Hand of the Mage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Hand of the Mage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
awroe
08-18-06, 04:11 AM My (soon to be) 4th level Wizard has access to a 'Hand of the Mage' (900gp, necklace slot, mage hand at will).

Is it worth buying / crafting? I can see occasions when it could be useful, but more so than simply keeping a 0th level slot open to memorise it when necessary?

It does have the drawback that it can't be easily used in regionals either, since wearing dead elf hands is considered illegal...
opa
08-18-06, 05:00 AM I play with a character that uses it quite frequently, usually doubling as a trap springer...
I would consider it worth 900gp to have around UNLESS I was an arcan and could do it with a 0 level slot...
clik_ml
08-18-06, 12:58 PM wearing dead elf hands is considered illegal...

It's just mummified, not necessarily from a dead elf. Heh, you could take a cohort and have him be the guy who was the donor, that way he can explain that all is well and you're not an elf-killer.
awroe
08-18-06, 02:16 PM It's just mummified, not necessarily from a dead elf. Heh, you could take a cohort and have him be the guy who was the donor, that way he can explain that all is well and you're not an elf-killer.

Hmm, I can just imagine

"Yes, your Honor, I know possesion of this item is illegal here, punishable by fines of 90% of my wealth or exhile, death if I use it, but I thought since it was made from the hand of a friend it would be fine. Look, it can move all on it's own, it must still be alive."

*watches executioner's blade fall down*
kenobi65
08-18-06, 02:32 PM It's just mummified, not necessarily from a dead elf.

The "stock" one in the DMG isn't. Perhaps the one on his AR is, however...
awroe
08-18-06, 02:37 PM The "stock" one in the DMG isn't. Perhaps the one on his AR is, however...

Hand of the Mage: This mummified elf hand...

True, it doesn't say 'dead' anywhere, but I'd be interested in seeing a living mummified hand...
JJeff
08-18-06, 09:39 PM I thought only the Hand of Glory was a mummfied hand....
GreatSiron
08-25-06, 11:15 PM Where the heck is it illegal to carry around a hand of the mage?

And you could just say that you killed an elf zombie or a drow, and took there hand. Of course, if it wasn't true, you'd have to make a bluff check. Still, I've been to several regions, including Verbobonc and Gran March, which were pretty rule intensive. And my home region is the Yeomanry, and a bigger group of superstious people you will never see.
ShinAkuma2
08-26-06, 12:59 AM Where the heck is it illegal to carry around a hand of the mage?

Keoland, the land where everything is illegal because none of it exists there.

We have the world's largest carpet under which we sweep away everything!

Point is, it doesn't matter where you got the hand or why you're wearing it. You've got a magical hunk of dead flesh hanging from your neck.

We can't even have Ioun Stones without getting weird looks, for cripes sake.
pedr
08-26-06, 05:31 AM Where the heck is it illegal to carry around a hand of the mage?

And you could just say that you killed an elf zombie or a drow, and took there hand. Of course, if it wasn't true, you'd have to make a bluff check. Still, I've been to several regions, including Verbobonc and Gran March, which were pretty rule intensive. And my home region is the Yeomanry, and a bigger group of superstious people you will never see.Onnwal as well. We're not as anti-magic as those friendly Keoish, but we're a reasonably simple people ... people carrying round mummified parts of sentient creatures' bodies doesn't strike us as all that reasonable.
Lupo
08-26-06, 07:05 AM Where the heck is it illegal to carry around a hand of the mage?

And you could just say that you killed an elf zombie or a drow, and took there hand. Of course, if it wasn't true, you'd have to make a bluff check. Still, I've been to several regions, including Verbobonc and Gran March, which were pretty rule intensive. And my home region is the Yeomanry, and a bigger group of superstious people you will never see.

sunndi, our beloved king hazendale and his fellow elves are a bit picky about the issue.

on the other hand :) you don't have any problems in innspa/ahlissa, ok as long as you stay clear of the adri forest, as the elves in there might be not amused.

or go to ekbir, elves are considered somehow below vermin there, so a hand of the mage would be not against anyone's feelings whatsoever.

ciao

martin m.
JohnduBois
08-26-06, 07:16 AM Where the heck is it illegal to carry around a hand of the mage?

In Furyondy, using items such as a hand of the mage or a robe of bones is considered by many to be Disturbing the Dead, which is a serious crime in a region where the undead are trying to conquer the region (on multiple fronts).
Oogar
08-26-06, 10:23 AM Wonder how they might react to me. I had my hand chopped off in a mod, and I still have not gotten it regenerated... I have been saving the hand, and considering turning it into a magical item. Think I would get into trouble for having turned a part of myself into a magical item?
GreatSiron
08-26-06, 10:18 PM You'd probably get looked at REAL funny down here in the Yeomanry, but I don't see any problem beyond the locals thinking you're creepy and avoiding you. At least you're not a dragon disciple. Last time I checked, they were KOS.
Japangirl
08-27-06, 02:25 PM Bring the hand of the mage to the BK. We don't care if you carry dead body parts around with you, mostly because we do the same thing. I think my Hewards still has a few heads in it that I haven't gotten rid of yet (to prevent Speak with Dead spells being cast on certain slain enemies) and I know I'm not the only one.
Puggle Halfwine
08-28-06, 09:00 AM You'd probably get looked at REAL funny down here in the Yeomanry, but I don't see any problem beyond the locals thinking you're creepy and avoiding you. At least you're not a dragon disciple. Last time I checked, they were KOS.

Even a gold dragon disciple/paladin? Woah.
NiTessine
08-28-06, 10:57 AM Where the heck is it illegal to carry around a hand of the mage?
The Principality of Naerie, once our metagame book comes out... Then again, over here it's also illegal to worship Trithereon. Help, we're being oppressed.

I don't really consider it that useful. If you must use illegal magic, do it with style, with a bonemail or something.
UMiskatonic
09-20-06, 01:12 PM I say go for it, for completely different reasons.

1) It's 450 to craft. That's one APL 4 mod of gold. Pretty cheap. If it's at all useful, great.

2) It's a necklace slot. Got anything better to do with that? Doesn't sound like you're ready to drop 4000 gp on an amulet of health +2 just yet.

3) It's good schtick to make stuff float around all spooky-like.

4) Just because you bought it doesn't mean you have to weld it to your head. Take it off when it's a problem, and stuff it in your bag.

The reason I wouldn't take it is opportunity cost. The money you spend on that is money you aren't spending on scrolls, new spells, etc. Is there something better that you could get with the money? If you have craft wondrous, I'd consider 500 gp to make a pearl of power 1 instead.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
awroe 08-18-06, 04:11 AM	My (soon to be) 4th level Wizard has access to a 'Hand of the Mage' (900gp, necklace slot, mage hand at will). Is it worth buying / crafting? I can see occasions when it could be useful, but more so than simply keeping a 0th level slot open to memorise it when necessary? It does have the drawback that it can't be easily used in regionals either, since wearing dead elf hands is considered illegal...
opa 08-18-06, 05:00 AM	I play with a character that uses it quite frequently, usually doubling as a trap springer... I would consider it worth 900gp to have around UNLESS I was an arcan and could do it with a 0 level slot...
clik_ml 08-18-06, 12:58 PM	wearing dead elf hands is considered illegal... It's just mummified, not necessarily from a dead elf. Heh, you could take a cohort and have him be the guy who was the donor, that way he can explain that all is well and you're not an elf-killer.
awroe 08-18-06, 02:16 PM	It's just mummified, not necessarily from a dead elf. Heh, you could take a cohort and have him be the guy who was the donor, that way he can explain that all is well and you're not an elf-killer. Hmm, I can just imagine "Yes, your Honor, I know possesion of this item is illegal here, punishable by fines of 90% of my wealth or exhile, death if I use it, but I thought since it was made from the hand of a friend it would be fine. Look, it can move all on it's own, it must still be alive." watches executioner's blade fall down
kenobi65 08-18-06, 02:32 PM	It's just mummified, not necessarily from a dead elf. The "stock" one in the DMG isn't. Perhaps the one on his AR is, however...
awroe 08-18-06, 02:37 PM	The "stock" one in the DMG isn't. Perhaps the one on his AR is, however... Hand of the Mage: This mummified elf hand... True, it doesn't say 'dead' anywhere, but I'd be interested in seeing a living mummified hand...
JJeff 08-18-06, 09:39 PM	I thought only the Hand of Glory was a mummfied hand....
GreatSiron 08-25-06, 11:15 PM	Where the heck is it illegal to carry around a hand of the mage? And you could just say that you killed an elf zombie or a drow, and took there hand. Of course, if it wasn't true, you'd have to make a bluff check. Still, I've been to several regions, including Verbobonc and Gran March, which were pretty rule intensive. And my home region is the Yeomanry, and a bigger group of superstious people you will never see.
ShinAkuma2 08-26-06, 12:59 AM	Where the heck is it illegal to carry around a hand of the mage? Keoland, the land where everything is illegal because none of it exists there. We have the world's largest carpet under which we sweep away everything! Point is, it doesn't matter where you got the hand or why you're wearing it. You've got a magical hunk of dead flesh hanging from your neck. We can't even have Ioun Stones without getting weird looks, for cripes sake.
pedr 08-26-06, 05:31 AM	Where the heck is it illegal to carry around a hand of the mage? And you could just say that you killed an elf zombie or a drow, and took there hand. Of course, if it wasn't true, you'd have to make a bluff check. Still, I've been to several regions, including Verbobonc and Gran March, which were pretty rule intensive. And my home region is the Yeomanry, and a bigger group of superstious people you will never see.Onnwal as well. We're not as anti-magic as those friendly Keoish, but we're a reasonably simple people ... people carrying round mummified parts of sentient creatures' bodies doesn't strike us as all that reasonable.
Lupo 08-26-06, 07:05 AM	Where the heck is it illegal to carry around a hand of the mage? And you could just say that you killed an elf zombie or a drow, and took there hand. Of course, if it wasn't true, you'd have to make a bluff check. Still, I've been to several regions, including Verbobonc and Gran March, which were pretty rule intensive. And my home region is the Yeomanry, and a bigger group of superstious people you will never see. sunndi, our beloved king hazendale and his fellow elves are a bit picky about the issue. on the other hand :) you don't have any problems in innspa/ahlissa, ok as long as you stay clear of the adri forest, as the elves in there might be not amused. or go to ekbir, elves are considered somehow below vermin there, so a hand of the mage would be not against anyone's feelings whatsoever. ciao martin m.
JohnduBois 08-26-06, 07:16 AM	Where the heck is it illegal to carry around a hand of the mage? In Furyondy, using items such as a hand of the mage or a robe of bones is considered by many to be Disturbing the Dead, which is a serious crime in a region where the undead are trying to conquer the region (on multiple fronts).
Oogar 08-26-06, 10:23 AM	Wonder how they might react to me. I had my hand chopped off in a mod, and I still have not gotten it regenerated... I have been saving the hand, and considering turning it into a magical item. Think I would get into trouble for having turned a part of myself into a magical item?
GreatSiron 08-26-06, 10:18 PM	You'd probably get looked at REAL funny down here in the Yeomanry, but I don't see any problem beyond the locals thinking you're creepy and avoiding you. At least you're not a dragon disciple. Last time I checked, they were KOS.
Japangirl 08-27-06, 02:25 PM	Bring the hand of the mage to the BK. We don't care if you carry dead body parts around with you, mostly because we do the same thing. I think my Hewards still has a few heads in it that I haven't gotten rid of yet (to prevent Speak with Dead spells being cast on certain slain enemies) and I know I'm not the only one.
Puggle Halfwine 08-28-06, 09:00 AM	You'd probably get looked at REAL funny down here in the Yeomanry, but I don't see any problem beyond the locals thinking you're creepy and avoiding you. At least you're not a dragon disciple. Last time I checked, they were KOS. Even a gold dragon disciple/paladin? Woah.
NiTessine 08-28-06, 10:57 AM	Where the heck is it illegal to carry around a hand of the mage? The Principality of Naerie, once our metagame book comes out... Then again, over here it's also illegal to worship Trithereon. Help, we're being oppressed. I don't really consider it that useful. If you must use illegal magic, do it with style, with a bonemail or something.
UMiskatonic 09-20-06, 01:12 PM	I say go for it, for completely different reasons. 1) It's 450 to craft. That's one APL 4 mod of gold. Pretty cheap. If it's at all useful, great. 2) It's a necklace slot. Got anything better to do with that? Doesn't sound like you're ready to drop 4000 gp on an amulet of health +2 just yet. 3) It's good schtick to make stuff float around all spooky-like. 4) Just because you bought it doesn't mean you have to weld it to your head. Take it off when it's a problem, and stuff it in your bag. The reason I wouldn't take it is opportunity cost. The money you spend on that is money you aren't spending on scrolls, new spells, etc. Is there something better that you could get with the money? If you have craft wondrous, I'd consider 500 gp to make a pearl of power 1 instead.