Help on a New Artifact

[Thornir Alekeg]

OK, here are my 2 cents.

First off, as a bit of control over the potential power of this item, when it absorbs a new type of ring, it needs time to assimilate its new power, so it cannot use the new power for one hour per caster level of the power.

Second, as the ring gains sentience it starts to desire more and more powerful rings. It is no longer satisfied with a ring of Feather falling , and therefore leads the bearer into greater danger in an attempt to satisfy its own craving for power.

 

[Simplicity]

Remember: Lethe wipes your memories if you drink it. Styx *kills* you if you touch it.

Personally, I immediately thought that the River *Lethe* would have to be the method of destroying the ring when it got too powerful. The ring gains sentience, and then gets it left, wiped by the river of any memories. Having the players realize that the ring is becoming sentient and evil and that someone had already tried to "destroy" it before them... That's just too cool to pass up.

I would say that it should absorb rings... but as it grows stronger perhaps it also starts absorbing magic weapons. Anything wielded by the player gains the greatest magic bonus absorbed by the ring. So, if it absorbs a +1 flaming sword, anything the player wields becomes +1 and flaming. It'll keep absorbing other weapons that that player tries to wield, even if it's less powerful than that.... to no effect.

Finally, let the ring start shedding an anti-magic effect at progressively larger radii.
Let the players cast detect magic and have them see tendrils of magic drifting from all of their magic items and being sucked into the anti-magic shell. That should start them worrying. The ring is essentially a sentient magical blackhole bent on annihilating all magic.

Great idea, by the way.

 

[Funeris]

The problem with the anti-magic effect would be the virtual shield against mages...unless you mean anti-magic in a purely description/fluff kinda way...in which case, I agree wholeheartedly with you.

I think if it actually has an anti-magic affect, and can absorb enchantments (etc.) within a such and such radius, it may become too imbalancing.

On the other hand, hey...it is an artifact, right?

 

[Simplicity]

The problem with the anti-magic effect would be the virtual shield against mages...unless you mean anti-magic in a purely description/fluff kinda way...in which case, I agree wholeheartedly with you.

I think if it actually has an anti-magic affect, and can absorb enchantments (etc.) within a such and such radius, it may become too imbalancing.

On the other hand, hey...it is an artifact, right?

Yeah, it's real cool... when the ring doesn't come off and those healing potions don't work any more. And your cleric can't heal you. And your party wizard can't cast any spells within 100 feet of you. It'll start to suck real fast.

 

[147]

Finally, let the ring start shedding an anti-magic effect at progressively larger radii.
Let the players cast detect magic and have them see tendrils of magic drifting from all of their magic items and being sucked into the anti-magic shell. That should start them worrying. The ring is essentially a sentient magical blackhole bent on annihilating all magic.

Simplicity - Thanks, the anti-magic field works for me. I like visual.
Thornir - Definitely, the Ring will be influencing to get progressively potent rings into its maw.

 

[grodog]

What if the rings personality was shapped by the rings it absorbbed? if it absorbes a ring of protyerct, its a defensive ring and gets defensive about stuff. A ring of shooting stars might make it bright and quick to act, etc

This is a cool idea, especially if, after the players grew aware of this feature of the ring, they tried to consciously shape the ring's personality by absorbing certain rings ('aha, the ring's getting a bit greedy, better absorb some good rings with healing/restorative/beneficial magic/traits/personalities'). If the ring knew of their awareness of this quality, and its current personality was moving in a different direction (quite likely, if the PCs want to balance it somehow), it might well resist the PC efforts to "guide" it

 

[grodog]

grodog and Maldin - thanks for the read (and I'll be raiding your sites in the future for inspiration)

De nada

 

[grodog]

Remember: Lethe wipes your memories if you drink it. Styx *kills* you if you touch it.

Perhaps immersing the ring in Lethe nullifies some/all of the previously absorbed rings (it resets the artifact, so to speak). Then, to destroy it, after you've removed all of the absorbed ring personalities/powers, then and only then can it be destroyed by immersing it in Styx. This would also have to be done by the same person, wearing the ring both times. Muhahahahahha!

 

[Funeris]

So...has the ring gone into play yet?
What was your final decision?

*BUMP*

 

[grodog]

I'm curious too, so *bump*