Level Up Your Dndbehond Campaign with Magic Items

DndBeyond is a popular online platform for players of the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons (D&D). One of the many features of DndBeyond is its extensive database of magical items that players can use in their campaigns. Magic items are a staple of the fantasy genre, and D&D is no exception. These items can range from weapons that deal extra damage to armor that provides additional protection, to accessories that grant special abilities or powers. In DndBeyond, players can easily browse through hundreds of different magic items, each with its own unique properties and benefits. One of the advantages of using DndBeyond for magic items is the convenience and accessibility it offers.

In order to catch as many eyes as possible, and to signal from a distance what they were selling, these “brewsters” wore tall hats. As a cottage industry, there was very little oversight or regulation to the home-grown brewing businesses, according to Rod Phillips in the comprehensive text Alcohol: A History. But there were also large-scale commercial breweries, widely owned by men, which were leveraging new technologies and making larger quantities of product. As these operations grew and took on the appearance of a "real" profession, with guilds and trade associations, women were by and large excluded.

According to Judith Bennett, the preeminent historian of women brewers in this period of England s history, both the public and the male-dominated brewing industry accused brewsters of diluting or adulterating their ale with cheaper brews, and thus of cheating customers. Then, in 1215, the Holy Roman Empire s Fourth Council of the Lateran required all Jews to wear a Judenhat to visually distinguish Jews from non-Jews.

One of the advantages of using DndBeyond for magic items is the convenience and accessibility it offers. Players can quickly search for specific items or filter them based on various criteria, such as the type of item, rarity, or even the sourcebook it comes from. This makes it easier for players to find the perfect item for their character or campaign.

The Witch Hat

The witch’s hat: Black, large-rimmed, with a pointed top. It’s a necessary part of every witching wardrobe. Just ask Elphaba or McGonagall. But where did that hat come from? Theories about the hat’s origin vary. Some scholars cite the mummified remains of two sisters from the 3rd century BCE in Subeshi, China as the earliest evidence of the hats (the sisters were found with pointed hats on their heads). Others cite the Puritan perception of the Quakers in eighteenth century America: The Puritans saw the Quakers as suspicious magic practitioners, and while the Quakers didn’t wear pointy hats, they did wear black ones with wide brims. Still other scholars cite an antisemitic origin. As early as the Greek Empire, hats were symbols of Jewish oppression. During the days of the Maccabean revolt (167-160 BCE), when the Hannukah story was unfolding, king Antiochus IV Epiphanes forced young Jewish men to wear a broad-brimmed hat. By imposing the hat rule on the Jewish people, Antiochus denigrated them, visibly displaying their subjugation for all to see.

The use of the pointed hat to distinguish Jews from non-Jews can be traced back to the early medieval era. The first depiction of a Jew in a Judenhut (Jewish pointed hat) –– found in the Second Gospel Book of Bishop Bernward of Hildesheim (ca. 1015) –– would have been seen as an elegant garment choice, not as a stigmatizing symbol. The hat was reminiscent of the hats worn by the three magi, and in early eleventh century European culture, these hats symbolized a connection to European Jews’ Levantine heritage. This positive perception soured, though. In 1096, the First Crusade set out to open a path to Muslim-ruled Jerusalem, massacring Jewish communities in Speyer, Mayence, and Worms along the way. The Crusade turned an admiration of orientalism into a disdain for it, so the hat –– originally a celebrated sign of the Jewish diaspora –– became a key element of anti-Jewish slander. For example, on the mid-twelfth century bronze doors of a Verona Cathedral, mobs of hatted Jews are seen violently capturing Jesus. A similar scene is found on a coin minted in Germany around the same time.

Then, in 1215, the Holy Roman Empire’s Fourth Council of the Lateran required all Jews to wear a Judenhat to visually distinguish Jews from non-Jews. The hat became a label for Jews, akin to the badge Jews would later be required to wear in Nazi Germany. However, the only bit of standardization specified was the pointy top, so several types of Judenhat arose; for example, in Italy, there were –– according to scholar Flora Cassen –– at least five different forms of Judenhat that appeared contemporaneously. The hat grew beyond its Jewish affiliation. People engaging in “non-Christian activity” were forced to wear a pointed cap. For instance, in a 1421 Hungarian law, men convicted of sorcery were forced to wear “a pointed Jews’ hat.” The hat was donned upon fictional characters, too. For example, a 1545 fountain in Bern is topped with an ogre wearing a pointed hat while eating a baby, and in 1493, artist Hartmann Schedule sketched the magician Merlin (who was not Jewish) wearing a conical hat that looked nearly identical to Judenhat .

The hat was a visible link between Jews and magic. During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Jews were thought to possess magical powers. For instance, reports circulated around Europe claiming that Jews concocted poisons out of Christian hearts, spiders, frogs, and human flesh. There was even a persistent claim that Jews used Christian blood for magical and cathartic purposes. From these myths arose a fear around Jews and their faith. Christians feared Jews would disappear from view and then cause them harm (e.g., collect blood, etc.), so one reason Jews were forced to wear Judenhat was to keep tabs on them. In turn, because Jews were often affiliated with dark magic, the Judenhat became a symbol of the supernatural. These connections often led Jews and witches to be subjected to similar court proceedings and forms of persecution during the Inquisition and beyond. Thus, the Judenhat became interwoven with cultural perceptions of magic.

However, some scholars call into question a direct connection between the Judenhat and the witch’s hat. Clothing historian Abby Cox notes how the black witch hat is of English origin, but in England, Jews were required to wear badges instead of hats (the hats were a required marker in continental Europe only). And, per Cox, the witch’s black hat didn’t become popular into the 1700s, more than 500 years after the antisemitic laws were passed. Thus, Cox argues, it’s unlikely the witch hat is a direct descendant of the Judenhat . But it’s hard for me not to give some attention to the antisemitic origin story, even if it’s not the hat’s likely origin. Antisemitism has always been present and problematic, but right now –– this week –– it’s flaring up. It’s in Kanye’s tweet. It’s in Trump’s social media post. It’s in Adidas’ delayed response to Kanye. It’s in the banners hanging above a freeway overpass in Los Angeles. Antisemitism isn’t new, nor is it a thing of the past. According to the ADL , antisemitic incidents were at an all-time high in 2021. Antisemitism is pervasive. It’s something we, as a society, must continue to call out and fight against. To be clear, I don’t think dressing up as a witch for Halloween is laden with antisemitic intentions, but when I see a witch trick-or-treating this year, I’ll be thinking about that hat and the history of persecution, prejudice, and antisemitism hidden under its pointy top. Share If you’re looking for ways to support the fight against antisemitism, you can donate to the Anti-Defamation League here .

Notes.

• This post is largely adapted from Naomi Lubrich’s article “The Wandering Hat: Iterations of the Medieval Jewish Pointed Cap,” published in Jewish History (December 2015).
• More on witches and Jews can be found in Yvonne Owens’ article “The Saturine History of Jews and Witches,” published in Preternature (vol 3, no 1, 2014). Also see Joshua Trachtenberg’s book The Devil and the Jews .
• The paragraph on Jews, potions, and blood is largely drawn from James Arieti’s article “Magical Thinking in Medieval Anti-Semitism: Usury and the Blood Libel” ( Mediterranean Studies , vol 24, no 2, 2016).
• For more on the origin of the witch’s hat, check out this InStylearticle , this Slatearticle , and this Mary Suearticle . Or even Abby Cox’s YouTube video on the subject.
• Hey Alma has a good piece on the current antisemitic events here .

After reading books and articles there seems to be lots of different theories to answer this question. The most credible ones being a combination of women (alewives) taking to much place in the home-brewing beer industry and antisemitism.

Furthermore, DndBeyond provides detailed information about each magic item, including its description, properties, and any special abilities it grants. Players can also see the item's statistics, such as its damage or armor class modifiers, which helps in understanding how it will affect gameplay. In addition to browsing and exploring existing magic items, DndBeyond also allows players to create their own custom magic items. This feature allows for endless creativity, as players can tailor the items to fit their characters and their specific needs. Whether it's a unique weapon or a powerful artifact, players have the ability to imagine and design their own magical creations. DndBeyond even provides tools for Dungeon Masters (DMs) to easily add custom magic items to their campaigns and manage them for their players. This makes it a versatile tool for both players and DMs, supporting creativity and enhancing gameplay. Overall, DndBeyond's magic items feature is a valuable resource for players of D&D. With its extensive database, convenient search functionality, detailed information, and customization options, it adds depth and excitement to the game, allowing players to truly immerse themselves in the magical world of Dungeons and Dragons..

Reviews for "Choosing Magic Items for Different Dndbehond Classes"

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3. Samantha - 3 stars - While "Dndbehond magic items" had some interesting ideas, it ultimately fell short of my expectations. The content felt repetitive and failed to offer any unique or innovative magic items. The artwork included in the book was underwhelming, and it would have been nice to see more detailed illustrations. Additionally, some of the descriptions of the magic items were confusing and left me with more questions than answers. Overall, I was hoping for a more engaging and inspiring read, but "Dndbehond magic items" didn't deliver.

The Impact of Magic Items on Dndbehond Character Progression