I am in the process of creating a new magic item. I want to make a magic encyclopedia to help give a bonus to arcana, history, nature, and religion checks. I could trim this down to just history and make it more of a historical tome. I'm debating on a few versions and limitations.
Version 1: After a short rest where the reader uses the encyclopedia, they may roll a skill check and with a +5 (or maybe advantage is better).
Version 2: Once per day, this encyclopedia may be used to grant a +5 (or maybe advantage) to an appropriate skill check.
I'm wondering if I can get this down to the "common" level of rarity and if so, what would I have to change for that? What other limitations do you think might allow that to happen? This is for an Eberron campaign, so I'm trying to make it something low level that my character could've made or been gifted as a head librarian.
The DMG's guidance on this says that anything that provides a constant bonus to ability checks should be Uncommon at the very least, but I think Common is fine for something that's only doing it once a day. Especially in Eberron, where magic items that do fairly mundane everyday things are meant to be pretty common.
When you're thinking about advantage vs. a flat numerical bonus, keep in mind that advantage increases the average roll, but it doesn't increase the maximum roll. Which means that advantage can never make an impossible task possible. For instance, if you're rolling with a +3 modifier, you will still always fail a DC 25 ability check even with advantage. But if an item gives you a +5 bonus instead of advantage, now that DC 25 task is possible (though still unlikely). For this reason, items that only benefit ability checks — especially ability checks about knowledge of something — are probably more useful when they provide a flat bonus rather than advantage.
Good points. I might combine my two versions and say "Once per day, the encyclopedia may be used during a short rest to grant a +5 to the appropriate skill check." That way it's not only once per day, but also has to be done after a short rest.
Have you seen the Book? I would start by saying it's a magical book (to prevent stacking nonsense) and then one of the following:
allow it to cast Guidance once per long rest/day (perhaps restricted to self; similar to Hat of Wizardry)
once per long rest/day, you can choose to roll a 10 on the skill related to the book. (similar to Clockwork Amulet)
Once per long rest/day, change the skill bonus for the book. (I don't have an equivalent for this, but it's arguably worse than buying all 5 book options for the perk of being 20 pounds lighter.) It would probably be fine to change the skill during a short rest.
Thanks for that advice. I actually didn't know that "Book" could do this. However, it has to be a book on the topic you're researching. I'm looking to have one tome that can grant a broad bonus, rather than if I'm just looking up information on arachnids of X jungle (nature) or the noble family from 100 years ago (history).
Ring of Puzzler's Wit from the Book of Mny Thingshas 3 charges gives advantage to Intelligencve checks. Uncommon no attunement required
I play on a discord server that has a Homebrew of a Book of Worldly Knowledge that give +5 to one Int check a day. Common and a bit overpowered when you can craft them and have multiple, not unlike clockwork amulets. I self-limit myself to 2 each.
Thanks for that advice. I actually didn't know that "Book" could do this. However, it has to be a book on the topic you're researching. I'm looking to have one tome that can grant a broad bonus, rather than if I'm just looking up information on arachnids of X jungle (nature) or the noble family from 100 years ago (history).
Encyclopedia of Caleb-Hand
Wondrous Item, Common
This ornate assortment of books is an invaluable trove of information for the adventurer on the go. It acts as a book. When found, it will reference a randomly determined non-fiction topic. During a long rest, you can reference the tomes and mark a different topic. The tome now provides its bonus for the selected topic instead.
How is that? Since it is a book that changes topics, it can't stack with a book and it should be fine staying as a Common item.
I am in the process of creating a new magic item. I want to make a magic encyclopedia to help give a bonus to arcana, history, nature, and religion checks. I could trim this down to just history and make it more of a historical tome. I'm debating on a few versions and limitations.
Version 1: After a short rest where the reader uses the encyclopedia, they may roll a skill check and with a +5 (or maybe advantage is better).
Version 2: Once per day, this encyclopedia may be used to grant a +5 (or maybe advantage) to an appropriate skill check.
I'm wondering if I can get this down to the "common" level of rarity and if so, what would I have to change for that? What other limitations do you think might allow that to happen? This is for an Eberron campaign, so I'm trying to make it something low level that my character could've made or been gifted as a head librarian.
The DMG's guidance on this says that anything that provides a constant bonus to ability checks should be Uncommon at the very least, but I think Common is fine for something that's only doing it once a day. Especially in Eberron, where magic items that do fairly mundane everyday things are meant to be pretty common.
When you're thinking about advantage vs. a flat numerical bonus, keep in mind that advantage increases the average roll, but it doesn't increase the maximum roll. Which means that advantage can never make an impossible task possible. For instance, if you're rolling with a +3 modifier, you will still always fail a DC 25 ability check even with advantage. But if an item gives you a +5 bonus instead of advantage, now that DC 25 task is possible (though still unlikely). For this reason, items that only benefit ability checks — especially ability checks about knowledge of something — are probably more useful when they provide a flat bonus rather than advantage.
pronouns: he/she/they
Good points. I might combine my two versions and say "Once per day, the encyclopedia may be used during a short rest to grant a +5 to the appropriate skill check." That way it's not only once per day, but also has to be done after a short rest.
Have you seen the Book? I would start by saying it's a magical book (to prevent stacking nonsense) and then one of the following:
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
Thanks for that advice. I actually didn't know that "Book" could do this. However, it has to be a book on the topic you're researching. I'm looking to have one tome that can grant a broad bonus, rather than if I'm just looking up information on arachnids of X jungle (nature) or the noble family from 100 years ago (history).
Ring of Puzzler's Wit from the Book of Mny Thingshas 3 charges gives advantage to Intelligencve checks. Uncommon no attunement required
I play on a discord server that has a Homebrew of a Book of Worldly Knowledge that give +5 to one Int check a day. Common and a bit overpowered when you can craft them and have multiple, not unlike clockwork amulets. I self-limit myself to 2 each.
How is that? Since it is a book that changes topics, it can't stack with a book and it should be fine staying as a Common item.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.