Cursed Items

[SpuneDagr]

I'm running a game where our monk picked up a Belt of Giant Strength (+4), or so he thought. It was actually cursed with a -4 penalty to Strength.

Anyway, he played through the whole adventure without ever knowing that I was secretly subtracting 4 from his attack and damage rolls.

Heheheh. I love it.

Any other mean DMs out there, havin' a little fun with cocky players?

 

[Drawmack]

shouldn't you actually be subtracting 2 from his rolls?

actually I would probably have said you feel weeker when he put it on just as I would have said you feel stronger if it were a magical item. People, especially a monk, are in tune with their bodies enough to feel something like that happen, that's a significant change.

 

[Mark]

shouldn't you actually be subtracting 2 from his rolls?

The Monk's Player was probably adding two when he gave the result of his roll, thus subtract two for his addition and two for the cursed item.

I agree with the noticing thing, to some extent. I think there might be some euphoria/elation at having secured the item and he might fool himself for a while. Still, once he tries to do something in his usual routine that he knows well enough (like uncork a bottle, or whatever) he should get some sort of "Spot" check or something.

 

[SpuneDagr]

Part of the curse was that it deluded him into thinking it was working fine.

 

[Zogg]

Part of the curse was that it deluded him into thinking it was working fine.

That is ridiculous. Even if the thought the belt was working fine, he should expect his punches to inflict more damage - and this would be something the monk would see visually. We are talking about a net 8 STR difference here.

Furthermore, has this STR reduction led him to be encumbered? He should be notified of this, as this would reduce movement. You really shouldn't jack with your PCs this way.

 

[I'm A Banana]

CRUELTY!

I mean, come on, half of the fun of a cursed item is watching the PC's get rid of it and/or find an interesting use for it.

Every time I give a cursed item to my PC's, I run the risk of them either selling it to a merchant with some modified magical auras, or them 'giving' it to a potential enemy.

This curse hurts a lot....will he ever find out if he's cursed, or will he be forever doomed to that four-point hole?

 

[SpuneDagr]

When he first got it, I tried to tip him off when I told him that as soon as he put it on, he was unable to take it off. He thought no more of it.

An NPC with a bit of True Seeing asked him if he was intending to wear the cursed belt.

Remove Curse and it falls off.

The player thought it was great.