I was using the Book of Exalted deeds as a macguffan. They players got it around level 10. Now after they found out about the property where it deals damage to evil creatures that read it. They are now using it like a gun, holding it open and watching as their enemies get incinerated. How do I combat this strategy?
Simple. It only works on those with intelligence 8-13. Anyone with less, can't read/understand enough to comprehend the meaning, and anyone with more is too smart to read it. Or put it on a wisdom save.
Or maybe the book judges that they are misusing it, and refuses to open for them anymore.
While I would want to reward the creative thinking, maybe if they slip it into the big bads library and wait for him to open this strange book that seems to have just appeared they can start the fight with him a bit weaker, but waving a book at the bad guys in combat would not fly in my game. 1) Then need to be smart enough to read it. 2) They need to be dim enough to keep reading something that is damaging them. 3) Peripheral vision is not that detailed (in humans) so they need to be looking right at it to resolve the letters. 4) The font is probably quite small so they will need to be quite close to read it. 5) Presumably this is a combat situation so they have other priorities like looking for openings or threatening movements. 6) It only works on evil opponents, anything that is good, neutral, or unaligned is fine. You can also have a villain steal it or a divine entity call them out for not showing proper respect to this incredibly significant artifact.
Second Paragraph from the DMG description of the Book of Exalted Deeds:
The Book of Exalted Deeds rarely lingers in one place. As soon as the book is read, it vanishes to some other corner of the multiverse where its moral guidance can bring light to a darkened world.
The first time the book was read it would have vanished, so it shouldn't be in their possession.
Then we have:
Only a creature of good alignment that is attuned to the book can release the clasp that holds it shut. Once the book is opened, the attuned creature must spend 80 hours reading and studying the book to digest its contents and gain its benefits.
Since the book was opened that means the person attuned to it had to read it in order to gain it's benefits. Having read it, the first quote comes in to play and the book is no longer in their possession. Otherwise the party cannot open the book, nor can they gain the benefits of the book.
Finally:
If you fail to perform at least one act of kindness or generosity within the span of 10 days, or if you willingly perform an evil act, you lose all the benefits granted by the book.
Has the player who opened the book maintained their pact with the book by being kind/generous at least once in the past 10 days? If not then the benefits have ceased to function. As well, if they are maintaining the pact, that means they read the book, which means it is no longer in their possession.
I was using the Book of Exalted deeds as a macguffan. They players got it around level 10. Now after they found out about the property where it deals damage to evil creatures that read it. They are now using it like a gun, holding it open and watching as their enemies get incinerated. How do I combat this strategy?
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Simple. It only works on those with intelligence 8-13. Anyone with less, can't read/understand enough to comprehend the meaning, and anyone with more is too smart to read it. Or put it on a wisdom save.
Or maybe the book judges that they are misusing it, and refuses to open for them anymore.
"What do you mean I get disadvantage on persuasion?"
I don't know, Sneet, maybe because your argument is "Submit and become our pet"?
-Actual conversation in a game.
Seeing an open book is not the same thing as reading it.
While I would want to reward the creative thinking, maybe if they slip it into the big bads library and wait for him to open this strange book that seems to have just appeared they can start the fight with him a bit weaker, but waving a book at the bad guys in combat would not fly in my game.
1) Then need to be smart enough to read it.
2) They need to be dim enough to keep reading something that is damaging them.
3) Peripheral vision is not that detailed (in humans) so they need to be looking right at it to resolve the letters.
4) The font is probably quite small so they will need to be quite close to read it.
5) Presumably this is a combat situation so they have other priorities like looking for openings or threatening movements.
6) It only works on evil opponents, anything that is good, neutral, or unaligned is fine.
You can also have a villain steal it or a divine entity call them out for not showing proper respect to this incredibly significant artifact.
Second Paragraph from the DMG description of the Book of Exalted Deeds:
The first time the book was read it would have vanished, so it shouldn't be in their possession.
Then we have:
Since the book was opened that means the person attuned to it had to read it in order to gain it's benefits. Having read it, the first quote comes in to play and the book is no longer in their possession. Otherwise the party cannot open the book, nor can they gain the benefits of the book.
Finally:
Has the player who opened the book maintained their pact with the book by being kind/generous at least once in the past 10 days? If not then the benefits have ceased to function. As well, if they are maintaining the pact, that means they read the book, which means it is no longer in their possession.
epic gamer moment