So I wanted to create a magic item that had a life to it but wasn't something like a sentient weapon. So I had this idea of a mimic that was forced into servitude to help someone with their thieve's tools checks. Below are the details and I am hoping the fine people of this community can let me know if this is strong, weak, or seems pretty balanced. Should it have charges? Are 4 charges too little or too much? Thanks for any feedback you can provide.
Name: Thieve's Tools of Mimic's Rarity: Very Rare Uncommon Base Item Type: Item Magic Item Type: Wonderous Item Requires Attunement: Yes Attunement Description: A person proficient in Thieve's Tools Has Charges: Yes Number of Charges: 4
Description: The small dark wooden box looks similar to a set of Thieves' Tools. On the bottom of the box has a padlock carved into to. The top has a strange looking tongue and teeth.
Using this set of thieves' tools feels strange at first it is almost as if the box is handing you the tool you are reaching for as you need it. Using this set of Thieve's tools gives you advantage to any ability checks you make to disarm traps or open locks.
This item has 4 charges, 1d4 charges are restored at the start of the day.
Cursed. This set of tools uses a Mimic to make disarming traps or opening locks easier for its the user attuned to this item. However, the mimic cursed into this servitude will be released if the attuned user ever rolls snake eyes on their ability checks using these tools. If this happens you notice the padlock on the back of this box disappears and the attuned user is automatically considered Grappled by the Mimic. Combat is then started with the Mimic making a surprise attack against its user.
What do the charges do? Why does the mimic grapple itself? Is a 1 in 400 chance of a cr2 encounter really a curse?
Exactly, why I posted this here before trying to share it publically.
The charges allow you to get advantage on your roll. Basically, this item would have a limited use's. Unlike normal thieve's tools, you could use over and over again this you could use a maximum of four times per day. I felt giving a permanent advantage to thieve's tools was too powerful for such a weak curse that I wanted to limit it's uses
Speaking of the "curse", No, a 1 in 400 chance of a CR2 monster is not a real curse... just kind of a minor risk you take when using the tools. It such a rare thing that it may never happen in an entire campaign. Just something that would make you lose the rare tools if it did happen and a minor encounter that depending on the party's situation might cause other effects. Maybe calling it a "curse" is strong, but I didn't know a better term.
I should clean up the text... The mimic doesn't grapple itself it grapples it's user automatically.
Considering its rather weak effect and curse, it should be uncommon.
What if I was to remove the charges to the item. The only reason I made it as Rare is that I personally find advantage on anything to be a powerful effect. Is advantage considered an uncommon effect?
While not advantage, a very relevant item is gloves of thievery. Might even be better than advantage, and doesn't even require attunment.
This makes me want to remove the charges... This way it would be more in line with these other similar items. Maybe make it as a +1, +2, +3 to the item as well.
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So I wanted to create a magic item that had a life to it but wasn't something like a sentient weapon. So I had this idea of a mimic that was forced into servitude to help someone with their thieve's tools checks. Below are the details and I am hoping the fine people of this community can let me know if this is strong, weak, or seems pretty balanced. Should it have charges? Are 4 charges too little or too much? Thanks for any feedback you can provide.
Name: Thieve's Tools of Mimic's
Rarity:
Very RareUncommonBase Item Type: Item
Magic Item Type: Wonderous Item
Requires Attunement: Yes
Attunement Description: A person proficient in Thieve's Tools
Has Charges: Yes
Number of Charges: 4
Description:
The small dark wooden box looks similar to a set of Thieves' Tools. On the bottom of the box has a padlock carved into to. The top has a strange looking tongue and teeth.
Using this set of thieves' tools feels strange at first it is almost as if the box is handing you the tool you are reaching for as you need it. Using this set of Thieve's tools gives you advantage to any ability checks you make to disarm traps or open locks.
This item has 4 charges, 1d4 charges are restored at the start of the day.
Cursed. This set of tools uses a Mimic to make disarming traps or opening locks easier for its the user attuned to this item. However, the mimic cursed into this servitude will be released if the attuned user ever rolls snake eyes on their ability checks using these tools. If this happens you notice the padlock on the back of this box disappears and the attuned user is automatically considered Grappled by the Mimic. Combat is then started with the Mimic making a surprise attack against its user.
What do the charges do? Why does the mimic grapple itself? Is a 1 in 400 chance of a cr2 encounter really a curse?
Exactly, why I posted this here before trying to share it publically.
The charges allow you to get advantage on your roll. Basically, this item would have a limited use's. Unlike normal thieve's tools, you could use over and over again this you could use a maximum of four times per day. I felt giving a permanent advantage to thieve's tools was too powerful for such a weak curse that I wanted to limit it's uses
Speaking of the "curse", No, a 1 in 400 chance of a CR2 monster is not a real curse... just kind of a minor risk you take when using the tools. It such a rare thing that it may never happen in an entire campaign. Just something that would make you lose the rare tools if it did happen and a minor encounter that depending on the party's situation might cause other effects. Maybe calling it a "curse" is strong, but I didn't know a better term.
I should clean up the text... The mimic doesn't grapple itself it grapples it's user automatically.
Considering its rather weak effect and curse, it should be uncommon.
What if I was to remove the charges to the item. The only reason I made it as Rare is that I personally find advantage on anything to be a powerful effect. Is advantage considered an uncommon effect?
A few. Boots of elvenkind, Eyes of the eagle.
While not advantage, a very relevant item is gloves of thievery. Might even be better than advantage, and doesn't even require attunment.
This makes me want to remove the charges... This way it would be more in line with these other similar items. Maybe make it as a +1, +2, +3 to the item as well.