Custom Items in Backstories

[BigBro359]

Dragon Table of Desires and Taboos

Dragon	Allignment	Desire	Hatred	Breath	Special ability
Black	Chaotic Evil	Black Dragons love Coins. To appease the black dragon, the wearer must possess a suitable horde to make the dragon happy. To determine the horde needed to appease the dragon,the wearer must roll a d100. Multiply the value by 1,000 to find the total value of the horde needed to appease it.	Black Dragons cannot abide people that steal from them. If something is stolen from the wearer, the wearer may not use the black dragon again until the thief is dead, and the item is recovered	Line of Acid	Darkness
Blue	Lawful Evil	Blue Dragons adore gems. To appease the blue dragon, the wearer must find and wear 10 enchanted gems at all times. Further more, this dragon also demands HIS gems, and no others will appease it. The dragon will tell the wearer if the gem they find is indeed one of his hoard, but does not know where they are.	Blue Dragons hate cowards. If the wearer flees from battle while still conscious, this dragon's power is cut off from them, until the gems are found. After finding them, attempting to flee battle will result in the blue dragon taking control from the wearer.	Line of Lightning	Sound immitation
Green	Lawful Evil	This dragon does not horde, but instead loves to eat. To appease this desire, the wearer must eat one of each class of monster, including humanoids.	This dragon loves to eat elves. If the wearer is engaged in battle with an elf or half elf, the wearer must kill and eat them or lose this power until the user eats every type of monster. If this has been fulfilled or is in the process of being fulfilled, it must be started over.	Cone of Corrosive Gas	Command Plants
Red	Chaotic Evil	The red dragon loves hordes in general. It does not matter what it is, it covets it. To appease this dragon, the wearer must meet several requirements. 1) Own a large amount of land. 2) Find and take the Largest Gem it can find in the world. This is done by taking the first one the wearer finds, and from then on, taking the next largest, then the next, and so on, until no more are found that are bigger. 3) Double the hordes of all other hording dragons. It is the most covetous, and so it demands to have more than the others.	The red dragon demands that any and all treasure the wearer finds MUST be added to the hoard. If the wearer fails to do so, this dragon's power is cut off. It can only be regained by donating 1d100X1000 value to the hoard. This dragon also hates to be stolen from, and, if stolen from, demands that the head and hands of the thief be collected and mounted on the wall in his horde.	Cone of Fire	Suggestion
White	Chaotic Evil	White Dragons adore diamonds. To appease this dragon, the wearer must find or buy 50 diamonds.	The White dragon Hates giants. If the wearer does not kill any giant it sees, the dragon's power is cut off to the user, and can only be appeased by following its preferred diet. The wearer must freeze and eat something meaty to appease it.	Cone of Cold	Control Weather
Brass	Chaotic Good	This dragon does not actually horde, but instead desires nothing more than conversation. To appease this dragon, the wearer must talk to it long enough in an intelligent conversation, and then convince it to give the wearer aid in a logical manor.	These dragons dislike fighting. If the wearer of this armor does not attempt to talk to the enemy before fighting, this dragon's power is cut off. To appease this dragon, the wearer must engage in conversation with the dragon for a day.	Line of Fire Cone of Sleep	Summon Djinni
Bronze	Lawful Good	This dragon adores sunken treasure. To appease this dragon, the wearer must find 1d6 sunken treasures, so that it can appease both the dragon's love of water and love of treasure	Bronze dragons dislike harming animals. If the wearer harms an animal directly without attempting to make peace first, this dragon's power is cut off from the wearer. In order to appease this dragon, they must prove that they are a true friend to nature by saving an animal in danger. This can also be met by finding and killing a poacher or hunter.	Cone of Lightning Cone of Repulsion	Water Breathing
Copper	Chaotic Good	This dragon is a devilishly fun prankster. To appease it, the wearer must pull off a prank of such magnitude that the copper dragon is awed. The prank must also be original.	This dragon will not attack someone who has amused it, or befriends it. If the wearer breaks this, they lose access to the power of this dragon. It can only be appeased by pulling off a fantastic, original prank.	Line of Acid Cone of Slow	Move Earth
Gold	Lawful Good	The gold dragon loves to spread goodness into the world. To appease it, the wearer must perform an act of total selflessness.	The gold dragon hates injustice. If the wearer ignores someone in need of help, the power of this dragon is cut off from the wearer. They can only appease this dragon by meeting three tasks that the dragon sets for the wearer.	Cone of Fire Cone of Weakening	Foresight
Silver	Lawful Good	This dragon hates evil. To appease it, the wearer must find and kill a being of pure evil.	The silver dragon hates evil. If the wearer finds a being of evil alignment, the wearer must attempt to first change it, because the silver dragon dislikes violence, and if that fails, the wearer must kill it immediately. If the wearer fails to do so, the power of the silver dragon is cut off from the wearer until he kills a being of pure evil.	Cone of Cold Cone of Weakening Gas	Polymorph

 

[BigBro359]

Eh, Ok. If that's what'll work for your game.

Me? I wouldn't have it be anything greater than just a unique & notable magic item. So no god like powers, linked to other suits/destinies, vital to the campaign, etc.
What color is it from?
How many +s does it have
I'd some give it powers based upon the color.
I'd give it a matching breath weapon
I'd give it wings & the ability to fly/cast fly - because I think that'd look cool. A warrior clad in bone armor flying about on skeletal wings, breathing fire/acid/cold/poison gas on his foes....
I'd also keep that its haunted by the spirit of the dragon whos bones it came from & that that affects the wearer. There's a reason (unknown to most) why the father became a blackguard.
As for what happened to the father when he went missing? Mortally wounded, he retreated under the influence of the dragons spirit and went off to die atop his secret treasure hoard. To reclaim the armor a ghost-dragon, a skeleton warrior, or both must be defeated. After locating the lair of course.

Hmmm. I’d say the two decisions prior would be around what level the PC will be able to get it, and what type of dragon it came from. From there, you’ll be better able to plan it out.

Were I doing it, I’d say that it should be something exciting for the PC to finally get, so I’d say somewhere in the upper 5 – 10 tier, and be +2 for starters. I’d probably add Resistance to whatever would be appropriate based on the type of dragon. From there, I’d add one more ability, looking at what’s already out there. So maybe I give it the ability to use a specific spell once per long rest or so, or look at an existing magic item and add one of its powers to the armor, or add the Dragonborn’s breath weapon ability, or the draconic sorcerer’s wings. Stuff I don’t have to tinker with too much to make sure it’s both fun and balanced.

If you wanted to put it out there at a lower level, I’d say it’s only +1, and just has the Resistance. But that the armor still bears the damage from the mortal wound received, and that finding a (quest-worthy) way to repair it would unlock the greater powers.

So I took the idea of having each dragon having specific agendas from I believe ccs, and this is what I came up with. Thoughts? I made it hard, yes, but with the amount of power they get out of this suit, I think that the quests needed to do this are well worth it.

 

[ccs]

So I took the idea of having each dragon having specific agendas from I believe ccs, and this is what I came up with. Thoughts? I made it hard, yes, but with the amount of power they get out of this suit, I think that the quests needed to do this are well worth it.

Awesome. I hope my idea improves your game.

 

[BigBro359]

Oh, I guarantee it will. The only way this will flop is if I end up sucking as a DM.
Hopefully I don't. Tonight will tell, I suppose. Wish me luck!

My group is basically pulling an all nighter for this, so I may be back on to try and come up with more if they make it past what I have planned.

 

[BigBro359]

Well, I had the first session of the campaign. Miraculously, no one died. We have a half retarded halforc that has, thus far, eaten about half a table, punched a wolf to death, killed a centaur chief and had the centaur chief's woman as his trophy, and intimidated a wolf.
Next we have a gnome bard, that was the closest ti dying out of all of them. He was a rogue before he became a bard, and so he has connections, but he was a bad rogue and so he structured his skills around being a rogue, but his class is that of a bard. He is probably the best negotiator, and managed to talk a 5 troops out of his old rogue guild master. He rolled 5 20's in a row. I couldn't argue with the dice, so...
NExt, we have a druid with the worst aim in the world. He managed to hit something I think once all night. He does have a mildly more successful wolf as his animal companion though.
Finally, from the encounter with the centaur tribe, the half orc barbarian demanded their best archer. I used the standard centaur stats from the book and named him don. They promptly renamed him cruton (As in the salad topping. My spelling sucks) and went on their happy way. Shortly after, they stumble into a formian village, where they are met with 9 workers and three warriors. It is only then that we took a look at the standard centaur bow damage. He obliterated 2 workers and all three of the warriors. Because DAMN.
I guess I am going to have to up the monsters next time. Overall, I would say a total success. I have successfully brought three new people into the D&D brotherhood.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Late to the party, but I'll just toss this in...

1) just because someone thinks "Magic Item X" has all these powers, doesn't make it so. Some of what you hear may be legend or wishful thinking, or perhaps even a simple mistake- conflating two similar magic items.

2) even if they're right about the powers of the ancestral magic item, it doesn't mean that you, the DM, will be giving it to them tomorrow. Look at it, and only drop it into the campaign if and when it doesn't represent a super power boost to the PC who seeks his birthright. Hell- acquiring it might mean having to defeat a powerful nemesis who is hoarding it...or even wearing it.

 

[BigBro359]

Late to the party, but I'll just toss this in...

1) just because someone thinks "Magic Item X" has all these powers, doesn't make it so. Some of what you hear may be legend or wishful thinking, or perhaps even a simple mistake- conflating two similar magic items.

2) even if they're right about the powers of the ancestral magic item, it doesn't mean that you, the DM, will be giving it to them tomorrow. Look at it, and only drop it into the campaign if and when it doesn't represent a super power boost to the PC who seeks his birthright. Hell- acquiring it might mean having to defeat a powerful nemesis who is hoarding it...or even wearing it.

Ah, you're never too late. The campaign has only just begun. The armor is hidden in the worst pit of monsters I could think of. Right now, they think that they are about to find it in Lord Kazel (The previous owner) Castle. I haven't decided if they will find the helmet and a note or just the note.

 

[BigBro359]

Late to the party, but I'll just toss this in...

1) just because someone thinks "Magic Item X" has all these powers, doesn't make it so. Some of what you hear may be legend or wishful thinking, or perhaps even a simple mistake- conflating two similar magic items.

2) even if they're right about the powers of the ancestral magic item, it doesn't mean that you, the DM, will be giving it to them tomorrow. Look at it, and only drop it into the campaign if and when it doesn't represent a super power boost to the PC who seeks his birthright. Hell- acquiring it might mean having to defeat a powerful nemesis who is hoarding it...or even wearing it.

Ah, you're never too late. The campaign has only just begun. The armor is hidden in the worst pit of monsters I could think of. Right now, they think that they are about to find it in Lord Kazel (The previous owner) Castle. I haven't decided if they will find the helmet and a note or just the note.

 

[BigBro359]

Late to the party, but I'll just toss this in...

1) just because someone thinks "Magic Item X" has all these powers, doesn't make it so. Some of what you hear may be legend or wishful thinking, or perhaps even a simple mistake- conflating two similar magic items.

2) even if they're right about the powers of the ancestral magic item, it doesn't mean that you, the DM, will be giving it to them tomorrow. Look at it, and only drop it into the campaign if and when it doesn't represent a super power boost to the PC who seeks his birthright. Hell- acquiring it might mean having to defeat a powerful nemesis who is hoarding it...or even wearing it.

Ah, you're never too late. The campaign has only just begun. The armor is hidden in the worst pit of monsters I could think of. Right now, they think that they are about to find it in Lord Kazel (The previous owner) Castle. I haven't decided if they will find the helmet and a note or just the note.

On another note, I did need help with one thing. Checks. I can do combat just fine, and the role play went brilliantly, the issue is checks. I kind of made it up as I went, like hide checks and such, but is there a good way to do it? I don't really have a good way to do it, especially so that it is completely based on their skill and luck. I kind of wanted them to survive, and so I didn't make it horrendously difficult to survive, but, as seen in my update on the campaign, they not only survived, they thrived. So I clearly need to make it harder. Any tips?

 

[BigBro359]

Late to the party, but I'll just toss this in...

1) just because someone thinks "Magic Item X" has all these powers, doesn't make it so. Some of what you hear may be legend or wishful thinking, or perhaps even a simple mistake- conflating two similar magic items.

2) even if they're right about the powers of the ancestral magic item, it doesn't mean that you, the DM, will be giving it to them tomorrow. Look at it, and only drop it into the campaign if and when it doesn't represent a super power boost to the PC who seeks his birthright. Hell- acquiring it might mean having to defeat a powerful nemesis who is hoarding it...or even wearing it.

Ah, you're never too late. The campaign has only just begun. The armor is hidden in the worst pit of monsters I could think of. Right now, they think that they are about to find it in Lord Kazel (The previous owner) Castle. I haven't decided if they will find the helmet and a note or just the note.

On another note, I did need help with one thing. Checks. I can do combat just fine, and the role play went brilliantly, the issue is checks. I kind of made it up as I went, like hide checks and such, but is there a good way to do it? I don't really have a good way to do it, especially so that it is completely based on their skill and luck. I kind of wanted them to survive, and so I didn't make it horrendously difficult to survive, but, as seen in my update on the campaign, they not only survived, they thrived. So I clearly need to make it harder. Any tips?