Over the years I’ve crafted quite a few game components, some for my campaigns, some for publication, and some just to pass the time. In honor of an early spring (Thanks, Punxsutawney Phil!), I present you with a magic item and several spells I originally designed for 3.5E, now updated for 4E as well.
3.5E Versions
Daisy Chain
Description: A daisy chain is a necklace of detachable flowers, berries, and nuts. Despite its name, any type of flower may be used in its construction. If worn by a creature, it appears completely normal to onlookers, but a druid of 3rd level or higher examining an unattended necklace can easily identify the true nature of the components.
Activation: Detaching a flower, berry, or nut from a daisy chain is a free action akin to retrieving ammunition for a missile weapon. The chosen item must be used before the next round or its effects are lost. Regardless of which type it is, all detachable missiles can be thrown with a range increment of 20 feet or fired from a sling (in which case, use the sling’s range increment).
Effect: A successful ranged attack delivers the effects of the appropriate spell (see spells below).
Aura/Caster Level: Moderate Transmutation; CL 6th
Construction: Craft Wondrous Item, berry bomb, goodberry, magic stone, pollen trap, 1,050 gp, 84 XP, 2 days
Variations: The average daisy chain has two pollen trap flowers (DC 13 Will negates), two berry bomb berries (3d6 fire damage, DC 14 Reflex half), two goodberry berries, and two nuts that function according to the magic stone spell.
Berry Bomb
Transmutation
Level: Druid 3
Components: Verbal, Somatic, Divine Focus
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Targets: One berry touched
Duration: 1 hour/level
Saving Throw: See text
Spell Resistance: Yes
This spell transforms a single berry into a potent weapon with a number of different applications. The berry can be thrown at an opponent with a range increment of 20 feet. It can also be fired from a sling, just like a sling bullet (use the sling’s range increment). In either case, the user makes a normal ranged attack, and a successful hit deals 1d6 points of fire damage per two caster levels (maximum 5d6 points of damage) to the target and everything within a 5-foot radius. The target receives no saving throw, but everything else within the area of effect receives a Reflex save for half damage.
Alternately, as a free action, the caster can “prime” the berry to explode on a subsequent round, dealing damage to everything in a 5-foot radius (Reflex save half). A berry bomb can be set to explode up to 1 round per caster level from the time it is primed. Until it explodes, handling the berry has no deleterious effect.
Regardless of how a berry bomb is intended to be employed, crushing it, smashing it, or eating it immediately causes it to explode, dealing damage to everything within a 5-foot radius. The creature triggering the explosion receives no save, but everything else within the area of effect receives a save as described above.
Just as with the goodberry spell, the caster and any druid of 3rd level or higher can immediately identify a berry bomb for what it is.
Pollen Trap
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Druid 2
Components: Verbal, Somatic, Divine Focus
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: One flower blossom
Duration: Permanent until discharged
Saving Throw: See text
Spell Resistance: Yes
Pollen trap changes a flower into a magical trap that triggers when a specified condition occurs. The trigger condition can be as vague or as specific as the caster likes, but a pollen trap cannot distinguish alignment, level, Hit Dice, or class. For example, “Spray whenever a non-elf walks by,” is a valid trigger condition but not, “Spray whenever a fighter comes near.” When triggered, the flower releases a cloud of pollen in a 5-foot-radius burst. Any creature with 5 or fewer Hit Dice caught within the cloud must make a Will save or fall asleep.
A sleeping creature is helpless. Slapping or wounding awakens an affected creature, but normal noise does not. Awakening a creature is a standard action (an application of the aid another action).
Note: Magic traps such as pollen trap are hard to detect and disable. A rogue (only) can use the Search skill to find a pollen trap and use Disable Device to thwart it. The DC in each case is 25 + spell level, or 27 for pollen trap.
4E Versions
Daisy Chain Level 3+ Rare
A collection of fresh blossoms in full bloom hangs from a delicate silver chain.
Lvl 3 +1 680 gp Lvl 18 +4 85,000 gp
Lvl 8 +2 3,400 gp Lvl 23 +5 425,000 gp
Lvl 13 +3 17,000 gp Lvl 28 +6 2,125,000 gp
Neck Slot
Enhancement Bonus: Fortitude, Reflex, Will
Standard Action
r Pollen Bomb (charm, enchantment) * Encounter
Attack: Ranged 5 (one creature); Wisdom or Dexterity vs. Reflex (add the necklace’s enhancement bonus to the attack roll)
Hit: The target is slowed (save ends).
First Failed Save: The target is unconscious (save ends).
Level 13 or 18: Area burst 1 within 10 (all creatures in burst).
Level 23 or 28: Area burst 2 within 10 (all creatures in burst).
Berry Bomb Level 3+ Rare
This bright red berry feels warm to the touch.
Lvl 3 +1 30 gp Lvl 18 +4 3,400 gp
Lvl 8 +2 125 gp Lvl 23 +5 17,000 gp
Lvl 13 +3 650 gp Lvl 28 +6 85,000 gp
Ammunition: Stone
Enhancement Bonus: Attack and damage rolls
Property
When you hit an enemy using this ammunition, that enemy takes 1d6 extra fire damage per plus.
Special: If crushed, smashed, or eaten, the berry automatically explodes for 1d6 fire damage per plus.
Pollen Bomb Level 3+ Rare
This beautiful bloom has a heady, intoxicating fragrance.
Lvl 3 +1 30 gp Lvl 18 +4 3,400 gp
Lvl 8 +2 125 gp Lvl 23 +5 17,000 gp
Lvl 13 +3 650 gp Lvl 28 +6 85,000 gp
Ammunition: Stone
Enhancement Bonus: Attack and damage rolls
Property
When you hit an enemy using this ammunition, that enemy and all creatures adjacent to it take no damage but are slowed (save ends).
First Failed Save: The target is unconscious (save ends).
Pollen Trap (Elite) Level 3 Elite Obstacle
Hazard XP 300
These beautiful red poppy-like flowers are native to the Feywild but grow in the natural world thanks to capricious sprites or malicious dark fey. They blanket fields or forest glades with a heady, intoxicating scent, releasing a cloud of pollen if disturbed.
Hazard: A pollen trap fills a square. When triggered, it releases a cloud of pollen.
Perception
When a creature enters a square of pollen trap, or picks a flower or jostles them from an adjacent square, or attacks the flowers in any way, the flowers release a cloud of pollen. A character in the initial burst or that begins its turn in a pollen trap cloud is attacked.
Standard Action
c Soporific Pollen
Attack: Close burst 1 (creatures in burst); +6 vs. Fortitude
Hit: 3d10 poison damage and the target is slowed (save ends).
First Failed Save: The target is unconscious (save ends).
Effect: The cloud’s area is lightly obscured. The cloud persists until the end of the encounter or for 5 minutes. Once a bed of pollen trap creates a cloud, it can’t create another one for 24 hours.
3.5E Versions
Daisy Chain
Description: A daisy chain is a necklace of detachable flowers, berries, and nuts. Despite its name, any type of flower may be used in its construction. If worn by a creature, it appears completely normal to onlookers, but a druid of 3rd level or higher examining an unattended necklace can easily identify the true nature of the components.
Activation: Detaching a flower, berry, or nut from a daisy chain is a free action akin to retrieving ammunition for a missile weapon. The chosen item must be used before the next round or its effects are lost. Regardless of which type it is, all detachable missiles can be thrown with a range increment of 20 feet or fired from a sling (in which case, use the sling’s range increment).
Effect: A successful ranged attack delivers the effects of the appropriate spell (see spells below).
Aura/Caster Level: Moderate Transmutation; CL 6th
Construction: Craft Wondrous Item, berry bomb, goodberry, magic stone, pollen trap, 1,050 gp, 84 XP, 2 days
Variations: The average daisy chain has two pollen trap flowers (DC 13 Will negates), two berry bomb berries (3d6 fire damage, DC 14 Reflex half), two goodberry berries, and two nuts that function according to the magic stone spell.
Berry Bomb
Transmutation
Level: Druid 3
Components: Verbal, Somatic, Divine Focus
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Targets: One berry touched
Duration: 1 hour/level
Saving Throw: See text
Spell Resistance: Yes
This spell transforms a single berry into a potent weapon with a number of different applications. The berry can be thrown at an opponent with a range increment of 20 feet. It can also be fired from a sling, just like a sling bullet (use the sling’s range increment). In either case, the user makes a normal ranged attack, and a successful hit deals 1d6 points of fire damage per two caster levels (maximum 5d6 points of damage) to the target and everything within a 5-foot radius. The target receives no saving throw, but everything else within the area of effect receives a Reflex save for half damage.
Alternately, as a free action, the caster can “prime” the berry to explode on a subsequent round, dealing damage to everything in a 5-foot radius (Reflex save half). A berry bomb can be set to explode up to 1 round per caster level from the time it is primed. Until it explodes, handling the berry has no deleterious effect.
Regardless of how a berry bomb is intended to be employed, crushing it, smashing it, or eating it immediately causes it to explode, dealing damage to everything within a 5-foot radius. The creature triggering the explosion receives no save, but everything else within the area of effect receives a save as described above.
Just as with the goodberry spell, the caster and any druid of 3rd level or higher can immediately identify a berry bomb for what it is.
Pollen Trap
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Druid 2
Components: Verbal, Somatic, Divine Focus
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: One flower blossom
Duration: Permanent until discharged
Saving Throw: See text
Spell Resistance: Yes
Pollen trap changes a flower into a magical trap that triggers when a specified condition occurs. The trigger condition can be as vague or as specific as the caster likes, but a pollen trap cannot distinguish alignment, level, Hit Dice, or class. For example, “Spray whenever a non-elf walks by,” is a valid trigger condition but not, “Spray whenever a fighter comes near.” When triggered, the flower releases a cloud of pollen in a 5-foot-radius burst. Any creature with 5 or fewer Hit Dice caught within the cloud must make a Will save or fall asleep.
A sleeping creature is helpless. Slapping or wounding awakens an affected creature, but normal noise does not. Awakening a creature is a standard action (an application of the aid another action).
Note: Magic traps such as pollen trap are hard to detect and disable. A rogue (only) can use the Search skill to find a pollen trap and use Disable Device to thwart it. The DC in each case is 25 + spell level, or 27 for pollen trap.
4E Versions
Daisy Chain Level 3+ Rare
A collection of fresh blossoms in full bloom hangs from a delicate silver chain.
Lvl 3 +1 680 gp Lvl 18 +4 85,000 gp
Lvl 8 +2 3,400 gp Lvl 23 +5 425,000 gp
Lvl 13 +3 17,000 gp Lvl 28 +6 2,125,000 gp
Neck Slot
Enhancement Bonus: Fortitude, Reflex, Will
Standard Action
r Pollen Bomb (charm, enchantment) * Encounter
Attack: Ranged 5 (one creature); Wisdom or Dexterity vs. Reflex (add the necklace’s enhancement bonus to the attack roll)
Hit: The target is slowed (save ends).
First Failed Save: The target is unconscious (save ends).
Level 13 or 18: Area burst 1 within 10 (all creatures in burst).
Level 23 or 28: Area burst 2 within 10 (all creatures in burst).
Berry Bomb Level 3+ Rare
This bright red berry feels warm to the touch.
Lvl 3 +1 30 gp Lvl 18 +4 3,400 gp
Lvl 8 +2 125 gp Lvl 23 +5 17,000 gp
Lvl 13 +3 650 gp Lvl 28 +6 85,000 gp
Ammunition: Stone
Enhancement Bonus: Attack and damage rolls
Property
When you hit an enemy using this ammunition, that enemy takes 1d6 extra fire damage per plus.
Special: If crushed, smashed, or eaten, the berry automatically explodes for 1d6 fire damage per plus.
Pollen Bomb Level 3+ Rare
This beautiful bloom has a heady, intoxicating fragrance.
Lvl 3 +1 30 gp Lvl 18 +4 3,400 gp
Lvl 8 +2 125 gp Lvl 23 +5 17,000 gp
Lvl 13 +3 650 gp Lvl 28 +6 85,000 gp
Ammunition: Stone
Enhancement Bonus: Attack and damage rolls
Property
When you hit an enemy using this ammunition, that enemy and all creatures adjacent to it take no damage but are slowed (save ends).
First Failed Save: The target is unconscious (save ends).
Pollen Trap (Elite) Level 3 Elite Obstacle
Hazard XP 300
These beautiful red poppy-like flowers are native to the Feywild but grow in the natural world thanks to capricious sprites or malicious dark fey. They blanket fields or forest glades with a heady, intoxicating scent, releasing a cloud of pollen if disturbed.
Hazard: A pollen trap fills a square. When triggered, it releases a cloud of pollen.
Perception
- No check is necessary to notice the flowers.
- DC 22: The character identifies the flowers as a pollen trap.
When a creature enters a square of pollen trap, or picks a flower or jostles them from an adjacent square, or attacks the flowers in any way, the flowers release a cloud of pollen. A character in the initial burst or that begins its turn in a pollen trap cloud is attacked.
Standard Action
c Soporific Pollen
Attack: Close burst 1 (creatures in burst); +6 vs. Fortitude
Hit: 3d10 poison damage and the target is slowed (save ends).
First Failed Save: The target is unconscious (save ends).
Effect: The cloud’s area is lightly obscured. The cloud persists until the end of the encounter or for 5 minutes. Once a bed of pollen trap creates a cloud, it can’t create another one for 24 hours.
