This is my first time posting so go easy in me! I am a new DM(started with 5E), and have decided to give the Book of Exalted Deeds to a player who is a gnome fighter(but backstory-wise the character aspires to be a Paladin one day), and I thought it would be a fitting item to give her as a way of, advancing her path so to speak along the journey to paladin leveling(the +2 to Wisdom would be particularly useful to her due to her country bumpkin upbringing).
My question however has to do with this entry on the Book via the item description:
Random Properties
The Book of Exalted Deeds has the following random properties:
2 minor beneficial properties
2 major beneficial properties
....These "random properties".... are they something specific, or something I'm left to determine on my own? And if it's the latter, what would classify as 'minor' and 'major' beneficial properties?
Well thanks so much for the insight! I have a followup question if you're up for it:
When these benefits are acquired after attuning, do they stay with the character only as long as they hold on to the book, to be lost when the Book is completed and vanishes?
Or do these properties remain after the book vanishes?
Firstly, you don't get the benefits from attuning; the player must attune to the book to be able to open the clasp that holds it shut. After which, they'll need to spend 80 hours reading it before they get any of the benefits. Any evil aligned character attempting to do this takes 24d6 radiant damage.
Now onto the benefits. Once you've studied the book for 80 hours, it 'vanishes to some other corner of the multiverse, where its moral guidance can bring light to a darkened world.'' (DMG, P222)
The player will keep all of the benefits (the random properties, increased wisdom, enlightened magic and halo) so long as they 'strive to do good. 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 of the benefits granted by this book.' (DMG, P222)
For the increased wisdom, you can only get that benefit once. If, somehow, the player comes across the Book of Exalted Deeds a second time, they'll not be able to get the increased wisdom again.
As you've identified, this is a perfect item for a 'good' paladin. Perhaps the gnome is granted a vision of where it is, and must seek it out (on a perilous, lengthy, coming-of-age quest!) to recover it. This would fit well with the Paladin's Oath of Devotion, which maybe they'll be allowed to make once they've recovered the artefact?
Just remember, this is an immensely powerful item that will give this player a massive, permanent (so long as they continue to do good) boon.
Again, i thank you for your wisdom. I want to do a good job and look forward to getting better!
Lol "Just remember, this is an immensely powerful item that will give this player a massive, permanent (so long as they continue to do good) boon. "
...you are so right about that...i wish i had done all this research before actually giving it to her though lol. BUT i have already figured a means by which to retcon how she got it in the first place. Her character knows not the significance of the item, but was given it by the Head Paladin of her order. He's been holding on to it for 3 decades because he received a vision from Rao(their deity) to seek it out and safeguard it for this particular character until she was ready to receive it...Rao believes she is going to be instrumental in the eventual defeat of the big bad i have lined up.
It does take 80 in-game hours to read. That's a long time, so the players won't get any benefits yet.
You could also limit it, so the player can only read 10 hours of the book each level, or something.
And they've also got to look after the book until they've read it - perhaps there could be a repeated threat, where thieves continually attempt to steal it. An artefact like the BoED would be worth risking many lives to obtain. Intriguing!
For clarification, you get the Random Properties from all artifacts when attuned thereto - as the random property rules indicate. Upon asking for help with the artifact, Jeremy Crawford answered that after you read the book, you retain the random properties so long as you adhere to the "good act every 10 days," as they are benefits of the magic item (and it vanishes when you read it, normally breaking the attuned item rules). You are no longer attuned to the item after it vanishes.
Hello all!
This is my first time posting so go easy in me! I am a new DM(started with 5E), and have decided to give the Book of Exalted Deeds to a player who is a gnome fighter(but backstory-wise the character aspires to be a Paladin one day), and I thought it would be a fitting item to give her as a way of, advancing her path so to speak along the journey to paladin leveling(the +2 to Wisdom would be particularly useful to her due to her country bumpkin upbringing).
My question however has to do with this entry on the Book via the item description:
Random Properties
The Book of Exalted Deeds has the following random properties:
....These "random properties".... are they something specific, or something I'm left to determine on my own? And if it's the latter, what would classify as 'minor' and 'major' beneficial properties?
thanks for the help!
Welcome, Emund. You're in the best place to ask these kinds of questions, so don't worry! You're more than welcome here.
Sounds like an interesting arc for your player! That's a very powerful artefact, so make sure that gnome works for it!
The DM Guide has tables containing major and minor beneficial (and detrimental) properties that you can use. Check Page 219.
Well thanks so much for the insight! I have a followup question if you're up for it:
When these benefits are acquired after attuning, do they stay with the character only as long as they hold on to the book, to be lost when the Book is completed and vanishes?
Or do these properties remain after the book vanishes?
Not a problem.
Firstly, you don't get the benefits from attuning; the player must attune to the book to be able to open the clasp that holds it shut. After which, they'll need to spend 80 hours reading it before they get any of the benefits. Any evil aligned character attempting to do this takes 24d6 radiant damage.
Now onto the benefits. Once you've studied the book for 80 hours, it 'vanishes to some other corner of the multiverse, where its moral guidance can bring light to a darkened world.'' (DMG, P222)
The player will keep all of the benefits (the random properties, increased wisdom, enlightened magic and halo) so long as they 'strive to do good. 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 of the benefits granted by this book.' (DMG, P222)
For the increased wisdom, you can only get that benefit once. If, somehow, the player comes across the Book of Exalted Deeds a second time, they'll not be able to get the increased wisdom again.
As you've identified, this is a perfect item for a 'good' paladin. Perhaps the gnome is granted a vision of where it is, and must seek it out (on a perilous, lengthy, coming-of-age quest!) to recover it. This would fit well with the Paladin's Oath of Devotion, which maybe they'll be allowed to make once they've recovered the artefact?
Just remember, this is an immensely powerful item that will give this player a massive, permanent (so long as they continue to do good) boon.
Again, i thank you for your wisdom. I want to do a good job and look forward to getting better!
Lol "Just remember, this is an immensely powerful item that will give this player a massive, permanent (so long as they continue to do good) boon. "
...you are so right about that...i wish i had done all this research before actually giving it to her though lol. BUT i have already figured a means by which to retcon how she got it in the first place. Her character knows not the significance of the item, but was given it by the Head Paladin of her order. He's been holding on to it for 3 decades because he received a vision from Rao(their deity) to seek it out and safeguard it for this particular character until she was ready to receive it...Rao believes she is going to be instrumental in the eventual defeat of the big bad i have lined up.
It does take 80 in-game hours to read. That's a long time, so the players won't get any benefits yet.
You could also limit it, so the player can only read 10 hours of the book each level, or something.
And they've also got to look after the book until they've read it - perhaps there could be a repeated threat, where thieves continually attempt to steal it. An artefact like the BoED would be worth risking many lives to obtain. Intriguing!
i like the idea of limiting the time read...definitely will use that
For clarification, you get the Random Properties from all artifacts when attuned thereto - as the random property rules indicate. Upon asking for help with the artifact, Jeremy Crawford answered that after you read the book, you retain the random properties so long as you adhere to the "good act every 10 days," as they are benefits of the magic item (and it vanishes when you read it, normally breaking the attuned item rules). You are no longer attuned to the item after it vanishes.
A little late to the party, Ivstin... I was very confused at getting a notification from a thread over a year old!
Yes, but it really helped me today so... good questions with good answers live on to help DMs for a long time.
Glad! Was so confused about getting an update on this lol
can someone send the link for the dnd beyond link for it