Noob DM here, and I’ve never usually had legendary items as main story pieces before. I want to make items that start out like normal ones but slowly evolve into legendary items. In addition, since the story is based around the Seven Deadly Sins & the Seven Heavenly Virtues, they would have two modes; Virtuous & Deadly. The PCs are well aware of these items and have confirmed they exist. I thought it would be easier, but it’s actually kinda hard? Do you have any ideas?
(The pcs will get a ring, gauntlets, a sword, a cloak, a bow, a staff and a dagger)
Look up the Dragon's Wrath Weapon from Fizban's Treasury of Dragons. It is a prime example of how to design a weapon or magic item that has stages that unlock as the players progress. It goes from uncommon all the way up to legendary.
To do this, you're probably going to have to make multiple versions of the items, and edit the PCs' character sheets yourself (this requires you to be the official DM by having made the campaign), or tell them to do it, when the items upgrade.
I'm pretty sure that you can't make items add powers based on character level, but you should check the FAQs on the homebrewing forums to be sure. I am sure you can't make them scale up based on any other criteria.
IIRC, if you have unpublished homebrew* and edit it, it does update on the character sheet of those using it, but the timing is not reliable, and if you're scaling it down, or flipping it between the two modes, you're giving yourself more to keep track of than the multiple versions plan.
* You shouldn't be publishing items for your private game anyway, but a lot of people think they have to.
When this item is found it is Dormant with 0 charges and has the abilities listed under Dormant. Virtue or Sin charges can be unlocked depending on the choices the creature attune to it makes up to a maximum 10 charges total. These charges can be expended to activate either Lust (Sin charges) or Chastity (Virtue charges) abilities, this item regains all charges that have been unlocked at dawn.
Dormant : while you aren't wearing armour, you gain a bonus to your armour class equal to your Charisma modifier. You gain a 1d4 bonus to any Charisma check you make.
Lust :
Sin Charges
Ability
1
you can expend 1 charge to cast Hunter's Mark without requiring your concentration.
2
when you hit a creature with an attack or it fails a save against one of your spells, you can expend 2 charges to charm it until the end of your next turn. While charmed in this way the target cannot attack you or move away from you.
3
when you deal damage to a creature, you can expend 3 charges to deal additional psychic damage to it equal to your 3x your level.
8
When you unlock at least 8 Sin charges, you can use a bonus action on each of your turns to teleport up to 30 ft to a location you can see that is within 5 feet of another creature can can immediately make one melee attack or cast a spell with a range of Touch targeting that creature as part of this bonus action.
Chastity :
Virtue Charges
Ability
1
you can expend 1 charge to cast Shield of Faith without requiring your concentration.
2
when you fail a Wisdom saving throw or Charisma (Persuasion) check, you can expend 2 charges to reroll it, you must use the new roll.
3
as a bonus action, you can expend 3 charges to gain resistance to bludgeoning, slashing, piercing, and psychic damage for 1 minute.
8
When you unlock at least 8 Virtue charges, at the end of each long rest you can choose one damage type from: acid, cold, fire, poison lightning, force, thunder. You and up to 10 creatures of your choice gain resistance that damage type until your next long rest.
Ring of Wealth
Requires Attunement
When this item is found it is Dormant with 0 charges and has the abilities listed under Dormant. Virtue or Sin charges can be unlocked depending on the choices the creature attune to it makes up to a maximum 10 charges total. These charges can be expended to activate either Greed (Sin charges) or Charity (Virtue charges) abilities, this item regains all charges that have been unlocked at dawn.
Dormant :Items and crafting materials (including spell components and scribing materials) cost you 25% less than normal. You gain a 1d4 bonus to checks using Sleight of Hand or Thieves tools.
Greed :
Sin Charges
Ability
1
You can expend one charge to create an illusion on one object or set of clothing making it appear much more or less valuable that normal. For instance a ring made of twisted grass might appear as a gold ring. You cannot change the shape or size of the target. This change lasts for 1 hour. A DC 13 Investigation check reveals the true value of the disguised item.
2
When you deal damage to a creature, you can expend 2 charges to regain hit points equal to half the damage you dealt.
3
When you succeed on a saving throw against a spell, you can expend 3 charges to regain one expended spellslot of equal or less level as the spell you saved against. If you do not have any expended spellslots of appropriate level, you gain a bonus to the damage you deal with your next attack equal to twice the level of the spell.
8
When you unlock at least 8 Sin charges, you can attune to one additional magic item.
Charity :
Virtue Charges
Ability
1
You can use a bonus action to expend 1 charge to empower one friendly creature within 30 ft of you, the target can use their reaction to Dash, Dodge or Attack (one attack only).
2
3
You can expend 3 charges to cast Bless at 3rd level without requiring your concentration.
8
When you unlock at least 8 Virtue charges, when a friendly creature within 60 ft of you makes an attack, ability check or saving throw you can use your reaction to give them advantage on the roll.
Dagger of Renown
Requires Attunement
When this item is found it is Dormant with 0 charges and has the abilities listed under Dormant. Virtue or Sin charges can be unlocked depending on the choices the creature attune to it makes up to a maximum 10 charges total. These charges can be expended to activate either Pride (Sin charges) or Humility (Virtue charges) abilities, this item regains all charges that have been unlocked at dawn.
Dormant :
Pride :
Sin Charges
Ability
1
you can expend 1 charge to give yourself advantage on the next ability check you make within the next 10 minutes.
2
3
8
When you unlock at least 8 Sin charges,
Humility :
Virtue Charges
Ability
1
2
3
8
When you unlock at least 8 Virtue charges,
Staff of Toil
Requires Attunement
When this item is found it is Dormant with 0 charges and has the abilities listed under Dormant. Virtue or Sin charges can be unlocked depending on the choices the creature attune to it makes up to a maximum 10 charges total. These charges can be expended to activate either Sloth (Sin charges) or Diligence (Virtue charges) abilities, this item regains all charges that have been unlocked at dawn.
Dormant :
Sloth :
Sin Charges
Ability
1
As a free action on your turn, you can create an illusory duplicate of yourself within 30 feet of you that lasts until the end of your current turn. You can make attacks and cast spells as if you were in the position of your duplicate.
2
you can expend 2 charges to cast Levitate on yourself, without requiring your concentration.
3
you can expend 3 charges to cast Animate Objects.
8
When you unlock at least 8 Sin charges, you end your turn without willingly moving, you gain resistance to all damage until the start of your next turn.
Diligence :
Virtue Charges
Ability
1
you can use a bonus action to expend 1 Virtue charge to cast Longstrider.
2
3
8
When you unlock at least 8 Virtue charges, you can take one additional Action on your first turn in combat.
Gauntlets of Conflict
Dormant :
Wrath :
Sin Charges
Ability
1
2
3
8
When you unlock at least 8 Sin charges,
Patience :
Virtue Charges
Ability
1
2
3
8
When you unlock at least 8 Virtue charges,
Bow of Devouring
Requires Attunement
When this item is found it is Dormant with 0 charges and has the abilities listed under Dormant. Virtue or Sin charges can be unlocked depending on the choices the creature attune to it makes up to a maximum 10 charges total. These charges can be expended to activate either Gluttony (Sin charges) or Temperance (Virtue charges) abilities, this item regains all charges that have been unlocked at dawn.
Dormant :
Gluttony :
Sin Charges
Ability
1
2
3
8
When you unlock at least 8 Sin charges,
Temperance :
Virtue Charges
Ability
1
2
3
8
When you unlock at least 8 Virtue charges,
Sword of the Challenger
Requires Attunement
When this item is found it is Dormant with 0 charges and has the abilities listed under Dormant. Virtue or Sin charges can be unlocked depending on the choices the creature attune to it makes up to a maximum 10 charges total. These charges can be expended to activate either Envy (Sin charges) or Kindness (Virtue charges) abilities, this item regains all charges that have been unlocked at dawn.
Noob DM here, and I’ve never usually had legendary items as main story pieces before. I want to make items that start out like normal ones but slowly evolve into legendary items. In addition, since the story is based around the Seven Deadly Sins & the Seven Heavenly Virtues, they would have two modes; Virtuous & Deadly. The PCs are well aware of these items and have confirmed they exist. I thought it would be easier, but it’s actually kinda hard? Do you have any ideas?
(The pcs will get a ring, gauntlets, a sword, a cloak, a bow, a staff and a dagger)
Look up the Dragon's Wrath Weapon from Fizban's Treasury of Dragons. It is a prime example of how to design a weapon or magic item that has stages that unlock as the players progress. It goes from uncommon all the way up to legendary.
To do this, you're probably going to have to make multiple versions of the items, and edit the PCs' character sheets yourself (this requires you to be the official DM by having made the campaign), or tell them to do it, when the items upgrade.
I'm pretty sure that you can't make items add powers based on character level, but you should check the FAQs on the homebrewing forums to be sure. I am sure you can't make them scale up based on any other criteria.
IIRC, if you have unpublished homebrew* and edit it, it does update on the character sheet of those using it, but the timing is not reliable, and if you're scaling it down, or flipping it between the two modes, you're giving yourself more to keep track of than the multiple versions plan.
* You shouldn't be publishing items for your private game anyway, but a lot of people think they have to.
Yeah, the dragon weapons metamongoose mentioned are good. There’s also Vestiges of Divergence in the first Critical roll book.
You could do something like this:
Cloak of Passion
Requires Attunement
When this item is found it is Dormant with 0 charges and has the abilities listed under Dormant. Virtue or Sin charges can be unlocked depending on the choices the creature attune to it makes up to a maximum 10 charges total. These charges can be expended to activate either Lust (Sin charges) or Chastity (Virtue charges) abilities, this item regains all charges that have been unlocked at dawn.
Dormant : while you aren't wearing armour, you gain a bonus to your armour class equal to your Charisma modifier. You gain a 1d4 bonus to any Charisma check you make.
Lust :
Chastity :
Virtue
Charges
Ring of Wealth
Requires Attunement
When this item is found it is Dormant with 0 charges and has the abilities listed under Dormant. Virtue or Sin charges can be unlocked depending on the choices the creature attune to it makes up to a maximum 10 charges total. These charges can be expended to activate either Greed (Sin charges) or Charity (Virtue charges) abilities, this item regains all charges that have been unlocked at dawn.
Dormant : Items and crafting materials (including spell components and scribing materials) cost you 25% less than normal. You gain a 1d4 bonus to checks using Sleight of Hand or Thieves tools.
Greed :
Sin
Charges
Charity :
Virtue
Charges
Dagger of Renown
Requires Attunement
When this item is found it is Dormant with 0 charges and has the abilities listed under Dormant. Virtue or Sin charges can be unlocked depending on the choices the creature attune to it makes up to a maximum 10 charges total. These charges can be expended to activate either Pride (Sin charges) or Humility (Virtue charges) abilities, this item regains all charges that have been unlocked at dawn.
Dormant :
Pride :
Sin
Charges
Humility :
Virtue
Charges
Staff of Toil
Requires Attunement
When this item is found it is Dormant with 0 charges and has the abilities listed under Dormant. Virtue or Sin charges can be unlocked depending on the choices the creature attune to it makes up to a maximum 10 charges total. These charges can be expended to activate either Sloth (Sin charges) or Diligence (Virtue charges) abilities, this item regains all charges that have been unlocked at dawn.
Dormant :
Sloth :
Sin
Charges
Diligence :
Virtue
Charges
Gauntlets of Conflict
Dormant :
Wrath :
Sin
Charges
Patience :
Virtue
Charges
Bow of Devouring
Requires Attunement
When this item is found it is Dormant with 0 charges and has the abilities listed under Dormant. Virtue or Sin charges can be unlocked depending on the choices the creature attune to it makes up to a maximum 10 charges total. These charges can be expended to activate either Gluttony (Sin charges) or Temperance (Virtue charges) abilities, this item regains all charges that have been unlocked at dawn.
Dormant :
Gluttony :
Sin
Charges
Temperance :
Virtue
Charges
Sword of the Challenger
Requires Attunement
When this item is found it is Dormant with 0 charges and has the abilities listed under Dormant. Virtue or Sin charges can be unlocked depending on the choices the creature attune to it makes up to a maximum 10 charges total. These charges can be expended to activate either Envy (Sin charges) or Kindness (Virtue charges) abilities, this item regains all charges that have been unlocked at dawn.
Dormant :
Envy :
Virtue
Charges
Kindness :
Virtue
Charges
Thanks! This provides a good formula for me to try!