Figurine of Shielding
When activated, this item emanates a field in a 20-foot radius that completely blocks extradimensional travel. The banned forms of movement include astral projection, blink, dimension door, ethereal jaunt, etherealness, gate, maze, plane shift, shadow walk, teleport, and similar spell-like or psionic abilities. The figurine is activated through a one minute ritual. If the figurine is moved, the field will dissipate until the figurine is activated again.
The figurine generally takes the form of a divine being or other planar creature, can be made of stone or metal, and can range from six to eighteen inches in height.
Moderate abjuration; CL 7th; Craft Wondrous Item; dimensional anchor; Price 56,000 gp; Weight 5-20 lb.
I really like this. Except that it seems to have no end to its effect. In other words, activate it once and it is permanent. That I dont like.
Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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Awww, you've got to get creative, Clark! Cast earthquake to knock it over from afar! Tip it over with telekinesis! Summon a monster to run in and eat it!
Basically, this item is a DM crutch in an area where DM crutches are very much appreciated. It's not really much of anything but a way to screw the PCs, and once they kill whoever set it up they'll probably take it home to protect the secret hide-out.
I'm not against this one. I say we keep it around for a while.
Kobold Press
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This item does something that DMs and designers handwave all the time, going back to Gygax's non-teleport-friendly underdark back in the day.
That's a good move, designwise. It puts the effect in a concrete form that PCs can try to counter, and that villains can protect. Instantiating it makes dimensional anchor a better game effect, and potentially adds a nice bit of worldbuilding.
Thumbs up.
Pretty well handled item (the name needs work).
Quibble: Dimensional Lock is a far better match for the items effects (and realistically). That said, the price isn't too unreasonble considering a permanent dimensional lock with an on/off switch would be about 120000. The extended ritual and "knock it over" part could swing it down enough.
I really, really like this item. Like the judges said, it's something the game needs.
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moved in relation to the things it's touching, or in relation to latitude/longitude? could someone put it on a plate for example, and move the plate itself with a balance check, would this shut the effect off?If the figurine is moved, the field will dissipate until the figurine is activated again.
It could do with a little more clarification on this point, but I otherwise really like this item.
moved in relation to the things it's touching, or in relation to latitude/longitude? could someone put it on a plate for example, and move the plate itself with a balance check, would this shut the effect off?
The normal, english, earth reference frame meaning of the expression, I'd assume. If it is not stationary, it turns off.
I used these in a campaign a couple of years ago to shield a ruined temple. The party never asked why they weren't able to teleport past the walls. After I worked the figurine up for the contest, I was shocked at the cost. The figurines were, collectively, probably one of the largest treasures in the place.
The normal, english, earth reference frame meaning of the expression, I'd assume. If it is not stationary, it turns off.
Yeah, seems clear enough. Though, I suppose the figurine could be attached to a vehicle such as a ship or a carriage in order to prevent persons from teleporting into the vehicle. The key distinction, here, being the figurine's stable orientation relative to the space to be shielded.
Yeah, seems clear enough. Though, I suppose the figurine could be attached to a vehicle such as a ship or a carriage in order to prevent persons from teleporting into the vehicle. The key distinction, here, being the figurine's stable orientation relative to the space to be shielded.
That works only if you don't DM for munchkins (or 'sell the furniture' types). I'd leave the wording as it stands and avoid aguments over how small a vehicle can be.
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Yeah, seems clear enough. Though, I suppose the figurine could be attached to a vehicle such as a ship or a carriage in order to prevent persons from teleporting into the vehicle. The key distinction, here, being the figurine's stable orientation relative to the space to be shielded.That works only if you don't DM for munchkins (or 'sell the furniture' types). I'd leave the wording as it stands and avoid aguments over how small a vehicle can be.
my munchkins go the other way: they'd say that the planet rotating and moving around the sun constitutes as moving
Fills a definite DM need, but as someone said, does a bit less for players. Could be overpowered in the wrong player hands. Heh.
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
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I'm on the side of it being good design and a way to make explicit an easy DM cop-out of no teleports/planar travel/etc. I do think Dimensional Lock would have been a better prereq for it, but that's no big deal to me. Also, it fills a nice niche as a 'home base' item.
If you did alter it to be a quick activation so you could actually use it in combat situations to block summoners/ethereal monsters/etc., it would have to be much more expensive.
The name could use some work--'shielding' is pretty vague. On just looking at the title I wouldn't have guessed it was an anti-teleport device.
I'm just kind of blah on this one. The one minute time to setup makes it unusable for combat unless you know what's coming in advance. I guess you could get it going every night when you setup camp to make sure nothing ports into your direct area.
As for villains or temples I would probably just say they figured out a way to create this effect (maybe Permanency and Dimensional Lock).
I like that it's hard to use in combat. that just makes my players start thinking in terms of complex plans and ambushes, and that's always good fun
This item has its uses. A little Sovereign Glue to attach it where you want and poof! It can't be moved without Universal Solvent.
Its not the kind of item I would normally use in my campaigns. Its a bit of a cheat for GM's, but sometimes necessary depending on what kind of players you might have. An anti-magic field in the area will do some of that work for you.
I am not crazy about the name. The word figurine always makes me think of a Figurine of Wondrous Power. Maybe it would be better as a Gem or Jewel, such as Jewel of Arcane Shielding?
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4
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I like that it's hard to use in combat. that just makes my players start thinking in terms of complex plans and ambushes, and that's always good fun
I wholeheartly agree - my one, only, and absurdly minor quibble with this kick-ass item is the poor fit on the name/ability . . . and considering the problems that people have had with MY item's name/ability, I think that I could be well and rightly told to shut the hell up.
Very well done.
This item has its uses. A little Sovereign Glue to attach it where you want and poof! It can't be moved without Universal Solvent.
Well, or breaking whatever its attached to.
Nice item with interesting tactical possibilities...though indeed, name does not work.
Nice item with interesting tactical possibilities...though indeed, name does not work.
Yeah, it is a lame and pedestrian name. I suppose I could have used "statuette" in place of "figurine." I was working from the idea that it should be some protective religous figure.
Very creative and interesting item. Really like the semi-permanent but portable architecture aspect of the Figurine of Shielding which provides a lot of utility. Believe this would be really poplular with the non casters in the scry, teleport, die campaigns. Looking forward to your country.
Of course in specific campaign world it might be fun to introduce a legendary historical wizard who did invent lots of great magical items...and then didn't bother to come up with sensible names for them. Touch of realism.