The Vault: Rare and unusal stuff for the taking

[Two orcs]

Elixir of Elixirification
Clear and bubbly. When the stopper is removed a faint but continuous sucking sound. When you drink this potion it also drinks you, you become the elixir that takes on the color of your blood. Your equipment falls on the ground. As a potion you are unconcious and effectively in stasis. When poured out you reform. If drunk the elixir grants all of your abilities and skills till you are pissed out a day later. You may attempt to assert control over the body of the drinker who must Save vs Spells or lose control for as long as the effect lasts. When pissed out you reform.

Note that these potions are often found in their unclear state. An alchemist can deduce what sort of creature is dissolved in the elixir and even their class.

 

[squeen]

Oh. This one is an instant classic!

 

[DangerousPuhson]

Elixir of Elixirification

This is a super good replacement for the classic (though easily-mishandled) doppelganger. Might just give it a spin at the next session. Very nice.

 

[Two orcs]

Shovel of 120 - Earthbiter
Shovel+1, +3 vs Earth elementals and Gnomes (shovels are two handed weapons dealing 1d4 damage) shovel like the hand of a bony giant with the edge of freshly cut jasper. One digger does the work of 120 men. It takes a skilled digger 4 hours to dig a 6' grave normally, this shovel does it in 2 minutes. Earth elementals are enraged by the sight of this tool and gnomes are filled with fear.

 

[squeen]

Bumped into this post over at OSR Grimore.
Some good stuff from Arneson's Blackmoor campaign.

 

[Two orcs]

A ring that unfolds into some kind of astronomical chart. I think various magic rings could have this as part of their activation.

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[squeen]

Two new magic-user spells to be discovered out in the wilds of your campaign---preferably being cast against your players!

They were inspired by this blog post on Forest Witches (and of course The Wizard of Oz)---but I've tweaked them and added some concrete mechanics for AD&D. I hope the blog's author (cacklecharm?) doesn't find it too ironic I called one of these "Steal Spell".

Let me know if you think they need some level-appropriate adjustments.

 

[Osrnoob]

Two new magic-user spells to be discovered out in the wilds of your campaign---preferably being cast against your players!

They were inspired by this blog post on Forest Witches (and of course The Wizard of Oz)---but I've tweaked them and added some concrete mechanics for AD&D. I hope the blog's author (cacklecharm?) doesn't find it too ironic I called one of these "Steal Spell".

Let me know if you think they need some level-appropriate adjustments.

Is that a Konosuba reference?

 

[squeen]

Is that a Konosuba reference?

Not intentionally --- I've never seen the series. Which one? Steal Spell?

 

[Beoric]

Touch attack? @squeen, are you writing for 3e now?

Just a thought re: Steal Spell, but if they have to roll to hit, should there also be a saving throw? I mean, to use this spell your MU already has to contrive to get to the enemy spellcaster, possibly in the enemy party's back row.

 

[squeen]

I thought about that too. In (weak) defense :

Touch attack? @squeen, are you writing for 3e now?

Should I just say touch? 1e just uses AC 10 + dex for that.

I thought about that too. In (weak) defense :
a) it's only 2nd level (and they could just interrupt the spell with that touch)
b) only significantly higher spell casters get that save
c) I like the "battle of wills" to wrestle control of the spell (i.e. factoring the intelligence difference)
d) spell caster aren't too hard to hit (especially when spell casting)
e) I imagine the caster to be invisible or something---sneaking up on the target---or maybe a teleport?

 

[Beoric]

Should I just say touch? 1e just uses AC 10 + dex for that.

Huh, I can't find that rule anywhere. The most I can find is this, from the example of melee on DMG p. 71:

Meanwhile, Blastum has been preparing a shocking grasp spell, and now he steps forward and touches (rolls a successful “to hit” die score) Arlanni the thief, delivering 10 points of damage (1-8 + 4). There is no saving throw: Arlanni has only 8 hit points, and dies. [emphasis added]

Which I think implies you treat it as an ordinary "to hit" roll.

 

[Osrnoob]

Not intentionally --- I've never seen the series. Which one? Steal Spell?

Yeah he plays an lotfp specialist class and learns one thief spell, steal.
He can not control what he steals.
Mainly the spell grabs panties.
His companion only knows fireball and casts it then falls asleep to recharge.

EXPLOSION she shouts

Zzzzzzz

 

[squeen]

Huh, I can't find that rule anywhere. The most I can find is this, from the example of melee on DMG p. 71:

Which I think implies you treat it as an ordinary "to hit" roll.

You are right. This is something that depends on the situation. My reply was just what I use for shocking grasp vs. metal armor, but would also apply against a magic-user w/o armor.

There is a thread over a K&KA about it in which EOTB and Philotomy Jurament make some good conceptual points, but the best bit is what Trent says at the end:

Oh, and regarding the special rule for shocking grasp, to my surprise it's not actually in the spell description in the PH or DMG. This had me doubting myself and looking to see if it was added in 2E, which confused me even more because it wasn't, but then I remembered the shock effect of the wand of lightning and checked that and sure enough it's listed there:

DMG p. 135 wrote:Shock: This function causes the recipient to take 1-10 hit points of damage, with no saving throw, when struck in melee combat. Any "to hit" score discounts metallic armor and shield (giving opponents armor class 10) but not plain leather or wood. Magic bonuses on metallic armor do not affect armor class, but such items as a ring of protection do.

So technically it's a house rule to apply this same logic to the spell, but it seems like a pretty obvious and non-controversial one (and one I've applied for so long that I had forgotten it wasn't listed in the spell description).

Maybe the steal spell spell would be improved if there was only a short range like 1'/level or something like that, and the whole "touch" question could be avoided...however, if you leave it...it gives more utility to something like shield which I would rule affects the stationary caster's touch-AC.

 

[Osrnoob]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

OH NO NOT THIS

WHY

PLEASE

SEND HELP


ITS TOO SOON

OH THE HUMANITY

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

[squeen]

The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming!

 

[Beoric]

You are right. This is something that depends on the situation. My reply was just what I use for shocking grasp vs. metal armor, but would also apply against a magic-user w/o armor.

So that's more of a ruling. Keep in mind that metal armor is always worn over padding, which would insulate it.

Also, for the engineers in the group (I think I know the answer but I am not certain), if you are wearing metal armor from head to toe, so that the metal is in contact with the ground, and you are insulated from the metal, what is the likely effect of an electrical discharge touching the metal?

Also, Gygax' example from the DMG that makes it seem like an ordinary "to hit" roll is expressly dealing with shocking grasp.

 

[squeen]

So that's more of a ruling. Keep in mind that metal armor is always worn over padding, which would insulate it.

Also, for the engineers in the group (I think I know the answer but I am not certain), if you are wearing metal armor from head to toe, so that the metal is in contact with the ground, and you are insulated from the metal, what is the likely effect of an electrical discharge touching the metal?

Also, Gygax' example from the DMG that makes it seem like an ordinary "to hit" roll is expressly dealing with shocking grasp.

I would guess, even with padding, the metal might touch flesh incidentally at the edges. That said, I think it's fine if your handle it either way in your game since it is an uncommon case.

 

[Two orcs]

Plate armor would form a Faraday cage and make you immune to the electric shock, though with high enough energy it would heat up or even explode.

 

[squeen]

...but could also just arc across the padded insulation, especially if there was any moisture (sweat) in the padding.

But, all this is dangerously close to over-simulation and excessive exposition in a fantasy world.