Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lomiir 01-31-04, 11:46 PM	Okay my DM is starting up a new campaign because we have a new player and we got kinda tired of our old characters. Last game he allowed each of us to have a piece of equipment with a custom ability of our own design(with his approval). They were pretty powerful(imagine a 1st level finesse fighter with boots which give perpetual haste) My new character will be a druid so I was thinking of a necklace that would allow spells to be cast without handling a focus or material component. I would still have to buy the focuses and components but they would immediately be used from my bag(so I could use them in animal form) Does this sound like a fair item? If you find it unfair please state why and maybe toss me some ideas for another special item? Thanks :)
Ithilorien 01-31-04, 11:56 PM	Someone wants boots of perpetual haste and you just want a necklace which gives you a free hand? Well, god bless players like you, I guess. Personally I'd try and come up with something like a wilding (works while wildshaped) amulet of perpetual bear's endurance, barkskin (+5), or greater magic fang (+5)
Lomiir 02-01-04, 12:01 AM	Well last campaign I was the one with the boots :) And If I'm in a form which couldnt get the components out of the bag like a bear or eagle(which would be melded with my body) I wouldnt be able to cast spells with material or focus material requirements. I'm not experiences with playing as a spellcaster so I may be missing something lol.
Ithilorien 02-01-04, 12:06 AM	Originally posted by Lomiir Well last campaign I was the one with the boots :) And If I'm in a form which couldnt get the components out of the bag like a bear or eagle(which would be melded with my body) I wouldnt be able to cast spells with material or focus material requirements. I'm not experiences with playing as a spellcaster so I may be missing something lol. I still say that if you want to "get your money's worth" (i.e. get an item of equal power to something a la boots of permahaste) go with something grander. There are feats for what you want, namely: ESCHEW MATERIALS [GENERAL] Benefit: You can cast any spell that has a material component costing 1 gp or less without needing that component. (The casting of the spell still provokes attacks of opportunity as normal.) If the spell requires a material component that costs more than 1 gp, you must have the material component at hand to cast the spell, just as normal. and: NATURAL SPELL [GENERAL] Prerequisites: Wis 13, wild shape ability. Benefit: You can complete the verbal and somatic components of spells while in a wild shape. You substitute various noises and gestures for the normal verbal and somatic components of a spell. You can also use any material components or focuses you possess, even if such items are melded within your current form. This feat does not permit the use of magic items while you are in a form that could not ordinarily use them, and you do not gain the ability to speak while in a wild shape. I suppose, if you wanted, you could go with an item that grants these feats (you technically need both to cast effectively while wildshaped). Another idea is one I was mulling around for a while, though mine was going to be a PrC ability rather than an item: the ability to have "Wild Spirit" instead of "Wild Shape" gaining all the positive bonuses of a chosen animal form while retaining your human one.
Lomiir 02-01-04, 12:30 AM	Are there really that many good spells which require a material focus greater than 1 gold?
PhaedrusXY 02-01-04, 12:42 AM	Originally posted by Lomiir Are there really that many good spells which require a material focus greater than 1 gold? For a druid, no. You basically only need Natural Spell.
Ithilorien 02-01-04, 01:07 AM	Heh, silly me I completely glossed over natural spell allowing you to use components . . . naturally.
Lomiir 02-01-04, 01:22 AM	Originally posted by Ithilorien Heh, silly me I completely glossed over natural spell allowing you to use components . . . naturally. yea but thats 3.5, we're playing 3.0 lol
Ithilorien 02-01-04, 01:48 AM	It's 3.0 in Masters of the Wild, isn't it?
Lomiir 02-01-04, 02:32 AM	Originally posted by Ithilorien It's 3.0 in Masters of the Wild, isn't it? Yes, but in 3.5 they added this line: "You can also use any material components or focuses you possess, even if such items are melded within your current form" In 3.0 you cannot use items that are melded.
RLWilde 02-01-04, 10:21 PM	Amulet of Animal Speech... constant (while worn) Speak with Animals. :D
Gandilas 02-02-04, 12:01 AM	Go for a really cool Animal Companion, one you wouldn't normally be able to get. How about a Spear of the Python/Viper/Rattlesnake. 3 times per day you can throw the longspear (down? at a distance?) and it transforms into a large snake and attacks! I always like to suggest magical rings, since players can't make what they want until 12th level. Something (Like the Monk's Belt) that adds your Wisdom bonus to your AC. Go Beastmaster and get a headband that allows you to see through your Animal Companion's eyes.
Falido 02-02-04, 06:29 AM	How about a special set of ball's with witch you can catch differnt kinds of animal compangions?? jk
Addi83 02-02-04, 07:57 AM	Originally posted by Falido How about a special set of ball's with witch you can catch differnt kinds of animal compangions?? jk Oookay....I so hope that you are joking, otherwise I'd have to spend all my money on a plane ticket to wherever you live to kick you in the shin for such a suggestion.(A pokèmon ripoff in D&D, hilarious):rofl:
SiegeSage 02-02-04, 01:15 PM	The same pair of boots would still be pretty sick. I would advise against an item that grants you Natural spell - Not because you don't want it (you really, really, really do) but because as soon as you lose it/have it stolen/disjoined/dispelled you're F'd. just take the feat. Those boots of haste would be sweet again - They'll act as a combination exped retreat spell, Auto Quicken spell, +1 attack item. Haste in 3.0 is basically broken. (good times those) If you want to kick it up a notch from there - use the haste property (From defenders of the faith) on a set of ironwood platemail. The sneakyest item you could get though is a talisman of Owl's Wisdom (5th level spell from Magic of Faerun). It casts Owl's Wisdom on you at your caster level (continuous effect). Here's the Hook - Owl's wisdom grants you an enhancement bonus to wisdom equal to half your caster level. That means you'll get +1 to your spell DC every other level, plus extra bonus spells; and it scales into Epic Levels! It's a truly innocuous item that seems low powered at first but will get steadily better and better (at a fairly frightening pace - at level 14 it becomes an "epic" item). I like the "talisman" the most, and if you think you can get it tacked on - have it also grant the "wilding" trait (from Masters of the Wild) to all equipment you own. You can always make - or have made - the haste item (relatively easily). And you could also have the Ironwood Platemail be the "talisman". Take Eschew Materials and Natural spell as part of your feat progression - they aren't something you want tied to an item (too easy to lose)
Thorak 02-02-04, 02:07 PM	Also, anything relatively minor that you can get tattooed on is a bonus. Especially if said tattoo doesn't vanish when you Wildshape. Tattoo of Animal Speech, etc. Slotless magical item + unremoveable = happiness.