Deck of Many Things

Sometimes situations arise where your players want to know if they can buy magic items at the beginning or end of an adventure. And sometimes, you just don’t want to roleplay out the “shopping” part and the players hate when they are screwed by being in a town too small to have what they really need.

This skill challenge enables the players to use their social and knowledge skills in procuring the exact items they want, no matter what size town it is. As with all Skill Challenges, role-play helps, so if during any step of this the players are role-playing the “how” of the skill use, then assign a bonus of +1 to +5 to their eventual roll.

Skill Challenge: Buying a Magic Item

You are between adventures, and are looking to procure a specific magic item, buying it at normal price. (This Skill Challenge can also be used to buy Rituals)

Complexity: Varies

APL = Average Party Level, rounded down

*NOTE: These are included for parties who are buying rituals, do not have access to the Enchant Item ritual, or wish to speed up the process.

Time Taken:

1 Day

Skills Used:

Arcana – Easy for first attempt, Moderate for subsequent, gives +5 to next Bluff, Diplomacy, or Streetwise roll. If procuring Arcane rituals, non-healing potions, alchemy, or arcane implements, gives 2 successes instead of a bonus.

Bluff – Moderate, failure gives 2 failures

Diplomacy – Moderate

Insight – Moderate, gives +5 to next Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, or Streetwise roll.

Intimidate – Hard, gives 4 successes, failure gives 2 failures

Religion – Easy for first attempt, Moderate for subsequent, gives +5 to next Bluff, Diplomacy, or Streetwise roll. If procuring Divine rituals, healing potions, or holy implements, gives 2 successes instead of a bonus.

Streetwise – Easy to give a +2 bonus on the next roll. Moderate for a success.

Thievery – Hard, gives 2 successes

Other Conditions:

Village – Number of Successes needed are +2

Town – No Adjustment

City – Start with 4 Successes

Metropolis (Sigil, Waterdeep, City of Brass, etc) – Start with 6 Successes

Disposable Items (Potions, alchemy, etc): One rank easier

Bazaar/Market Day currently underway: Start with 2 successes.

On major caravan or trade route: +1 success

Consequences:

Full Fail – 3 failures before 75% successes: Magic Item not available

Partial Fail – 3 failures after75% successes: Magic Item available, but procured after next adventure (may choose not to purchase it, but if purchased must be paid for immediately, no refunds!)

Success – Magic Item available at book price

Quick Chart:

Metropolis: Anything APL-1, Disposables at APL, are automatic

City: Anything APL-2 or more, Disposables at APL-1, are automatic