Thursday, October 13, 2011

winners totally do this

Wizard's Mix

Called Pipeweed of Metamnemonic Inspiration or Smokeables of Arcanocogitation in certain sources, the Wizard's Mix combines a particular variety of the standard halfling smoking herb with other potent ingredients, perhaps henbane or mandrake or saints know what else.  When available for sale a pouch of Wizard's Mix will be good for d6 smokes and cost d6 x 100gp.

To employ the Wizard's Mix a pipe and source of fire is required and d6 turns must be spent smoking in quiet contemplation.  Others present may engage in light conversation or pleasant singing, but arguments or other loud noises have a 50% chance of ruining the beneficial effects of smoking the pipeweed.

Upon finishing the smoke, the user may roll 1d6 to attempt to refill a currently empty arcane spell slot.  If the roll is equal to or higher than the spell level of the empty slot, the spellcaster has received a magical insight whereby a randomly generated spell of the appropriate level appears in the caster's memory.  If slots of different levels are empty the die roll is used to decide which spell level is filled (e.g. a roll of 3 will fill a third level slot if available, otherwise it will fill a second level slot before it fills a first level slot).  The spell added to the magic-user's memory does not come from the list of spells known in their spellbook, but rather is generated from the total list in the rulebook appropriate for the class (or the DM's house list if such a list is kept), allowing the user access to spells they couldn't otherwise cast.

All attempts to transcribe spells learned under the effect of Wizard's Mix result in pages and pages of total gibberish.  In the reverie to put down these new insights the user runs a 50% chance of ruining d6 spells already in their spellbook; while high they don't realize they are scribbling over previous spells.

11 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:30 AM

    When does he have to start casting oxygen spells on himself for his COPD? lol

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  2. What? Did you say the COPS were here man? Hide the wizard mix!

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  3. User must pass a Wisdom check to finish transcribing poetry inspired by the effects of wizard's mix - at a -15 penalty.

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  4. Love this! You might add the possibility of getting a bonus on a knowledge check, regardless of subject - maybe 1d6+2, or 1d4+4.

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  5. Awesome! I do always like ideas blending real-world religious/magical practices with D&D stuff.

    Love this! You might add the possibility of getting a bonus on a knowledge check, regardless of subject - maybe 1d6+2, or 1d4+4.

    I like that variant, but I might add some complexity to make it a little weirder — organize a chart with random facts on it. Say, for instance, that you make a d100 chart. Some entries just reflect that you get high and have a fine time. Some facts are useful campaign secrets — the Lichlord of the Northlands hides his phylactery in an unassuming jar in his treasury. Some facts are less useful campaign secrets — Aelfryd the Smithy of Atron-over-Eds is currently having a row with his wife over finances. Some facts are sanity-blasting secrets — you learn something so horrific you can't remember it correctly, but it haunts your dreams and you're at -2 to your actions until the malaise passes.

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  6. I love your idea here, I'm going to add something like it to my campaigns but not for getting spells back just for getting bonuses to knowledge arcane and/or spellcraft checks.

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  7. Anonymous6:45 PM

    Good one, Jeff. I have a gnome wizard with a smoking pipe in my game right now, I should arrange for some of this stuff to find it's way into a enemy wizard's treasure hoard soon.

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  8. user@example.com11:43 AM

    I can see a party of mages spending a few days in a haze of weirdly coloured smoke to fill all their spell slots before an adventure. Where's the fun in carefully picking spells to fill your slots when you can just randomise them, then go out and adventure with whatever nonsensical selection you've crammed into your head?

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  9. Perfect. A must have for every decent wizard...

    Word Verification: cheers

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  10. This is pretty neat.

    Think I'm going to include something along these lines in the future at dramatically lowered cost . . . the catch being that overuse leads to sickness and addiction.

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  11. Jim, really? This post just combines to many coincidences and cool things not be embraced.

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