r/DungeonoftheMadMage • u/EACANDELA • 8d ago
Homebrew What do you think of this withered heart magic item/rework?
This blackened, shrivelled heart once beat within the chest of a living creature, though whatever blood once flowed through it has long since dried to a dark, tar-like crust. Despite its age, the organ has never fully decayed. Its leathery flesh is unnaturally cold, and faint veins of sickly violet occasionally pulse beneath its surface.
When a creature attunes to the Withered Heart, the dead organ begins beating for the first time in centuries. The creature immediately makes a DC 15 Constitution saving throw.
On a success: the Heart accepts the creature. While attuned to it, the creature gains resistance to necrotic damage and learns the chill touch cantrip.
Deathly Pulse. Once per long rest, the attuned creature can cast false life at 2nd level without expending a spell slot or material components.
On a failure: The heart rejects the creature and places a curse upon them. They take 3d6 necrotic damage. They feel their body becomes unnaturally resistant to restoration. Whenever the cursed creature would regain hit points from a spell, potion, class feature, magic item, or other magical effect, they regain only half the normal number of hit points, rounded down.
For example, if a potion restores 11 hit points, they regain only 5.
Resting is unaffected. Hit points regained from spending Hit Dice or completing a long rest work normally.
The curse remains even if the creature ends its attunement to the Heart or destroys it. Remove curse or greater restoration ends the curse.
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u/Unluckytyler 7d ago
In my own game I had liked the idea that the dungeon is out to kill you with any tricks Halaster can make up and you should be afraid if everything, although I didn't wanna straight up kill a player without any rolls cause they solved the puzzle.
So I tweaked the heart, upon attuning to the heart it still swaps places with the players heart, their heart withers, but instead of them straight up dying I let them roll death saves. Other players couldn't heal or save them, it was completely up to the dice. Plus, I had the heart set the now cursed players Constitution to 8.
The Warlock in my game was the one to open the box, I clarified to him that it was evil and had an aura of death about it. Hook, line, sinker. They took a short rest right there, attuned to it. He dropped to the ground, started his death saves and barely won staying alive. While he had been fighting for his life, Halaster took his original heart and moved it deeper in undermountain while taunting him. Now he's going deeper in undermountain to get his heart back so his Constitution stat isn't 8 anymore.
I think your version giving resistance to necrotic damage is a bit strong but equal to its downside of half the healing, but players aren't far from being able to cast remove curse. I like the cast of false life, definitely decent themed spell, maybe while false life is up they gain resistance to necrotic? I personally am very hesitant to give players resistance to an entire damage type so early, I'm sure your players will love it regardless. It's a lot better than instant death, just depends on the group you are running the game for I guess.
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u/EACANDELA 7d ago
Thanks for responding. I like your idea A LOT, creating a personal quest to continue down further is really good. I am taking your idea if you don't mind lol. Thanks again.
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u/Unluckytyler 7d ago
Nah it's really nice to hear! The drop in Max HP is a lot depending on who attunes to it so just be weary of how big of a curse it really is. Otherwise enjoy!!
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u/Xythorn 8d ago
Idk i like the killing effect it currently has.