I'm a new DM, and fairly new to D&D in general. I'm going to be running Dragons of Icespire Peak for some friends and wanted to throw some extra homebrew magic items in the game to spice things up. This item is found in an area balanced for 3rd level characters and I flavored it specifically for this area. I just want to know if it's too underpowered, balanced, or even OP for a party of 2nd or 3rd level players?
Staff of Lightning:
Staff, uncommon (requires attunement by a short rest. Can be attuned by anybody)
A 6ft tall dark walnut staff. It is knotted in a wild shape at the top of the staff, and appears to have black streaks that look like lightning running along the staff. You can feel latent static electricity waiting to burst from the staff.
This item can carries 6 charges. These charges can be used to cast Shocking Grasp & Witch Bolt. The staff recharges at dawn with a 1d4+2
That would be underpowered. And you can make it cleaner in the language department. If I may, please allow me to reword it for you and suggest some changes.
First off, you don’t need to enter anything in the Attunement field if it’s nothing special. However, since both of those spells require spell attack rolls, if a nonspellcaster uses the item it will only use their proficiency bonus since they don’t actually have a spellcasting ability. If that’s what you want then just check the attunement box and leave the description field for the attunement blank. Otherwise simply type “spellcaster” in that field and it will only be attunable by spellcasters.
Otherwise, this is my suggested rewording for your magic item:
This 6-foot tall dark walnut staff is knotted in a wild shape at the top, and appears to have black streaks that look like lightning running along the shaft. You can feel latent static electricity waiting to burst from it when held.
This staff acts as a lighting rod. While attuned to and holding this staff you have resistance to lightning damage, and you can cast the shocking grasp spell from it.
In addition, this staff has 6 charges and regains 1d4 + 2 expended charges daily at dawn. If you expend the last charge, roll a d20. On a 1, the staff is destroyed in an otherwise harmless burst of electrical energy. While holding it, you can use an action to expend 1 of its charges to cast the witch bolt spell from it.
I'm a new DM, and fairly new to D&D in general. I'm going to be running Dragons of Icespire Peak for some friends and wanted to throw some extra homebrew magic items in the game to spice things up. This item is found in an area balanced for 3rd level characters and I flavored it specifically for this area. I just want to know if it's too underpowered, balanced, or even OP for a party of 2nd or 3rd level players?
A 6ft tall dark walnut staff. It is knotted in a wild shape at the top of the staff, and appears to have black streaks that look like lightning running along the staff. You can feel latent static electricity waiting to burst from the staff.
This item can carries 6 charges. These charges can be used to cast Shocking Grasp & Witch Bolt. The staff recharges at dawn with a 1d4+2
While attuned, the staff acts as a lighting rod and the wielder is resistant to lightning damage.
If charges are fully used, roll a d20:
Requires attunement
That would be underpowered. And you can make it cleaner in the language department. If I may, please allow me to reword it for you and suggest some changes.
First off, you don’t need to enter anything in the Attunement field if it’s nothing special. However, since both of those spells require spell attack rolls, if a nonspellcaster uses the item it will only use their proficiency bonus since they don’t actually have a spellcasting ability. If that’s what you want then just check the attunement box and leave the description field for the attunement blank. Otherwise simply type “spellcaster” in that field and it will only be attunable by spellcasters.
Otherwise, this is my suggested rewording for your magic item:
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Much appreciated! I'll definitely take what you said to improve the item!
Happy to help.
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