D&D 5E Most useful benefit?

I'm with Defcon1, and would add only that it could be made by a dwarf for dwarves, such that dwarves get immunity and non dwarves get advantage. I see no issue there.
 

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The first thing I would do is figure out the fluff of how the item works. Does it modify the drink within it, or does it modify the person drinking? Here's my take:

Horn of Careful Drinking

This foot long drinking horn allows the user to drink acholol and other beverages without becoming inebriated and protects against many poisons. Any beverage consumed from the horn that would normally cause an alcoholic or poisonous effect with a DC no greater than 15 has that effect completely neutralized. In addition, consuming at least one quart of liquid from the horn grants the imbiber advantage on all saving throws to resist poisonous effects for one hour.
 

Thanks all.

I would add that advantage feels a bit wonky to use in that, to me, it's the bonus you give out when the character (or player) does something clever: puts himself in a good spot, adds a new wrinkle to the situation etc.

Having a permanent item give you advantage kind of robs you of any inclination to be clever, since you can't use advantage more than once.

Now, I realize this particular case is very much a corner case. But still. My designer hat itches whenever you get advantage from a static, known, source.


As for getting stackable proficiency bonuses, it doesn't sit well with me in regards to bounded accuracy. I have a feeling we need to be very stingy with those, or they will be abusable far too quickly. (Again, apologies to this particular situation for calling it abusable)


Right now, I'm inclined to have the item hand out both Con 19 AND proficiency.

At least that will be a sizeable bonus for most people. The bonus does need to be sizeable, since the penalty for missing a poison save is (at least in literature) often death.

Again, that there exists a hero whose gut is already better than an item, isn't particularly offensive to me...

There's still time to convince me otherwise, tho
I'd personally rate a drinking horn that helps "against" getting drunk more as a cursed item :)
Cheers!
 

If you don't want to use advantage, why not hand out a flat bonus to the roll instead? Yes, it pushes against bounded accuracy, but bounded accuracy is a general design principle, not an absolute commandment. In this case, you're dealing with such a narrow set of circumstances (saves vs. ingested poison consumed from this one vessel) that I wouldn't worry about it.
 
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Note that adding a proficiency might not help those with proficiency in constitution saves, i think all poisons are against con. I think double proficiency in save does not stack?
 

Note that adding a proficiency might not help those with proficiency in constitution saves, i think all poisons are against con. I think double proficiency in save does not stack?
No, I don't think it does, but there is precedent for the proficiency bonus to stack with itself in the Rogue's Expertise ability.
 

There is a reason why other editions went with +2... As has been pointed out, all 3 mechanics badly suffer from stacking issues.

If you want a more 5E approach, give it +d4 that doesn't stack with bless/guidance, because screw those guys.
 

Which is best practice design:

Getting 19 ability score,
Getting proficiency saving throw, or
Getting advantage

For example, I'm designing a drinking horn that helps against alcohol, drinking contests; and poison in general.

Getting to count your Constitution as 19 when saving?
Or getting proficiency bonus on the roll?
Or advantage on the roll?

Which is the best design? In that it is helpful to many characters, useless to few, and broken to none?

One option is worthless if your Con is 20. This I feel to be instinctively okay.

But proficiency also seems like a natural choice. Too bad it's worthless to classes already proficient in Con saves.

Advantage is powerful, but perhaps mechanically inappropriate?

I haven't scoured the DMG for items. Feel free to point out any that answers my problem :-)

I would say resistance and advantage are your two best friends for something like this.
 

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