This Feat is meant to emulate a version of Midas' Touch from Greek myth. The goal is to make a balanced trait that allows for interesting interactions and consequences.
Work with your DM to come up with a reason for this trait being granted. Maybe as a child the PC was born with the curse? Maybe after years of experimentation a ritual backfires and infuses your PC with chaotic energy. Or perhaps play into the trope, your PC appealed to a god, asking for riches and wealth and they were cursed with Midas' Touch.
Golden Touch
Any non-magical item or creature that you touch turns to gold as twisted energy flows unwillingly from your person. (Use grappling rules where necessary) Upon the release of this energy you take necrotic damage, dictated by the DM, based on the size of the given target. *Examples below* You also decrease your maximum hit points by 1d4 until your next long rest.
A person who has lived with this trait for some time may have developed mannerisms and habits to avoid touching things when they don't intend to. If there is a situation where it is possible for the PC to accidentally touch something or someone, set an appropriate DC STR/DEX saving throw to determine if contact is made or not.
If the target is a creature, construct, or other animate object it must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature magically begins to turn to gold and is restrained. It must repeat the saving throw at the end of its next turn. On a success, the effect ends. On a failure, the creature is petrified.
Targets remain petrified until freed from the condition by the following methods:
- The Greater Restoration spell
- Divine magic of opposite and greater power than the effect that bestowed Midas' Malediction
- Flowing water will melt away the effects of Midas' touch on objects and creatures. This effect takes longer based on the quantity and flow rate of the water in question.
Other methods not described here, based on DM discretion, may or may not work. Also at the DM's discretion some creatures or items are not viable to be unpetrified via any of the means mentioned above
The properties of inanimate items transformed by Midas' Malediction remain mostly identical to their original state. Weight, texture, and density do not change. The item visually gains a golden sheen and is treated as a metallic object. Meaning It will conduct heat and electricity.
The items you transform are not immune to scrutiny...the closer to gold the original item the more it will appear as genuine on first glance. The mismatch of weight or density from real gold can tip off a curious investigator to the suspicious nature of the golden item. A DC 10 Arcana check reveals the gold to be of magical origin.
Food items are also affected by this feature. Meaning your character can only eat magical or blessed food. Food items that grant health or bonuses of any sort may qualify...discuss with your DM what your ideas and options are.
Examples for Necrotic Damage:
- 1d4 damage - a small key, trinket, silverware, coins, small locket...
- 2d4 damage - clothing items, weapons, books, tools...
- 2d8 damage - small creatures, chairs, doors, dressers, beds...
- 3d8 damage - medium creatures, wagons, Banquet tables, sheds
- 3d10 damage - large creatures
- 5d10 damage - huge creatures
- 6d12 damage - gargantuan creatures
The damage above is only recommendations, please work with your DM to make the stakes and rewards sufficient for your campaign and scenario. And remember that a PC's max hit points are lowered as well when this ability is used.
This Curse can not be removed with anything short of a wish spell, or other sufficiently powerful means. This ability is meant to be a curse more than it is a benefit.
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