Hello! I wanted to get a quick opinion on a cursed magic item I am writing up.
It’s a Ring of Drowning. It gives a person the ability to breathe underwater if they are wearing it underwater, but if they wear it while out of water it starts filling their lungs with water. My question is, should the water in the lungs effect stop after they take the ring off or should it only stop if the curse is removed?
I think the whole finger should come off.
I think the whole finger should come off.
I think it depends on how much you want that player to come to the next game 😉
I think it depends on how much you want that player to come to the next game 😉
It sounds very lethal so i would make it end when they got the ring off. that way you can give them a roll to avoid death (defy danger with quick thinking). If the curse is lasting then they should die almost immediately. last breath and have death remove the curse on a 7+. it would be hard (and morbid) to roll play a character who was always gagging and struggling for breath anyway. either way its better to simplify it into one roll. (imo)
It sounds very lethal so i would make it end when they got the ring off. that way you can give them a roll to avoid death (defy danger with quick thinking). If the curse is lasting then they should die almost immediately. last breath and have death remove the curse on a 7+. it would be hard (and morbid) to roll play a character who was always gagging and struggling for breath anyway. either way its better to simplify it into one roll. (imo)
Daniel Fowler you are right about it being kind of harsh. Although it would be funny to see an adventurer walking around with a fishbowl on their head to keep from drowning lol
Daniel Fowler you are right about it being kind of harsh. Although it would be funny to see an adventurer walking around with a fishbowl on their head to keep from drowning lol
I guess I’d flip the question: when used underwater, and the character leaves the water – what happens? Are they doomed to an aquatic life or is their a natural reversal?
Overall, is the ring (i) designed to be cursed, or (ii) appears to be cursed if wrongly used?
If (i) then anything goes!
If (ii) I’d rule that the lungs empty again at the rate they filled (mainly unpleasant, unless left on)
I guess I’d flip the question: when used underwater, and the character leaves the water – what happens? Are they doomed to an aquatic life or is their a natural reversal?
Overall, is the ring (i) designed to be cursed, or (ii) appears to be cursed if wrongly used?
If (i) then anything goes!
If (ii) I’d rule that the lungs empty again at the rate they filled (mainly unpleasant, unless left on)
I would encourage you to give the item a cost or danger rather then a traditional curse. it makes sense that after leaving the water, that you would have to get it out of your lungs defy danger CON or make a custom move. success or fail, the story moves on faster then the character having to constantly struggle or the party having to find a way to remove it which i guess would be a ritual or did you have a specific method in mind? I don’t think there is a remove curse spell.
I would encourage you to give the item a cost or danger rather then a traditional curse. it makes sense that after leaving the water, that you would have to get it out of your lungs defy danger CON or make a custom move. success or fail, the story moves on faster then the character having to constantly struggle or the party having to find a way to remove it which i guess would be a ritual or did you have a specific method in mind? I don’t think there is a remove curse spell.
Well, if it only stops when the curse is removed, then the effect is basically “die or remove yourself from the campaign to live in the nearby ocean if you don’t have a cleric or something in the party.” Which is pretty lame. I personally wouldn’t do that.
The basic effect on its own is pretty cool; very evocative, and I can see the first scene with it being pretty intense. I don’t think having the persistent curse tacked on would make it any more interesting; if anything it would be the opposite because the PCs would probably never use it again.
Well, if it only stops when the curse is removed, then the effect is basically “die or remove yourself from the campaign to live in the nearby ocean if you don’t have a cleric or something in the party.” Which is pretty lame. I personally wouldn’t do that.
The basic effect on its own is pretty cool; very evocative, and I can see the first scene with it being pretty intense. I don’t think having the persistent curse tacked on would make it any more interesting; if anything it would be the opposite because the PCs would probably never use it again.
Scott Selvidge the fishbowl idea would be fun.
Also you might use this sort of item to open up a new adventure front. you can visit the sunken city of Glug-Oulk (fish name) but you will need this ring that will change your character. be warned that the change is permanent and you would need to find some way to reverse it (presumably in the sunken city) before you can return to dry land.
this way its more of an opportunity with cost and less of a “I got you”
Scott Selvidge the fishbowl idea would be fun.
Also you might use this sort of item to open up a new adventure front. you can visit the sunken city of Glug-Oulk (fish name) but you will need this ring that will change your character. be warned that the change is permanent and you would need to find some way to reverse it (presumably in the sunken city) before you can return to dry land.
this way its more of an opportunity with cost and less of a “I got you”
Maybe only the hand needs to be underwater for them to be able to breath normally in air. The character can carry the hand in a fishbowl or cut if off and leave it in the ocean.
Maybe only the hand needs to be underwater for them to be able to breath normally in air. The character can carry the hand in a fishbowl or cut if off and leave it in the ocean.
Gerardo Tasistro after reading your post I wouldn’t see why taking it off wouldn’t end the effect if that was the case. Maybe the ring should bind to the person’s finger, so they could cut off the finger/hand to end the effect. Or use other means if available (Dispel Magic, Ritual, Polymorph them into a fish and put them in a bowl of water, etc) lol
Gerardo Tasistro after reading your post I wouldn’t see why taking it off wouldn’t end the effect if that was the case. Maybe the ring should bind to the person’s finger, so they could cut off the finger/hand to end the effect. Or use other means if available (Dispel Magic, Ritual, Polymorph them into a fish and put them in a bowl of water, etc) lol
Taking it off, even cutting the finger or hand off, doesn’t end the effect because the magic user who created the ring was a sociopathic asshole.
Taking it off, even cutting the finger or hand off, doesn’t end the effect because the magic user who created the ring was a sociopathic asshole.
Gerardo Tasistro lol
Gerardo Tasistro lol
I like the “you need to keep your hand in a water skin” interpretation. That’s some very good cursed item weirdness. It’s like it allows you to breath wherever so long as the ring is wet.
I like the “you need to keep your hand in a water skin” interpretation. That’s some very good cursed item weirdness. It’s like it allows you to breath wherever so long as the ring is wet.