it is wishing for endless candy or trying to win the affections of his crush, Trixie Tang, Timmy never stops to think about how his actions affect others. This selfishness is not only annoying, but it also sets a terrible example for young viewers who may idolize Timmy.
DON'T just copy an interesting magic item from some other game book.
One of my pet peeves in Dungeons and Dragons and this is despite the fact that I join in with the rest of them is when we come back from an adventure, the first thing the players do is go to the Dungeon s Master Guide to look at what magic items everyone can buy. First, local constabularies are going to frown on people buying wands of fireballs , just like the modern person can t stop by the local pawnshop and pick up an automatic weapon or explosives.
This selfishness is not only annoying, but it also sets a terrible example for young viewers who may idolize Timmy. Secondly, Timmy's recklessness is beyond frustrating. He often uses his wishes to create chaos and disrupt the lives of those around him.
Enchantment 101
Mostly that's because I love the great toys that fantasy writers get to play with – invincible swords and magic rings, invisibility cloaks and crystal balls, musical instruments and tomes of eldritch lore. Magic items are fundamental to epic literature. A book of these items seems like a must-have for anyone who loves this genre of fiction – and I'm no exception. With this in mind, writing GURPS Magic Items 2 was a remarkable experience.
Blueprinting Sorcery
The first step in writing a book is fleshing out the proposal. A good proposal is like a blueprint; you know how much space you've allowed each section and you work on filling up each one. Some things were mandatory: swords and weapons, armor, wizards' and thieves' implements. The rest was pretty much up to me, though my editors suggested several new "shops." Holy Magic, Politics, Pets and Animals, Books – all of these survived the first cut, which removed Underwater and High-Tech Magic entirely for lack of space. Subterranean, Space, Nonhuman and Polar Magic were other shops I toyed with doing, but they didn't even get into my original proposal.
With my own items, I followed a consistent pattern: I invented the name first. Sometimes it was based on a pun, such as the "Elephant Trunk" or the "Air-Loom." Those outraged by my flippancy can blame Piers Anthony – Xanth got me started. Lists of names, sometimes with thumbnail descriptions, were jotted down on any piece of paper within reach. Grocery bags, bank deposit notes and scraps of notebook-paper littered my desk by the time I was ready to rough out the first draft. Any time I was waiting in line at a store or at a traffic light, out came the pencil and more names got added to the growing stack.
Some names and descriptions were borrowed from fantasy fiction. This is inevitable; virtually any magical item imaginable has been invented, used and enshrined in a book somewhere. I did my best to avoid ripping off any writer's particular work. On that level, I think I succeeded; at least, I doubt anyone could name the objects I "borrowed" from my extensive reading list. Most of them underwent fundamental changes in appearance, ability and background.
Next I made up a computer template:
NAME
CATEGORY (swords, armor, necromantic, etc.)
ABILITIES
DRAWBACKS (if any)
COMPONENT SPELLS
ASKING PRICE
Every object created went through this stage first. For most I left the Component Spells and Asking Price until later, as these required research and number-crunching, neither of which is my forte.
Once the basic item-outline was done, I rechecked Magic Items to make sure I hadn't duplicated Chris McCubbin's work. After a month or so, I probably could have recited most of the items in Chris's book from memory.
For each surviving item, I worked out how it could function in game terms (this took a lot longer than I expected), and noted possible component spells and what I thought it should cost. When I got my first draft back for revision, a lot of changes were made, many of them suggested by my editor; some items, however, I'd rethought in the meantime. The second drafts were generally far superior to the originals.
Reader Submissions
Overall, I was very impressed with the ingenuity and creativity displayed by the respondents, and I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to send them in. If some of the items in the book look familiar, that's probably because a number of submissions used similar themes – I reviewed dozens of sword descriptions alone. When two ideas were extremely close and I wanted to use one or the other, I chose the best-written presentation; if the submissions were equally well drafted, I broke the tie by looking at the postmark's date. The submission was edited and included (sometimes with changes) in the book's first draft.
If there's a Magic Items 3, we'll need even more submissions.* Please don't be shy about sending in your work! Reading over gamer-supplied items was a pleasure. Your best bet, if you want your idea to get the consideration it deserves, is to do the following:
DO type up your submission. Typed submissions are easier to read than even the neatest handwriting, and they look far more professional.
DO develop specific ideas for an item. Several submissions suggested generic "invisible swords," "rings of total mind control" or equally ill-defined ideas. There might be the germ of a good item, here, but we need more than germs for the book. On the other hand, a good suggestion might be: "Nightsword – By day, this appears to be an average thrusting broadsword; by night, the blade becomes shadowy and translucent, deceiving opponents and costing them -2 on all Active Defense attempts." That reads a lot better than "Invisible Sword."
DON'T embed an item-suggestion in the text of a letter. Item submissions should appear on separate pieces of paper, for the sake of convenience and readability. Sending a short cover letter, one or two paragraphs, is an excellent idea; just don't put your item submission on the same page. But . . .
DON'T just copy an interesting magic item from some other game book.
DO include your name and address on every page you send us. Some submissions could only be identified by matching paper and typeface with a cover letter, and the two were not always right next to each other in the stack. If you want proper credit for your work, please include this information on every page.
These suggestions do not guarantee that we'll use your ideas, but they'll improve your odds!
The First Word is the Hardest
When I think over writing the book, the hardest and easiest part was introducing each shop. Designing the NPC proprietor/vendor characters for each shop was a breeze. Each required a little story and plenty of characterization, all brief enough to stay readable. The introductions were a bear, though. As most of the chapters expanded on previous shops, it became difficult to rephrase the superlative chapter introductions in Magic Items while adding anything meaningful.
It's Good to be a Wizard!
Cursed items were the most fun to create. I like challenging players with devious magic, especially when they're starting to feel overconfident. Cursed items make even the boldest adventurers move a little more cautiously.
In particular, I'm rather proud of the swords Acclaim and Infamy. As far as I know, that idea was original – at least, I can't recall ever hearing of items that conferred a wholly fictitious reputation on the owner. Likewise Intimidator, which makes people afraid of the holder. They aren't combat powers, but they can add a lot to noncombat encounters and enrich a gaming experience.
Enriching and enhancing a fantasy campaign is what Magic Items 2 is all about. Happy gaming!
* Editor's note: Yes, there probably will be a Magic Items 3, though not until at least 1993. But if you think of an item, by all means, submit it! The ground rules: We can't acknowledge or return submissions; all submissions become property of SJ Games. If an item is used, the first person to suggest it in usable form (as explained above) will receive credit in the book and a complimentary copy.
Copyright © 1997-2023 by Steve Jackson Games. All rights reserved.
NAME
CATEGORY (swords, armor, necromantic, etc.)
ABILITIES
DRAWBACKS (if any)
COMPONENT SPELLS
ASKING PRICE
From causing his teacher, Mr. Crocker, to lose his job to turning his neighbor, Dinkleberg, into a goat, Timmy's actions are just plain mean-spirited. His thoughtlessness and lack of consideration for others' feelings make him a truly aggravating character. Moreover, Timmy's constant need for validation is tiresome. He is always seeking approval from others, whether it is his parents or his fairy godparents, Cosmo and Wanda. This constant need for attention and approval prevents Timmy from truly growing and learning from his mistakes. Instead of taking responsibility for his actions, he relies on his magical abilities to fix everything, which only perpetuates his cycle of selfishness and recklessness. In conclusion, Timmy Turner is a character who deserves to be cursed. His selfishness, recklessness, and constant need for validation make him a frustrating and irritating presence. Rather than using his wishes for the greater good or learning from his actions, Timmy continues to cause trouble and create chaos for those around him. Curse you, Timmy Turner!.
Reviews for "Behind the Scenes: Creating the Iconic Curse of Timmy Turner"
1. Mia - 1/5 stars - I found "Curse you Timmy Turner" to be an incredibly disappointing read. The plot was convoluted and lacked cohesion, making it difficult to follow and connect with the characters. Additionally, the writing style felt amateurish, with shallow character development and predictable dialogue. Overall, I regretted spending my time on this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. John - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Curse you Timmy Turner" but was left feeling underwhelmed. The concept was intriguing, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was inconsistent, and certain plot points felt rushed or underdeveloped. Furthermore, the characters lacked depth, which made it hard for me to sympathize or root for them. While the book had its moments, it ultimately failed to live up to its potential.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - As a fan of suspenseful thrillers, I was excited to dive into "Curse you Timmy Turner." However, I was disappointed by the lack of suspense and the predictable nature of the story. The twists and turns were too predictable, and I found myself losing interest as I anticipated the outcomes. The writing style was also lackluster, with repetitive descriptions and excessive exposition. Overall, it didn't meet my expectations as a gripping thriller.
4. David - 1/5 stars - "Curse you Timmy Turner" was a complete waste of my time. The story failed to engage me from the start, and I couldn't bring myself to care about the fate of the characters. The dialogue was stilted and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with any of them emotionally. Furthermore, the plot lacked originality, and I found myself rolling my eyes at the predictable twists. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a compelling and original read.
5. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I found "Curse you Timmy Turner" to be a mediocre book that didn't live up to its hype. While the premise had potential, the execution felt rushed and sloppy. The characters were poorly developed, and their actions often felt inconsistent with their established traits. The plot twists were also predictable, leaving me feeling unsatisfied. Overall, I finished the book with a feeling of disappointment and wouldn't recommend it to others seeking a gripping and well-crafted story.