D&D 5E Thief Rogue throwing Ball Bearings everywhere

[auburn2]

So I was looking at the thief archetype for the rogue and my question is, would it break anything if a rogue with leatherworker tools could make boots that make you auto succeed against ball bearings. I find it odd that the thief screws his allies and his enemies by using caltrops and ball bearings.

Two ways to handle this in my mind:

First magic boots, which the rogue might be able to craft with some help according to the rules in XGE. That is going to be costly in time and money.

The second is a custom spell. I could see a cantrip that grants immunity to ball bearing or caltrops until your next turn. Or a 1st-level spell that does the same for up to 4 people for a minute with concentration. I would make it specific to these two things though, if it granted immunity to similar effects like grease or ice it would need to be a higher level spell IMO.

The rogue himself could take magic initiate to pick up the spell or cantrip.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

Just lower the DC for them after they've successfully navigated his traps a few times.

 

[Eltab]

Experience at the table:
If you pull off a personal solo stunt that makes your character look cool and awesome, and also snags the rest of the group with problems*, they will let you know about their unhappiness. Listen to them, and change when / where the ball bearings hit the floor.

* For instances: Using Burning Hands on the enemy while standing behind the rest of the group. Or providing the archers "cover" by putting them in a Fog Cloud. Or just about anybody else near a Darkness / Devil's Sight melee warlock.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

So I was looking at the thief archetype for the rogue and my question is, would it break anything if a rogue with leatherworker tools could make boots that make you auto succeed against ball bearings. I find it odd that the thief screws his allies and his enemies by using caltrops and ball bearings.

If you have worked out how to make this, I would file for the RL patent immediately.

 

[Raduin711]

New Magic Item: Boots of the Hippo

These magical boots activate automatically whenever the wearer steps within an area containing ball bearings, marbles, or other small spheroids. These boots then come to life, transforming into a colorful, animated hippo head which frantically slurps up all of the nearby spheroids, transferring them to a small storage chamber inside the raised heel of the boot. Once all spheroids are gone, all nearby Boots of the Hippo count how many spheroids they were able to eat. The boot that ate the most belches loudly and announces themselves the winner.

 

[Dioltach]

Rollerskates with wheels slightly larger than the ball bearings. Problem solved, your speed increases and if the party wizard casts Dancing Lights on you, you'll even look cool.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Rollerskates with wheels slightly larger than the ball bearings. Problem solved, your speed increases and if the party wizard casts Dancing Lights on you, you'll even look cool.

Then you just have to make a dexterity saving throw every round to make sure you don't fall off the skates.

 

[Stoutstien]

Could just jump out of the area with the ball bearings. The area isn't that large.

 

[Lanefan]

Could just accept the fact that some things just can't tell the difference between friend and foe.

As for the Hippo Boots idea, I have a variant: Stormtrooper Hippo Boots. These work like normal Hippo Boots except that the winning boot then fires the spheroids it ate at high velocity in a random unaimed direction, giving a brief effect much as if someone dropped a machine gun with the trigger stuck open. Each spheroid does 4 points damage to whatever it hits, minus 1 point for each 10' it travelled to reach the target.

 

[Guest 6801328]

Crampons would provide good immunity to ball bearings.

Movement rated halved, but at least you wouldn't have to make dex saves!

Although it also might get you tossed out of the palace when you visit.

"My silk rug!!! What have you done!?!?!?"

"Sorry, I'll get off it..."

"Now you chipped my marble floors!!!!!"