Post/Author/DateTime	Post
M.E. Charm 08-13-06, 11:33 AM	So I needed something to protect the big boss Vampire Bard from getting hit with ranged weapons while his dancing spawn formed a wall around him, forcing the players to think of something else to do than killing everything (such as destroying the worndown pillars supporting the platform he's on, or breaking the dirty windows to let sunlight in). Thus, I tried to design something a wondrous item, but as said in the DMG, its hard to find a good balance and price for such a thing, so I came here to ask for help from you know-it-all people. :D Cape of Arrow Protection ( If you know a better name, do tell. ) When a ranged attack is about to hit the wearer of this lightweight and mundane looking cape, it swings in front of the projectile, absorbing up to 10 damage per attack before letting the arrow pass through; if the damage rolled for the ranged attack was 10 or lower, the cape stops it's path and the projectile drops to the ground. A Cape of Arrow Protection can absorb up to a total of 100 damage before it's too torn up to function. If a Cape of Arrow Protection is found, roll a d100 to determine how much damage it already absorbed. Faint Abjuration; CL 10th; Craft Wondrous Item, Protection from Arrows; Price ??? Maybe it should absorb a total of 50 damage instead of 100? Well, do your thing, guys, mess with it untill it's balanced!
Seerow 08-13-06, 12:55 PM	I wouldn't pay for it personally. 10 arrows then it's gone completely? Just make an item that gives something akin to the Deflect Arrows feat, autodeflect one a round. Alternatively, if this is high level and you're worrying about multiple attacks per round, a Starmantle Cloak from Book of Exalted Deeds (The item isn't actually exalted, and if you don't like the flavor you can change it easily) will completely negate any non-magic attack, and allow you to avoid half the damage of a magical attack. Combine that with the Vampire's natural DR10/Magic and Silver, and you should be shrugging off most of what an Arrow will be likely to do. (Of course they're probably smart and came in with Silver arrows...Idunno)
Dragonteuthis 08-13-06, 01:00 PM	Just make an item that gives something akin to the Deflect Arrows feat, autodeflect one a round. Seerow has an excellent idea, and the best part is that there's a similar item...a shield of arrow deflection. Make an item that copies that.
M.E. Charm 08-13-06, 04:15 PM	Allright! Thanks alot, guys! :D
savant_warlord13 08-13-06, 06:51 PM	I would just make it give DR 10/piercing
Seerow 08-13-06, 06:53 PM	I would just make it give DR 10/piercing ...except Arrows are piercing, so DR10/piercing means you shrug off damage from everything EXCEPT arrows.
Black Mantha 08-13-06, 07:13 PM	It's a single use, use activated item of a Protection from Arrows spell. If you include the fact that you don't need to know when to use it, but have to sacrifice an item slot, I say 450 gp isn't a bad price. And it's not an unrealistic item, either. Imagine an important person who is afraid of assasins. His bodyguards can stop almost anyone, and there are few magic users powerful enough to one-shot him, but an poisoned arrow from a window can still kill him. So he uses a robe that protects against that eventuality.
spectralphoenix 08-13-06, 11:26 PM	If you have any casters lurking about, you might want to consider a wand or couple of scrolls of wind wall. Stops all arrows and bolts cold, but vulnerable to dispelling. Lasts for 1/round a level, so you might want 2 or 3 at low levels, but at high levels (which I'm guessing you're at, since they're fighting vampire hordes,) you could probably make do with a single casting.