Yet Another Ioun Stone Question

[Elephant]

Is there a limit on the number of ioun stones a single character can have active at one time? Also, is it possible to have multiple ioun stones of the same type active simultaneously?

 

[The Souljourner]

There's no limit, and you can have duplicates, but often their effects aren't cumulative with themselves.

-The Souljourner

 

[Telperion]

Is there a limit on the number of ioun stones a single character can have active at one time? Also, is it possible to have multiple ioun stones of the same type active simultaneously?

No, there is no limit on how many stones you can have circling your head at any given time. Might look weird thought .

And, yes, you can have as many ioun stones of the same type circling your head as you like. Just remember that the same type of bonuses don't stack. So, having ten Deep red ioun stones is the same as having one. The bonuses don't stack, so you only get a +2 on your Dexterity.

 

[Elephant]

No, there is no limit on how many stones you can have circling your head at any given time. Might look weird thought .

Who came up with ioun stones, anyway? It's the one kind of magic item that just doesn't feel quite right to me. Pretty much everything else I can think of has some sort of technology or problem-solving/wishful thinking analogue, like immovable rods or wands of fireballs or enchanted rings.

Ioun stones, though...where does the idea for head-orbiting satellites that aid the possessor come from in the first place?

I wonder what contributed to the idea...

 

[argo]

Ioun stones, though...where does the idea for head-orbiting satellites that aid the possessor come from in the first place?

Straight from Jack Vance's Dying Earth stories where super powerful wizards of the future mined them directly from the cores of collapsed, dead dwarf stars. They were some of the most valued items by those uber-wizards.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Ioun stones are great! Paint your beholder yellow, give him many ioun stones (dull gray ones for your purse's sake, all painted, too) - bam, your own solar system

 

[Oscar carramiñana]

What happens with vibrant purple (spell-storing) How of this you can use as a free action?

 

[dcollins]

Somehow I can't resist today: from Rhialto the Marvellous by Jack Vance (c) 1984, Part 3, Section 9:

"A quick question before you go," spoke Gilgad. "Where does one find IOUN stones?"

Morreion looked at him without comprehension. At last he gave his attention to the stones, which swirled with a swifter motion. In comparison, those of the archevault Xexamedes were listless and dull. These danced and curveted, and sparkled with different colours. Closest to Morreion's head moved the lavender and the pale green stones, as if they thought themselves the most loved and most privileged. Somewhat more wayward were the stones glowing pink and green together: then came stones of a pure proud pink, then the royal carmine stones, then the red and blue; and finally, at the outer periphery, a number of stones glittering with intense blue lights...

Morreion gave a slow thoughtful nod. "Curious! So much which I seem to have forgotten..."

In addition it's the Dying Earth stories which inspired the whole D&D magic system in which wizards memorize a number of spells from their books, and upon casting have the power removed from their memory (somewhat different terminology in 3rd Edition, of course).