New Spell: Staff of Fharlaghn

[Irda Ranger]

Staff of Fharlaghn

Transmutation
Level: Clr 1 (Priest of Fharlaghn only)
Components: V, S, M, DF, XP
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Touch
Target: Weapon touched
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Fort (harmless, object)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless, object)

Staff of Fharlaghn permanently turns a normal Quarterstaff into a Staff of Fharlaghn. It becomes gray in color, with a swirling pattern that suggests a winding road, and a slightly rough surface that is easily gripped even with sweaty hands. It appears to change into an unknown material of slimmer width, but retains the height and weight of the quarterstaff used in its creation.

The Staff is non-magical, but in the hands of a Priest of Fharlaghn it has a +5 Hardness over whatever material was used to create the staff. In the hands of a Non-Priest of Fharlaghn it has a Hardness of 0 and usually breaks after only a few rounds of combat. This may not be Dispelled or subject to Anti-magic.

When a Priest of Fharlaghn has a Staff of Fharlaghn, she may pray for and receive the Shillelagh spell, but it may only be cast on her personal staff. The Shillelagh spell can only use her Domain Spell slot.

If a Masterwork Quarterstaff is used in the creation of a Staff of Fharlaghn, it retains its Masterwork status, and may be enchanted normally. Once enchanted, it no longer looses all Hardness in the hands of a Non-Priest, only the +5 Bonus.

Divine Focus: The Priest’s Holy Symbol.

Material Components: A Quarterstaff.

XP: This spell costs the Priest 25 XP to cast.

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Thoughts?

This would be the only 1st level spell to have an XP cost, but I did that for a reason. It creates a permanent item that is better than the free material component, so it seems more powerful than other 1st level spells. However, I wanted every priest to be able to make his own staff, so it would have to be first level.

Does anyone disagree with that? What are your thoughts?

Irda Ranger

Edit --> Duration changed to Instantaneous. The nature of the Staff has been changed irrevocably until destroyed. Deleted "this is a supernatural ability".

 

[Crothian]

I like it. It shows why these clerics would have staves, and adds some character to an otherwise normal item. Good job

 

[Jondor_Battlehammer]

Consider it swiped.

 

[Irda Ranger]

I like it. It shows why these clerics would have staves, and adds some character to an otherwise normal item. Good job

Originally posted by Jondor_Battlehammer
Consider it swiped.

I guess that those both count as "Good the way it is."?

Irda Ranger

 

[Dinkeldog]

Nice idea, I'll refer the Cleric of Fharlanghn from one of my groups over to check it out.

However, I'd allow it to be affected by dispel magic as any item (ability suppressed for x rounds), and any supernatural effect is removed in an anti-magic field.

 

[AuraSeer]

If you want the staff to be unaffected by antimagic, you need to change the spell duration to Instantaneous. That means that as soon as the transmutation occurs, the magic goes away, leaving the object in its transmuted state.

 

[Larcen]

Nice job! I would only make AuraSeer's change to it.

In fact, I think most dieties should have signature spells like this. Domains only "steal" already known spells from others.

You have inspired me to come try and come up with something for my cleric of Mystra. But then, She already has the Anyspells.

 

[Irda Ranger]

If you want the staff to be unaffected by antimagic, you need to change the spell duration to Instantaneous. That means that as soon as the transmutation occurs, the magic goes away, leaving the object in its transmuted state.

Changes made. See above.

Irda Ranger

 

[Piratecat]

Very cool. I'll slide this over to House Rules.

 

[Corwin]

I like the premise. But... (there's always a but, right?)

There is one thing that seems hokey. I understand wanting to prevent it from being "turned" off in antimagic fields and via dispel magic. But if the staff continuously functions with a "power" only when in the hands of a cleric of Fharlaghn, then there is some kind of active magic going on.

Other than that, I have no problem with it.