One of my players found a Manual of Bodily Health. He's been reading it but not a lot. It's day 4 and he's only put in 12 or so hours, if he does not put in an additional 36 in the next 2 days what happens? I couldn't find an answer anywhere! Does the Tome lose its magic? Does he simply not gain the benefits? Can he keep trying?
Currently my thought process is that he definitely does not gain the benefits from the tome and I'm thinking maybe it becomes unreadable by him but perhaps someone else in the party could read it. Any input would be great.
Agree that the player needs to start studying again. But I would remind the player of the requirements for the manual to work by granting him that knowledge as a reward for his reading so far. Something like "as you studied the manual before going to sleep last night you started to gain an understanding of how the magic of the tome works. You will need to study more intensely (around 6 hours per day at least) to truly unlock its secrets..."
Thanks guys, the player is aware of the 6 days limitation and the fact that he's on day 4. They just entered a dungeon crawl and set some things off so I really don't see him completing it.
I am debating making it harder for him to read if he fails the time requirement since his con is already twenty and the barbarian in the group is sitting at a 15.
He's already at 20? Heh. Let him successfully finish reading it and then say "but because your constitution is already at it's max value of 20, the magic has no effect and the tome continues to await another reader."
He's already at 20? Heh. Let him successfully finish reading it and then say "but because your constitution is already at it's max value of 20, the magic has no effect and the tome continues to await another reader."
Actually, one of the main benefits of these magical tomes is that they increase your maximum score by 2, so they can actually be used to increase beyond 20. That's partially what makes them so rare and valuable.
He's already at 20? Heh. Let him successfully finish reading it and then say "but because your constitution is already at it's max value of 20, the magic has no effect and the tome continues to await another reader."
Actually, one of the main benefits of these magical tomes is that they increase your maximum score by 2, so they can actually be used to increase beyond 20. That's partially what makes them so rare and valuable.
What's really surprising is that they're not legendary.
I know, it just seems like a wangrod move to hog the book when there's another character (a barbarian) in the party that could REALLY use a constitution boost to be as effective as they should be. Even if said character is a spellcaster, just taking warcaster would be a bigger benefit than the book.
I wouldn't punish the player for not completing the reading in 6 days. There's nothing in the item's description to suggest there should be any penalty besides simply starting over, and I'm sure the player would have some choice words about it.
If the players want to argue among themselves about which of them gets to actually read the manual, that's up to them.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
I know, it just seems like a wangrod move to hog the book when there's another character (a barbarian) in the party that could REALLY use a constitution boost to be as effective as they should be. Even if said character is a spellcaster, just taking warcaster would be a bigger benefit than the book.
I can understand that, but also there's the question of the fact that the greatest value that the tome imbues is the ability to exceed the limits of 20 in an ability score. So in that sense giving it to anyone who isn't already at 19 or 20 is kind of wasting one of its most valuable aspects. So there's valid arguments on both sides (although I agree that warcaster will have more benefits for a spellcaster in the long run)
If you're the DM and wanted the character to be able to use the tome, why didn't you just have him complete the study during Down Time Activities? It's pretty unrealistic to study 8 hrs a day while adventuring or doing a dungeon crawl don't you think?
If you're the DM and wanted the character to be able to use the tome, why didn't you just have him complete the study during Down Time Activities? It's pretty unrealistic to study 8 hrs a day while adventuring or doing a dungeon crawl don't you think?
It can be difficult to assume that they have a lot of down time depending on the situation.
If you're exiting a dungeon, get to town a few hours later, get sent out on another mission to hunt down a group of bandits in a forest two days away, it can be assumed some down time. The trek takes them through dangerous forest with fights very probable. When you rest you get approximately 2 hours, so there's 4 hours in 2 days down time. The bandit's camp is empty, the group finds an almost dead prisoner who says the bandits have joined forces with another group to lay waste to a town to the north. The group then has to travel to that town, again 2 hours down time since travel is dangerous. By the time 4 days have passed you're only looking at 8 hours of time to read.
If, however, there are moments where the party has nothing to do, then yea, tacking those down time hours on would work. If you're traveling over land to get from town a to town b, sure there'll be time to study. Unless, when the DM asks "what are you doing" and that same player says they're going to craft potions, scribe scrolls, run around and shop, etc. This would cut into the down time used to read.
This is a major boon for a character, and it should be treated as such. To hand wave it would really reduce the impact that this item has.
The tomb increases the stat by 2 and the max for that stat by 2 it doesn't matter if it is at 20 it would go to 22
Yeah totally.
Earlier posters suggested the guy should give it to a 15 con character but thatd be a waste. The 20 con character is actually benefitting from the increased stat maximum. 100% should go to them. They obviously care about their con more than anything else.
It is apparently so hard to program Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul spell-swapping into dndbeyond they had to remake the game without it rather than implement it.
The tomb increases the stat by 2 and the max for that stat by 2 it doesn't matter if it is at 20 it would go to 22
Yeah totally.
Earlier posters suggested the guy should give it to a 15 con character but thatd be a waste. The 20 con character is actually benefitting from the increased stat maximum. 100% should go to them. They obviously care about their con more than anything else.
It depends on a lot of factors. The PC with 15 con will have a greater % gain in HP at the time, and can potentially use the increased cap at a later level with ASIs.
But I doubt any additional commentary from us will sway a more than 3 years old discussion...
The tomb increases the stat by 2 and the max for that stat by 2 it doesn't matter if it is at 20 it would go to 22
Yeah totally.
Earlier posters suggested the guy should give it to a 15 con character but thatd be a waste. The 20 con character is actually benefitting from the increased stat maximum. 100% should go to them. They obviously care about their con more than anything else.
It depends on a lot of factors. The PC with 15 con will have a greater % gain in HP at the time, and can potentially use the increased cap at a later level with ASIs.
Yeah, there are other factors but these are all mitigated by what we do know already. Or, can assume with high probability. Like, that theyre already higher level. I wouldn't clock them as below 8th level. They've got a manual, and, they've got a dude with a 20 stat already. This would mean the barbarian is at a 15 con and at most has only a handful of ASIs left if they even were to play til L20. He'd need 3 ASIs to get to 20. And then the manual would bump him to 22. But heres the thing, as a Barbarian his max Con gets set to 24 at L20 anyway. So having it at 22 becomes meaningless and a total waste.
And, similarly the hp% swing might not even favor the Barbarian either. A wizard with a 20 con and a barbarian with a 15 have the same +hp per level, and the barb started with more. So the manual would be more %increase in this case for the 20 con guy in this case.
But I doubt any additional commentary from us will sway a more than 3 years old discussion...
What!? Hahaha. Truth.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I'm probably laughing.
It is apparently so hard to program Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul spell-swapping into dndbeyond they had to remake the game without it rather than implement it.
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
One of my players found a Manual of Bodily Health. He's been reading it but not a lot. It's day 4 and he's only put in 12 or so hours, if he does not put in an additional 36 in the next 2 days what happens? I couldn't find an answer anywhere! Does the Tome lose its magic? Does he simply not gain the benefits? Can he keep trying?
Currently my thought process is that he definitely does not gain the benefits from the tome and I'm thinking maybe it becomes unreadable by him but perhaps someone else in the party could read it. Any input would be great.
I would interpret it as he needs to complete all the reading in the 36 hours in the next 2 days he needs to start over from the beginning
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium
Agree that the player needs to start studying again. But I would remind the player of the requirements for the manual to work by granting him that knowledge as a reward for his reading so far. Something like "as you studied the manual before going to sleep last night you started to gain an understanding of how the magic of the tome works. You will need to study more intensely (around 6 hours per day at least) to truly unlock its secrets..."
He just has to start over. The manual of bodily health only loses its magic after granting the effect.
Thanks guys, the player is aware of the 6 days limitation and the fact that he's on day 4. They just entered a dungeon crawl and set some things off so I really don't see him completing it.
I am debating making it harder for him to read if he fails the time requirement since his con is already twenty and the barbarian in the group is sitting at a 15.
He's already at 20? Heh. Let him successfully finish reading it and then say "but because your constitution is already at it's max value of 20, the magic has no effect and the tome continues to await another reader."
Actually, one of the main benefits of these magical tomes is that they increase your maximum score by 2, so they can actually be used to increase beyond 20. That's partially what makes them so rare and valuable.
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium
The biggest benefit of those books is that they increase the maximum.
What's really surprising is that they're not legendary.
I know, it just seems like a wangrod move to hog the book when there's another character (a barbarian) in the party that could REALLY use a constitution boost to be as effective as they should be. Even if said character is a spellcaster, just taking warcaster would be a bigger benefit than the book.
I wouldn't punish the player for not completing the reading in 6 days. There's nothing in the item's description to suggest there should be any penalty besides simply starting over, and I'm sure the player would have some choice words about it.
If the players want to argue among themselves about which of them gets to actually read the manual, that's up to them.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
I can understand that, but also there's the question of the fact that the greatest value that the tome imbues is the ability to exceed the limits of 20 in an ability score. So in that sense giving it to anyone who isn't already at 19 or 20 is kind of wasting one of its most valuable aspects. So there's valid arguments on both sides (although I agree that warcaster will have more benefits for a spellcaster in the long run)
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium
If you're the DM and wanted the character to be able to use the tome, why didn't you just have him complete the study during Down Time Activities? It's pretty unrealistic to study 8 hrs a day while adventuring or doing a dungeon crawl don't you think?
It can be difficult to assume that they have a lot of down time depending on the situation.
If you're exiting a dungeon, get to town a few hours later, get sent out on another mission to hunt down a group of bandits in a forest two days away, it can be assumed some down time. The trek takes them through dangerous forest with fights very probable. When you rest you get approximately 2 hours, so there's 4 hours in 2 days down time. The bandit's camp is empty, the group finds an almost dead prisoner who says the bandits have joined forces with another group to lay waste to a town to the north. The group then has to travel to that town, again 2 hours down time since travel is dangerous. By the time 4 days have passed you're only looking at 8 hours of time to read.
If, however, there are moments where the party has nothing to do, then yea, tacking those down time hours on would work. If you're traveling over land to get from town a to town b, sure there'll be time to study. Unless, when the DM asks "what are you doing" and that same player says they're going to craft potions, scribe scrolls, run around and shop, etc. This would cut into the down time used to read.
This is a major boon for a character, and it should be treated as such. To hand wave it would really reduce the impact that this item has.
The tomb increases the stat by 2 and the max for that stat by 2 it doesn't matter if it is at 20 it would go to 22
Yeah totally.
Earlier posters suggested the guy should give it to a 15 con character but thatd be a waste. The 20 con character is actually benefitting from the increased stat maximum. 100% should go to them. They obviously care about their con more than anything else.
I'm probably laughing.
It is apparently so hard to program Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul spell-swapping into dndbeyond they had to remake the game without it rather than implement it.
It depends on a lot of factors. The PC with 15 con will have a greater % gain in HP at the time, and can potentially use the increased cap at a later level with ASIs.
But I doubt any additional commentary from us will sway a more than 3 years old discussion...
Yeah, there are other factors but these are all mitigated by what we do know already. Or, can assume with high probability. Like, that theyre already higher level. I wouldn't clock them as below 8th level. They've got a manual, and, they've got a dude with a 20 stat already. This would mean the barbarian is at a 15 con and at most has only a handful of ASIs left if they even were to play til L20. He'd need 3 ASIs to get to 20. And then the manual would bump him to 22. But heres the thing, as a Barbarian his max Con gets set to 24 at L20 anyway. So having it at 22 becomes meaningless and a total waste.
And, similarly the hp% swing might not even favor the Barbarian either. A wizard with a 20 con and a barbarian with a 15 have the same +hp per level, and the barb started with more. So the manual would be more %increase in this case for the 20 con guy in this case.
What!? Hahaha. Truth.
I'm probably laughing.
It is apparently so hard to program Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul spell-swapping into dndbeyond they had to remake the game without it rather than implement it.