No, you're right. The gloves say that CREATURES hit by an attack MAY receive a d4 penalty to attack rolls and saving throws. but it seems to be applied 100% every time you hit anything, even rocks, and bane is applied to the attacker and the attacked.
However, the flavor text says that the gloves are "blessed by priestess gut and aid any who have the absolutes mark, but woe any non believer who hopes to steal their power." Priestess gut is a goblin and you get the gloves from a goblin who i assume is from her tribe. The gloves work fine for that goblin during the fight where you get them after all...
Makes me think maybe the gloves are technically working as intended?
Last edited by Perma; 08/10/20 02:13 AM.