A set of Artifacts: The Mephit Masks [Archive] - Wizards Community

A set of Artifacts: The Mephit Masks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
The Grinning Pint
10-02-04, 12:51 PM A group of masks, each colored to a type of mephit. When the mask is put on it bestows its power to the wearer.
It grants the wearer the ability to use the spell-like abilities of the mephit type it is attuned to the dc is double what it would normally be.
They also cause the wearer to be immune to the breath weapon of the attuned mephit, and allow it to use that weapon every 1d4 rounds.
The wearer also gains fast healing 2 when in the proper conditions of a mephit of the proper type (Like underground for earth etc.)
The wearer also gets the subtype of the proper mephit type (fire for fire etc)
If the mephit of the proper type has a swim speed, the master also gains that.
The wearer can plane shift to (and return) from the plane attuned to the masks mephit type. On any of these trips, the master can breathe as if on the material plane and if on the earth elemental plane, can move through the earth as if he were walking.
The wearer also gains the ability to summon mephits like a mephit can, but with a 100(?)% chance instead of the normal chance.
Also, all mephits of the corresponding type are very friendly and generally obedient towards the wearer unless he/she takes hostile actions against the other or sends the mephit into pointless danger.
+4 to intimidate checks.
The wearer also gains wings as the mephit of his type, but they can be removed at will.
These masks also grant a +2 to charisma and dexterity when worn. They can only be removed by powerful magic or death. Powerful magic means a wish spell by a 20th level caster or stronger. There is one last way to remove a mask, by putting on another one. There can only be one on at a time.

These give off a very strong magical aura.
Vanigo
10-02-04, 01:28 PM I'm not sure these really need to be artifacts. They seem to be more on the power level of regular magic items to me.
The Grinning Pint
10-02-04, 03:06 PM I was wondering about that... Minor artifacts maybe if I let them use the summon ability 100% chance?
Vanigo
10-02-04, 10:06 PM Well, there's no particular reason you couldn't make them artifacts anyway, it just seems a bit odd. They could be minor artifacts if you wanted.

Why don't you want them to be regular magic items? Do they have some plot significance? If they've got some sort of secondary power if you gather them together or something, that could justify artifact status.
The Grinning Pint
10-03-04, 03:06 PM Actually they DO have some campaign significance. I think I'll buff up the save DCs of their spell abilties at least, the ones that the mephits themselves have is pretty low.
kSquared
10-03-04, 03:33 PM These are pretty weak (for artifacts). If you're going to make them artifact-level magic, I'd give each mephit mask its own personal constant-effect power, like fire resistance 50 for the mask of the fire mephits or something.
The Grinning Pint
10-03-04, 03:46 PM I added in: mephit breath weapons, planeshifting, and some slight changes here and there.
The Grinning Pint
10-04-04, 09:08 PM Slight ability boosts added in.
Vanigo
10-04-04, 09:56 PM Yeah, I think this is about up to artifact-level power now. Not very high in the artifact range, but high enough. One thing, though. You say only powerful magic and death can remove it. What powerful magic? Can the wearer willingly remove it?
The Grinning Pint
10-04-04, 10:03 PM Not willingly, thats part of the power/weakness.

Powerful magic = wish cast by a 20th level caster kind of powerful.

I was thinking about maybe linking the masks with telepathy?
Thomar_of_Uointer
10-04-04, 11:07 PM Thank you. You just inspired a mephit-touched template...
The Grinning Pint
10-05-04, 07:26 AM Go mephits!

Those dragonorbs mean nothing when youve got mephitmasks!
MUAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAhAhahahAHHAHAHAHHAH AHHA
Vanigo
10-05-04, 09:10 PM Powerful magic = wish cast by a 20th level caster kind of powerful.You really should state that explicitly in the description.
The Grinning Pint
10-05-04, 09:38 PM These masks really do hurt your social life.. Who in their right mind tries to kiss someone wearing a wierd mask all the time!
smrtgmp
10-06-04, 05:00 AM Perhaps they have a fetish?
Ryll
10-06-04, 05:17 AM Actually, not being able to remove these at will would make these something most would not want to wear.

The powers are nice, and may even be a lifesaver, but I think most beings don't want to permenently give up their race.

I would suggest you need the powerful magic to remove, but you could also remove them at will if, and only if, you did not use any of the powers (spell-like abilities, flight, immunity to an energy type, etc) for one week, this does not include powers that are always in effect, like just being a fire type, etc. This would allow the owner to find someplace to hole up when he is between adventures to be able to remove the masks.

Otherwise I would think most, if not all who would don such a mask would be striving to get the power to rid themselves of it. Of course this may be the main driver of your campaign, in which case forget everything I have said here.

At least that is the way I see it. I would love the abilities of a mephit, but I do not want to become a mephit. Being able to change into one when wanted, and then change back, that would be quite nice.
The Grinning Pint
10-06-04, 07:17 AM Well a simple spell like disguise self can disguise your mask, and you can just remove the wings if you wish. But yeah they are supposed to be unremovable. Although maybe I'll have a special material that when touched to the mask causes it to come off, whether you want it to or not.
Strange Charm
10-06-04, 12:21 PM A special material? How about the blood/flesh of a mephit of the type that the mask is attuned to? You could require that the mephit be willing to aid the mask wearer.

In order to remove such a mask, you must find a powerful mephit willing to sacrifice a portion of its essence. The mask is removed in a ritual requiring two weeks to complete, 500,000gp, and the casting of two wish spells. When the ritual is complete, the mephit permanantly loses one level [or hit die]. The lost level cannot be restored by any means; however, the mephit may continue to gain levels normally (i.e., through experience).
Vanigo
10-06-04, 04:58 PM A special material? How about the blood/flesh of a mephit of the type that the mask is attuned to? You could require that the mephit be willing to aid the mask wearer.

In order to remove such a mask, you must find a powerful mephit willing to sacrifice a portion of its essence. The mask is removed in a ritual requiring two weeks to complete, 500,000gp, and the casting of two wish spells. When the ritual is complete, the mephit permanantly loses one level [or hit die]. The lost level cannot be restored by any means; however, the mephit may continue to gain levels normally (i.e., through experience).
That's excessive. It'd be much cheaper and easier to just kill the wearer, take the mask off, then bring him back to life with true resurrection.
The Grinning Pint
10-06-04, 08:40 PM Too excessive indeed.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The Grinning Pint 10-02-04, 12:51 PM	A group of masks, each colored to a type of mephit. When the mask is put on it bestows its power to the wearer. It grants the wearer the ability to use the spell-like abilities of the mephit type it is attuned to the dc is double what it would normally be. They also cause the wearer to be immune to the breath weapon of the attuned mephit, and allow it to use that weapon every 1d4 rounds. The wearer also gains fast healing 2 when in the proper conditions of a mephit of the proper type (Like underground for earth etc.) The wearer also gets the subtype of the proper mephit type (fire for fire etc) If the mephit of the proper type has a swim speed, the master also gains that. The wearer can plane shift to (and return) from the plane attuned to the masks mephit type. On any of these trips, the master can breathe as if on the material plane and if on the earth elemental plane, can move through the earth as if he were walking. The wearer also gains the ability to summon mephits like a mephit can, but with a 100(?)% chance instead of the normal chance. Also, all mephits of the corresponding type are very friendly and generally obedient towards the wearer unless he/she takes hostile actions against the other or sends the mephit into pointless danger. +4 to intimidate checks. The wearer also gains wings as the mephit of his type, but they can be removed at will. These masks also grant a +2 to charisma and dexterity when worn. They can only be removed by powerful magic or death. Powerful magic means a wish spell by a 20th level caster or stronger. There is one last way to remove a mask, by putting on another one. There can only be one on at a time. These give off a very strong magical aura.
Vanigo 10-02-04, 01:28 PM	I'm not sure these really need to be artifacts. They seem to be more on the power level of regular magic items to me.
The Grinning Pint 10-02-04, 03:06 PM	I was wondering about that... Minor artifacts maybe if I let them use the summon ability 100% chance?
Vanigo 10-02-04, 10:06 PM	Well, there's no particular reason you couldn't make them artifacts anyway, it just seems a bit odd. They could be minor artifacts if you wanted. Why don't you want them to be regular magic items? Do they have some plot significance? If they've got some sort of secondary power if you gather them together or something, that could justify artifact status.
The Grinning Pint 10-03-04, 03:06 PM	Actually they DO have some campaign significance. I think I'll buff up the save DCs of their spell abilties at least, the ones that the mephits themselves have is pretty low.
kSquared 10-03-04, 03:33 PM	These are pretty weak (for artifacts). If you're going to make them artifact-level magic, I'd give each mephit mask its own personal constant-effect power, like fire resistance 50 for the mask of the fire mephits or something.
The Grinning Pint 10-03-04, 03:46 PM	I added in: mephit breath weapons, planeshifting, and some slight changes here and there.
The Grinning Pint 10-04-04, 09:08 PM	Slight ability boosts added in.
Vanigo 10-04-04, 09:56 PM	Yeah, I think this is about up to artifact-level power now. Not very high in the artifact range, but high enough. One thing, though. You say only powerful magic and death can remove it. What powerful magic? Can the wearer willingly remove it?
The Grinning Pint 10-04-04, 10:03 PM	Not willingly, thats part of the power/weakness. Powerful magic = wish cast by a 20th level caster kind of powerful. I was thinking about maybe linking the masks with telepathy?
Thomar_of_Uointer 10-04-04, 11:07 PM	Thank you. You just inspired a mephit-touched template...
The Grinning Pint 10-05-04, 07:26 AM	Go mephits! Those dragonorbs mean nothing when youve got mephitmasks! MUAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAhAhahahAHHAHAHAHHAH AHHA
Vanigo 10-05-04, 09:10 PM	Powerful magic = wish cast by a 20th level caster kind of powerful.You really should state that explicitly in the description.
The Grinning Pint 10-05-04, 09:38 PM	These masks really do hurt your social life.. Who in their right mind tries to kiss someone wearing a wierd mask all the time!
smrtgmp 10-06-04, 05:00 AM	Perhaps they have a fetish?
Ryll 10-06-04, 05:17 AM	Actually, not being able to remove these at will would make these something most would not want to wear. The powers are nice, and may even be a lifesaver, but I think most beings don't want to permenently give up their race. I would suggest you need the powerful magic to remove, but you could also remove them at will if, and only if, you did not use any of the powers (spell-like abilities, flight, immunity to an energy type, etc) for one week, this does not include powers that are always in effect, like just being a fire type, etc. This would allow the owner to find someplace to hole up when he is between adventures to be able to remove the masks. Otherwise I would think most, if not all who would don such a mask would be striving to get the power to rid themselves of it. Of course this may be the main driver of your campaign, in which case forget everything I have said here. At least that is the way I see it. I would love the abilities of a mephit, but I do not want to become a mephit. Being able to change into one when wanted, and then change back, that would be quite nice.
The Grinning Pint 10-06-04, 07:17 AM	Well a simple spell like disguise self can disguise your mask, and you can just remove the wings if you wish. But yeah they are supposed to be unremovable. Although maybe I'll have a special material that when touched to the mask causes it to come off, whether you want it to or not.
Strange Charm 10-06-04, 12:21 PM	A special material? How about the blood/flesh of a mephit of the type that the mask is attuned to? You could require that the mephit be willing to aid the mask wearer. In order to remove such a mask, you must find a powerful mephit willing to sacrifice a portion of its essence. The mask is removed in a ritual requiring two weeks to complete, 500,000gp, and the casting of two wish spells. When the ritual is complete, the mephit permanantly loses one level [or hit die]. The lost level cannot be restored by any means; however, the mephit may continue to gain levels normally (i.e., through experience).
Vanigo 10-06-04, 04:58 PM	A special material? How about the blood/flesh of a mephit of the type that the mask is attuned to? You could require that the mephit be willing to aid the mask wearer. In order to remove such a mask, you must find a powerful mephit willing to sacrifice a portion of its essence. The mask is removed in a ritual requiring two weeks to complete, 500,000gp, and the casting of two wish spells. When the ritual is complete, the mephit permanantly loses one level [or hit die]. The lost level cannot be restored by any means; however, the mephit may continue to gain levels normally (i.e., through experience). That's excessive. It'd be much cheaper and easier to just kill the wearer, take the mask off, then bring him back to life with true resurrection.
The Grinning Pint 10-06-04, 08:40 PM	Too excessive indeed.