Thunderstones deafen permanently?

[zoroaster100]

I was reviewing the description of thunderstones in my Player's Handbook equipment section and could not find any listed duration for the deafness caused by the item. Can this mean the deafness is permanent? That seems pretty harsh considering thunderstones aren't even magical, just superior items.

 

[Zhure]

Yup, permanent is harsh, but that's the result.

 

[Dr_Rictus]

It's not even all that harsh. The consequences of deafness are onerous, but not crippling, and deafness can be removed by a second-level spell. Even very low-level characters should not have difficulty getting access to it; they just have to pony up 60 gp to their local charity.

 

[Ranes]

Three members of my seven-strong party of PCs were recently deafened by a trap involving a couple of thunderstones. The party was 2nd to 3rd level and stuck underground or away from civilisation for several days. The deafness afflicted the group's wizard and, on the whole, caused the PCs significant grief for several sessions. I had the biggest problem, though, with their tendency to 'forget' their deafness whenever it was convenient to do so. When the deaf folks fnally had their hearing restored, everyone was quite relieved. Still, I'll miss some of the roleplayed miming they got into.

 

[zoroaster100]

thanks for the responses

Thanks for the responses to my question. I guess they are fine as is for normal D&D, but maybe should be toned down in a low magic campaign.

 

[Pooka]

Re: thanks for the responses

Thanks for the responses to my question. I guess they are fine as is for normal D&D, but maybe should be toned down in a low magic campaign.

Why? DC 15 Fortitude isn´t that hard to take ... and even in a low magic campaign remove deafness is a third level spell ...


Pooka

 

[rhammer2]

Re: Re: thanks for the responses

It does not list any type of duration, if it was permanent it should say so. We use a D6 minutes as the duration.

Why? DC 15 Fortitude isn´t that hard to take ... and even in a low magic campaign remove deafness is a third level spell ...


Pooka

 

[Dr_Rictus]

Re: Re: Re: thanks for the responses

It does not list any type of duration, if it was permanent it should say so. We use a D6 minutes as the duration.

On the contrary, if it had a limited duration it should say so, since people need to know what that duration is in order to not have to make up numbers (like, oh, D6 minutes) from thin air.

I note that this is also addressed in the FAQ.

 

[Tsyr]

Re: Re: thanks for the responses

Why? DC 15 Fortitude isn´t that hard to take ... and even in a low magic campaign remove deafness is a third level spell ...


Pooka

Oh? Funny... It's not in my campaign...

 

[JoeBlank]

I agree with those who have said permanent, and that if it were otherwise the description would say so.

My DM has house ruled that it will be less than permanent, apparently a number of days, because he felt that the item was too cheap to mimic the effects of a 2d level arcane/3d level divine spell.

I was glad for the house rule, as he informed us after my dwarf barbarian/rogue had purposely deafened himself with a thunderstone upon realizing that he was about the be attacked by harpies. He figured permanent deafness was better than being dead.