ItemName Verdant Vine
Aura Faint Transmutation; CL 5th
Slot Wrist; Price 2000 gp; Weight - lbs.
Description
Consisting of a vine with five green berries, a verdant vine is worn tied around the wrist. Once all the berries are used, the vine dries out and becomes useless.
Once per day, the wearer can pinch a berry off the vine. As a standard action, the wearer throws the berry up to 30 feet away. This ranged attack provokes attacks of opportunity. Viciously thorned vines erupt in a 20 foot radius from the point of impact. Bypassing the wearer’s allies, the vines target all others in the area of effect. On a successful attack roll against a target’s AC, vines coil around his legs, and the target is entangled per the entangled condition. Thorns inflict 1d4 points of damage every round the target is entangled. This effect lasts for 2d4+1 rounds. The damage taken reduces the target’s speed by half until healed by magical or mundane means.
A DC 20 Strength check allows the target to break free. Doing so inflicts an extra 3 points of damage. An enemy who enters the area of effect is subject to an attack by the prescient vines, as is an enemy who fails to leave the area of effect once free. If the attack is successful, the target immediately takes the resulting damage and becomes entangled as stated above. The newly entangled character may make the Strength check on his next turn to break free as stated above.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, Entangle, Guidance, Spike Growth; Cost 1000 gp
Keep!
This is a pretty cool little item. It's more than just entangle, I like the theme, I like that it's a ranged attack instead of an auto-hit spell. The formatting is a little sloppy, but a writer can be trained to do that correctly (also, I think "prescient" is the wrong word in the description).
Keep!
There are some mechanical concerns in this one, but I like the flavor. It says the wearer makes a ranged attack with a thrown berry...so I'm assuming that would be a ranged touch attack? Or shouldn't it be more of a splash-like weapon to hit a particular square as opposed to an individual target? Later, it references the vines springing out and making attack rolls against a target's AC...and again, this should be a combat maneuver grapple or at least a touch attack or something similar to black tentacles.
I actually think they would have been smarter to just go with a splash-like weapon, force people to make Reflex saving throws, and anyone who gets entangled suffers the 1d4 points of damage from the thorns and the spike growth penalties on movement thereafter.
It's a good idea. I just regret that they didn't sort out the mechanics of it better.
I'm leaning Reject. But you guys can convince me otherwise...
Director of Brand Strategy
|
I think the mechanics of it aren't as bad as you make them out to be Neil. Sure, they're not 100% polished, but the innovative nature of the item and its ability to mix and match elements of thrown weapons as well as both entangle and spike growth make it a keeper for me, despite its few shortcomings.
Keep!
Hey, I hit the Keep button for everybody. ;-)
That said, I'm still not really satisfied with the mechanics or the pricing for it. This isn't simply an entangle effect. That would be a Reflex save and you'd either make it or miss it. I'm cool with the notion of it requiring an attack roll. A tanglefoot bag requires that...and I'd expect these to work on a similar principle. However, a tanglefoot bag just entangles with an adhesive that wears off pretty quickly. This thing creates an entire zone like black tentacles that keeps on attacking anyone who enters it. And, it does damage to anyone who gets stuck...not just entanglement...and it slows your movement afterward like spike growth.
Despite giving you five uses of this kind of effect, you add all that up and I think it should come to more than 2,000 gp. But if you guys want to buy off on it for its flavor and the core idea, that's fine. Similar things have been done in Superstar before, I believe. And later, if this thing makes it through to the Top 32, I'll claim it was all my idea to advance it and come back here and delete all my arguments against it.
;-)
Okay. So it made the Top 32. And, I decided not to come back here and delete all my arguments against it, because I still think they're valid and should be reviewed by the designer as constructive criticism and feedback. Despite my initial misgivings, however, I'll also let everyone know I wound up voting for this item to elevate it into the Top 32. It grew on me...pun intended. And Mark's right. There's innovation and mojo here.
My recommendation to the designer of this item, however, is to make sure you raise your game for the rest of the competition. Dive into the mechanics and really analyze everything you can. Mine the rest of the rulebook for similar stuff to what you're imagining so you can see what kind of mechanics to borrow and/or duplicate (i.e., tanglefoot bags, black tentacles, etc.). You do those things and couple it with your obvious creativity...and I think you'll have the means of going pretty far.
Welcome to the Top 32. Now make the most of it.
RPG Superstar 2008 Top 16, 2010 Top 4
aka Alexander MacLeod
|
Like Neil, one of my first thoughts was, "why doesn't this act like a black tentacles spell since it's acting like a black tentacles spell?" Grabbing someone is what Pathfinder's grapple action was made to do, while an attack roll is used just to hit stuff.
And is it just odd to me, or why does it always do 3 points of damage to folks making a Strength check to escape? Wouldn't doing the 1d4 damage (or even the maximum of 4) make more sense? Also, what's the Escape Artist DC to get out of the vines? Does that do damage too?
Ooh, a vine with berries on them, I’m expecting goodberry tricks and get ouchy spike growth instead. I wonder what happens if a PC decides to eat one :-)
I do like that I get entangle and spike growth and that it hurts movement, I’m paying 400 gp for each berry, I want it to be annoying for those I use it on. That it avoids my allies is nice, but like Neil says, it starts to make me wonder if this has been undercosted.
The mechanics just aren’t clear. I can live with attack rolls rather than grapple checks, but there is no attack bonus listed, that is a pretty glaring error. Testing your item would have picked this up. Are there other ways to get out of the vines? What about cutting the vines or burning them with a fireball? Does the 1d4 damage happen on my turn or the victim’s? The 3 damage is annoying because it’s an exception to the effect that I have to remember. The last sentence isn’t needed at all.
Way too much capitalization, if you are doing something from a template, look up similar examples of the template. This item is innovative, I like it because the entangle effect and the movement penalty combined together are just plain nasty.
Welcome to the ranks of RPG Superstar! Work hard on your formatting and your rules elements next round, show the voters that you can grow (!) throughout this competition. Best of luck!
Interesting that it bypasses the owner's allies, but I suppose the guidance covers that? Hmmm. Not sure about that application, but I won't make too much of that.
I somewhat share Neil's concerns, but all in all this is a pretty solid idea.
Since Matt stole my pun, you're going to be the one entry without one! Good luck!
The mechanics here just aren`t working...
It says it makes an attack roll vs. all non-allies in area effect. WHAT attack bonus does it use?
I`m not sure if the author is expecting to use the thrower`s attack bonus vs. every target, but as written it doesn`t quite work. The original standard action throwing would SEEM to be a ranged touch, though that`s not stated (though being a ranged attack, it presumably has 1 target). Then it says `THE VINES target all others in area of effect´, which makes the reader expect the vines themselves are making the attack rolls, not the original thrower (and why would they, if discrete attacks are being made after their original throw?). Lastly, it says `the effect lasts 2d4+1 rounds` - I don`t know if that`s in refernce to only the Entangled Condition, or if the 20´ radius of vines itself persists for that duration, attacking any non-allies within the area.
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 6
,
Dedicated Voter Season 6
|
I'm not happy with this item. Rereading it, I still can't tell how the items mechanics should be resolved. If it were in a book, I'd have to shelve it in favor of future errata. If I were editing it, I'd have to guess the author's intent or do some back and forth via email.
But on the flip side, hurled berries of entanglement have a lot of potential, and I have a soft spot for limited use (as opposed to one use) items. Just can't get past the mechanics, being a rules curmudgeon.
Thank you for believing I have what it takes to compete in this competition.
Y'all are right about the mechanics; they weren't thought out enough. If I had it to do over again, I would make the following changes:
The initial attack roll would be a ranged touch attack. The subsequent attack rolls (should've been CMB checks) would be at a +3 (minimum caster level) bonus. I'm embarrassed to say it...the 3 damage when one makes the strength check is a hold over from an earlier draft that had the full damage at 1d4+2. Not a mistake I will make again. Regarding other ways to get out of the entangle part of it, I was rather focused on what would happen in the worst circumstances for the target, and I didn't consider them. As I said earlier, not a mistake I will make again.
As for cost, I was comparing this to the Necklace of Fireballs because the amount I kept coming up with seemed like too much. Now, reading the comments, I wonder if I should've left the price alone or reduced it by 1/4 or 1/2 instead of going with the comparison. (Sorry, I don't remember what the amount was, and my math skills aren't all that great at the moment).
I was going for an item one would find primarily on druids and rangers that could bring some of nature "inside" dungeons and such. Since many lower level spells require grasses, plants, etc to already be in the area to use, I thought a limited use item that could bypass that limitation would be a nice addition.
Thank you for your feedback, and I look forward to learning and growing during this process. Neil, thank you for NOT deleting your feedback. :)
Neil, thank you for NOT deleting your feedback. :)
And thank you for taking it in stride exactly the way a potential Superstar should. It's very easy to sometimes view what we say here as a harsh critique or rebuke of your demonstrated talent. But that's not what we mean to do. Anything we raise about a design's weaknesses is done in the hopes of spurring your growth over the course of the contest. It's an assessment of your design...not you as an individual.
I had some reservations with this one, but the core idea still won me back. That's significant in itself. It means you have Superstar-caliber creativity. You also write well. And, your presentation was mostly okay. But you need to shore up your mechanics (which this next round will surely test). And you need to demonstrate a stronger attention-to-detail in making sure your work is presented as publication-ready as possible.
Best of luck in the next round,
--Neil
This is what we were talking about 30-45 days ago regarding personalities and grace on the boards: Marie, I don't particularly like your item (sorry), but the grace with which you responded to criticism makes me wish I had the opportunity to vote for you - oh, wait! Round Two is coming, isn't it?
THAT'S what I'm talking about. Good luck to you in the coming rounds.
I like what the item tried to do.
I don't like the name.
Also, I feel there should be a saving throw for the slow effect and I think there should be a mention of poison (I guess this wasn't meant to be a poison effect though).
I don't see the need for taking damage on a successful check to break free. It already deals damage to an entangled creature.
What is the attack bonus that the vines use? I don't see that mentioned.
I think the item should state what action type the strength check is. Is it a move action, standard action, or a full round action?
|
|
I think we're missing the most powerful use of this item.
Combine it with Speak with Plants and you've got a 2,000 gp item that can tell you the future five times with its prescience.
Okay, so I'm being facetious but Marie should consider this advice worth pondering: Never use a word your not 100% sure of the meaning of without looking it up first, just to be sure.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 4
,
Star Voter Season 6
aka raidou
|
Marie, welcome to the contest! I agree with all that's been said regarding some iffy mechanics on this item. However, it's certainly an "I want that" item for a druid or other battlefield controller. I saw what you were going for with the necklace of fireballs and started out thinking of dismissing the item for its similarities. However, it really is a tightly-themed item, with a good description, and the creative spark behind it is evident. Some more rules-tinkering is what's needed here; there's certainly no lack of creativity. Best of luck in future rounds!
It's a nice item, but perhaps a bit too nice all things considered. It's strikes me as a tanglefoot bag on steroids, but it could perhaps be better if it didn't seem to replicate a number of spells.
To be honest, this might well be my least favorite of the bunch. For me it nearly only is a tanglefoot bag on steroids, with an added Friend-Foe discernment effect ( which I personally despise in most AoE attacks).
It has some issues with writing and mechanics ( like the missing attack bonus or clear definition about which bonus to use, that they don't impede movement of unentangled creatures at all and other stuff).
But that said I really like what you wanted to to with it (giving planty types means to bring plants to the plantless parts of adventures), but sadly i didn't see that at all in your item, I only got to it when I read your reply about the item. I would have really loved an item which had a main focus of supplying a way to cast plant based spells anywhere and maybe some neat side effects like creating difficult terrain. But thats not the item I'm seeing here.
I look forward to see your round 2 entry. Try not to bury the best parts of it too ;)
Verdant Vine
I may be in a minority here, but I liked this item. Things like this and the plentiful pouch make me wanna fire up Hero Lab and build a druid PC. The description is clear and concise, and it's an item that appeals to both players and GMs for use. Well done!
|
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
,
Star Voter Season 6
|
I like. It's like the Necklace of Missiles (and the lightning bolt version, which I think SKR wrote for MoF) but for Druids. There's a bit of a disconnect on the 'roll to hit target' and 'in an area' effects. My only quibble is that I don't like the IFF effect, but then I'm 'old school' and like my evocations to be dangerous.
Still, I'd let it into my game with a tweak or two.
|
I also really like this item.
My biggest problem with the mechanics are the need for vines' attack to be a touch attack instead of an AC attack, and something nobody else has mentioned: the phrase "Bypassing the wearer’s allies, the vines target all others in the area of effect." This means that if I am fighting a few baddies in a crowded market or in an area otherwise populated by neutral bystanders, they're quickly going to be snatched up by grasping vines, because they're not specifically allied with me. I'm not sure I like that. The CR usually seems to use "foes" in this context, so that probably would have been a better option.
I do like this item, though, and definitely would have hit the keep button myself, were I in the judges shoes. Nice to see a female designer! Congrats on making it this far, and here's hoping you continue to wow us in future rounds.
Congratulations Marie!
Strength (Overall): 12
Dexterity (see time in my campaign): 14
Constitution (long-time keeper): 12
Intelligence (mechanics): 10
Wisdom (writing craft): 14
Charisma (flavor/visuals): 12
I think you have a great thematic grouping of abilities without going SAK. I do not like the foe only aspect, but it does not kill it for me. Activates on impact? Yeah I think I will be sundering any belts that seem to be made of vines :) Visuals were good too, vine and berries are easy enough to grasp and now it is a belt--great! :)
Again, congratulations! :)
Contributor
,
Dedicated Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
|
My rating system: (++) awesome > (+) good > (+-) ok > (-) weak > (--) terrible
Core idea, innovation: (+) It's a lot more than just a SIAC, but not really something completely novel.
Flavor, description and name: (+) The visuals are pretty good. It's easy to imagine what the item and its effect look like.
Mechanics, balance and rules-fu: (-) It's possible to guess how the item is supposed to work, but without errata it's impossible to know for sure.
Formatting and spelling: (-) The entry is rife with formatting errors.
Overall rating: (+-) It's ok, but dangerously close to (-). One of the weakest items in the round.
|
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
,
Star Voter Season 6
|
I really want to know what would happen to a PC who ate a berry. (Obviously not having identified it)
Something like this.
Thank you for the additional feedback, everyone. I will respond, promise. I promised myself I would look through the other items that made Top 32 before I came back to mine, and I have a ways to go still. Then it's on to the other threads.
(ala The Terminator) I'll be back.
ItemName Verdant Vine
Aura Faint Transmutation; CL 5th
Slot Wrist; Price 2000 gp; Weight - lbs.
Description
Consisting of a vine with five green berries, a verdant vine is worn tied around the wrist. Once all the berries are used, the vine dries out and becomes useless.Once per day, the wearer can pinch a berry off the vine. As a standard action, the wearer throws the berry up to 30 feet away. This ranged attack provokes attacks of opportunity. Viciously thorned vines erupt in a 20 foot radius from the point of impact. Bypassing the wearer’s allies, the vines target all others in the area of effect. On a successful attack roll against a target’s AC, vines coil around his legs, and the target is entangled per the entangled condition. Thorns inflict 1d4 points of damage every round the target is entangled. This effect lasts for 2d4+1 rounds. The damage taken reduces the target’s speed by half until healed by magical or mundane means.
A DC 20 Strength check allows the target to break free. Doing so inflicts an extra 3 points of damage. An enemy who enters the area of effect is subject to an attack by the prescient vines, as is an enemy who fails to leave the area of effect once free. If the attack is successful, the target immediately takes the resulting damage and becomes entangled as stated above. The newly entangled character may make the Strength check on his next turn to break free as stated above.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, Entangle, Guidance, Spike Growth; Cost 1000 gp
Ask A RPGSuperstar Succubus is posting from the point of view of a CE aligned succubus – fairness is an adjective applicable to hair coloration, balance is what a couple of mortals on opposite ends of a plank pivoted on a rocky spire above a drop of several hundred feet into a pool of molten basalt frantically try to do, and logic is something which proves anything a demon of adequate status and charm requires it to demonstrate.
Is the item Pretty?
It's primitive, in a sort of cute way, but it's not pretty.
Does the item help a demonic seductress to keep a paladin house pet?
Oh yes. Especially in the early stages of training when he or she still tries to run occasionally.
Is the item otherwise useful?
And it has you covered too in one of those embarrassing situations where a fracas breaks out and a succubus needs to make a discreet speedy withdrawal covered by her allies/servants.
Other Comments? (including World Domination potential on the evil laughter scale, where appropriate)
I've carried out some market research, and the price quoted to me by most merchants (who carried the item) for a scroll of spiked growth was in the region of 750 gold pieces if I didn't bother to exert my natural charms. Five times 750 is 3,750 by my reckoning, which is a darn sight more expensive than one of these cute little bracelets. Now true an actual spell of spike growth will go on and on and on - it's favoured by commanders of armies in battles which drag on for hours I believe - but spike growth is indiscriminate as to whom it targets and doesn't actually try to grab enemies as they pass through the zone affected by it. Add to that the fact that you have to have some ability with magical writings to employ a scroll in the first place, whereas this bracelet is just pull and toss... Basically this bracelet is a FANTASTIC BARGAIN for anyone who engages in short nasty skirmishes or is otherwise embarked upon adventurous careers, and I shall be recommending it to all my friends immediately. I'm not bothered that any given bracelet works only once in any twenty four hour period. At that price, you can buy several, and simply swap on a different one after one has been used for the day.
World Domination Potential:
Hahahahaha! (Ahem.)
Gollum Rating:
Precious.
The visual effect is dead on to me -- I can picture this thing spreading out in all directions, scooping up bad guys along the way. However, I think you can knock off a couple of the bells and whistles and still not lose the cool factor, while simultaneously making this easier to GM.
Some people hated the name, but it's fine. On the other hand a tougher name might be more impressive, e.g. Vicious Vines, Gozreh's Thorny Growth, Tangle of Terror... Wait, I'm sure I had a good name here somewhere.
|
RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32
aka Bats Kabber
|
I love the concept and theme of this item (Druid Bomb!!), but I also agree with the mechanical issues mentioned above. Once corrected, I could see many uses for this item by many types of characters. My typical rogue would love to use this as a "getaway" device.
|
RPG Superstar 2013
,
Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
|
I agree there are a few mechanical issues that need tightening, but I actually think it's one of the better items this year. It's losing that Superstar grasp of mechanics, its description is incomplete, but it is a really good concept, and I feel that natury characters deseve more unique stuff than they currently have.
For the designer: To get my vote you have to do everything betterthan your competitors. A good idea for ana rchetype is part of the puzzle, but be sure to answer the questions that players and GMs will have once they read your item. Be sure to adhere to the styles and presentation of archetypes. It feels like a lot of items got in this year on mojo, with a lot of forgiveness for execution f the idea was unique enough, but the judges and FAQs tell us that a true SUperstar doesn't make us choose between cool and complete, or idea and execution. ood luck to you in round two.
Thank you everyone for the feedback. I've learned a great deal just from this first round. It's greatly appreciated. :) On to specific concerns, statements, etc.
...shore up your mechanics...demonstrate a stronger attention-to-detail....
Understood. I've learned a great deal about what NOT to do. I'm doing my best to translate that into what TO do. These later rounds will be the proof in the pudding as to how successful I am.
...I don't particularly like your item (sorry)....
That's ok; no one says you have to. :) I would like to know what you didn't like about it though. Tacky to your taste? Poor presentation? Mangy (or mangled) mechanics? (The alliterations can go on all night. ;)). Thank you for the feedback, and I seriously want to know what you don't like about the item.
...I don't like the name.
Also, I feel there should be a saving throw for the slow effect and I think there should be a mention of poison (I guess this wasn't meant to be a poison effect though).
I don't see the need for taking damage on a successful check to break free. It already deals damage to an entangled creature.
What is the attack bonus that the vines use? I don't see that mentioned.
I think the item should state what action type the strength check is. Is it a move action, standard action, or a full round action?
Is it that you don't like alliterations, or is there more to this? I ask because I'm writing to an audience (Paizo customers), and to do that effectively, I need to know what the preferences are in addition to the accepted formats, jargon, etc.
The slowed condition, in this instance, is not a by-product of any poison, hence no save vs poison. Both entangle and spike growth slow a character; the first by creating difficult terrain, and the second by injury.
The damage a character takes upon successfully breaking free is meant to mechanically represent the deliberateness inherent in the vines' attack and the thorns digging into you. It should have been 1 point of damage; I addressed the error in my earlier post about the mistakes I made and what I would change. I apologize for the confusion.
I addressed the attack bonus in my earlier post on what I would change as well. It should be minimum caster level (+3). I apologize for the confusion this has created for many.
Yikes, another error! You're right, and I appreciate you pointing this out. It would be a standard action.
...Combine it with Speak with Plants and you've got a 2,000 gp item that can tell you the future five times with its prescience...Never use a word your not 100% sure of the meaning of without looking it up first.
This word choice is victim of my tunnel vision when it came to developing this item, not my lack of a dictionary or ability to read...promise. ;) Besides, plants don't sense things the same as humanoids. You may simply get the best times to harvest and plant for the next five seasons. :D
...My biggest problem with the mechanics...the phrase "Bypassing the wearer’s allies, the vines target all others in the area of effect."...means that if I am fighting a few baddies in a crowded market or in an area otherwise populated by neutral bystanders, they're quickly going to be snatched up by grasping vines, because they're not specifically allied with me....
Yes, it does. It's not what I intended; there seems to be a lot of that with my entry. Thank you for pointing this out, as I was thinking dungeon and not market square as I developed this. I really need to think about the unintended consequences of my designs more if I'm fortunate enough to advance.
As I thought about it though, this distinction makes a big difference in role-playing. A good character is unlikely to use this item anywhere near innocents. A more selfish (not evil) character may or may not use this item based on the perceived benefit. An evil character really won't care, unless using the item in that environment will upset any plans that have been laid. I'm not certain I'd change this effect, except maybe make it an indiscriminate area effect as several others have mentioned, instead of targeting non-allies.
I really want to know what would happen to a PC who ate a berry. (Obviously not having identified it)
I hope no one eats one of these after identifying it. :) What a mess. :P Mr. Morris hit it right on the head. A very large puddle of thick and chunky soup is sponged up (or left to seep into the cracks of the dungeon) by your friends and former allies. I say former because, as a GM, I'm mean enough to rule that anyone who didn't attempt to stop you from doing this are certainly NOT your allies and are subject to the vines that sprout from your corpse as you drop. <EWG>
...this bracelet is a FANTASTIC BARGAIN....
I must humbly ask your forgiveness, oh great RPGSsuccubus. The price was so low and my competition for knock offs so great, there are no green berries to be had. Perhaps you would like one in red or blue? I can't guarantee the same results, however. I do have a few green ones left, but the price, even with the 95% discount I always offer succubi of your caliber, is *gulp* 7,000 gold pieces. *throws a berry and runs for life* (Sorry, couldn't resist) :D
Everyone, I thank you so much for the feedback and the encouragement. I've learned a great deal from you all already. I have tried to put all this wonderful advice into practice in my archetype, and I have taken it all to heart.
|
I would love this item if it only affected a single target, like a tanglefoot bag that also does damage (and doesn't weigh 5 lbs...). (Indeed, a version that did this, and regrew a new thorny seed-pod every day, could be a fun alternate version of this item.)
Affecting a larger area, and automatically avoiding allies, makes it pretty much awesome (although five uses ever, and once / day max, takes the blush off of the rose).
I especially like that it's a druid item. The game needs more interesting druid items, and this one has the added cool factor of not being a spell-in-a-can, like a 'necklace of entangle spells.'
I vaguely remember something like this in Dragon Annual 1, as a witch magic item (most of which were hilariously overpowered) but this idea is better. :)
This item is entangle on steroids. It's awesome. I love the speed-reducing effect and the fact that it gets an immediate attack against anything that voluntarily enters it's area of effect.
These things are relatively cheap too! Players will want to create a bunch of these. You should start apologizing to GMs now. ;-)
Nice mojo here, Marie!
This is great battlefield control. I like the visual of this area of brambles reaching around for someone to grab. I've got a few concerns about it's mechanics though. If the initial attack roll misses do I roll a scatter like other grenade-like weapons, or does it fail to deploy? Also, perhaps I'm misunderstanding or maybe it's been covered and I didn't see it, but what is the attack bonus of the vines? It seems the vines are making independent attack rolls but there are no details to the effect. Lastly, and this is a bit of a fringe case, if I hit multiple people with this it seems like it would really bog things down for a while. With a 20 foot radius I can hit more than 40 targets if they're marching in formation or something. While this event seems unlikely I do not relish the thought of making 40 attack rolls and then as many damage rolls.
A little tweaking here would go a long way. While I do agree that attack roll vs. area with reflex save is a stronger way to go, there needs to be some way to streamline the process for time. Perhaps a single attack roll against all the ACs in the area, and the a single damage roll against everyone affected. As with many items, the DM will interpret this as he sees fit, and run it as he deems fair, and a lot of my issues are subject to his interpretation.
In all a very nice item. I really dig on battlefield control, I would definitely use this. I'm also really keen on items that only take up one of a slot that usually comes in pairs (gloves, boots etc.) It's really only 1/2 of a slot, and this way I can have more stuff!