Shrapp Hamnier
Explorer
I am organizing and customizing spell gems, power pearls, and elemental orbs. I'm fairly confident about their balance, but what I am struggling with is making it more concise. I am by nature a very wordy person, and have a hard time condensing things. Any help with making these descriptions a bit shorter yet retaining their clarity would be immensely appreciated. 
Spell Gem
Wondrous Item, very rare (attunement optional)
A spell gem can contain one spell from any class's spell list. You become aware of the spell when you learn the gem's properties. While holding the gem, you can cast the spell from it as an action. Doing so doesn't require any components and doesn't require attunement. The spell then disappears from the gem. If you don’t know the spell or have the spell in your class spell list you are at disadvantage casting it, though attuning to the spell gem negates the disadvantage. If you do not have any casting capabilities, the Spell Attack is Wisdom and the Spell Save is 8+Wisdom.
If the spell is of a higher level than you can normally cast, you must make an ability check using your spell casting ability to determine whether you cast it successfully. The DC equals 10 + spell's level. On a failed check, the spell disappears from the gem with no other effect.
Each spell gem has a maximum level for the spell it can store based on a gems’ type, size, and quality.
“Type A” gem of standard size and quality- 1st level spell
“Type B” gem of standard size and quality- 2nd level spell
“Type C” gem of standard size and quality- 3rd level spell
“Type D” gem of standard size and quality- 4th level spell
“Type E” gem of standard size and quality- 5th level spell
“Type F” gem of standard size and quality- 6th level spell
Adjusting the size and quality changes the level of the spell a gem can hold by 1. (ie. size of 1” increases the level by 2 and perfect condition increases it by 1, thus a perfect 1” diamond could hold up to a 9th level spell. Though a discolored ⅛” diamond can hold up to a 4th level spell.) A flawed gem cannot hold a spell of any level.
A gem may degrade if the spell fails to be used properly, either because it was too high a level for the caster, or because it was stopped by a dispel magic spell or similar. When this happens, roll a d20.
1: the gem degrades two qualities (crumbling to small bits if goes lower than flawed)
2-16: the gem degrades one quality
17-19: the gem is unchanged
20: the spell is absorbed by the gem improving its quality by one (becoming “radiant” quality if goes above perfect, granting a +1 magic bonus. Grant an extra +1 or -1 magic bonus each time it improves or degrades until it is reduced to perfect again)
You can imbue the gem with a spell if you're attuned to it and it's empty. To do so, you cast the spell while holding the gem. The spell is stored in the gem instead of having any effect. Casting the spell must require either 1 action or 1 minute or longer, and the spell's level must be no higher than the gem's maximum. If the spell belongs to the school of abjuration and requires material components that are consumed, you must provide them, but they can be worth half as much as normal. Once imbued with a spell, the gem can't be imbued again until the next dawn and is empty.
Power Pearl
Wondrous Item, very rare
Pearls cannot be made into spell gems. Instead, these can be crafted into what are known as Power Pears. You can use a power pearl as a one time spell slot for a spell you know. The level of the spell slot depends on the size and quality of the pearl, and can be further adjusted by the quantity of pearls.
Freshwater Pearl of standard size and quality- 1st level spell slot
Pearl (type C) of standard size and quality- 3rd level spell slot
Black Pearl of standard size and quality- 4th level spell slot
Adjusting the size and quality changes the level of the spell slot by 1 (ie. size of 1” increases the level by 2 while discolored decreases it by 1, thus a discolored 1” Black Pearl would hold a 5th level spell slot). A flawed Pearl cannot hold a spell slot of any level. A Warlock may use a Power Pearl, though only spells normally useable at or below the pearl’s spell slot level can be used. A spell may be used with a higher spell slot level than the Warlock can normally use with a Power Pearl.
After using a Power Pearl it may degrade depending on how much magic was used through it. If a pearl degrades to shattering it becomes flawed and can’t be used again. As long as it hasn’t shattered, it can be used again by the next morning.
If the spell used is between the max level and half of what the pearl allows, roll a d20.
1: the pearl degrades two qualities (crumbling to small bits if goes lower than flawed)
2-16: the pearl degrades one quality
17-19: the pearl is unchanged
20: the pearl is unchanged, and grants the spell a +1 magic bonus
If the spell used is half the level or lower than the pearl allows, then the Power Pearl can either be set aside and will be usable the next morning with no ill effects, or it can be used a second time the same day, but the pearl shatters immediately after.
Can use multiple pearls to cast a higher leveled spell than any of them individually could cast. Can use any number of pearls, the spell level becoming the sum of all their max levels minus the number of pearls. (ie. a 4th level, two 3rd level pearls would allow a 7th level spell). The maximum spell slot level is 9 regardless of how many pearls are used.
Spell slot = (sum of individual pearl spell slots) - (number of pearls)
7th level = (4+3+3) - 3
May chose how many levels apply to each of the pearls (ie. in the prior example, the 4th level pearl could have used only 2 levels, making it only allow a 5th level spell). Roll for each pearl individually to see if they degrade.
Pearls may be enchanted as a set, making them useless if separated, but able to do more otherwise. For example a broach with 5 freshwater pearls of standard size and quality. Normally only able to cast 1 level spells by themselves, but enchanted together as a set they can cast a higher level spell. When crafting such an item, the final effect of the set is decided by the DM, but the effect should be at least close to what they would normally be able to do if not enchanted together.
Elemental Crystal
Wondrous Item, very rare
This crystals contains a conjuration spell attuned to a specific Element (Air, Earth, Fire, or Water). When the crystal is crushed, smashed, or broken (a standard action), a Large elemental appears as if summoned by a summon nature’s ally spell. The elemental is under the control of the creature that broke the crystal.
The coloration of the crystal varies with the type of elemental it summons. Air elemental crystals are transparent, earth elemental crystals are light brown, fire elemental crystals are reddish orange, and water elemental crystals are blue-green.
These crystals are made by crushing standard quality ⅛” diamonds, larger diamonds can be used for multiple crystals. The process for reforming the diamond dust into the crystal and linking the elementals to them was discovered by a pair of twin Warlocks in the court of Kale, the center for the top secret research of gems of power in the liberated kingdoms.
Spell Gem
Wondrous Item, very rare (attunement optional)
A spell gem can contain one spell from any class's spell list. You become aware of the spell when you learn the gem's properties. While holding the gem, you can cast the spell from it as an action. Doing so doesn't require any components and doesn't require attunement. The spell then disappears from the gem. If you don’t know the spell or have the spell in your class spell list you are at disadvantage casting it, though attuning to the spell gem negates the disadvantage. If you do not have any casting capabilities, the Spell Attack is Wisdom and the Spell Save is 8+Wisdom.
If the spell is of a higher level than you can normally cast, you must make an ability check using your spell casting ability to determine whether you cast it successfully. The DC equals 10 + spell's level. On a failed check, the spell disappears from the gem with no other effect.
Each spell gem has a maximum level for the spell it can store based on a gems’ type, size, and quality.
“Type A” gem of standard size and quality- 1st level spell
“Type B” gem of standard size and quality- 2nd level spell
“Type C” gem of standard size and quality- 3rd level spell
“Type D” gem of standard size and quality- 4th level spell
“Type E” gem of standard size and quality- 5th level spell
“Type F” gem of standard size and quality- 6th level spell
Adjusting the size and quality changes the level of the spell a gem can hold by 1. (ie. size of 1” increases the level by 2 and perfect condition increases it by 1, thus a perfect 1” diamond could hold up to a 9th level spell. Though a discolored ⅛” diamond can hold up to a 4th level spell.) A flawed gem cannot hold a spell of any level.
A gem may degrade if the spell fails to be used properly, either because it was too high a level for the caster, or because it was stopped by a dispel magic spell or similar. When this happens, roll a d20.
1: the gem degrades two qualities (crumbling to small bits if goes lower than flawed)
2-16: the gem degrades one quality
17-19: the gem is unchanged
20: the spell is absorbed by the gem improving its quality by one (becoming “radiant” quality if goes above perfect, granting a +1 magic bonus. Grant an extra +1 or -1 magic bonus each time it improves or degrades until it is reduced to perfect again)
You can imbue the gem with a spell if you're attuned to it and it's empty. To do so, you cast the spell while holding the gem. The spell is stored in the gem instead of having any effect. Casting the spell must require either 1 action or 1 minute or longer, and the spell's level must be no higher than the gem's maximum. If the spell belongs to the school of abjuration and requires material components that are consumed, you must provide them, but they can be worth half as much as normal. Once imbued with a spell, the gem can't be imbued again until the next dawn and is empty.
Power Pearl
Wondrous Item, very rare
Pearls cannot be made into spell gems. Instead, these can be crafted into what are known as Power Pears. You can use a power pearl as a one time spell slot for a spell you know. The level of the spell slot depends on the size and quality of the pearl, and can be further adjusted by the quantity of pearls.
Freshwater Pearl of standard size and quality- 1st level spell slot
Pearl (type C) of standard size and quality- 3rd level spell slot
Black Pearl of standard size and quality- 4th level spell slot
Adjusting the size and quality changes the level of the spell slot by 1 (ie. size of 1” increases the level by 2 while discolored decreases it by 1, thus a discolored 1” Black Pearl would hold a 5th level spell slot). A flawed Pearl cannot hold a spell slot of any level. A Warlock may use a Power Pearl, though only spells normally useable at or below the pearl’s spell slot level can be used. A spell may be used with a higher spell slot level than the Warlock can normally use with a Power Pearl.
After using a Power Pearl it may degrade depending on how much magic was used through it. If a pearl degrades to shattering it becomes flawed and can’t be used again. As long as it hasn’t shattered, it can be used again by the next morning.
If the spell used is between the max level and half of what the pearl allows, roll a d20.
1: the pearl degrades two qualities (crumbling to small bits if goes lower than flawed)
2-16: the pearl degrades one quality
17-19: the pearl is unchanged
20: the pearl is unchanged, and grants the spell a +1 magic bonus
If the spell used is half the level or lower than the pearl allows, then the Power Pearl can either be set aside and will be usable the next morning with no ill effects, or it can be used a second time the same day, but the pearl shatters immediately after.
Can use multiple pearls to cast a higher leveled spell than any of them individually could cast. Can use any number of pearls, the spell level becoming the sum of all their max levels minus the number of pearls. (ie. a 4th level, two 3rd level pearls would allow a 7th level spell). The maximum spell slot level is 9 regardless of how many pearls are used.
Spell slot = (sum of individual pearl spell slots) - (number of pearls)
7th level = (4+3+3) - 3
May chose how many levels apply to each of the pearls (ie. in the prior example, the 4th level pearl could have used only 2 levels, making it only allow a 5th level spell). Roll for each pearl individually to see if they degrade.
Pearls may be enchanted as a set, making them useless if separated, but able to do more otherwise. For example a broach with 5 freshwater pearls of standard size and quality. Normally only able to cast 1 level spells by themselves, but enchanted together as a set they can cast a higher level spell. When crafting such an item, the final effect of the set is decided by the DM, but the effect should be at least close to what they would normally be able to do if not enchanted together.
Elemental Crystal
Wondrous Item, very rare
This crystals contains a conjuration spell attuned to a specific Element (Air, Earth, Fire, or Water). When the crystal is crushed, smashed, or broken (a standard action), a Large elemental appears as if summoned by a summon nature’s ally spell. The elemental is under the control of the creature that broke the crystal.
The coloration of the crystal varies with the type of elemental it summons. Air elemental crystals are transparent, earth elemental crystals are light brown, fire elemental crystals are reddish orange, and water elemental crystals are blue-green.
These crystals are made by crushing standard quality ⅛” diamonds, larger diamonds can be used for multiple crystals. The process for reforming the diamond dust into the crystal and linking the elementals to them was discovered by a pair of twin Warlocks in the court of Kale, the center for the top secret research of gems of power in the liberated kingdoms.
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