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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Clockwerk66" data-source="post: 6707244" data-attributes="member: 6801596">Hello everyone!I'm pretty new to this site, but I thought I'd submit some homebrewed "manual" items that I've been drafting up for 5e, including one that would allow a PC to potentially create his/her own helmed horror servant. They sort of act as "lower-tier" versions of the manuals of golems that exist in the DM handbook, but for some of the lower-CR animates that we know are created through magical means. They're still very much in Alpha, so any feedback would be appreciated. The instructions shown for each construct are more akin to what a PC might read if he/she were able to decipher the relevant manuals in question.In addition, if anybody else has his/her own magic manual/book items that they have home-brewed for 5e, then feel free to use this thread to bounce your ideas off other people.Happy reading! <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" />Mordenkainen’s Manual of Lesser ConstructsCreate Flying WeaponCasting Time: depending on rarity of weaponFocuses: The exact pages of the manual containing the ritual itselfSacrifices:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">One (1) weapon of choice (melee/ranged, mundane or magic (any rarity))<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Cost depending entirely on the quality/rarity of the weapon.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Artifacts and sentient magic items are not compatible with this ritual.</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">One (1) scroll containing ALL the verbal components of the spell, Animate Objects</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Biological ritual components, which must be either: A) taken from the fresh corpse of a sentient humanoid creature, or B) well-preserved specimens.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">One half of a brain, to understand and comprehend, without true will.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A single eye, to grant blindsight.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A single ear, to grant perception.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A single finger, for touch.</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Optional components:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A tongue, for the spoken word.</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Powdered silver and iron worth at least 100 gp, for the creation of a ritual circle.</li> </ul>Recipe:<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Place your weapon of choice on a flat surface (open floor is ideal).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Place your scroll of Animate Objects flat on top of the weapon, facing up so that you can see the written words. It is IMPERATIVE that you are able to see the verbal components of the spell before beginning the main ritual!</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Begin chanting the incantation, while pouring powdered silver and iron in a circle surrounding the weapon and scroll, in such a way that it lies directly in the circle’s center.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Place remaining ritual components on top of the powder circle, evenly spaced surrounding the weapon and scroll.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Sit directly in front of the ritual site, and continue with the ritual’s incantations. The caster must complete the rest of the ritual without pause or interruption. The ritual’s total casting time will depend on the weapon’s quality. The higher the quality, the more hours will be added to the cast time.<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Common/Normal --> 1 hour</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Uncommon --> 2 hours</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Rare --> 3 hours</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Very Rare --> 4 hours</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Legendary --> 5 hours</li> </ol></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">At the end of the final hour, regardless of length, you must IMMEDIATELY recite the entire verbal component of Animate Objects to complete the ritual’s final step, either by memory, or by looking directly at the scroll that you placed on top of the weapon.</li> </ol>Effect:Upon ritual completion, all ritual components, including the scroll of Animate Objects, will be consumed to bring the weapon to life as a permanent animate object, bound to the will of the ritual caster. Your flying weapon will follow your every command until rendered inert by its destruction. When not commanded, it will follow your last order to the best of its ability, and can act independently to fulfill simple instructions.<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Normal flying weapons possess 5d6 hit dice and a challenge rating of ¼. Flying weapons made from magic weapons will have higher ratings and more hit dice, starting with 1 and +1 hit die at uncommon, with both increasing by 1 for every level of rarity above uncommon.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Flying weapons made from magic weapons will have access to all of their magical properties, regardless of attunement requirements.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Your flying weapon’s Strength, dexterity and constitution scores will also increase by +2 for every level of rarity above mundane/common, up to a maximum limit of 20.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">If optional component is used, your flying weapon will also possess the ability to verbally communicate in scripted speech, in any language known by the ritual caster.</li> </ol>Create Animated ArmorCasting Time: depending on rarity of weaponFocuses: The exact pages of the manual containing the ritual itselfSacrifices:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">One (1) full suit of heavy armor (Type can be ring mail, chain mail, Splint or plate; mundane or magic (any rarity))<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Cost depending entirely on the quality/rarity of the weapon.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Artifacts and sentient magic items are not compatible with this ritual.</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">One (1) scroll containing ALL the verbal components of the spell, Animate Objects.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Biological ritual components, which must be either: A) taken from the fresh corpse of a sentient humanoid creature, or B) well-preserved specimens.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">One half of a brain, to understand and comprehend, without true will.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A single eye, to grant blindsight.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A single ear, to grant perception.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> A single finger, for touch.</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Optional components:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A tongue, for the spoken word.</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Powdered silver and iron worth at least 100 gp, for the creation of a ritual circle.</li> </ul>Recipe:<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Assemble your chosen suit of armor, and lay it down facing up upon a flat surface (open floor is ideal). Arrange the assembled suit into a “T-Pose”, as per diagram 2-A.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Lay your scroll of Animate Objects upon the armor’s breastplate, facing up so that you can see the written words. It is IMPERATIVE that you are able to see the verbal components of the spell before beginning the main ritual!</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Begin chanting the incantation, while pouring powdered silver and iron in a circle surrounding the armor, in such a way that it lies directly in the circle’s center.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Place remaining ritual components on top of the powder circle, evenly spaced surrounding the suit of armor.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Sit directly in front of the ritual site, and continue the ritual’s incantations. The caster must complete the rest of the ritual without pause or interruption. The ritual’s total casting time will depend on the weapon’s quality. The higher the quality, the more hours will be added to the cast time.<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Common/Normal --> 1 hour</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Uncommon --> 2 hours</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Rare --> 3 hours</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Very Rare --> 4 hours</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Legendary --> 5 hours</li> </ol></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">At the end of the final hour, regardless of length, you must IMMEDIATELY recite the entire verbal component of Animate Objects to complete the ritual’s final step, either by memory, or by looking directly at the scroll that you placed on top of the armor.</li> </ol>Effect:Upon ritual completion, all ritual components, including the scroll of Animate Objects, will be consumed to bring the suit of armor to life as a permanent animate object, bound to the will of the ritual caster. Your animated armor will follow your every command until rendered inert by its destruction. When not commanded, it will follow your last order to the best of its ability, and can act independently to fulfill simple instructions.<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Normal animated armor possesses 6d8 hit dice and a challenge rating of 1. Animated armor made from magic armor will have its challenge rating and number of hit dice increased by 1 for every level of rarity above mundane/common.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Your animated armor’s Strength score will also increase by +2 for every level of rarity above Normal, up to a maximum limit of 20.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Animated armor made from magic armor will have access to all its magical properties, regardless of attunement requirements.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">If optional component is used, your animated armor will also possess the ability to verbally communicate in scripted speech, in any language known by the ritual caster.</li> </ol>Create Rug of SmotheringCasting Time: 2 hoursFocuses: The exact pages of the manual containing the ritual itself Sacrifices:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">One (1) rug or carpet of your choice. Can be of any type, but must at MINIMUM be large enough to completely engulf a human head.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">One (1) scroll containing ALL the verbal components of the spell, Animate Objects.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Biological ritual components, which must be either: A) taken from the fresh corpse of a sentient humanoid creature, or B) well-preserved specimens.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">One half of a brain, to understand and comprehend, without true will.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A single eye, to grant blindsight.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A single ear, to grant perception.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A single finger, for touch.</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Optional components:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A tongue, for the spoken word.</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Powdered silver and iron worth at least 100 gp, for the creation of a ritual circle.</li> </ul>Recipe:<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Take your rug of choice, and lay it down on a flat surface (open floor is ideal), as per diagram 3-A.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Lay your scroll of Animate Objects on top of the rug/carpet, facing up so that you can see the written words. It is IMPERATIVE that you are able to see the verbal components of the spell before beginning the main ritual!</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Begin chanting the incantation, pouring powdered silver and iron in a circle surrounding the rug/carpet, in such a way that it lies directly in the circle’s center.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Place remaining ritual components on top of the powder circle, evenly spaced surrounding the rug/carpet.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Sit directly in front of the ritual site, and continue the ritual’s incantations. The caster must complete the rest of the ritual without pause or interruption.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">At the end of the final hour, regardless of length, you must IMMEDIATELY recite the entire verbal component of Animate Objects to complete the ritual’s final step, either by memory, or by looking directly at the scroll that you placed on top of the carpet/rug.</li> </ol>Effect:Upon ritual completion, all ritual components, including the scroll of Animate Objects, will be consumed to bring the rug/carpet to life as a permanent animate object, bound to the will of the ritual caster. Your animated armor will follow your every command until rendered inert by its destruction. When not commanded, it will follow your last order to the best of its ability, and can act independently to fulfill simple instructions.</blockquote>

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