HRSegovia
Explorer
Everyone knows to check a bag and see it it's a Bag of Holding (hoping it's not a bag of devouring). Figurines are often animated pets. We all love the classics and can no longer do without them, but Wondrous Items have lost their wonder.
What are some of the ways to reward, yet surprise your players? Here's three Wondrous Items I've created. What are some of yours? They may be useful to me one day!
Lagunas' Tankard
Uncommon Wondrous Item
Lagunas was a merry fellow known for his pleasant, wintry brew. It was often sought during the cold-season celebrations. His success still left him little to show as he often donated much of his profits to the needy. As a gift, after his passing, the gods left a few tankards at his grave for the close friends he left behind.
There is something quite special about these tankards: they never seem to remain empty for long when in pleasant company. It is almost as if they were in the hands of Lagunas himself. When in a crowd of patrons (such as a bar, tavern, or celebration), others seem compelled to fill the tankard with whatever brew they have available. Barmaids will pour their pitchers in and forget to charge for the brew and others will share their spirits and pour half of whatever is in their bottle without asking anything in return.
There is a catch - while Lagunas was a giver, he did not abuse his wealth. The tankard often fills without the owner's knowledge and is quite keen on the user's intent. It will often encourage sharing, but draw the line on blatant theft. The owner can easily allow some to drink from his tankard if it is in the spirit of the times; but beware those who abuse its power to steal (such as pouring it out into friend's mugs hoping it will fill again, and then repeating the process with the sole intent on free rounds for all). Those who abuse it have found that the tankard has left them for a more good-spirited person.
MEZUGENOS MAGAVARICO
Mezugenos Magavarico was known for his eclectic tastes and curious inventions. He believed firmly that if you were to have power, you were to pay a price: this was the balance one must learn until one learns the humility required to responsibly have free access to magic. As such, many of his creations came with a cost. The following are some of his creations.
Magavarico's Streak Dart
Rare Wondrous Item
The streak dart is a single, lightweight, hollow dart of bamboo with negligible damage and an uncanny ability to hit whatever it is thrown at in the most roundabout way (similar to the path of a bumblebee), but makes a screamingly loud whistle and leaves a misty trail originating from the user revealing exactly where the attacker stands. It is particularly sought for useful delivery of poisons in ranged combat where stealth is not a factor or to pinpoint invisible targets.
Once per day the user may make use of Magavarico's Streak Dart. This attack automatically hits any target within range (even those which are concealed or invisible) but does no damage. The player and target have disadvantage on stealth checks this round. The dart recharges after a long rest.
Magavarico's Stone of Life Experiences
Legendary Wondrous Item
The Stone of Life Experiences "steals" some of the life experiences of the user. He takes longer to learn, catch-on to subtleties, even has a tenancy to daze-off. Why would someone carry such a stone? Because all those experiences - everything he seemed to be missing in this life - will come back to him in the next. Those with a stone have been known to be reincarnated in a different race, life path, even gender, but have all the same memories and experiences as they had in the previous life. This person often materializes out of thin air in some uninhabited location where his (or her) arrival will not draw attention.
The person who holds this stone may store any amount (up to half) of all XP awarded in the stone. If the character dies, he may bring in a new character already at the level of XP stored. The stone then turns to dust. The catch? Until the stone reincarnates the character, the player has disadvantage on all perception checks (and levels slower due to splitting the XP awarded). Unless the new character is identical to the old, proficiences skills and traits do not carry over, just memories.
What are some of the ways to reward, yet surprise your players? Here's three Wondrous Items I've created. What are some of yours? They may be useful to me one day!
Lagunas' Tankard
Uncommon Wondrous Item
Lagunas was a merry fellow known for his pleasant, wintry brew. It was often sought during the cold-season celebrations. His success still left him little to show as he often donated much of his profits to the needy. As a gift, after his passing, the gods left a few tankards at his grave for the close friends he left behind.
There is something quite special about these tankards: they never seem to remain empty for long when in pleasant company. It is almost as if they were in the hands of Lagunas himself. When in a crowd of patrons (such as a bar, tavern, or celebration), others seem compelled to fill the tankard with whatever brew they have available. Barmaids will pour their pitchers in and forget to charge for the brew and others will share their spirits and pour half of whatever is in their bottle without asking anything in return.
There is a catch - while Lagunas was a giver, he did not abuse his wealth. The tankard often fills without the owner's knowledge and is quite keen on the user's intent. It will often encourage sharing, but draw the line on blatant theft. The owner can easily allow some to drink from his tankard if it is in the spirit of the times; but beware those who abuse its power to steal (such as pouring it out into friend's mugs hoping it will fill again, and then repeating the process with the sole intent on free rounds for all). Those who abuse it have found that the tankard has left them for a more good-spirited person.
MEZUGENOS MAGAVARICO
Mezugenos Magavarico was known for his eclectic tastes and curious inventions. He believed firmly that if you were to have power, you were to pay a price: this was the balance one must learn until one learns the humility required to responsibly have free access to magic. As such, many of his creations came with a cost. The following are some of his creations.
Magavarico's Streak Dart
Rare Wondrous Item
The streak dart is a single, lightweight, hollow dart of bamboo with negligible damage and an uncanny ability to hit whatever it is thrown at in the most roundabout way (similar to the path of a bumblebee), but makes a screamingly loud whistle and leaves a misty trail originating from the user revealing exactly where the attacker stands. It is particularly sought for useful delivery of poisons in ranged combat where stealth is not a factor or to pinpoint invisible targets.
Once per day the user may make use of Magavarico's Streak Dart. This attack automatically hits any target within range (even those which are concealed or invisible) but does no damage. The player and target have disadvantage on stealth checks this round. The dart recharges after a long rest.
Magavarico's Stone of Life Experiences
Legendary Wondrous Item
The Stone of Life Experiences "steals" some of the life experiences of the user. He takes longer to learn, catch-on to subtleties, even has a tenancy to daze-off. Why would someone carry such a stone? Because all those experiences - everything he seemed to be missing in this life - will come back to him in the next. Those with a stone have been known to be reincarnated in a different race, life path, even gender, but have all the same memories and experiences as they had in the previous life. This person often materializes out of thin air in some uninhabited location where his (or her) arrival will not draw attention.
The person who holds this stone may store any amount (up to half) of all XP awarded in the stone. If the character dies, he may bring in a new character already at the level of XP stored. The stone then turns to dust. The catch? Until the stone reincarnates the character, the player has disadvantage on all perception checks (and levels slower due to splitting the XP awarded). Unless the new character is identical to the old, proficiences skills and traits do not carry over, just memories.
