Pocket Poppers
This common magic item is dedicated to the youthful; pocket poppers. These humble magic items are an enchanted version of the kid's toys plenty of us have played with at firework shows or whenever we felt like being generally disruptive. We've discussed the world-building opportunity magic items offer to a high fantasy setting in the articles for Ettercap's Industrious Handloom and Quint's Ominous Card Set. If magic is commonplace amongst a population, it makes sense to find it present in everyday household objects and tools. And if that's the case, why not let the kids get in on the fun with some enchanted toys?
That being said, pocket poppers are a fairly simple magic item, seeing as we're putting them in the hands of children. You can find 1d6 + 4 of these little packets of gunpowder in brightly colored baggies at your local fair or carnival. As an action, you can throw it at a creature within 20 feet of you. That creature takes 1 fire damage and must make an easy Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it jumps back 5 feet and is frightened of you until the end of your turn.
This magic item, being our first attempt at a dedicated common magic item, led to an interesting design discussion in our group. How strong are these packets of fun allowed to be? If you take a look at common magic items, most of them are very niche in their utility, rarely being directly useful in combat. As such, we had to scale down the power of these toys to the point where it is now, being a niche item that will be the most useful in the hands of a commoner. It's actually better for the world-building this way anyway; after all, these things are common and mundane enough that some parents let their children use them. And if they're not careful, they could really hurt somebody with this! 1 hit point is a fourth of a commoner's total hit points! Regardless of their efficacy, we hope you find these magic items flavorful and nostalgic, and we'll see you next time!
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Pocket Poppers
Wondrous item, common
This handful of children’s toys have been enchanted to enhance the thrill they bring to the youthful. 1d6 + 4 of these tiny packets of combustible powder can be found in small, colorful bags patterned with cartoonish explosions. As an action, a creature can pick one of these packets up and throw them at another creature within 20 feet. That creature takes 1 fire damage and must make a DC 11 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it jumps back 5 feet and is frightened of you until the end of your turn.