I have this idea for a magic item. Tell me if you think that this homebrew magic item is broken or if the description is problematic, or if there is a good way to simplify it.
The Curious Cabinet of Partially Recalled Things. Rare - 750gp.
Attunement required
A truly amazing cabinet. It is normally about the size of a pack of playing cards or small tarot cards. Once you attune to, it can be unfolded into a small, artfully carved wooden cabinet whose interior space is 2'X3'X3'. Only someone attuned to the cabinet can unfold it. The cabinet has two functions:
As the cabinet is unfolded, you can start a sentence “Gee, I hope that I will remember where I put this…..” you must end the sentence with a reasonably accurate description of an object that is in your possession which can fit inside the cabinet. Then you must place that item into the cabinet and close it. The item will be lost in a nearly formless demi-plane. If the description is not accurate to the best of your knowledge, nothing happens. Either way, the cabinet cannot be used again until after the next sundown. The cabinet refolds after 10 minutes. If an object is inside the cabinet when it refolds, that object is harmlessly ejected and the cabinet finishes closing.
As the cabinet is unfolded, you can start a sentence “Now, where did I put that….” You can finish the sentence with an exact repetition of the description given when an object was placed inside this, or any other Curious Cabinet of Partially Recalled Things and sent to the demiplane. If your description is an accurate repetition and the object had not been previously removed from the demiplane, then the object described appears inside the cabinet. If you finish the sentence with anything other than an exact repetition of a previous description, or if the object was not in the demiplane at the time, then nothing appears. Either way, the cabinet cannot be used again until after the next sundown. The cabinet refolds itself after 10 minutes. If the object recalled is inside the cabinet when it refolds, then the object is returned to the demiplane. If any other object is inside the cabinet when it refolds, that object is harmlessly ejected and the cabinet finishes closing.
Any object recovered from the cabinet will have an additional feature about which you had previously forgotten. The DM will have the details, though it may take them a minute to remember what the feature is.
I think this sounds fun, if you have players that are heavy into the role play aspect of the game and take amazing notes. If I used this I would have to write down what they said and they would have to write down what they said, so at the end of the day it would be a question of who forgot a word when taking notes. Functionally it isn't that different than a haversack or portable hole, I don't think it is broken although I suppose that would depend on what "additional feature" an item can/has picked up by being stored and if an item can be stored more than once, can it obtain multiple features?
I was thinking of giving it to them along with a wizard's notepad, and they have to figure out what the message on the notepad is. If they do, they win a magic doohickey, plus whatever they come up with to use the cabinet for.
Not really ideal for holding things since you can only get one thing in or out a day. More like for hiding things or protecting them or transporting them.
And thanks for taking the time to give feedback! It is helpful and appreciated!
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I have this idea for a magic item. Tell me if you think that this homebrew magic item is broken or if the description is problematic, or if there is a good way to simplify it.
The Curious Cabinet of Partially Recalled Things. Rare - 750gp.
Attunement required
A truly amazing cabinet. It is normally about the size of a pack of playing cards or small tarot cards. Once you attune to, it can be unfolded into a small, artfully carved wooden cabinet whose interior space is 2'X3'X3'. Only someone attuned to the cabinet can unfold it. The cabinet has two functions:
As the cabinet is unfolded, you can start a sentence “Gee, I hope that I will remember where I put this…..” you must end the sentence with a reasonably accurate description of an object that is in your possession which can fit inside the cabinet. Then you must place that item into the cabinet and close it. The item will be lost in a nearly formless demi-plane. If the description is not accurate to the best of your knowledge, nothing happens. Either way, the cabinet cannot be used again until after the next sundown. The cabinet refolds after 10 minutes. If an object is inside the cabinet when it refolds, that object is harmlessly ejected and the cabinet finishes closing.
As the cabinet is unfolded, you can start a sentence “Now, where did I put that….” You can finish the sentence with an exact repetition of the description given when an object was placed inside this, or any other Curious Cabinet of Partially Recalled Things and sent to the demiplane. If your description is an accurate repetition and the object had not been previously removed from the demiplane, then the object described appears inside the cabinet. If you finish the sentence with anything other than an exact repetition of a previous description, or if the object was not in the demiplane at the time, then nothing appears. Either way, the cabinet cannot be used again until after the next sundown. The cabinet refolds itself after 10 minutes. If the object recalled is inside the cabinet when it refolds, then the object is returned to the demiplane. If any other object is inside the cabinet when it refolds, that object is harmlessly ejected and the cabinet finishes closing.
Any object recovered from the cabinet will have an additional feature about which you had previously forgotten. The DM will have the details, though it may take them a minute to remember what the feature is.
I think this sounds fun, if you have players that are heavy into the role play aspect of the game and take amazing notes. If I used this I would have to write down what they said and they would have to write down what they said, so at the end of the day it would be a question of who forgot a word when taking notes. Functionally it isn't that different than a haversack or portable hole, I don't think it is broken although I suppose that would depend on what "additional feature" an item can/has picked up by being stored and if an item can be stored more than once, can it obtain multiple features?
I was thinking of giving it to them along with a wizard's notepad, and they have to figure out what the message on the notepad is. If they do, they win a magic doohickey, plus whatever they come up with to use the cabinet for.
Not really ideal for holding things since you can only get one thing in or out a day. More like for hiding things or protecting them or transporting them.
And thanks for taking the time to give feedback! It is helpful and appreciated!