I'm posting the item for ease of reference:
Decanter of Endless Water: If the stopper is removed from this ordinary-looking flask and a command word spoken, an amount of fresh or salt water pours out. Separate command words determine the type as well as the volume and velocity.
• “Stream” pours out 1 gallon per round.
• “Fountain” produces a 5-foot-long stream at 5 gallons per round.
• “Geyser” produces a 20-foot-long, 1-foot-wide stream at 30 gallons per round.
The geyser effect causes considerable back pressure, requiring the holder to make a DC 12 Strength check to avoid being knocked down. The force of the geyser deals 1d4 points of damage but can only affect one target per round. The command word must be spoken to stop it.
Moderate transmutation; CL 9th; Craft Wondrous Item, control water; Price 9,000 gp;Weight 2 lb.
This has showed up on our discussion list and I'd like to share with you guys...
I'm posting the item for ease of reference:
So besides changing control water to control tides and changing the price to 9,000 Cp, all of its properties would be the same.
How could this item be balanced on Dark Sun? I mean, it's a portable oasis!
Didn't the original box set state that this item doesn't exist in DS? Or was it that it was altered in that it produced another element other than water like silt or sand?
However, if you want to keep it and be evil just make it produce nothing but salt water. Or do what Sysane suggests and have it produce sand or silt instead.
There's already a Bottle of Endless Sand on Sandstorm. Think I'll use it instead.
Thanks Sysane and Nyt!
Decanter of Endless Water: If the stopper is removed from this ordinary-looking flask and a command word spoken, an amount of fresh, rancid, acidic or salt water pours out.
Separate command words determine the type as well as the volume and velocity.
• “Trickle” pours out 1 cup per round.For every round that the effect is kept open there is a 1% (cumulative) chance that a creature or elemental from the plane of water emerges and immediatley attacks the bearer of the decanter, unless the bearer of the decanter of endless water is a water cleric or druid in which case it will attempt to communicate with the bearer and stop the flow of water.
• “Stream” pour 1 gallon per round. For every round that the effect is kept open there is a 2% (cumulative) chance that a creature or elemental from the plane of water emerges and immediatley attacks the bearer of the decanter, unless the bearer of the decanter of endless water is a water cleric or druid in which case it will attempt to communicate with the bearer and stop the flow of water.
• “Fountain” produces a 5-foot-long, 1-foot-wide stream at 5 gallons per round. For every round that the effect is kept open there is a 5% (cumulative) chance that a creature or elemental from the plane of water emerges and immediatley attacks the bearer of the decanter, unless the bearer of the decanter of endless water is a water cleric or druid in which case it will attempt to communicate with the bearer and stop the flow of water.
Moderate transmutation; CL 9th; Craft Wondrous Item, control water; Price 9,000 gp;Weight 2 lb.
It's an artifact that also requires the spell Gate. Also, don't convert the price to ceramic, it's actually 9,000 gold pieces and can only be created by an Advanced Being Water Cleric.
One of these already exists on Athas at the center of the Mud Palace and is the source of the endless flow of water coming out of that mysterious site.
As for your idea on the Mud Palace - interesting idea, but I'm thinking it should be something a little bit more unique. Just my thought on it, anyhoo.
Rhul, I'd suggest removing the price altogether - if you make it an artifact. I will say, though, that IF this was to exist on Athas, IMO having it be an artifact is the way to go.
The price is for creation.
As for your idea on the Mud Palace - interesting idea, but I'm thinking it should be something a little bit more unique. Just my thought on it, anyhoo.
It is unique. Its the only one that exists.
One of these already exists on Athas at the center of the Mud Palace and is the source of the endless flow of water coming out of that mysterious site.
Heh, I had thought of doing this at one time too. Fits perfectly with the description of the place.
I dunno about you, but given that it requires a command word to stop the d*mn thing once it gets started...*shudder*
But, seriously unless the city was perfectly flat and the ground would absorb no moisture..... and OMG an inch of rain! so a decanter of endless water could effectively provide an inch of rain every day to an area the size of Gulg....The site in the united states that gets the highest annual rainfall is a Mount Waialeale in Hawaii that gets over 476 inches of rain a year. That's an average of 1.3 inches a day over what is undoubtly a large area. In order to even qualify as a rainforest, an area needs to expirience at least 100 inches of rainfall a year. With absorbtion from the ground and evaporation from the sun the amount of water that collects in the area would be considerably less then what you might expect.
675000 gallons of water flow over just the Horseshoe falls at Niagara Fall every second. Compare that to 5 gallons a second produced by the decanter. 5 gallons a second is like a rather small waterfall, one that is 13,500 times smaller than the Horseshoe Falls.
I am still working on the specifics, because I think 4 gallons of water per day is a lot for an enterprising athasian. Maybe just 1 gallon of water a day, or nix the gallons, and make it enough water to keep the owner watered each day.
Anyway, thats my take. I can see an artifact version of the DMG decanter somewhere on Athas too. I mean, there are underground rivers here and there with seemingly no source or outlet.. maybe one of these decanters got buried somewhere in the "on" position.
I am still working on the specifics, because I think 4 gallons of water per day is a lot for an enterprising athasian. Maybe just 1 gallon of water a day, or nix the gallons, and make it enough water to keep the owner watered each day.
I suppose. It is still a very useful item, even at 4 gallons/day. The 9th level Water Cleric in my game can make 109 gallons of water a day though, with just 0-level spells. If she devouted all her spells to create water.....559 gallons. Of course a silly little item shouldn't trump a water cleric, but I might set it to be a very slow but continous trickle of water that stops whenever it fills up, so that you could glean a gallon of water out of it once an hour if you didn't allow it to fill and sit. It feels a little more endless that way.
:D , true they are pretty ridiculous, but an inch of water over gulg is hardly impressive. Not only is Gulg the smallest of the City-States, but it regularly recieves rain anyway :P
But, seriously unless the city was perfectly flat and the ground would absorb no moisture..... and OMG an inch of rain! so a decanter of endless water could effectively provide an inch of rain every day to an area the size of Gulg....The site in the united states that gets the highest annual rainfall is a Mount Waialeale in Hawaii that gets over 476 inches of rain a year. That's an average of 1.3 inches a day over what is undoubtly a large area. In order to even qualify as a rainforest, an area needs to expirience at least 100 inches of rainfall a year. With absorbtion from the ground and evaporation from the sun the amount of water that collects in the area would be considerably less then what you might expect.
675000 gallons of water flow over just the Horseshoe falls at Niagara Fall every second. Compare that to 5 gallons a second produced by the decanter. 5 gallons a second is like a rather small waterfall, one that is 13,500 times smaller than the Horseshoe Falls.
That's...awesome. You make me want to start up a thread entitled "Physics and You(r PC): The real-world scientific ramifications of fantastical magic items".
Not enough to actually do it, mind you, but the desire is there...
Originally Posted by Ruhl-Than Sage
One of these already exists on Athas at the center of the Mud Palace and is the source of the endless flow of water coming out of that mysterious site.
I believe one of the more common theories is the "gate to the elemental plane of water theory". Of course, the decanter of endless water could be just that. In my games, however, the item does not exist.
I believe one of the more common theories is the "gate to the elemental plane of water theory". Of course, the decanter of endless water could be just that. In my games, however, the item does not exist.
Yah, the decanter is basically a gate to the elemental plane of water. It's just a matter of whether you want that gate to be portable or not. I prefer to have give my players something if they actually manage to actaully break into the Mud Palace and defeat it's challanges. But I can fully understand the other side of it as well. :D
It's just a matter of whether you want that gate to be portable or not.
Don't you mean "...potable"? *snare-snare-cymbolcrash*
I suppose. It is still a very useful item, even at 4 gallons/day. The 9th level Water Cleric in my game can make 109 gallons of water a day though, with just 0-level spells. If she devouted all her spells to create water.....559 gallons. Of course a silly little item shouldn't trump a water cleric, but I might set it to be a very slow but continous trickle of water that stops whenever it fills up, so that you could glean a gallon of water out of it once an hour if you didn't allow it to fill and sit. It feels a little more endless that way.
Ahhh, I went back to 2nd edition regs for create water in my game. Each 0 level spell only creates 1/2 gallon of water per caster level. Group is 9th level, so he can do 4 1/2 gallons with a single spell.
I would be willing to up the amount if the cleric researched a higher level version of the spell.. perhaps 1 gallon per spell level per caster level (example, 1st level version would be 1 gallon/level. 5th level spell would be 5 gallons/level etc)
Ahhh, I went back to 2nd edition regs for create water in my game. Each 0 level spell only creates 1/2 gallon of water per caster level. Group is 9th level, so he can do 4 1/2 gallons with a single spell.
I would be willing to up the amount if the cleric researched a higher level version of the spell.. perhaps 1 gallon per spell level per caster level (example, 1st level version would be 1 gallon/level. 5th level spell would be 5 gallons/level etc)
That makes the item a bit better in comparison, it would certainly be a lifesaver if lost in the desert and especially to defilers who wouldn't get along with water clerics.
Changing the spell is not a bad idea. Unfortunately its too late for me to change the rules in my game.
That makes the item a bit better in comparison, it would certainly be a lifesaver if lost in the desert and especially to defilers who wouldn't get along with water clerics.
Changing the spell is not a bad idea. Unfortunately its too late for me to change the rules in my game.
Yeah, this is something that needs to be done at the start of a game. Or, at least when it is no longer applicable, say, should the cleric die. Right then and there you can change it, and should anyone ask why previous cleric was water-friendly and new ones aren't, it could just be because he had a secure link to the plane of water or something, who knows.
Personally, on Athas, I think 2 gallons per level is too good for a 0 level spell, especially since it has been one of the staples since the original box set - create water is weakened here, deal with it (I'm sure our lovable Athas.org guys had their reason for leaving it as it is in the PHB, but not me)
This has showed up on our discussion list and I'd like to share with you guys...
I'm posting the item for ease of reference:
So besides changing control water to control tides and changing the price to 9,000 Cp, all of its properties would be the same.
How could this item be balanced on Dark Sun? I mean, it's a portable oasis!
More like a portable elemental plane of water, provided you dug a hole deep enough and filled it.
Yeah, the original boxed set states that such items don't exist on Athas (for obvious reasons).However, if you want to keep it and be evil just make it produce nothing but salt water
No good, just boil the salt water to purify/seperate it from the water.
No good, just boil the salt water to purify/seperate it from the water.
And you can still create mud - albeit salty mud. :P
Anyone catch this quote? "A whole bucket of mud and it's mine - all mine!"
And you can still create mud - albeit salty mud. :P
Anyone catch this quote? "A whole bucket of mud and it's mine - all mine!"
But nothing would be able to grow in it, due to the high slat content
But nothing would be able to grow in it, due to the high slat content
My next DS campaign is going to take place in the "White Age" of Athas, where there's nothing left but salt flats created by a decanter of endless brine. Characters will start off with 0 Constitution and there will be no game prep involved.
For every round that the effect is kept open there is a 5% (cumulative) chance that a creature or elemental from the plane of water emerges and immediatley attacks the bearer of the decanter, unless the bearer of the decanter of endless water is a water cleric or druid in which case it will attempt to communicate with the bearer and stop the flow of water.
As a simple variation of this question:
Would any of you guys allow (and with what restrictions if yes) an Advanced Being Water Cleric to create a (semi) permanent gate to the elemental plane of water and with what dangers?
I was thinking of using something like this for a campaign location.