Treasure: Cape of the Mountebank

Treasure: Cape of the Mountebank

Flashy displays of teleportation effects are my all-time favorites. This magical item from D&D 3.5 Dungeon Master's Guide allows the user to disappear in a cloud of smoke once per day.

First, let's make a Sorcery spell with this effect.

Smoke Teleport

Keywords: Area (Fixed), Obvious.

Full Cost: 79 points.

Casting Roll: IQ; Special casting time and FP cost.

Range: 10 yards.

Duration: Instantaneous.

You can disappear, leaving a cloud of smoke behind you, and appear in any place within 10 yards that you can see, creating a similar smoke cloud on arrival. Both clouds have a 2-yard radius, give -5 to all vision rolls made through them, and are unpleasant to breathe (but cause no actual ill effects). The clouds stay for 10 seconds and then disperse. You can carry up to Medium Encumbrance when you travel.

As a Concentrate maneuver make an IQ + Talent roll to cast this spell, modified as follows:

Preparation Time: The amount of time taken to prepare for the teleport affects the IQ roll, as follows:

Preparation Time	IQ Modifier
None	-10
1 second	-5
2 seconds	-4
4 seconds	-3
8 seconds	-2
15 seconds	-1
30 seconds	0
1 minute	+1
2 minutes	+2
4 minutes	+3
8 minutes	+4
15 minutes	+5
30 minutes	+6
1 hour	+7
2 hours	+8
4 hours	+9
8 hours	+10

This table is not open-ended; +10 is the maximum possible bonus.

Fatigue Points: Apply a bonus of +1 per additional FP spent. You must declare this before you roll, and you lose the FP whether you succeed or fail. You never have to spend FP, but it is usually a good idea if you must travel far or without much preparation.

On a success, you appear at your target destination. On a failure, you go nowhere. On a critical failure, you arrive at the wrong destination. This can be anywhere the GM wishes! It need not be dangerous, but it should seriously inconvenience you.

You can cast this spell to evade attacks in combat. Once per turn, you may teleport to any place you can see within 10 yards, instantly. This is considered a dodge. Of course, the IQ + Talent roll will be at -10 for instant use, so you might want to spend FP to improve your odds!

Statistics: Obscure Vision 5 (Emanation, -20%; Link, +10%; Magical, -10%; Persistent, +40%) [12] + Obscure Vision 5 (Emanation, -20%; Link, +10%; Magical, -10%; Persistent, +40%) [12] + Warp (Extra Carrying Capacity, Medium, +20%; Link, +10%; No Strain, +25%; Range Limit, 10 yards, -50%; Requires Concentrate, -15%; Sorcery, -15%; Vision-Based, Reversed, -20%) [55].

And now let's create the item itself.

Cape of the Mountebank

Cape of the Mountebank – as an enchanted item (using Sorcery)

This bright red and gold cape allows the wearer to use the magic of the Smoke Teleport spell once per day. Using this effect costs 1 FP and requires a Concentrate maneuver.

Statistics: Obscure Vision 5 (Emanation, -20%; Limited Use, 1/day, -40%; Link, +10%; Magical, -10%; Persistent, +40%) [8] + Obscure Vision 5 (Emanation, -20%; Limited Use, 1/day, -40%; Link, +10%; Magical, -10%; Persistent, +40%) [8] + Warp (Extra Carrying Capacity, Medium, +20%; Limited Use, 1/day, -40%; Link, +10%; No Strain, +25%; Range Limit, 10 yards, -50%; Requires Concentrate, -15%; Sorcery, -15%; Vision-Based, Reversed, -20%) [20]. Cloak, x0.5; 18 EP.

            TL3 Price: 2 x ($100 + 18 x $320) = $11,720.

            TL8 Price: 2 x ($2,000 + 18 x $1,180) = $46,480.

Cape of the Mountebank – as a metatronic generator (using Pyramid 3-46)

This bright red and gold cape allows the wearer to use the magic of the Smoke Teleport spell once per day. Using this effect costs 1 FP and requires a Concentrate maneuver.

Statistics: Obscure Vision 5 (Apparatus, +0%; Emanation, -20%; Limited Use, 1/day, -40%; Link, +10%; Magical, -10%; Persistent, +40%) [8] + Obscure Vision 5 (Apparatus, +0%; Emanation, -20%; Limited Use, 1/day, -40%; Link, +10%; Magical, -10%; Persistent, +40%) [8] + Warp (Apparatus, +0%; Costs 1 FP, -5%; Extra Carrying Capacity, Medium, +20%; Limited Use, 1/day, -40%; Link, +10%; Magical, -10%; No Strain, +25%; Range Limit, 10 yards, -50%; Requires Concentrate, -15%; Vision-Based, Reversed, -20%) [20].

            TL3 Cost: 36 x $75 x 2 = $5,400.

TL8 Cost: 36 x $1,500 x 2= $108,000.