so i had an idea for an artifact, it is a skeleton key that can open any and every non-magical lock. i am curious what you think of this idea
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Respectfully I must say that it seems rather weak for an artifact, at least given the terms of what an Artifact is in the whole D&D/Pathfinder world.
Effectively a chime of opening without a limit on usage in a different shape and activation.
Even a magical key that could open any lock magical or not would still be a bit weak for that classification when you compare it to like a sphere of absolute nothingness or a deck of cards that can decide the fate of entire adventuring parties (if not kingdoms).
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I agree, it seems weak. What's more, there's already a mundane item called a skeleton key: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---final/goods-and-services#TOC-Key-skelet on
If you wanted a more powerful key-related artifact, I would go with the one from 'The Lost Room' TV series. Basically a key that opens any door to reveal a hotel room, and from that room's front door you can step to any other door you can think of.
Actually, that'd be nifty.
all i want it to do is open any lock so if i can get away with it opening any and every lock with unlimited usages, how much would you think that would cost if it were a wonderious item?
3000gp + cost of favorite 2h weapon.
You may think I'm joking, but as Adamantine bypasses hardness doors don't last long. Not a very good stealth option, but our parties are sometimes of the "non standard" type and we have to look for options when certain class/abilities aren't available.
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Well, now, hold on. Either it's insanely weak for an artifact, or it's a freaking artifact and thus awesome by definition.
The magical version would be basically a chime of opening with unlimited charges, the cost of which is a fairly straightforward math formula that I don't have access to at the moment. But this won't open any lock, all it will do is open any lock that the knock spell at caster level X could open. That's not the same thing.
The artifact version would do knock at caster level 20, plus minor-to-moderate passwall and disintegration effects, and that's just for starters. It couldn't just randomly disintegrate things, even if doing so would create a "door"; there has to already be an "opening" which has been "closed and barred" in some way. But still - Wall of Force cast to block a doorway? opened. Mystical Portal that only opens when the blood of a virgin is spilled during a planar alignment that only happens once every thousand years? opened. Pack of kobolds trigger a cavein in the middle of a hallway? sorry, not an opening. Seems extremely powerful but also very limited - a perfect "plot mcguffin" and thus qualifies as an artifact in my book.