D&D 5E (2014) Skull of Poison

[CapnZapp]

I'm thinking of placing this item IMC. How powerful do you rate it?

Skull of Poison
This black human skull is constantly emitting noxious vapors. In a radius of 20 ft, each creature is granted use of the Poison Spray cantrip at 11th level.

That is, any creature near the skull can (if it wants to) spend its action using its own spellcasting ability on the Cast Spell action, and cast Poison Spray for 3d12 damage (if the Con save is failed).

Edit: added in "using its own spellcasting ability". If you're not a spellcaster, your DC is 8 + your proficiency bonus.

 

[mrpopstar]

I'm thinking of placing this item IMC. How powerful do you rate it?

Skull of Poison
This black human skull is constantly emitting noxious vapors. In a radius of 20 ft, each creature is granted use of the Poison Spray cantrip at 11th level.

That is, any creature near the skull can (if it wants to) spend its action on the Cast Spell action, and cast Poison Spray for 3d12 damage (if the Con save is failed).

Interesting.

What modifier does each character use when setting the saving throw DC?

 

[jgsugden]

I'd put it in the game no earlier than 11th level. I'd also figure out why it exists... it is an oddity to give that much power to anyone that is nearby... friend or foe.

 

[CapnZapp]

Interesting.

What modifier does each character use when setting the saving throw DC?

Thank you for your question!

PHB page 205:

The DC to resist one of your spells equals 8 + your
spellcasting ability modifier + your proficiency bonus +
any special modifiers.​

DMG page 141:

A magic item, such as certain staffs, may require
you to use your own spellcasting ability when you
cast a spell from the item. If you have more than one
spellcasting ability, you choose which one to use with
the item. If you don't have a spellcasting ability-perhaps
you're a rogue with the Use Magic Device feature- your
spellcasting ability modifier is +0 for the item, and your
proficiency bonus does apply.​

So...
- a level 11 Wizard with Int 20 would have a DC of 8 + 5 + 4 = 17 (the same as the rest of his spells)
- a level 6 Bard with Cha 16 would have a DC of 8 + 3 + 3 = 14 (the same as the rest of her spells)
- a level 1 Fighter would have a DC of 8 + 2 + 0 = 10.


Not sure I should add all that to the item description...?

 

[CapnZapp]

I'd put it in the game no earlier than 11th level. I'd also figure out why it exists... it is an oddity to give that much power to anyone that is nearby... friend or foe.

The level when it is introduced is an interesting question.

At level 11, it really isn't a big deal. Everyone gets to use the specified cantrip, so what. For spellcasters, it's either a minor boost (one more cantrip) or nothing at all (if you already have it). For fighters, sure it would have its borderline uses, but generally your regular attacks would be better.

Before level 11, however, it quickly becomes very powerful as we go down in level. Before everybody gets their second attack (or cantrip die) it's obviously way overpowered (even if your DC is only 10-11).

My party is currently ninth level. At that level, using your action for Posion Spray would be an attractive option without dominating play. And in two levels' time, it would probably fall into disuse. Does that feel about right to you, Jgsugden?

 

[mrpopstar]

Thank you for your question!

PHB page 205:

The DC to resist one of your spells equals 8 + your
spellcasting ability modifier + your proficiency bonus +
any special modifiers.​

DMG page 141:

A magic item, such as certain staffs, may require
you to use your own spellcasting ability when you
cast a spell from the item. If you have more than one
spellcasting ability, you choose which one to use with
the item. If you don't have a spellcasting ability-perhaps
you're a rogue with the Use Magic Device feature- your
spellcasting ability modifier is +0 for the item, and your
proficiency bonus does apply.​

So...
- a level 11 Wizard with Int 20 would have a DC of 8 + 5 + 4 = 17 (the same as the rest of his spells)
- a level 6 Bard with Cha 16 would have a DC of 8 + 3 + 3 = 14 (the same as the rest of her spells)
- a level 1 Fighter would have a DC of 8 + 2 + 0 = 10.


Not sure I should add all that to the item description...?

You don't need to add anything more than a statement as to whether or not the Skull of Poison requires you to use your own spellcasting ability when you cast a spell from it.

 

[pdzoch]

I'm thinking of placing this item IMC. How powerful do you rate it?

Skull of Poison
This black human skull is constantly emitting noxious vapors. In a radius of 20 ft, each creature is granted use of the Poison Spray cantrip at 11th level.

That is, any creature near the skull can (if it wants to) spend its action on the Cast Spell action, and cast Poison Spray for 3d12 damage (if the Con save is failed).

As the skull is "constantly" emitting noxious vapors, does everyone around it have to make a save?

Each creature in a 20", which could hold 44 medium creatures, ALL have the ability to cast Poison Spray? Or did you mean the for the item to enable only a single caster (the owner) to cast the spell?

 

[CapnZapp]

As the skull is "constantly" emitting noxious vapors, does everyone around it have to make a save?

No, that was just a quick attempt at atmospheric text.

Each creature in a 20", which could hold 44 medium creatures, ALL have the ability to cast Poison Spray? Or did you mean the for the item to enable only a single caster (the owner) to cast the spell?

All creature(s) within 20 ft.

So, if the skull is guarded by lots of zombies, they would all get Poison Spray.

Later, when the party have the skull, any party member as well as any foe, that comes within 20 ft of the bearer is imbued with the ability to cast the cantrip.

Not sure why you feel it is significant to calculate the number of creatures. Yes, they would all get the cantrip. But since it's range is 10 ft they would mostly only be able to use it against each other...?

 

[CapnZapp]

You don't need to add anything more than a statement as to whether or not the Skull of Poison requires you to use your own spellcasting ability when you cast a spell from it.

Thanks!

 

[pdzoch]

Not sure why you feel it is significant to calculate the number of creatures. Yes, they would all get the cantrip. But since it's range is 10 ft they would mostly only be able to use it against each other...?

It was not necessary to calculated the number of creatures who could use the power; I wanted to get an idea about how powerful it was and if it was your intent to share that magic to so many creatures.

ALTHOUGH, opposing creatures would have to know that they have the capacity once they are in range and how to tap into that power, so if in a fight against a horde who does not know about the power, they still might not be able to invoke the power available to them.

The image of a fight between characters and monsters who are all invoking the power appears comical to me. That's a lot of poison being sprayed about.

This is a VERY interesting item.