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<blockquote data-quote="Bhaal" data-source="post: 471008" data-attributes="member: 8702">Whenever the party does something for a very powerful being that's magic-oriented (high level spellcaster, agent of a deity, etc), instead of a great reward, sometimes I'll give them something similar to a beeper.&nbsp; Basically if they're ever in a bind, no matter what type, they activate this beeper and that being will be there to help them out.&nbsp; Acts sort of a get-out-of-jail-free card from the DM.&nbsp; I limit the use of course, often by making the activation destroy the 'beeper'.&nbsp; It can be a lot of different things, eg. an ornamental leaf which you break in half, given a powerful fey after the party helps her, but it usually gets a name other than &quot;beeper&quot;.&nbsp; Also I don't really make it an instant save-your-hide effect either, as the powerful being probably has their own idea of what extent of help the party needs, and of course their own way of going about it.&nbsp; All in all though it's highly beneficial, and without exception tied into the plot.&nbsp; I've seen them used over the years in different ways like a large battle that really wasn't looking good, and when they were stuck with a profound conundrum that needed to be solved.&nbsp; It's good for handing out when you need to reward them big time, but are afraid of the amount of money and magic items the reward would translate into.&nbsp; Keep it mysterous, have the being only give them what details about the devise that they need, and they'll treasure it.&nbsp; It's also great for keeping a plot hook handy.&nbsp; Suppose one ordinary day out of the blue the token they never used suddenly beings to pulse a bright light, pulsing a rythmic pattern 24 hours a day non stop.&nbsp;&nbsp; A couple days later it pulses faster and brighter, obviously something is going on.&nbsp; Almost as if a beacon, or maybe alarm?&nbsp;&nbsp; Perhaps the being is calling in everyone they consider 'agents' for a task, or for help.&nbsp; Great segue into a new campaign (and perhaps revisit an old one at the same time).</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Bhaal, post: 471008, member: 8702"] Whenever the party does something for a very powerful being that's magic-oriented (high level spellcaster, agent of a deity, etc), instead of a great reward, sometimes I'll give them something similar to a beeper. Basically if they're ever in a bind, no matter what type, they activate this beeper and that being will be there to help them out. Acts sort of a get-out-of-jail-free card from the DM. I limit the use of course, often by making the activation destroy the 'beeper'. It can be a lot of different things, eg. an ornamental leaf which you break in half, given a powerful fey after the party helps her, but it usually gets a name other than "beeper". Also I don't really make it an instant save-your-hide effect either, as the powerful being probably has their own idea of what extent of help the party needs, and of course their own way of going about it. All in all though it's highly beneficial, and without exception tied into the plot. I've seen them used over the years in different ways like a large battle that really wasn't looking good, and when they were stuck with a profound conundrum that needed to be solved. It's good for handing out when you need to reward them big time, but are afraid of the amount of money and magic items the reward would translate into. Keep it mysterous, have the being only give them what details about the devise that they need, and they'll treasure it. It's also great for keeping a plot hook handy. Suppose one ordinary day out of the blue the token they never used suddenly beings to pulse a bright light, pulsing a rythmic pattern 24 hours a day non stop. A couple days later it pulses faster and brighter, obviously something is going on. Almost as if a beacon, or maybe alarm? Perhaps the being is calling in everyone they consider 'agents' for a task, or for help. Great segue into a new campaign (and perhaps revisit an old one at the same time). [/QUOTE]

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