Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 donosaur Aug 31, 2015 15:25:35	So I'm running the Lost Mine of Phandelver Starter Set with my group (we're late, I realize) and even though we're a bunch of newbies, I've been making some heavy modifications to the adventure to make it more satisfying.    In brief, Black Spider bought the loyalty of his minions, Glasstaff, King Grol, and the doppelgangers by doling out magic items; in our story, Glasstaff's glass staff of defense came from the Spider. I decided to give Grol a Ring of Mind Shielding that he uses because he is paranoid and knows that Spider's doppelgangers can read minds. The ring can turn invisible while worn, and it occurred to me that it could be made of glass as well, making it seem like it's part of the same set as the staff.   So now I want to have a sort of Deathly Hallows thing going on, and have there be a 3rd magic glass item that the remaining doppelganger agent has. Here's what I need it to be: It needs to be something that can't be used offensively, since the Black Spider wouldn't hand out items that could be used to attack him. It should be defensive, but in a different way than the staff or ring (physical attacks and mental infiltration, respectively) It doesn't have to be an item that's typically glass, it could be a special glass version of the item. It shouldn't be too overpowered to give to a party of 4th level adventurers. I think it makes the most sense to have the item create some sort of invisibilty or illusion. Right now I'm thinking a glass eversmoking bottle could be fun and make story sense for the doppelganger to have as a means of distraction/evasion, but a pendant of invisibility is more straightforward, although possibly overpowered. A glass mirror that works like a stone of sending would also make sense for the Spider's field agent to possess, but will be worhtless unless they get the other piece from the Spider.   More experienced DMs, what should I round out this set with?   PS: a fun bonus would be if the 3 items could combine in some way to create a powerful item, making them a puzzle as well as useful items.. The ring fits on the staff, but then what?
#2 AndrewJO Sep 01, 2015 6:52:16	It could be a brooch of shielding.
#3 Ralif_Redhammer Sep 01, 2015 7:30:45	A driftglobe springs to mind.   I do like the eversmoking bottle, though. It’s an odd magic item that can be useful in a number of different ways.
#4 WorBlade Sep 01, 2015 16:54:23	Non detect perhaps. Something to hide magical detection of the shapeshifting - which would not be a bad thing in the hands of PCs because they won't be in alternate form very often.
#5 BRJN Sep 01, 2015 17:46:53	Necklace of Invisibility that lasts about 3 rounds in combat or 10 minutes out of it.  Long enough to get into position or get oneself in deep trouble when everybody else can see you again.   The Sending Stone / mirror sounds cool, too.  Have the "other half" fall out of his pocket as he flees, if the PCs confront him before you are done with his plots.   Not physical, not mental, how about magic: belt or necklace that gives you Resist (spells) damage.  At 4th-level, even if you successfully resist a Fireball, that's still probably enough damage to take you down to single digits (which I describe as 'barely on his feet'). If you assemble all three, you can change your appearance (like an appropriate Illusion spell) or at higher levels unlock a Polymorph Self -like capability, new form must be approximately humanoid.   To inspire future PC creativity: You can learn how to use Glassblowers Tools if you own at least one, assemble all three in a workshop, and perform a ritual of Learning (takes 8 hours).  You have to draft the ritual yourself (takes a week or so of 4-hour days - allowing time for adventuring on the side), but any wizard's apprentice knows the basic form, for simplicity's sake.
(Reply to #5) donosaur	BRJN wrote:
#7 CCS Sep 02, 2015 19:48:50	It should definitely NOT be an item that grants invisibility. Why? Because that is a highly offensive item. I mean, if your Spider is concerned about his minions turning on him/potentially losing the items to foes, then the last thing he'd want floating around is something that allows him to be snuck up on invisibly....
(Reply to #7) donosaur	CCS wrote:
#9 BRJN Sep 04, 2015 14:46:49	If they investigate the ring further, somebody gives them the same "it is a mere trinket, a trifle" speech that Sauron's ambassador used on the King Under the Mountain, trying to locate Bilbo.  The ring itself (Grol) has to try hard not to laugh out loud over that.
#10 Geoarrge Sep 04, 2015 16:51:01	Here's an idea for an extra power for the brooch of shielding: The brooch has a single charge for casting a version of wall of force, that lasts only one round.  The brooch is recharged whenever the wearer is targeted by force damage, but its capacity is only one charge.
(Reply to #10) Fimbrial	Geoarrge wrote: