So I'm still relatively new to pathfinder and have yet to GM, but i wanna avoid traps or objects that may be known of past gods. Therefore i just thought of an idea for. A trap but could use some help how to balance it.
Well of infinite truths
This ordinary looking stone-mason well appears to be very well preserved as if time and place doesn't affect it. Above the well hangs a bucket tied with a rope strapped to a plank held up by two wooden beams. A character may attempt to use the bucket to get water from the well and does not specifically interact with the well as written below unless specified.
Many legends surround the well and story-tellers who claim to have stared down into its depths claim to all experience different sights. Whether you see a frightening image, hear an enlightening inner voice or simply walk away litterally dumb-founded, the random nature of the well remains a mystery to all.
To determine the effects of peering down the well the player and GM both roll a d100/d%
If Dm rolls 100 and player rolls 1/ vice versa the character immediately dies and falls into the well only to be swallowed and never seen again. Can only be restored by true resurrection.
If difference >89 but <100 player reduces one mental ability score with 1
If difference >70 but<90 player recieves curse such as -4 on attack rolls, certain skills or ac as per the spell bestow curse.
If difference >55 but<70 character is shaken until the next day
If difference >45 but <55 character doesnt notice anything unusual
If difference >30 but <45 character recieves a luck bonus +2 to all saves, attack rolls and all skill checks. This effect lasts until the end of the day.
If difference >10 but <30 character recieves +1 to one primary mental score
If difference 10 or less the character recieves a +1 to one primary mental score, can give herself an inherent bonus of +10 to any one skill check once and recieves a +2 luck bonus to all rolls. All effects apart from the ability score increase last for 24 hours.
A PC an only be affected by looking down the well once and to other characters the character will look as if in deep focus. The experience takes roughly 1 min
If a character drinks the well's water straight from the bucket the PC immediately dies.
A dead character is immediately brought back to life as per the raise dead spell and suffers no penalties to con or negative levels. The water's effect stops working if the bucket or its content is more that 10 ft from the well and/or if 5 mins have passed since the water was retrieved.
Obviously this needs filling out and more work but you can add a lot of flavor what a pc experiences so what do you all think?
Is it balanced alright? This isnt meant for lvl1 characters but what lvl would you recommend? Too similar to other items maybe? (Deck of many things anyone?) I'm open to even abusive response!
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Hmm... Simply shifting mental ability scores by 1 or 2 and applying a temporary penalty/bonus seems a bit mundane. I'm also confused by the purpose of drinking the water killing & auto-reviving the PC.
It seems to me that you need some different prizes and penalties for this thing. Here are a few ideas.
Potential Pros
- Peering into the well lets you scry on friends/enemies/important things
- Peering into the well gives you visions of the future
- Peering into the well gives you visions of the past
- Peering into the well shows a reflection of your "true self"
- Drinking the water grants eternal life (but with a drawback)
- Drinking the water grants permanent Arcane Sight (but with a drawback)
- Drinking the water grants a Heal and/or Raise Dead
- The bucket may come back up with a magic item in it
- Flipping a coin into the well grants you a Limited Wish
Potential Cons
- Peering into the well causes madness
- Peering into the well causes narcissism
- Peering into the well changes your alignment
- Drinking the water turns you into a frog and makes you want to live at the bottom of the well
- Drinking the water kills you and immediately revives you... as an undead
- Drinking the water transforms you in some other fashion
- If two people share a drink from the bucket they switch bodies
- A demon/devil lives in the well and attacks those who visit it
- The well is an illusion, perhaps hiding a bottomless chasm
So there's a few ideas to get you started. I would also recommend an inscription in Aklo or Abyssal or some other gnarly language. Good luck!
Really Nice tips my friend! I actually considered a coin flipping effect but still not sure what penalty that might apply.
Oh, never finished that sentence with the water, thanks for that.