Page 216 - Dungeon Master's Guide

A LIGN MENT CONFLICT
A sentient magic item has an alignment. Its creator or A sentient item has a will of its own, shaped by its
nature might suggest an alignment. If not, you can pick personality and alignment. If its wielder acts in a
an alignment or roll on the following table.
manner opposed to the item's alignment or purpose,
conflict can arise. When such a conflict occurs, the item
dlOO Alignment dlOO Alignment
makes a Charisma check contested by the wielder's
01-15 Lawful good 74-85 Chaotic neutral
Charisma check. If the item wins the contest, it make
16-35 Neutral good 86-89 Lawfu l evil
one or more of the following demands:
36-50 Chaotic good 90-96 Neutral evil
The item insists on being carried or worn at all times
51-63 Lawful neutral 97-00 Chaotic evil
The item demands that its wielder dispose of anything
64-73 Neutral
the item finds repugnant.
• The item demands that its wielder pursue the item's
CHARACTERISTICS
goals to the exclusion of all other goals.
Use the information on creating NPCs in chapter 4 The item demands to be given to someone else.
to develop a sentient item's mannerisms, personality
traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws. You can also draw on the If its wielder refuses to comply with the item's wishes
"Special Features" section earlier in this chapter. the item can do any or all of the following:
If you determine these characteristics randomly, Make it impossible for its wielder to attune to it.
ignore or adapt any result that doesn't make sense Suppress one or more of its activated properties.
for an inanimate object. You can reroll until you get a Attempt to take control of its wielder.
result you like.
If a sentient item attempts to take control of its
SPECIAL P U RPOSE wielder, the wielder must make a Charisma saving
You can give a sentient item an objective it pursues, throw, with a DC equal to 12 +the item's Charisma
perhaps to the exclusion of all else. As long as the modifier. On a failed save, the wielder is charmed by
wielder's use of the item aligns with that special item for ld12 hours. While charmed, the wielder mus
purpose, the item remains cooperative. Deviating from try to follow the item's commands. If the wielder takes
this course might cause conflict between the wielder damage, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effe
and the item, and could even cause the item to prevent on a success. Whether the attempt to control its user
the use of its activated properties. You can pick a special succeeds or fails, the item can't use this power again
purpose or roll on the following table. until the next dawn.

SAMPLE SENTIENT ITEMS
dlO Purpose
Aligned: The item seeks to defeat or destroy those The sentient weapons described here have storied
of a diametrically opposed alignment. (Such an histories.
item is never neutral.)
BLACKRAZOR
2 Bane: The item seeks to defeat or destroy creatures
Weapon (greats word), legendary (requires attunemenc
of a particular kind, such as fiends, shapechangers,
by a creature of non-lawful alignment)
trolls, or wizards.
Hidden in the dungeon of White Plume Mountain,
3 Protector: The item seeks to defend a particular
Blackrazor shines like a piece of night sky filled with
race or kind of creature, such as elves or druids.
stars. Its black scabbard is decorated with pieces of
4 Crusader: The item seeks to defeat, weaken, or
cut obsidian.
destroy the servants of a particular deity.
You gain a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made
5 Templar: The item seeks to defend the servants with this magic weapon. It has the following addition~
and interests of a particular deity. properties.
6 Destroyer: The item craves destruction and goads Devour Soul. Whenever you use it to reduce a
its user to fight arbitrarily. creature to 0 hit points, the sword slays the creature
7 Glory Seeker: The item seeks renown as the devours its soul, unless it is a construct or an undead . . -.
greatest magic item in the world , by establishing creature whose soul has been devoured by Blackrazor
can be restored to life only by a wish spell.
its user as a famous or notorious figure. •
When it devours a soul, Blackrazor grants you
8 Lore Seeker: The item craves knowledge or is
temporary hit points equal to the slain creature's hit
determined to solve a mystery, learn a secret, or
point maximum. These hit points fade after 24 hours.
unravel a cryptic prophecy.
As long as these temporary hit points last and you keep
9 Destiny Seeker: The item is convinced that it and its
Blackrazor in hand, you have advantage on attack roll .
wielder have key roles to play in future events. saving throws, and ability checks.
10 Creator Seeker: The item seeks its creator and If you hit an undead with this weapon, you take ldlO
wants to understand why it was created. necrotic damage and the target regains ldlO hit point
If this necrotic damage reduces you to 0 hit points,
Blackrazor devours your soul.
CHAPTER 7 I TREASURE
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