I have the honor of hosting this month’s RPG Blog Carnival, Magic Items the Weirdest and Best. Thank you to Scot at …of Dice and Dragons for allowing me to do so. For those regular visitors, you’ve seen Nevets and read about some of the stranger things I’ve homebrewed for various campaigns. If you’re here fir the first time you can check out Nevets Shoppe of Magicks here. However, none of theose compares to the first weird magical item I encountered over forty years ago.
Sherman set the Wayback Machine for 1984. I don’t remember if we were playing D&D or something else. I’m not even sure which of my buddies was DMming that night. What I do remember is this, the PC stuck his hand in a large pocket and pulled ot a minature cannon mounted on a ring. Cute a minature cannon mounted on a ring. Well it was cute until he fired it. I don’t know WHERE he got it from, I’ve looked high and low for a set of rules and have never found anything. I don’t remember if our DM homebrewed it or not. To the best of my 40+ years old memory this is my best recreation of the absolute Weirdest and Best Magical Item I’ve ever encountered.
The Finger of Broadside
Wondrous item (ring),
very rare (requires attunement)
Sometimes the most devastating argument is delivered with a single finger.
Description
The Finger of Broadside resembles an exquisitely detailed miniature naval cannon, no longer than three inches, mounted lengthwise along a heavy brass ring worn on the middle finger. The cannon’s muzzle extends just beyond the wearer’s knuckle, while its breech rests toward the back of the hand.
Its barrel is forged from magically reinforced bronze, etched with nautical runes. Around the muzzle sits a tiny silver band: a permanently affixed Ring of Enlargement, enchanted to restore anything passing outward through its circumference to its original size.
The cannon was once a full-sized ship’s gun, permanently miniaturized by powerful transmutation magic.
Despite its diminutive proportions, the weapon retains the destructive capabilities of its original form.
Magical Properties
Ammunition Compression. The cannon’s bore is fused with an enchanted Ring of Dimensionality that reduces a full-sized cannonball and its accompanying powder charge to the correct scale as they enter the barrel. This reduction occurs automatically as ammunition is loaded, requiring no additional action or spellcasting. [DM’s Note – If your PC has purchased pre shrunk cannonballs from Nevets or other magical source they do not shrink further and still enlarge to preshrunk full size when fired out of the Finger of Broadside]
Restoration of Mass. Upon firing, the miniature cannonball passes through the Ring of Dimensionality and instantly resumes its original dimensions and mass. It travels with the momentum and destructive force of a cannonball fired from a full-sized naval cannon.
Recoil Dampening. The cannon’s magic transfers only proportionally scaled recoil to its wearer. Firing produces a sharp tap against the middle finger, comparable to flicking a small pebble. The wearer suffers no damage, forced movement, or disadvantage from recoil.
Magical Ignition. The wearer can ignite the loaded powder charge with a command word, eliminating the need for a match or fuse.
Weapon Statistics
Damage: 8d10 Bludgeoning, Average damage: 44 per hit, Range: 120/480 ft.
Attack bonus: +6
Reload time: 1 action
Weight: 1/2 lb.
This is based on the standard D&D 5e cannon’s 8d10 damage. The +6 attack bonus follows the siege weapon model rather than the wearer’s Dexterity modifier.
Combat Rules
Fire Cannon. While wearing the ring, you may use an action to fire the loaded cannon at a target within range. Make a ranged weapon attack using the cannon’s +6 attack bonus. On a hit, the target takes 8d10 bludgeoning damage. (See Unstoppable Broadside if the damage total exceeds the total hitpoints of the target). On a miss the cannonball continues along its trajectory hitting stationary objects in its path. Any further creatures require a seperate roll to see if it is hit or evades the shot.
Reload. Loading the cannon requires one action and consumes one full-sized cannonball and one full-sized powder charge. The ammunition shrinks automatically upon entering the bore. A creature must have both hands available to reload the weapon, although another creature may assist with the process.
Siege Weapon. The cannon deals double damage to objects and structures.
Thunderous Report. Despite its tiny barrel, the cannon produces the unmistakable thunderous boom of full-sized naval artillery. The report is audible up to 300 feet away under ordinary conditions.
Point-Blank Broadside. The cannon is still a ranged weapon. Making an attack while a hostile creature is within 5 feet of you imposes disadvantage as normal.
Ammunition. The cannon requires actual naval ammunition (or preshrunk cannonballs and powder cartridges). It does not create cannonballs or powder charges.
Unstoppable Broadside
Special Weapon Property — Finger of Broadside
Unstoppable Broadside. A cannonball fired from the Finger of Broadside retains the mass, velocity, and destructive force of a full-sized naval cannonball. The projectile travels in a straight line up to the weapon’s maximum range, potentially striking multiple creatures, objects, and structures along its path.
When the cannonball strikes a creature or object, resolve the attack and damage normally.
- Creatures: If the damage reduces a creature to 0 hit points, any excess damage carries forward, and the cannonball continues along its trajectory. The next creature in its path may be struck, taking damage equal to the remaining damage. Repeat this process until no damage remains or the projectile reaches its maximum range.
- Objects and Structures: If the damage is sufficient to destroy or completely penetrate an object or structural barrier, the cannonball passes through it. Subtract the damage required to destroy or penetrate the obstacle from the cannonball’s remaining damage. Any excess damage carries forward.
- Stopping the Cannonball: The projectile stops when it strikes a creature or obstacle it cannot destroy or penetrate, its remaining damage is reduced to 0, or it reaches the weapon’s maximum range, whichever occurs first.
Each additional creature in the projectile’s path must be hit by a separate attack roll using the original attack bonus. A creature that is missed takes no damage as it is deemed to have evaded the attack, and the cannonball continues along its trajectory.
The cannonball cannot strike the same creature more than once during a single firing.
Example: The unfortunate goblin formation
Your PC fires their Finger of Broadside down a corridor occupied by four goblins standing in a line.
The cannonball deals an initial 32 (low for 8d10, but not every roll is good) points of damage.
| Target | HP | Damage remaining |
|---|---|---|
| Goblin #1 | 7 | 25 |
| Goblin #2 | 7 | 18 |
| Goblin #3 | 7 | 11 |
| Goblin #4 | 7 | 4 |
All four goblins are reduced to 0 HP, and the cannonball still has 4 damage remaining to potentially strike something farther down the corridor.
Of course, if the third target had been an ogre with 59 HP, the cannonball would have stopped there.
One important mechanical distinction
Use the cannonball’s initial rolled damage as a penetration budget, rather than rolling full damage against every target. Otherwise, a single shot could potentially deal unlimited damage to an entire army lined up in formation.
For structural barriers, the DM can use the object’s hit points, damage threshold, and physical characteristics to determine whether the ball punches through. A cannonball might penetrate a wooden ship’s hull without destroying the entire ship.
Like a regular canon, a ball fired by the Finger of Broadside keeps traveling until it encounters something substantial enough to stop it, exhausts its destructive force, or reaches maximum range.
WARNING the Finger of Broadside is exceptionally dangerous to fire inside a crowded tavern.
Nevets has this warning posted in the Shoppe of Magicks
“CAUTION: The Finger of Broadside does not recognize the concept of ‘the fellow standing behind your intended target.’ Always know what lies beyond your enemy.”
[DM Note:] A cannonball that misses its initial target creature should continue traveling. Missing the first goblin doesn’t magically make the projectile disappear!
Optional Rule: The Artificer’s Improved Model
For a more powerful legendary version, consider these enhancements:
| Enhancement | Effect |
|---|---|
| Arcane Targeting | +2 bonus to attack rolls |
| Improved Breech | Reload as a bonus action |
| Piercing Shot | Cannonball continues through its first target; make a second attack against a creature directly behind it within 30 feet |
| Grapeshot | Fires a cone of pellets, 30 feet long; DC 16 Dexterity save, 6d6 piercing damage, half on success |
| Explosive Shell | 10-foot-radius explosion; DC 16 Dexterity save, 4d6 fire damage in addition to a direct hit |
These enhancements are optional; I wouldn’t give all of them to a very rare version.
The Fine Print
Every magical weapon deserves a few quirks.
The Finger of Broadside cannot fire without a properly loaded charge and cannonball. Its ammunition remains miniature while inside the barrel, even if the ring is removed.
If the Ring of Enlargement is suppressed by an antimagic field, the weapon cannot fire safely. Its ignition enchantment also ceases functioning.
The ring is waterproof, but its powder must remain dry until loaded unless protected by other magic.
And naturally, the weapon is extremely difficult to conceal once fired.
Nevets’ Sales Pitch
“Ah, yes! The Finger of Broadside! Perfect for naval engagements, castle sieges, tavern disagreements, and particularly emphatic gestures.
Just point your middle finger at the offending party and say the command word.
Oh, and do remember to check what’s behind your target. Cannonballs are notoriously poor at respecting personal boundaries.”
Price: 18,000 gp Availability: Special order only Warranty: Void if used to challenge an actual battleship.
Nevets’ Pocket Broadside Ammunition Case
Wondrous item, uncommon (magical ammunition accessory)
“Why carry a cannonball when you can carry a cannonball’s potential?” — Nevets
A beautifully crafted walnut ammunition case, approximately 6 inches long, 4 inches wide, and 2 inches deep, reinforced with brass corners and bearing the skull-and-crossbones insignia of the Finger of Broadside.
Inside, crimson velvet compartments hold miniature iron cannonballs and tiny sealed powder cartridges. Each is magically reduced to the proper dimensions for loading the Finger of Broadside.
The case contains:
Magical properties
Permanent Miniaturization. Each cannonball and powder cartridge has been magically reduced to the appropriate loading size. Unlike ordinary ammunition, the components do not require further shrinking before loading.
Restoration Upon Firing. The miniature cannonball passes through the enchanted enlargement ring at the cannon’s muzzle, instantly regaining its original dimensions, mass, and destructive force.
Contained Recoil. The Finger of Broadside absorbs the difference between miniature recoil and full-sized recoil, protecting its wearer.
Universal Reloading. Each miniature cannonball and cartridge is designed to fit any authentic Finger of Broadside.
Nevets’ ammunition price list
| Merchandise | Price |
|---|---|
| Empty ammunition case | 25 gp |
| Standard refill, 12 shots | 50 gp |
| Grapeshot refill, 6 shots | 40 gp |
| Explosive shot, 3 rounds | 100 gp |
| Silvered cannonballs, 6 shots | 150 gp |
| Adamantine cannonballs, 3 shots | 250 gp |
Special ammunition would use the Finger of Broadside’s existing attack statistics, with additional effects determined by the ammunition type.
One particularly amusing optional feature
The Bottomless Broadside Case (Rare).
An upgraded version of the case that magically replenishes its supply of 12 standard cannonballs and powder cartridges each dawn. It never holds more than 12 complete shots at once.
Suggested price: 2,500 gp.
And naturally, Nevets would offer a package deal:
“Ah, my adventurous friend! The Finger of Broadside is magnificent, yes? But without ammunition, it is merely a very expensive way to point at someone!”
All images were built with the help of ChatGPT or Adobe Firefly. Edited by Alien Graphics ©2026 Alien Graphics
