paddyfool
2007-03-11, 04:22 AM
As an idea for some useful cursed items, here's an idea for four items that an overly-controlling wizard lord might once have crafted for four people to direct their actions in a manner more useful to him. One would have been for his bodyguard, another for a lazy student, a further one for the captain of his enforcers and a final one for a tantrum-prone daughter. Each could lead to interesting character conflict issues, by directing their actions in unfortunate ways while also being genuinely useful. If they altered an NPC's actions beyond the normal, they could also help spice up an encounter.
Unfortunately, I'm not at all sure of is how to cost, balance or give guidelines for crafting these, so I'd appreciate any help with that.
Helm of Selfless Heroism
This finely-crafted steel helm was crafted by Than for his personal bodyguard. It fills the bearer with courage and removes inhibitions related to his personal safety when threatened. When removed, the bearer is filled with feelings of inadequacy.
+1 morale bonus to all saves
Immune to Fear
May not run from combat
May not back down from a challenge
Must attempt to put himself in the way of threats to companions in combat, although this may be prevented with a DC 20 Will save.
Penalty if removed:
-1 morale penalty to all saves (curable with remove curse)
Hat of obsessive scholarship
Than crafted this hat for a feckless student. This backfired after the hat was stolen and, without its help, the student proved more feckless than ever. The hat helps the mental focus of the bearer, at least until its removal.
This hat has no effect on a class that does not prepare spells, but on such a spellcaster, it has the following effects:
+2 Bonus to spellcraft, knowledge(arcana) and decipher script.
+2 Bonus to will saves
Must prepare spells each morning or will lose all bonuses from the Hat and suffer an additional -1 morale penalty to all saves.
Must make at least a cursory study of new texts, scrolls etc. that come into the bearer's possession. Suffers a -1 morale penalty to all saves until he does so.
Penalty if removed:
-2 penalty to spellcraft, knowledge(arcana) and decipher script
-2 penalty to will saves
Curable with remove curse.
Helm of aggression
This helm was crafted by Than for a quiet, overly gentle type that had risen to the position of captain of cavalry through political connections. It makes the bearer aggressive, and easily angered. When removed, the bearer is filled with a sense of his own weakness.
+2 morale bonus to intimidate and to will saves against intimidate and fear effects.
Rage 1/day (stacks with existing Rage/per day, and existing bonuses to Rage ability)
Must make a DC 20 will save to refrain from fighting if provoked.
Must make a DC 20 will save to refrain from Rage when combat begins.
Penalty if removed:
-2 penalty to intimidate and to will saves against intimidate and fear effects.
-1 morale penalty to hit and damage
May be cured with remove curse
Tiara of Calm
This was crafted by Than to prevent the headaches caused by the tantrum's of his daugher, Ella. Unfortunately, it proved that these tantrums were entirely deliberate, and not driven by emotion, and if anything they got worse, not better, as Ella was able to apply a calm focus to her upsets.
Calm emotions 10/day. Item will cast this on the bearer whenever they are angry or unhappy. Will save DC 15 negates.
Penalty if removed:
Character takes a -1 morale penalty to all saves owing to loss of control over their emotions.
Does this seem fair?
Paddy
Unfortunately, I'm not at all sure of is how to cost, balance or give guidelines for crafting these, so I'd appreciate any help with that.
Helm of Selfless Heroism
This finely-crafted steel helm was crafted by Than for his personal bodyguard. It fills the bearer with courage and removes inhibitions related to his personal safety when threatened. When removed, the bearer is filled with feelings of inadequacy.
+1 morale bonus to all saves
Immune to Fear
May not run from combat
May not back down from a challenge
Must attempt to put himself in the way of threats to companions in combat, although this may be prevented with a DC 20 Will save.
Penalty if removed:
-1 morale penalty to all saves (curable with remove curse)
Hat of obsessive scholarship
Than crafted this hat for a feckless student. This backfired after the hat was stolen and, without its help, the student proved more feckless than ever. The hat helps the mental focus of the bearer, at least until its removal.
This hat has no effect on a class that does not prepare spells, but on such a spellcaster, it has the following effects:
+2 Bonus to spellcraft, knowledge(arcana) and decipher script.
+2 Bonus to will saves
Must prepare spells each morning or will lose all bonuses from the Hat and suffer an additional -1 morale penalty to all saves.
Must make at least a cursory study of new texts, scrolls etc. that come into the bearer's possession. Suffers a -1 morale penalty to all saves until he does so.
Penalty if removed:
-2 penalty to spellcraft, knowledge(arcana) and decipher script
-2 penalty to will saves
Curable with remove curse.
Helm of aggression
This helm was crafted by Than for a quiet, overly gentle type that had risen to the position of captain of cavalry through political connections. It makes the bearer aggressive, and easily angered. When removed, the bearer is filled with a sense of his own weakness.
+2 morale bonus to intimidate and to will saves against intimidate and fear effects.
Rage 1/day (stacks with existing Rage/per day, and existing bonuses to Rage ability)
Must make a DC 20 will save to refrain from fighting if provoked.
Must make a DC 20 will save to refrain from Rage when combat begins.
Penalty if removed:
-2 penalty to intimidate and to will saves against intimidate and fear effects.
-1 morale penalty to hit and damage
May be cured with remove curse
Tiara of Calm
This was crafted by Than to prevent the headaches caused by the tantrum's of his daugher, Ella. Unfortunately, it proved that these tantrums were entirely deliberate, and not driven by emotion, and if anything they got worse, not better, as Ella was able to apply a calm focus to her upsets.
Calm emotions 10/day. Item will cast this on the bearer whenever they are angry or unhappy. Will save DC 15 negates.
Penalty if removed:
Character takes a -1 morale penalty to all saves owing to loss of control over their emotions.
Does this seem fair?
Paddy