TOPIC: Proposed Necklace of Prayer Beads

Just thinking back to the old AD&D version of this item and got an idea. So this would be a combination of a necklace (a permanent item) and prayer beads which are single use items. So here goes.

UPDATED FROM SUGGESTIONS:

Necklace of Prayer Crystals. The necklace allows the use of prayer beads and is useable by a cleric only.(Maybe include Paladin as a 2nd class)
UltraRare Provides +3 Wisdom and allows the use of Magic Crystals. At Wisdom 16, 1 Magic Crystal per adventure. At 20 Wisdom 2 Magic Crystals may be used per adventure. At 24 Wisdom 3 Magic Crystals may be used per adventure.

(with the wisdom boost from the necklace, 2 Magic Crystals are available, but who knows if an item will come up that reduces Wisdom)

Now for the single use, consumable Magic Crystals:

Common: Crystal of Resistance: 25 GP Gem or Provides the party with +2 on Saves for one room with the necklace.
Uncommon: Crystal of Healing: Break to heal 5 hp or use with the necklace to provide +5 HP of healing to each party member
Rare: Crystal of Holy Word: Thrown weapon for 10 points Sacred damage to a single creature or use with the necklace for 10 points of damage to all evil creatures

Remember than the necklace takes a neck slot and the beads are consumable. All effects are not spells and not subject to Lens of Divine Sight, or any boosting by other means.

It provides clerics with a benefit of similar power to the new wizard wands. The benefits need to be better than scrolls which are also consumable, because this also requires the use of the neck slot.

Just a thought.

I like the idea of Cleric-only. Thematically, I don’t think Druids have a history of prayer beads like Clerics do.

What about the idea of “BEADS are to WIS, as FIGURINES are to CHA”?

There might be confusion with the existing “beads.” But just because some beads are continuous doesn’t mean some can’t be consumable, like some weapons such as grenades and holy water. And I suppose eventually there could be beads specific to every class.

Neck is a lot to give up for a couple of one-shots, so I agree with your logic that they must be better than scrolls.

Probably we should call these something other than beads so you can equip more than 1 now that beads are a slotted item.

Brad Mortensen wrote: I like the idea of Cleric-only. Thematically, I don’t think Druids have a history of prayer beads like Clerics do.

What about the idea of “BEADS are to WIS, as FIGURINES are to CHA”?

There might be confusion with the existing “beads.” But just because some beads are continuous doesn’t mean some can’t be consumable, like some weapons such as grenades and holy water. And I suppose eventually there could be beads specific to every class.

Neck is a lot to give up for a couple of one-shots, so I agree with your logic that they must be better than scrolls.

Although the original DMG allowed for both Druid and Cleric, I only remember seeing the Cleric version. I agree that this works better as a Cleric only item.

I like the idea of linking the quantity to Wisdom. So the necklace becomes a Rare, and you get 1, 2 or 3 per adventure based on Wisdom. Maybe 2 starts at 20 Wisdom, and 3 at 24 Wisdom.

As for a name, the original beads were actually gems, so maybe Prayer Gems, or Prayer Crystals.

I’m proposing an ultra rare version of the necklace which would both give wisdom and allow the use of beads. People have been asking for an alternative to the Charm of Enlightenment anyway. Not as good as the Charm of Enlightenment, though, unless you cap the total number of beads on a necklace. You’d end up with Beadmaester Clerics running around causing chaos.

I like the idea. If a 2nd class could use it, I would think it would be the paladin. It would give the paladin another option for one of their most important slots.

The biggest drawback I see with the item is that the beads/gems/crystals would take up 3 additional spots in the set and could only be used by one class when using this item. If the b/g/c's had secondary effects, then I think the item would be more plausible.

Perhaps:
Common: 25GP or use with necklace to give the party +5 on a save.
Uncommon: break to heal yourself 5 HP or use with necklace to heal the party 5 HP.
Rare: One use thrown weapon like the orb of acid but only Vs. evil creatures or use with necklace to do 10 pt. of damage to all evil creatures in the room.

Beertram wrote: I like the idea. If a 2nd class could use it, I would think it would be the paladin. It would give the paladin another option for one of their most important slots.

The biggest drawback I see with the item is that the beads/gems/crystals would take up 3 additional spots in the set and could only be used by one class when using this item. If the b/g/c's had secondary effects, then I think the item would be more plausible.

Perhaps:
Common: 25GP or use with necklace to give the party +5 on a save.
Uncommon: break to heal yourself 5 HP or use with necklace to heal the party 5 HP.
Rare: One use thrown weapon like the orb of acid but only Vs. evil creatures or use with necklace to do 10 pt. of damage to all evil creatures in the room.

This is a great idea, and a significant way to make the idea workable.

Prayer beads seem particularly useful if we are going against evil outsiders.

Many Paladins didnt even switch to the amulet of guarding. I would find it hard to believe they would switch to this.

Maybe the "necklace" could be a slotless UR? Prayer chain? Prayer focus? Devotion something?
I dont know if it would be better to do that and decrease the power levels as needed or not.

Beertram wrote: I like the idea. If a 2nd class could use it, I would think it would be the paladin. It would give the paladin another option for one of their most important slots.

The biggest drawback I see with the item is that the beads/gems/crystals would take up 3 additional spots in the set and could only be used by one class when using this item. If the b/g/c's had secondary effects, then I think the item would be more plausible.

Perhaps:
Common: 25GP or use with necklace to give the party +5 on a save.
Uncommon: break to heal yourself 5 HP or use with necklace to heal the party 5 HP.
Rare: One use thrown weapon like the orb of acid but only Vs. evil creatures or use with necklace to do 10 pt. of damage to all evil creatures in the room.

I like it. Great ideas. I added them to the description. No idea if it will make the list, but seems like it could be a cool addition.

I believe one of the neatest aspects of this is that the crystals and their effects are limitless - I can think of dozens of possibilities, keeping them limited in impact for balance. The idea of prayer beads is a fit for clerics, but why can't each class have their own 'accoutrements'? Similar feel to iouns, but with class flavor.

Cranston wrote:

Brad Mortensen wrote: I like the idea of Cleric-only. Thematically, I don’t think Druids have a history of prayer beads like Clerics do.

What about the idea of “BEADS are to WIS, as FIGURINES are to CHA”?

There might be confusion with the existing “beads.” But just because some beads are continuous doesn’t mean some can’t be consumable, like some weapons such as grenades and holy water. And I suppose eventually there could be beads specific to every class.

Neck is a lot to give up for a couple of one-shots, so I agree with your logic that they must be better than scrolls.

Although the original DMG allowed for both Druid and Cleric, I only remember seeing the Cleric version. I agree that this works better as a Cleric only item.

I like the idea of linking the quantity to Wisdom. So the necklace becomes a Rare, and you get 1, 2 or 3 per adventure based on Wisdom. Maybe 2 starts at 20 Wisdom, and 3 at 24 Wisdom.

As for a name, the original beads were actually gems, so maybe Prayer Gems, or Prayer Crystals.

I'd recommend something like this be extended to Druids also. Both do healing, and it doubles the usage of the tokens.

Mike Steele wrote:

Cranston wrote:

Brad Mortensen wrote: I like the idea of Cleric-only. Thematically, I don’t think Druids have a history of prayer beads like Clerics do.

What about the idea of “BEADS are to WIS, as FIGURINES are to CHA”?

There might be confusion with the existing “beads.” But just because some beads are continuous doesn’t mean some can’t be consumable, like some weapons such as grenades and holy water. And I suppose eventually there could be beads specific to every class.

Neck is a lot to give up for a couple of one-shots, so I agree with your logic that they must be better than scrolls.

Although the original DMG allowed for both Druid and Cleric, I only remember seeing the Cleric version. I agree that this works better as a Cleric only item.

I like the idea of linking the quantity to Wisdom. So the necklace becomes a Rare, and you get 1, 2 or 3 per adventure based on Wisdom. Maybe 2 starts at 20 Wisdom, and 3 at 24 Wisdom.

As for a name, the original beads were actually gems, so maybe Prayer Gems, or Prayer Crystals.

I'd recommend something like this be extended to Druids also. Both do healing, and it doubles the usage of the tokens.

If it is a healing item, I could see Druids over Paladins, possibly both.

If it is a prayer/devotion item, I don't think it fits thematically with druid. The idea of prayer beads (like a rosary) just doesnt feel druidic.

Wade Schwendemann wrote:

Mike Steele wrote:

Cranston wrote:

Brad Mortensen wrote: I like the idea of Cleric-only. Thematically, I don’t think Druids have a history of prayer beads like Clerics do.

What about the idea of “BEADS are to WIS, as FIGURINES are to CHA”?

There might be confusion with the existing “beads.” But just because some beads are continuous doesn’t mean some can’t be consumable, like some weapons such as grenades and holy water. And I suppose eventually there could be beads specific to every class.

Neck is a lot to give up for a couple of one-shots, so I agree with your logic that they must be better than scrolls.

Although the original DMG allowed for both Druid and Cleric, I only remember seeing the Cleric version. I agree that this works better as a Cleric only item.

I like the idea of linking the quantity to Wisdom. So the necklace becomes a Rare, and you get 1, 2 or 3 per adventure based on Wisdom. Maybe 2 starts at 20 Wisdom, and 3 at 24 Wisdom.

As for a name, the original beads were actually gems, so maybe Prayer Gems, or Prayer Crystals.

I'd recommend something like this be extended to Druids also. Both do healing, and it doubles the usage of the tokens.

If it is a healing item, I could see Druids over Paladins, possibly both.

If it is a prayer/devotion item, I don't think it fits thematically with druid. The idea of prayer beads (like a rosary) just doesnt feel druidic.

Sure, but it could be modified so it was thematically fitting for both classes. I would stay away from beads to avoid confusion.