ETHEREAL THETHER
Aura moderate conjuration; CL 7th
Slot — ; Price 64,000 gp; Weight 1 lb.
DESCRIPTION
This fist-sized metal cylinder encloses 700 feet of iridescent, translucent thread on a spool. The line can be drawn out freely and can be wound back in with a small handle on one end of the cylinder. One end of the line is affixed inside the reel while the other ends in a crystalline barbed claw that can be attached to wood or similar materials. If the hook is anchored, cranking the handle causes the cylinder to teleport back along the path of the line, taking along any creatures in contact as if by a dimension door spell. Any creatures exceeding the caster level limits are left behind. Turning the handle one full rotation is a move action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity and teleports the cylinder 100 feet. The user may choose to rotate the handle less to produce a smaller movement, in 10-foot increments. If the line is “cut” (2 hp, hardness 10), the cylinder instantly teleports to the location of the “cut” but the line remains intact.
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, dimension door; Cost 32,000 gp
This is truly a spell-in-a-can (or cylinder in this case). I actually love the idea. But it is way too abusable and seems to lack sufficient mechanics. Does it really have an unlimited number of times per day that it can be used? What happens to those in contact with the cylinder when the line is "cut"? What does it mean "taking along any creatures in contact"? I guess it is just "touched" objects or persons like the spell.
I kinda think this is cool. I want to think about it more.
Kept.
Clever idea, but prone to abuse. Needs some sort of built-in limitation to how often or how many times you can use it (perhaps by shortening the length with each use).
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
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Congratulations for making it into RPG Superstar 2009!
I like this item. It's a fun and interesting take on DimDoor, and if anything is more like a short-range word of recall, since you can't just go anywhere you like; you have to go backwards along the path you've already traveled (kind of reminds me of the spider hook in that way). While I think it's very handy, I don't see this as being highly abusable because it only allows you to retrace your steps. Certainly it is an awesome getaway device, but it had better be for 64,000 gp. This is in the price range of a helm of teleportation, +8 bracers of armor, horn of blasting, crystal ball with telepathy, cube of force, or 10x10 carpet of flying.
I kind of like the "partial rewind" ability to jump back only 100', rather than all the way to the beginning of the tether.
My quibbles are more in the realm of what happens to the tether you leave behind. It is iridescent and translucent, but how hard is it to see? A Perception DC would have helped. True, you could just cast invisibility on it, but how easy is it for wandering creatures crossing your trail to notice?
Also, if the tether is "cut," you say "the line remains intact," but what does that mean? You cut it, but it isn't really cut? Should the cut be permanent, reducing the total range of the device? If so, can it be repaired? Is the cut only temporary, causing the tether to essentially retract back into the can and start over? When the tether "snaps back" to the point of the cut, does it go by itself? Does it take the person carrying it along with it? Does the original hook and line stay tethered to the can? It seems like, oddly, the snap-back is from the cut to the can, leaving the more distant part of the tether and hook intact. Like this:
CAN------------------------HOOK
monster wanders by
CAN----------|CUT|---------HOOK
snap!
..............CAN----------HOOK
Is that it? Or is it:
..............CAN............ (hook also snaps back into can)
Summary: I like the idea of the device. It is handy, relatively simple to use, and not in my mind crazily overpowered. The mechanics of what happen when the tether is cut are kinda fuzzy, but in general I think this item does what it needs to do. Good job.
Contributor, RPG Superstar
aka Leandra Christine Schneider
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I don't think that this teleportation item leaves room for much abuse. While I'm not fully grabbed by it, it is fairly well executed (given that it is a bit of a complicated item). I think it could've also lived with a lower price-tag. At 64,000gp it is one expensive way to escape a tight situation (and one where you have to be prepared to escape in the fist place).
The thing I most liked about it, is the "cut the lifeline" mechanic. I assume it works like this:
CAN----------|CUT|---------HOOK
-->
CAN----------HOOK
James is right that it could've used a few more words on what exactly happens with the line when "cut" (does “remain intact” maybe mean, that the line stays at 700ft. length?)
Positive:
In my opinion it is a fairly good execution for a complicated concept within a tight word count.
I also loved the name ethereal tether…that is exactly what the item is.
Negative:
A bit too expensive for a simple escape item in my view and a bit limited in other fields of application, but this is not a serious flaw.
After reviewing all other items:
A fair teleportation item that leaves me guessing for further entries but doesn’t excite me all the way. Good luck in future rounds of the RPG Superstar 09!
aka Robert G. McCreary
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Honestly, I didn't understand how this thing worked at first. You've only got 700 feet, and you have to walk up to affix the hook anyways, so why do you need to dimension door there? Thanks to Jason's post, I can see now how this can be used - a short-range word of recall indeed. Nice.
The problem is with the tether itself. The item is an ethereal tether, so I'd assume the tether is ethereal, but that needs to be spelled out in the description. And if so, I'd like to see ethereal jaunt or something similar as a prerequisite. Jason makes a good point on the "cutting" of the the tether too - more confusion. I also agree that the price is too high, especially when compared to a scroll of dimension door that can be used without preparation (albeit with a standard action and provoking AoOs).
It's certainly an interesting and flavorful item, though. Congratulations on joining the ranks of RPG Superstar!
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4
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Aha, a headache-inducing item! Truly a powerful form of magic, causing me to re-read a single paragraph nearly a dozen times!
*grin*
In all seriousness, a VERY cool item, but I might suggest some kind of simplification regarding the line-cutting question: the line itself is ethereal, and thus cannot be harmed or manipulated in any way by non-magical attacks or creatures. In the ethereal plane, the line is indestructible (as per a wall of force effect) but can be manipulated by creatures or forces capable of affecting ethereal objects.
More words? Yes.
But I'm also not looking at three separate diagrams & massaging my temples after re-reading what I just wrote.
Although, now that I think about it, my way also increases the odds that you'll d-door directly into a solid object while trying to navigate a corner ... unless you carefully lay the line down so as to avoid that pitfall.
This is a cool idea, with a really slick execution, and it seems like the sort of thing that a party of clever adventurers (or their equally clever foes) might use & reuse with varying degrees of success over the course of an entire campaign.
Hell, my first thought was to "anchor" the claw into the leather armor or cloak of the party fighter (or rogue), let them charge (or ninja) their way through (or around or over) a bunch of obstacles, and then let the magical cavalry d-door in, 700 feet & seven rounds later.
Very cool item. The fact that I'm thinking more and more about it even after taking a break & coming back makes it intriguing design, if not (in my opinion) precisely ELEGANT design.
I'm impressed, and I look forward to seeing more as Superstar! continues!
I just got home and saw that I made the cut. Thank you very much! I remember reading all of last year's comments, and I really look forward to getting the same kind of advice and feedback for my own ideas.
I actually expected a lot of the questions and criticisms posted here, and most of the problems stem from the fact that this item is just a little bit too complicated for 200 words. My first draft was over 500! It took me a great deal of carving to get it down to size. I found the exercise to be both frustrating and rewarding. I thought that my final cut had maintained the clarity of the longer version, but I obviously need to keep working on my "soul of wit" skills. Of course, the smartest thing would have been to go with a different item more suitable to the contest rules, but I just liked this idea too much.
Before I answer some of the questions, I want to credit my inspiration: the "flavor text" from last year's "Force Gloves" wondrous item. When I read that they were made of phase spider silk, my imagination really ran wild with ideas for other wondrous items made from phase spider silk, and that's how I came up with the Ethereal Tether.
Most of the questions center around the "cutting mechanic." As background, I want to emphasize that each time the cylinder teleports, a corresponding length of the tether coils back up inside the cylinder. When something happens that would cut the line, the tether pre-emptively reels itself back in, teleporting the cylinder in the process. In effect, the line moves out of the way to avoid being cut and retains its 700' length.
The "creatures in contact" is meant to work like "touched" creatures in the spell.
Most of the other criticisms aim at it's power and price. Roughly speaking, it looks like about half of the comments found it overpowered and the other half found it overpriced. I actually agree a little bit with both camps: when I was done writing it up, I decided that it was prone to abuse, so I jacked up the price in compensation.
My biggest hope for this item has already come true: other people thinking up uses which I had not considered. I especially liked Boomer's idea of "anchoring" it to a person and then teleporting the rest of the party to them. The best I could come up with was anchoring it at the end of a long hallway and attaching the cylinder to the belt of a fighter armed with a reach weapon: any time an enemy would get inside his reach, he could teleport back ten or twenty feet and force his enemy to close again. I look forward to seeing what uses others dream up!
First thought: shoot the hook from a crossbow. Second thought: that's awesome! I like this one, it doesn't have an immediate "gotta have it" use, but think about it and the possibilities are endless.
Contributor
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Star Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 9
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Great item! I would like to have seen a specific limit in the description (x number of creatures) rather than "Any creatures exceeding the caster level limits." I think that would help a DM readily figure out how the item can be used without having to cross-reference the spell.
Congratulations!
Cool item. Not sure I'd use it, do to the abuse potential, but cool.
Useful. Maybe to the point of wanting it. Mechanics are indeed messy, though. Powerful, but relatively situational. Not seeing the mojo, though. I could see it in a list of items, but not sure it would stick out.
This is a really cool idea and I have some amazing ideas for how to use it. But the 'ethereal' bit in the title sort of throws me off. The text doesn't seem to support it being ethereal and going through walls and stuff, so I THINK it's just flavour. But otherwise it seems quite a handy tool to have around.
Congratulations!
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 6
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Dedicated Voter Season 6
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I'd like to see this one as a 300-350 word item, I think it'd clear up the mechanics a lot. Points for something new, and for doing your best to get it in cleanly under the word count. It seems to be there's a more natural name for the item waiting out there somewhere, though...when I think ethereal tether, I think of the Alpha Flight where they went dimensional fishing and wound up snagging the Hulk. Or maybe that's just from all the comic book references in the threads.
Also, I'm happy my gloves from last year inspired some neat ideas :) This is a lot more imaginative than my item! If you can keep up the ideas, you might go pretty far this year.
This Tether would shine in certain situations - it's an item that does a trick that isn't needed in every situation, but when you have it, you're glad. It is a very potent combat trick, though - and DMs have to be wary if the players have one in possession.
An item that makes everyone stand on their toes and keeps everyone involved and thinking of tactics is a good item. Superstar quality.
This one is growing on me. It's clear the description took some shoe-horning to fit under the 200-word limit, and my first read of the item left me utterly perplexed... but after looking through the comments/explanations and thinking of all the neat things you could do with this I'm coming around. Some other questions raised: how much weight can the tether support? What's the Strength DC to pull it apart? I'm left wanting more details from this item - I mean that as both critique and praise.
I'd like to see this one as a 300-350 word item, I think it'd clear up the mechanics a lot.
First: thanks very much for the great inspiration, Russ!
Second: ask, and you shall receive...(this one clocks in at 346 words)
ETHEREAL THETHER v. 2.0
Aura moderate conjuration; CL 7th
Slot — ; Price 64,000 gp; Weight 1 lb.
DESCRIPTION
This fist-sized metal cylinder encloses 700 feet of phase spider silk on a spool. The line can be drawn out freely and can be wound back in with a small handle on one end of the cylinder. One end of the line is affixed inside the reel while the other ends in a crystalline barbed claw that can be attached to wood or similar materials. The spool does not include any sort of braking mechanism and so cannot be used to support any weight.
If the hook is anchored, cranking the handle does not retract the line normally, but instead causes the cylinder to teleport back along the path of the line as if by a dimension door spell, with a corresponding length of silk teleported back into the cylinder. When teleporting, the cylinder takes along the creature holding it and any additional touched creatures up to the caster level limits. Turning the handle one full rotation is a move action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity and teleports the cylinder 100 feet. The user may choose to rotate the handle less to produce a smaller movement, in 10-foot increments.
If anything happens which would cut or break the silk, the cylinder preempts the cut by teleporting the cylinder just past the point where the break would occur. If this happens, the hook remains fixed and the cylinder brings along the holder and additional creatures as normal. Events which would trigger this effect include a successful DC 24 Strength check or a single attack that deals twelve or more damage.
Spotting the line under normal lighting conditions requires a successful DC 20 Perception check. A creature who makes physical contact with the line gains a +10 circumstance bonus to this check. The silk glows brightly on the Ethereal Plane, granting a +20 circumstance bonus to the perception check of any creature able to see into the Ethereal Plane.
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, dimension door; Cost 32,000 gp
Great item! I would like to have seen a specific limit in the description (x number of creatures) rather than "Any creatures exceeding the caster level limits." I think that would help a DM readily figure out how the item can be used without having to cross-reference the spell.
I actually wanted to go that way originally, but the caster level limits on this thing are pretty complicated:
You can bring along objects as long as their weight doesn’t exceed your maximum load. You may also bring one additional willing Medium or smaller creature (carrying gear or objects up to its maximum load) or its equivalent per three caster levels. A Large creature counts as two Medium creatures, a Huge creature counts as two Large creatures, and so forth. All creatures to be transported must be in contact with one another, and at least one of those creatures must be in contact with you.
In this case, I think that all of the extra words outweigh the inconvenience of cross-referencing.
If people continue to post constructive criticism, I will continue to revise as I find the time.
Another excellent spellpunk utility item suitable for any high powered adventurer squad's "party magic item" haversack.
I like the concept. The design is good. I can see a million uses. Definitely a multi-tasker.
The writing is also good.
I like this item. It's a new and different take on a classic spell. there are a few changes I would make, which I think would improve the item. First of all there are a few things that need to be clarified within the item description - what's the action requirement to set the claw? Also, I think the 'cut' mechanic needs to be cleaned up a little bit - the cylinder teleports, does the person holding it? Also, at 64K gp, I think this thing should be able to anchor into rock and metal, not just wood and similar materials. Make the little claw out of adamantium or something.
what's the action requirement to set the claw?
Added to version 2.1, which is at the end of this (very long) post.
Also, I think the 'cut' mechanic needs to be cleaned up a little bit - the cylinder teleports, does the person holding it?
Version 2.0 already covers this, but I did make some other revisions to the "cut" mechanic in version 2.1, which I think eliminate most of the remaining room for confusion.
Also, at 64K gp, I think this thing should be able to anchor into rock and metal, not just wood and similar materials. Make the little claw out of adamantium or something.
I think that the crystalline claw goes well with the shimmery phase spider silk, but I did make it able to grab harder things in version 2.1. In the process of thinking this through, I came up with a rule that is simultaneously more general and less ambiguous: rather than specifying particular types of materials, I said it can grab any material with hardness less than 10. I chose "less than 10" because iron has hardness 10, and I didn't want it to be too strong. It can still grab softer metals like copper, bronze, silver etc. I thought about adding some kind of Strength check mechanic, but that's just too complicated; I think it's best left to DM discretion:
Player: "I attach it to the decorative bronze plate hanging on the wall."
DM: "OK"
vs.
Player: "I attach it to the three-inch thick solid bronze door."
DM: "Hmmm...make a Strength check."
Well, it needs a higher word count.
*sigh*
...You're absolutely right. I really wanted to keep it under 350, but version 2.1 crept up to 360. I really can't see any way to trim it without sacrificing clarity again.
(In addition to some other minor tweaks, I'd make it an astral tether, since teleportation uses the Astral Plane. And I'd replace the silken cord with a silver cord, to befit the new Astral theme.)
The whole point of this item is that it is made from phase spider silk:
...my imagination really ran wild with ideas for other wondrous items made from phase spider silk, and that's how I came up with the Ethereal Tether.
I only left that detail out of the original description because I didn't want to use it without crediting Russ. I've now credited him, and he seems rather pleased about it, so in version 2.0 I said what it's made from.
Since phase spiders travel in the Ethereal Plane, it only makes sense to call it an Ethereal Tether. I also did some quick research after submitting my villain entry, and couldn't find anything about either the Astral Plane or the Ethereal in the spell descriptions for teleport, greater teleport or teleportation circle. Where did you get the info that teleportation occurs through the Astral Plane? (I'm not trying to be smart here--you've piqued my curiosity and I really want to find a source that nails this down!). I did find this line in the description for teleport object:
If desired, the target object can be sent to a distant location on the Ethereal Plane.
Here's what I make of this: since the teleportation is happening through the Ethereal Plane anyway, it's no big deal to just leave the object in the Ethereal Plane rather than having it pop back into the Material Plane.
I made one other change in version 2.1: the spell requirements are now dimension door OR word of recall. There were many comments comparing this item to word of recall, and the effects of this thing are honestly somewhere in between the two spells. Plus, it only feels fair that Druids should be able to make these, since the main ingredient comes from exotic creatures.
I have to say that I'm really enjoying this process of "editing by community feedback." It's reminiscent of an open source software project. [shameless pandering]I would also guess that this is a small taste of what it's like to work on the design side of one of Wolfgang Baur's Open Design projects.[/shameless pandering]
And here's version 2.1:
ETHEREAL THETHER v. 2.1
Aura moderate conjuration; CL 7th
Slot — ; Price 64,000 gp; Weight 1 lb.
DESCRIPTION
This fist-sized metal cylinder encloses 700 feet of phase spider silk on a spool. The line can be drawn out freely and can be wound back in with a small handle on one end of the cylinder. One end of the line is affixed inside the reel while the other ends in a crystalline barbed claw that can be attached to any material with hardness less than 10. Anchoring the line is a standard action that provokes attacks of opportunity. The spool does not include any sort of locking mechanism and so cannot be used to support any weight.
If the hook is anchored, cranking the handle does not retract the line normally, but instead causes the cylinder to teleport back along the path of the line as if by a dimension door spell, with a corresponding length of silk teleported back into the cylinder. When teleporting, the cylinder takes along the creature holding it and any additional touched creatures up to the caster level limits. Turning the handle one full rotation is a move action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity and teleports the cylinder 100 feet. The user may choose to rotate the handle less to produce a smaller movement, in 10-foot increments.
If anything happens which would damage the silk, the cylinder preempts the damage by teleporting itself just past the point where the damage would occur. If this happens, the claw remains fixed and the cylinder brings along the holder and additional creatures as normal. Events which would trigger this effect include a successful DC 24 Strength check or any attack exceeding the silk's hardness of 10.
Spotting the line under normal lighting conditions requires a successful DC 20 Perception check. A creature who makes physical contact with the line gains a +10 circumstance bonus to this check. The silk glows brightly on the Ethereal Plane, granting a +20 circumstance bonus to the perception check of any creature able to see into the Ethereal.
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, dimension door or word of recall; Cost 32,000 gp
Hmmmm...a medieval, magical fishing rod. Interesting. It took me awhile to get around to commenting on this one. That's not because I don't like it. I was just trying to budget my time in freaking out over making the Top 32 and simultaneously needing to come up with a villain concept. So, now that I've submitted my villain, I'll give it another go.
I guess I like what the item does. I'm a little thrown by the Ethereal aspect of its name. A dimension door type effect doesn't seem to warrant a reference to the Ethereal plane. Now, if you'd gone with etheral jaunt or something, I could see it. And "tether" somehow feels off as well. It's more rod-and-reel than tying something off. Although, I can understand the lifeline tether that's supposed to exist when someone goes astral. So, I like what the item does, but I'm still wrestling with the name.
Regardless, I like what you've done in the newer versions. You've made the Top 32! Revel in it. And good luck in the villain round...
My two-cents,
--Neil
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When I read the description, utility came to mind above combat. But, I'm a sucker for role playing and world development over dungeon crawls and fighting. I thought about spelunkers or miners using it to check out uncharted or dangerous tunnels. If the description did not specifically say creatures, I would also say use it to pull something up from the bottom of a shaft. Attach the hook to the top, the reel to a bucket, send it down, have someone load it and the person at the top "cuts" the line.
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RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka JoelF847
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Hmmmm...a medieval, magical fishing rod. Interesting.
This was one of my first thoughts when I read it. I was actually dissapointed that there wasn't some mechanic to put the hook/claw onto an actual fishing pole and cast it at a target so that it would attach. This would be pretty cool to tether to a mobile enemy and reel yourself in to get within smashing range.
As for the issue of astral vs. ethereal, the beta rules address this in the magic chapter, p. 158, in the teleportation sub-school of conjuration. "Teleportation is instantaneous travel through the
Astral Plane. Anything that blocks astral travel also blocks
teleportation."
I think this is a pretty nifty item, but requires a lot of thought and planning to make it worth more than a standard dimension door effect. Considering it's price, I don't think it would be worth it most of the time. I'd be much more likely to buy one or equip a villain with one if it was useable 3 times per day at a much reduced cost.
Cool creativity behind the idea though, good luck with the villain round.
I would have to use this item! The pun on the "spell-in-a-can" aspect alone would mean that this is an item that I would need to use. :D
Hmmmm...a medieval, magical fishing rod. Interesting.This was one of my first thoughts when I read it. I was actually dissapointed that there wasn't some mechanic to put the hook/claw onto an actual fishing pole and cast it at a target so that it would attach. This would be pretty cool to tether to a mobile enemy and reel yourself in to get within smashing range.
As you may have noticed, I was a little pressed to keep it under the 200-word limit, which is one reason why I didn't include mechanics like this. Fortunately, somebody else came up with a pretty good way to do what you're asking for:
First thought: shoot the hook from a crossbow.
This actually highlights the even bigger reason why I didn't include such specific mechanics: I wanted to leave it nice and flexible so that people could more easily come up with and implement a wide range of unorthodox ideas like this.
As for the issue of astral vs. ethereal, the beta rules address this in the magic chapter, p. 158, in the teleportation sub-school of conjuration. "Teleportation is instantaneous travel through the
Astral Plane. Anything that blocks astral travel also blocks
teleportation."
Thanks! Unfortunately, I now have a big dilemma: what do I do with the name? On the one hand, the teleportation mechanism makes me want to call it an "Astral Tether;" on the other hand, the phase spider theme makes me want to call it an "Ethereal Tether." As a compromise, I propose the following: if you use it in your campaign, call it whatever you want! "Astral Tether," "Ethereal Tether," "Galstaff's Medieval Magical Fishing Reel," "Can'O'DimDoor(TM)," whatever you prefer. It is your game, after all. Well, that's more of a cop-out than a compromise, but it still works. For the sake of consistency, I'll keep referring to it as an "Ethereal Tether" on these boards.
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RPG Superstar 2013
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
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I was tired of reading this item LONG before I think I figured it out. But I might just be tired. I think I got it the first time, but then there was enough confusion I had to reread. Then reads the comments.
Too unclear for me to be a big fan of, I'm afraid. I can say that most of the time I would rather have an item help me win a fight or perform something awesome, than to have something help me get away.
Good luck with your villain.
Hi Lucas!
I'll post the drawing of Ethereal Thether on the weeked!
Here it is:
I hope I did it a bit like the way you pictured it.
That is awesome!
As odd as this sounds, I hadn't really visualized it in too much detail, except for two parts: the claw and the crank-handle. Your crank-handle looks exactly like I had envisioned. The claw looks very different than I had envisioned, but in a good way: I was always bothered by my mental image of the claw, because I didn't think it would work very well: I pictured something more like a grappling hook, which just wouldn't be very good for latching on to things like wood. Your claw would actually work quite nicely.
I especially like your design for the cylinder: ornate, but not excessively so. I'm really impressed that you took such a simple object and made it look so good.
I especially like your design for the cylinder: ornate, but not excessively so. I'm really impressed that you took such a simple object and made it look so good.
I made the claw small since I figured it should be "practical" enough to be stored along the cylinder, and also because I thought the "attaching" process was more magical than actual functional. But that's only my slightly different point of view :P, I'm glad you liked it!
A friend colored it, check it out!
BTW: Is it Thether or Tether... in the boards both are mentioned in the thread titles...
Tether, I would think.
Odd: I definitely posted a reply here yesterday, but I guess I didn't properly hit the "submit" button. It's definitely "tether." I think that "thether" must be a typo (in fact, I almost did it myself just now).
More importantly: very nice job on the colors! I am really blown away by you guys, because what you've done is significantly more professional than the written description you based it on.