D&D 5E Faction Magic Items

[pukunui]

Hi all,

According to the AL faction documents, each faction presents its members with a special insignia. The Harpers use a pin, the Lords' Alliance uses a signet ring, and so on.

In past editions, Harper pins have been magical, granting protection against divination and mind-reading magic and the like.

Does anyone know if any of the other factions had (or have had in the past) similar magical insignia? I realize that some of the factions are new, such as the Order of the Gauntlet, so it's unlikely they do, but the Lords' Alliance and the Zhentarim have been around for a long time now, just like the Harpers. Not sure about Emerald Enclave.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,
Jonathan

 

[KahlessNestor]

O believe the Emerald Enclave is newish, at least as a large pan-Faerun organization. I think I read it was founded somewhere out east and only recently expanded beyond its local region. Don't know anything about magical insignia other than Harper pins though, which in AL aren't magical.

 

[pukunui]

O believe the Emerald Enclave is newish, at least as a large pan-Faerun organization. I think I read it was founded somewhere out east and only recently expanded beyond its local region.

On page 127 of the SCAG, it says that the Enclave was "found in the Vilhon Reach over a thousand years ago". Earlier, on page 13, it specifies that the Enclave originated in Turmish. I don't know if it predates the SCAG at all, though.

Don't know anything about magical insignia other than Harper pins though, which in AL aren't magical.

Right. In 2e, the magic pins were quite powerful. They granted you bonuses and immunities against charm, enchantment, and divination magic, immunity to magic missile, and resistance to lightning damage.

In 3e, they introduced a "lesser" version that just functioned as a ring of mind shielding (but without the soul-storing effect that the 5e rings have), while the "greater" version offered that benefit plus all the benefits from the 2e pin.


The reason I ask is because I was thinking of giving the two Harper PCs in my Tyranny of Dragons campaign the "lesser" Harper pins (and maybe the "greater" ones later in the campaign), but then I thought that might be a little unfair, so I'd like to come up with something comparable for the other factions. The other two PCs are members of the Lords' Alliance and Emerald Enclave respectively. The Alliance's insignia is a signet ring, while the Enclave's is a leaf clasp.

 

[EdL]

The reason I ask is because I was thinking of giving the two Harper PCs in my Tyranny of Dragons campaign the "lesser" Harper pins (and maybe the "greater" ones later in the campaign), but then I thought that might be a little unfair, so I'd like to come up with something comparable for the other factions. The other two PCs are members of the Lords' Alliance and Emerald Enclave respectively. The Alliance's insignia is a signet ring, while the Enclave's is a leaf clasp.

By all means, give them something a bit special. BUT, do the same for all other, including bad guy organizations. (Something to cloak the alignment of Zents, perhaps?)

 

[pukunui]

By all means, give them something a bit special. BUT, do the same for all other, including bad guy organizations. (Something to cloak the alignment of Zents, perhaps?)

Yeah, absolutely. The Zhents' insignia is a stamped coin. I can see it maybe masking their alignment but also giving them some extra luck or maybe letting them cheat at gambling or something. I dunno.

 

[ramzour]

Pukunui, I gave the Harper in my ToD campaign the following magical pin upon obtaining Brightcandle status.

Harper Pin of the Brightcandle
(Requires Attunement)
A silver cloak pin in the shape of a harp. When you whisper “light the way” (as an Action), a faint harp sounds in the air and the pin shines with bright light. You are also healed 2d4+2 hp and you are protected from evil creatures while you Concentrate, up to 10 minutes. Evil creatures have Disadvantage to attack you and they cannot Fear or Charm you. Once activated, the pin can’t be used this way again until the next Dawn.

 

[CapnZapp]

Unless you're a high-level cleric, or a demon, you don't need to hide your alignment.

 

[pukunui]

Unless you're a high-level cleric, or a demon, you don't need to hide your alignment.

There are a few things for which masking your alignment could be useful. See my thread about the ring of mind shielding.

 

[CapnZapp]

Sure, non-detection isn't completely useless.

My comment was more directed towards the AD&D translation.

For that, you have an item that went from hugely useful (if it falls into the hands of somebody infiltrating the Harpers) to pretty meh.

Specifically: if you want to translate the power level of the item, you should probably replace AD&D alignment-hiding with something much more useful than 5E alignment-hiding.

If you're fine with the literal translation, despite the power dip, then allrighty then.

 

[pukunui]

I take it you're not a fan of the "ribbon" concept? Shielding your alignment in 5e is not completely pointless, but I don't see that as being any reason to get rid of it in favor of something "much more useful". Not everything has to be super-useful. And it's not like alignment-shielding is the main point of the item, either.

Plus, you'll not that 5e's ring of mind shielding also hides your alignment, so if you go with 3e's "a lesser Harper pin = ring of mind shielding", then there you go.