Cursed ring of True Striking :devil: [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cursed ring of True Striking :devil: [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
pmurray@bigpond.com
07-20-07, 11:29 PM It was in the year of the Stoat that the game of billards was introduced to the court of His Most Pussiant Majesty, Emir Abek Al-hama Irridium. Having been raised a cosseted prince, and not understanding the basic notions of fair play, nor the satisfactions of developing a skill, he acheived great sucess in the game by having the court mages cast True Strike on him prior to each shot.

However, he grew irritated with the continual spell casting and so ordered his mages to craft for him the fabled Ring of True Striking. Furthermore, such a thing was thought by him so useful that he ordered it fortified with an enchantment that he might never lose it. His mages knew that it would be futile, and such a thing useless, but His Majesty would not be deterred. And so, having made prudent plans to escape the emir's inevitable wrath, they proceeded as commanded.

The day came when the ring was ready. His Most Pussiant Majesty Abek Al-hama Irridium placed the ring on his finger and was pleased that, while it was not tight or uncomfortable, nevertheless the enchantments were such that the ring could not be removed.

He then repaired to the billard room.

Unfortunately for His Most Pussiant Majesty, he reckoned without several facts.

The duration of True Strike is until it discharges, or one round.
The effect of true strike of True Strike is a +20 bonus to one attack.
Permanency makes the duration of a spell permanent, but does not change the spell's effect.
True Strike spells do not stack :devil:.

And so it came to pass that his majesty struck the cue ball, and it flew as precisely as it was wont to do while under the effect of the spell. But his second and third stokes were amiss, and all thereafter. Even a subsequent True Strike cast on him by the apprentice failed to have its customary effect.

Great was his wrath, but thanks to a sensibly placed Teleportation Circle, the senior mages and crafters had already gone. And so the Emir settled for having every billard table in the kingdom burnt, all makers of billard balls executed, and making the playing of cue games a capital crime.

Records do not tell us if His Majesty learned better wisdom in time. But they do mention that the ring sits on his finger yet, in the tomb of his fathers where he lays.
Fireclave
07-21-07, 12:02 AM Having been raised a cosseted prince, and not understanding the basic notions of fair play, nor the satisfactions of developing a skill, he acheived great sucess in the game by having the court mages cast True Strike on him prior to each shot.
True Strike is a personal range spell. The court mages could not possibly cast this spell on the prince.

However, he grew irritated with the continual spell casting and so ordered his mages to craft for him the fabled Ring of True Striking. Furthermore, such a thing was thought by him so useful that he ordered it fortified with an enchantment that he might never lose it. His mages knew that it would be futile, and such a thing useless, but His Majesty would not be deterred. And so, having made prudent plans to escape the emir's inevitable wrath, they proceeded as commanded.
If the wizards were actually smart, they would have crafted a ring that granted a constant bonus to Profession (Billiard Player). Though I would have instead made him a +6 Periapt of Wisdom, because he really needs it.

True Strike spells do not stack :devil:.

But they would overlap. Additional True Strike spells would still have normal effect and just make the original spell irrelevant.

Records do not tell us if His Majesty learned better wisdom in time. But they do mention that the ring sits on his finger yet, in the tomb of his fathers where he lays.
A true strike ring that doesn't work and is probably cursed? Unless someone is paying for the retrieval of this hunk of rust, pass.

Entertaining story though.
pmurray@bigpond.com
07-21-07, 03:33 AM Oh, go on. It's all a bit of fun.

One way to handle the fact that True Strike is personal range is for a mage to cast it into a ring of spell storing.

As for the non-overlapping: yeah, I suppose so. But doing it this way is a perfect way to handle players that pester the DM for such an item. The rumours and legends that the players are following say that the ring is in the tomb, but not why. So long as the DM gives fair warning (the item is cursed, legends say the family did not try to recover the ring even after the emir had died, etc) - finding the ring and then getting it removed would make a fine plot arc IMO.

To make it harder to remove, perhaps this item was given to the emir by a god of some degree. Perhaps the emir asked the god of sports and pub games for such an item, not understanding how a god whose domain is good sportsmanship would take such a request. That makes the item a minor relic, and permits one to require more than a Remove Curse to get it off.
Fireclave
07-21-07, 04:17 AM Oh, go on. It's all a bit of fun.

And I do find this fun, most verily.

One way to handle the fact that True Strike is personal range is for a mage to cast it into a ring of spell storing.
That would work. Actually, I would alter the story a bit so that the emir requested his Royal Ring of Cheating Spellstoring to be upgraded to the fabled Cursed Ring of Failed True Striking. At least that way the ring might have some use for a PC.

As for the non-overlapping: yeah, I suppose so. But doing it this way is a perfect way to handle players that pester the DM for such an item.
But then you'd have to change how spell stacking works for all spells. An easier way to do this, without having to change how the rules works, is to make the effect a unique curse. Though the best way to handle such players is with a firm "NO!", possibly supplemented with DMG corners or folding chairs as the situation requires.

The rumours and legends that the players are following say that the ring is in the tomb, but not why. So long as the DM gives fair warning (the item is cursed, legends say the family did not try to recover the ring even after the emir had died, etc) - finding the ring and then getting it removed would make a fine plot arc IMO.
I agree. If a player is that insistent on shooting himself in the foot and giving you more DMing material, let 'em.

To make it harder to remove, perhaps this item was given to the emir by a god of some degree. Perhaps the emir asked the god of sports and pub games for such an item, not understanding how a god whose domain is good sportsmanship would take such a request. That makes the item a minor relic, and permits one to require more than a Remove Curse to get it off.
If I were to go this route, I'd rather turned it into a legacy item or something similar, where appeasing this god of sports would not only remove the curse but grant some bonuses as well. That would feel more...I dunno...quest-worthy to me.
pmurray@bigpond.com
07-22-07, 12:44 AM If I were to go this route, I'd rather turned it into a legacy item or something similar, where appeasing this god of sports would not only remove the curse but grant some bonuses as well. That would feel more...I dunno...quest-worthy to me.

I like it. The quest, perhaps, would be shooting a perfect game of darts without the benefit of magic. The player would have to spend skill points on profession (darts) [dex, not wis] to be able to do it, but in return would get a permanent +2 divine bonus to hit at the completion of the atonement.

Having to burn skill points is a fair penalty, and reflects the notion that prowess should be earned the hard way. And the penalty provides numerous plot hooks for the DM. After all, it's not enough to just shoot a perfect game: it must be done in competition. Hence, travelling the lands looking for seedy taverns running darts comps. The ongoing penalty is not onerous - you lose a ring slot and the ability to be affected by True Strike (other spells, weapon enhancements would be ok). The loss of skill points is a permanent penalty, but once again - not terribly onerous if you allow retraining as per PHBII.

... Actually, an even more suitable end would be that the act of becoming skilled at darts/billiards/whatever the hard way breaks the curse on the ring. It therafter grants a +2 divine bonus to hit, and True Striking 3/day (standard action to activate). A powerful item, but not utterly over the top.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
pmurray@bigpond.com 07-20-07, 11:29 PM	It was in the year of the Stoat that the game of billards was introduced to the court of His Most Pussiant Majesty, Emir Abek Al-hama Irridium. Having been raised a cosseted prince, and not understanding the basic notions of fair play, nor the satisfactions of developing a skill, he acheived great sucess in the game by having the court mages cast True Strike on him prior to each shot. However, he grew irritated with the continual spell casting and so ordered his mages to craft for him the fabled Ring of True Striking. Furthermore, such a thing was thought by him so useful that he ordered it fortified with an enchantment that he might never lose it. His mages knew that it would be futile, and such a thing useless, but His Majesty would not be deterred. And so, having made prudent plans to escape the emir's inevitable wrath, they proceeded as commanded. The day came when the ring was ready. His Most Pussiant Majesty Abek Al-hama Irridium placed the ring on his finger and was pleased that, while it was not tight or uncomfortable, nevertheless the enchantments were such that the ring could not be removed. He then repaired to the billard room. Unfortunately for His Most Pussiant Majesty, he reckoned without several facts. The duration of True Strike is until it discharges, or one round. The effect of true strike of True Strike is a +20 bonus to one attack. Permanency makes the duration of a spell permanent, but does not change the spell's effect. True Strike spells do not stack :devil:. And so it came to pass that his majesty struck the cue ball, and it flew as precisely as it was wont to do while under the effect of the spell. But his second and third stokes were amiss, and all thereafter. Even a subsequent True Strike cast on him by the apprentice failed to have its customary effect. Great was his wrath, but thanks to a sensibly placed Teleportation Circle, the senior mages and crafters had already gone. And so the Emir settled for having every billard table in the kingdom burnt, all makers of billard balls executed, and making the playing of cue games a capital crime. Records do not tell us if His Majesty learned better wisdom in time. But they do mention that the ring sits on his finger yet, in the tomb of his fathers where he lays.
Fireclave 07-21-07, 12:02 AM	Having been raised a cosseted prince, and not understanding the basic notions of fair play, nor the satisfactions of developing a skill, he acheived great sucess in the game by having the court mages cast True Strike on him prior to each shot. True Strike is a personal range spell. The court mages could not possibly cast this spell on the prince. However, he grew irritated with the continual spell casting and so ordered his mages to craft for him the fabled Ring of True Striking. Furthermore, such a thing was thought by him so useful that he ordered it fortified with an enchantment that he might never lose it. His mages knew that it would be futile, and such a thing useless, but His Majesty would not be deterred. And so, having made prudent plans to escape the emir's inevitable wrath, they proceeded as commanded. If the wizards were actually smart, they would have crafted a ring that granted a constant bonus to Profession (Billiard Player). Though I would have instead made him a +6 Periapt of Wisdom, because he really needs it. True Strike spells do not stack :devil:. But they would overlap. Additional True Strike spells would still have normal effect and just make the original spell irrelevant. Records do not tell us if His Majesty learned better wisdom in time. But they do mention that the ring sits on his finger yet, in the tomb of his fathers where he lays. A true strike ring that doesn't work and is probably cursed? Unless someone is paying for the retrieval of this hunk of rust, pass. Entertaining story though.
pmurray@bigpond.com 07-21-07, 03:33 AM	Oh, go on. It's all a bit of fun. One way to handle the fact that True Strike is personal range is for a mage to cast it into a ring of spell storing. As for the non-overlapping: yeah, I suppose so. But doing it this way is a perfect way to handle players that pester the DM for such an item. The rumours and legends that the players are following say that the ring is in the tomb, but not why. So long as the DM gives fair warning (the item is cursed, legends say the family did not try to recover the ring even after the emir had died, etc) - finding the ring and then getting it removed would make a fine plot arc IMO. To make it harder to remove, perhaps this item was given to the emir by a god of some degree. Perhaps the emir asked the god of sports and pub games for such an item, not understanding how a god whose domain is good sportsmanship would take such a request. That makes the item a minor relic, and permits one to require more than a Remove Curse to get it off.
Fireclave 07-21-07, 04:17 AM	Oh, go on. It's all a bit of fun. And I do find this fun, most verily. One way to handle the fact that True Strike is personal range is for a mage to cast it into a ring of spell storing. That would work. Actually, I would alter the story a bit so that the emir requested his Royal Ring of Cheating Spellstoring to be upgraded to the fabled Cursed Ring of Failed True Striking. At least that way the ring might have some use for a PC. As for the non-overlapping: yeah, I suppose so. But doing it this way is a perfect way to handle players that pester the DM for such an item. But then you'd have to change how spell stacking works for all spells. An easier way to do this, without having to change how the rules works, is to make the effect a unique curse. Though the best way to handle such players is with a firm "NO!", possibly supplemented with DMG corners or folding chairs as the situation requires. The rumours and legends that the players are following say that the ring is in the tomb, but not why. So long as the DM gives fair warning (the item is cursed, legends say the family did not try to recover the ring even after the emir had died, etc) - finding the ring and then getting it removed would make a fine plot arc IMO. I agree. If a player is that insistent on shooting himself in the foot and giving you more DMing material, let 'em. To make it harder to remove, perhaps this item was given to the emir by a god of some degree. Perhaps the emir asked the god of sports and pub games for such an item, not understanding how a god whose domain is good sportsmanship would take such a request. That makes the item a minor relic, and permits one to require more than a Remove Curse to get it off. If I were to go this route, I'd rather turned it into a legacy item or something similar, where appeasing this god of sports would not only remove the curse but grant some bonuses as well. That would feel more...I dunno...quest-worthy to me.
pmurray@bigpond.com 07-22-07, 12:44 AM	If I were to go this route, I'd rather turned it into a legacy item or something similar, where appeasing this god of sports would not only remove the curse but grant some bonuses as well. That would feel more...I dunno...quest-worthy to me. I like it. The quest, perhaps, would be shooting a perfect game of darts without the benefit of magic. The player would have to spend skill points on profession (darts) [dex, not wis] to be able to do it, but in return would get a permanent +2 divine bonus to hit at the completion of the atonement. Having to burn skill points is a fair penalty, and reflects the notion that prowess should be earned the hard way. And the penalty provides numerous plot hooks for the DM. After all, it's not enough to just shoot a perfect game: it must be done in competition. Hence, travelling the lands looking for seedy taverns running darts comps. The ongoing penalty is not onerous - you lose a ring slot and the ability to be affected by True Strike (other spells, weapon enhancements would be ok). The loss of skill points is a permanent penalty, but once again - not terribly onerous if you allow retraining as per PHBII. ... Actually, an even more suitable end would be that the act of becoming skilled at darts/billiards/whatever the hard way breaks the curse on the ring. It therafter grants a +2 divine bonus to hit, and True Striking 3/day (standard action to activate). A powerful item, but not utterly over the top.