Wizard Staff Mechanics

[MerricB]

I've finally picked up the Dragon Magazine issue with the magical staffs - not really that impressed.

I am including a self-designed Weapon of Legacy staff in the "Age of Worms" game I'm running. Here are its stats:

Staff of Dragon Tears
Cost: 2,600 gp: masterwork/+1 staff
The staff is made of blackwood and is 6 feet in length. It is topped by a golden dragonclaw grasping an amber orb.
Omen: When touched, a draconic eye appears in the orb and looks around briefly before closing again. The staff grants a +2 bonus to Spot checks to arcane casters.
Requirements: Able to cast arcane spells

Least Legacy Ritual: 3,500 gp (travel to the grave of the elf wizard Elyssia and place flowers on her grave)
Lesser Legacy Ritual: 13,500 gp (destroy an undead creature of greater CR than your own)
Greater Legacy Ritual: 43,000 gp (travel to meet one of the seven servants of Bahamut and be judged)

5th: 3/day - magic missile
6th: at will - arcane mark, detect magic and read magic; lose 1st level slot
7th: 1/day - knock; -1 to saves; -1 caster level penalty
8th: 3/day - Lesser Extend Spell; -1 to all skills; lose 2nd level slot
9th: 3/day - Lesser Enlarge Spell
10th: 3/day - Lesser Silent Spell; lose 3rd level slot
11th: 3/day - Lesser Empower Spell
12th: lose 4th level slot
13th: 3/day - fireball; -2 caster level penalty
14th: continuous Darkvision 60'; lose 5th level slot
15th: -2 to all skill checks
16th: continuous See Invisible; lose 6th level slot
17th: +6 enhancement to Intelligence or Charisma
18th: 3/day - Empower Spell (to 6th level); lose 7th level slot
19th: 3/day - Lessen Quicken Spell
20th: 1/day - Plane Shift; lose 8th level slot

Note: the penalties are NOT cumulative - at 20th level, the wielder is -2 to all skill checks, -1 to all saves, -2 to caster level and has lost a 8th level spell slot. Spells are cast at the character's level, per normal staff rules.

Cheers!

 

[blargney the second]

I'm not sure if there is enough machinery at the WotC office to warrant having full-time mechanics. A janitor might do double-duty for the simpler stuff, depending on their training.


-blarg

 

[Rel]

Huh! I had a good idea. Who'd a thunk it?

I've seen you mentioned as inspirational twice in the last 24 hours. You should quit being so humble and instead preach how invaluable you are to the world!

It's worked for me.

 

[MerricB]

There are some valid, interesting points there Technophile. As I said, I am looking to make the staff a suitable replacement for the Wizard's familiar. As such, I anticipate several changes for it to work as I intend to use it. The Eldritch Staff from Path of Magic is pretty nifty, but it tries to maintain balance throughout since it is intended to be used as a plug-in option. I want to make the staff a class feature rather than a plug-in, or a feat chain. So modifications will be in order. I just want a solid starting point to work from.

Hmm. I'm trying to work out how a familiar actually helps you... New thread time!

Cheers!

 

[Staffan]

Elements of Magic has a signature spell. Or at least Mythic Earth did. Still, good stuff!

Forgotten Realms has a feat called Signature Spell. Basically, you choose a spell you have previously Mastered (with the Spell Mastery feat), and then you can convert prepared spells into that spell (like a cleric with cure/inflict spells, but only one spell).