Creating a custom magic item need advice


Homebrew and House Rules


So in my group one of the players has been the group note taker, and in an attempt to make an in game way that all the pc's would know the information he knows we were thinking of creating a set of books that would be able to copy the information written in the others using a command word.

we were thinking of using message in order to do this, but i was curious if anything similar already existed, or if anyone had ever made items like this before and how they handled it.


If you want it to have a short range use message as the base spell. If you want it to work regardless of distance then perhaps something like telepathy. Just as the base spell for which to use for calculations.

Now if this is just an item the DM is going to hand them then don't worry about it. All you'd have to do is decide how it works and not worry about the calculations.


no we have to create it ourselves unfortunately, and there is no divination magic in the world we are in.

and short range is fine its just an item to prevent metagaming and making sure all the pcs have the same info without saying "we spend an hour every night copying eachothers notes"


Koshimo wrote:

no we have to create it ourselves unfortunately, and there is no divination magic in the world we are in.

and short range is fine its just an item to prevent metagaming and making sure all the pcs have the same info without saying "we spend an hour every night copying eachothers notes"

Just use message then.

Caster level 1
Cost: 1000 GP for set of 5 (or however many you like)

Within 100 feet this set of 5(numbers vary) pocket journal sized books auto-inscribes anything written from one to all books.

Each comes equipped with a small quill connected by a short chord. Though the quill has no ink it will still allow writing into the attached book as if it does.

Shadow Lodge

The Golem's got the right idea. However Message targets one creature per caster level, with higher caster level items costing more. A 1000gp use (writing)-activated Message item with the normal 100ft range would only connect two books. However, you're only looking for touch range, not 100ft, so that should come with a good discount. I'd suggest:

Linked Journal
Aura faint transmutation; CL 1st
Slot none; Price 200 gp (see text); Weight 1 lb.

DESCRIPTION

These journals are always produced in sets, usually of 2-6 books. When two journals in a set are touched together everything written in each journal is copied into the other. Each journal contains 100 pages, but full pages can be erased with a second command word, making room for new writing. The journals cannot copy magical writing.

The price given is for a single book; multiply it by the number included in the set.

CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS

Craft Wondrous Item, message; Cost 100 gp.

----

I'd price books with a 100ft range at about 500gp/book, which would allow for useful messaging between party members and not just to smooth over in-character recaps.

Not sure whether you should allow message chaining - eg the Rogue writes a message in his book which is copied into the book of the Fighter 100ft behind him, which is copied from the Fighter's book into the book of the Wizard 100ft behind the ranger, which is copied into the book of the Cleric 100ft behind the wizard for a total distance of 300ft. It's probably innocuous enough not to cause problems but I'm not sure it couldn't be abused.


Weirdo wrote:

The Golem's got the right idea. However Message targets one creature per caster level, with higher caster level items costing more. A 1000gp use (writing)-activated Message item with the normal 100ft range would only connect two books. However, you're only looking for touch range, not 100ft, so that should come with a good discount. I'd suggest:

Linked Journal
Aura faint transmutation; CL 1st
Slot none; Price 200 gp (see text); Weight 1 lb.

DESCRIPTION

These journals are always produced in sets, usually of 2-6 books. When two journals in a set are touched together everything written in each journal is copied into the other. Each journal contains 100 pages, but full pages can be erased with a second command word, making room for new writing. The journals cannot copy magical writing.

The price given is for a single book; multiply it by the number included in the set.

CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS

Craft Wondrous Item, message; Cost 100 gp.

----

I'd price books with a 100ft range at about 500gp/book, which would allow for useful messaging between party members and not just to smooth over in-character recaps.

Not sure whether you should allow message chaining - eg the Rogue writes a message in his book which is copied into the book of the Fighter 100ft behind him, which is copied from the Fighter's book into the book of the Wizard 100ft behind the ranger, which is copied into the book of the Cleric 100ft behind the wizard for a total distance of 300ft. It's probably innocuous enough not to cause problems but I'm not sure it couldn't be abused.

I like this. Also, I'd allow chain messaging. I dont think it's that big of a deal and could be fun.

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