newbDM
2008-09-17, 08:36 PM
Hey guys.
I am designing this set of items for the dungeon my players are currently in, but I am stuck at the moment.
Item:
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f173/celestialkin/sc0003a4d7.jpg
How it works:
This set of psionic items is based on the psionic power Energy Wall (*clicky*) (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/energyWall.htm).
They look like gems, but are in fact carefully cut rare crystals of various colors (See Appraise Check Results below).
They come in two forms (long and rectangular, or small and round), and in four different colors (Blue, Pink, Red, and Yellow).
They are use-activated items, which need to be shattered to active the power within them. This can be accomplished by either bashing one against a hard surface (such as a floor, wall, rock, etc), or crushing it in one's hand (no strength check required).
These crystals can also be shattered by being thrown in an unoccupied square, against an unattended object, or against another creature or an item in it's possession. This is done with a ranged Touch Attack. This item has a 10ft increment.
When one of these crystals is shattered a wall of energy escapes from within it, as by the the psionic power Energy Wall. This Energy Wall is centered on the spot where the crystal broke apart.
A long crystals create an Energy Wall 20ft long/5ft think/10ft tall centered on where the crystal shattered, while a circular crystal creates a ring Energy Wall 5ft thick/10ft tall centered where the crystal shattered.
The energy type of the wall created depends on the color of the crystal: Blue = Cold, Pink = Sonic, Red = Fire, and Yellow = Electricity.
The level of the power held within these items (Energy Wall) is Lv.3, and the Manifester Level is 5.
The save DC for this item is DC14 (Lv.3 power [+3], and the minimum Int score needed to manifest this power is 13 [+1])
Appraise check results:
DC5 = Reveals that these are not gems, but are instead beautifully cut crystals.
DC12 = Reveals the physical value of these crystals as jewels (Blue ones average 30gp per short ones and 90gp per long one, Pink ones average 100gp per small ones and 200gp per long ones, Red ones average 25gp per short ones and 75gp per long ones, and Yellow ones average 10gp per small ones and 20gp per long ones.). Note that these are an estimate of their prices as ordinary jewels, not as psionic items.
DC15 = Reveals that these are very rare forms of crystals, which are highly sought after by psionicists. Psionicists are able to imbue psionic energy and powers into these types of crystals.
DC25 = Reveals that there seems to be some sort of energy/force held within this crystal(s). It takes one who is very experienced in crystals/gems/jewels to notice such a subtle thing, or at least an extremely lucky amateur (hence the high DC).
Psionic Item's Price:
Effect
Base Price
Single use, use-activated
Power Level x Manifester Level x 50gp
Item total: 750gp (Power Lv.3 x ML 5 x 50gp)
I believe I have done everything right so far, but now I am stuck on how to decide which way the line/long Energy Wall face.
At first I thought about making it random, but then that would make them dangerous to the PCs themselves, and a gable to use. Although I often like such things in my games (humor and randomness is a big part of my games :D), I am worried the PCs/players will simply not use them and be angry at losing so much possible wealth on these items. I am about to randomly generate how many of which kind and color they are going to get based on the encounter level's total worth, so I am not even sure how many of the long ones there will be in the batch.
As always, any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
If you would all be so kind as to tell me your personal opinions, advice, ideas, or critiques about this set of items that would also be appreciated. I am still very new to making items as a DM, so I want to learn from my mistakes to improve.
I am designing this set of items for the dungeon my players are currently in, but I am stuck at the moment.
Item:
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f173/celestialkin/sc0003a4d7.jpg
How it works:
This set of psionic items is based on the psionic power Energy Wall (*clicky*) (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/energyWall.htm).
They look like gems, but are in fact carefully cut rare crystals of various colors (See Appraise Check Results below).
They come in two forms (long and rectangular, or small and round), and in four different colors (Blue, Pink, Red, and Yellow).
They are use-activated items, which need to be shattered to active the power within them. This can be accomplished by either bashing one against a hard surface (such as a floor, wall, rock, etc), or crushing it in one's hand (no strength check required).
These crystals can also be shattered by being thrown in an unoccupied square, against an unattended object, or against another creature or an item in it's possession. This is done with a ranged Touch Attack. This item has a 10ft increment.
When one of these crystals is shattered a wall of energy escapes from within it, as by the the psionic power Energy Wall. This Energy Wall is centered on the spot where the crystal broke apart.
A long crystals create an Energy Wall 20ft long/5ft think/10ft tall centered on where the crystal shattered, while a circular crystal creates a ring Energy Wall 5ft thick/10ft tall centered where the crystal shattered.
The energy type of the wall created depends on the color of the crystal: Blue = Cold, Pink = Sonic, Red = Fire, and Yellow = Electricity.
The level of the power held within these items (Energy Wall) is Lv.3, and the Manifester Level is 5.
The save DC for this item is DC14 (Lv.3 power [+3], and the minimum Int score needed to manifest this power is 13 [+1])
Appraise check results:
DC5 = Reveals that these are not gems, but are instead beautifully cut crystals.
DC12 = Reveals the physical value of these crystals as jewels (Blue ones average 30gp per short ones and 90gp per long one, Pink ones average 100gp per small ones and 200gp per long ones, Red ones average 25gp per short ones and 75gp per long ones, and Yellow ones average 10gp per small ones and 20gp per long ones.). Note that these are an estimate of their prices as ordinary jewels, not as psionic items.
DC15 = Reveals that these are very rare forms of crystals, which are highly sought after by psionicists. Psionicists are able to imbue psionic energy and powers into these types of crystals.
DC25 = Reveals that there seems to be some sort of energy/force held within this crystal(s). It takes one who is very experienced in crystals/gems/jewels to notice such a subtle thing, or at least an extremely lucky amateur (hence the high DC).
Psionic Item's Price:
Effect
Base Price
Single use, use-activated
Power Level x Manifester Level x 50gp
Item total: 750gp (Power Lv.3 x ML 5 x 50gp)
I believe I have done everything right so far, but now I am stuck on how to decide which way the line/long Energy Wall face.
At first I thought about making it random, but then that would make them dangerous to the PCs themselves, and a gable to use. Although I often like such things in my games (humor and randomness is a big part of my games :D), I am worried the PCs/players will simply not use them and be angry at losing so much possible wealth on these items. I am about to randomly generate how many of which kind and color they are going to get based on the encounter level's total worth, so I am not even sure how many of the long ones there will be in the batch.
As always, any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
If you would all be so kind as to tell me your personal opinions, advice, ideas, or critiques about this set of items that would also be appreciated. I am still very new to making items as a DM, so I want to learn from my mistakes to improve.