I know now all items have to be optimal, but if the only way to use items is to give them to *your* commanders, send them to battle you know you will be using and hope that your enemy's commanders pick them up, blocking their miscellanous slots...
Besides, I don't understand Horn of Bubbles. Would it do *anything* at all besides being cursed item? Or did you mean that it blocks *two* slots instead of one? And Ring of Weakness could actually be usable, but not with W3D1! Even at W1D1 it would take 10 gems, and would have a big chance of not doing anything. Then, however, people would try it themselves and notice that it is not good.
Similarly, I can see the game having Horn of Bubbles which makes bubbles (precision -10 long-range missile that does no damage but causes Earth Meld whereever it hits), or Horn of Bubbles that gives the commander Awe -2 (even morale 10 units will often hit), or Horn of Bubbles that gives him +2 defence but -2 attack and precision. But it should have atleast *some* use, even if that use would be of no use to anyone.
Oh, and I will be reading "What Good is a Glass Dagger" when I get a chance.