The exploration challenges here provide a plethora of ways to make journeys impactful and memorable, but Narrators can also create new obstacles for their campaigns.

Step 1: Start With a Problem

Come up with a problem the adventurers need to solve. When creating an exploration challenge, keep in mind that its purpose is to provide something to overcome on their journey to other, greater things (the campaign’s plot, the next big conflict, and so on). A good exploration challenge is something that the party doesn’t just react to, but can also directly apply their skills, gear, and ingenuity to overcome.

Step 2: Add Challenge Traits

Many exploration challenges have traits that add mechanics to change the way the adventurers can interact with them or details for the party to discover. For example, the Magical Effect trait says that the challenge can be overcome or simplified by using the spell dispel magic, and it gives the DC for doing so successfully.

Other traits grant adventurers bonuses or penalties depending on which strategies they employ. For example, an adventurer that uses fire to deal with plants gain a bonus to checks made against the plants.

Also consider the size of the challenge. Exploration challenges that gradually deal damage should be large enough in area to threaten adventurers, but not big enough that it means certain death for the party — unless it is being used to create a barrier that the PCs must circumvent or otherwise advance in level before attempting because something crucial to the campaign waits on the other side.

Step 3: Brainstorm Solutions

The solutions provided by each encounter challenge are by no means an exhaustive list of ways around the problem, although they do suggest which approaches should be harder or easier to attempt.

For example, bandits waiting by a falling net have seen plenty of violence in their careers, so it might be easier to persuade or deceive them than it is to intimidate them. In that case, the Intimidation check might be at disadvantage , while a Persuasion check would not.

Certain solutions might also have an added cost or penalty associated with them. If adventurers would rather take the time to engineer a solution to a broken bridge instead of just trying to jump over it, then that should take more time to overcome.

When an exploration challenge makes it to the table, players might present a completely unexpected solution and that’s okay! Use the existing solutions to gauge how difficult this new solution should be in the situation, and the DCs for each Challenge Rating listed in the sidebar on Setting DCs.

Step 4: Determine the Consequences

There are usually four outcomes to consider in an exploration challenge: critical failure, failure, success, and critical success. Not every exploration challenge follows this structure, but those which are based on a group check or an individual ability check often do, and these outcomes can be applied at the Narrator’s discretion.

Step 5: Challenge Rating and Experience

To determine the appropriate challenge rating and experience points to reward for a new exploration challenge, use the same calculations used for a new creature (averaging the DCs for ability checks and using them in place of Armor Class). Otherwise compare the consequences of failures between the new exploration challenge and those listed in this chapter.

Each campaign is different—every magic item may not be the best fit for a game, or the Narrator may need something that no one has thought of yet. In these instances, use the rules below to guide the process of coming up with new magic items and the ways a character might craft them.

Determining Rarity

Determining the rarity of a new magic item is one of the most difficult parts. While there’s no set formula
for determining rarity, refer to the following points when choosing the rarity of a new magic item;
• An item with one low power property that is consumed upon use is most likely common or uncommon, depending on the property. If the property recharges, it may still be common if the effect has little mechanical impact. Examples: blackbird pie , mug of warming , potion of climbing , prismatic gown .
• An item with multiple low to mid-level power properties, or a single lower power property which recharges, is likely uncommon or rare. Examples: boots of striding and springing , medallion of thoughts , ring of the ram , subtle mage gloves .
• If an item has multiple powerful properties that recharge, or one significantly powerful property that recharges, it is most likely rare or very rare. Examples: elemental quiver , helm of teleportation , robe of stars , staff of withering .
• If the item is powerful enough to be gamechanging, or is especially powerful and one of a kind, it is likely legendary or even an artifact. Examples: deck of many things , luck blade , sphere of annihilation , vorpal sword .
• If the item grants a creature the ability to cast spells, or replicates the effects of a spell, what level is that spell? The higher the spell level, the higher the item’s rarity. Examples: magic mirror , potion of flying , scroll of commune with nature , scroll of meteor swarm .
• Finally, consider the item’s purpose. Items that are less about making whoever carries them more effective, and more about granting access to something important for roleplaying purposes—such as defenses against a harsh environment, a way to overcome multiple language barriers, or survive somewhere without air—may have their rarity reduced. Conversely, items that allow for an adventure or their party to easily complete dangerous tasks (particularly those granting flight) may have a higher rarity than usual. Examples: Freelinking: Node title helm of comprehend languages does not exist , ring of warmth , water charm , winged boots .

Determining Cost

In most cases when including a new magic item for crafting or purchase it will be necessary to set a price for it. The Magic Item Costs table contains guidelines for pricing new magic items. Rarity isn’t the only thing to consider, however—for example, a magic item that is consumed on use is almost always cheaper than one of the same rarity that recharges.

The following list contains a few things that may help determine the price of a new item.
• Is it single use, multiple uses, or does it recharge indefinitely? Single use items should be cheaper than multiple use items, which are themselves typically cheaper than something that recharges regularly.
• How does it compare to other items of the same rarity? If another item is of a similar power level, use that item’s cost as a starting point.
• Does it have one property or multiple properties, and how many uses does each of the item’s properties have? Something with multiple rechargeable properties is going to be more expensive than one with multiple single use properties, or even one recharging property.
• Does the item grant a creature the ability to cast spells, or replicate the effects of a spell? If so, what level is that spell? The higher the spell level, the higher the potential cost.

A magic item may be only of rare rarity, but require extremely rare and expensive components to create, thus raising the price. The Magic Item Costs table does not take these outliers into account, and instead provides both an average low cost and average high cost for magic items that only require the standard components to create.

A Tricky Measure

Whenever a new magic item is being introduced to the game, Narrators should contemplate the ways it might be abused and exercise caution—what seems like a fun suggestion at first can easily get out of hand if its full implications aren’t carefully considered when it’s created.

Sample Magic Item Details

Narrators keen to make their own magic items can look to the rest of this chapter for examples to work from, or roll randomly to quickly pick out the origins, properties, and quirks to make a new piece of enchanted gear.

 

For those who have reached the height of mundane crafting there is the intricate practice of creating magical items. This can be done during downtime, like crafting mundane items, but is often a more finicky process. Magic items can be as unique as their crafters, ranging from potions to armor sets, and a particular magic item can look different every time someone new crafts it. Unlike crafting mundane items, crafting magic items is rather hit or miss. Crafting a magic item is either successful or it is not.

Player Level. Common magic items are called such for a reason—just about anyone can create them. As the rarity of an item increases however, so does the level of skill required. The Minimum Player Level table shows what level a character must reach before being able to craft magic items of a certain rarity. Unless their statistics state otherwise, an NPC is only able to craft magic items if they have spellcasting levels.

Base Materials. To craft a magic item a character must first acquire base materials equal to half the magic item’s cost; this includes special metals, wood, leather, and other substances which make the basic item, plus a mixture of common alchemical reagents, arcane components, or divine ingredients. These materials can be purchased easily as long as the character has the requisite funds and usually do not need to be accounted for individually.

Special Components. For most magic items, specific additional components are also needed that may not be available for purchase. PCs may need to undertake adventures in order to acquire these components. See the description of the desired magic item to learn what, if any, special items are needed. Special components include exotic items (such as a mirror that a basilisk has seen its reflection in), or creature parts (such as dragon scales). Creature parts can be easily collected from a defeated monster with no special ability checks required; this takes one hour and gives one dose plus one dose per size category of the creature above Medium. Collecting creature parts from any unwilling sentient humanoid is considered an evil act.

Special components generally can’t be bought or sold (the market for them is just too niche), but Narrators may decide that instead of questing for the special components to create a magic item that they can be purchased for 25% of the magic item’s cost.

Item Quality. Common magic items can be made from items of any quality, but uncommon magic items require an item of fine quality, and rare or greater magic items require an item of masterwork quality (see the Craft downtime activity on page 426 in Chapter 7: Adventuring in the Adventurer's Guide). Costs for an item’s quality are included in a magic item’s base cost.

Time Required. The time required to craft a magic item depends on its rarity, as shown on the Magic Item Crafting Time table. To craft a magic item, a character must make multiple ability checks due to the difficult nature of magic item crafting: an initial check and a final check.

Initial Check. At the beginning of the required time, the character makes an ability check against the DC for an item of that rarity. On a success, they can continue crafting the item as normal. On a failure, they have to start over. On a failure by 5 or more, crafting can continue but the final check’s DC increases by 2. Failing this check by 10 or more consumes half the required materials and is considered a failed attempt; however you gain one expertise die that you can use the next time you attempt to craft the same item, as long as it has been no longer than a month.

Final Check. At the end of the required crafting time, the character makes another ability check to complete their magic item against the DC for an item of that rarity. On a success, all the materials are consumed and they make the desired magic time. On a failure, the process consumes half of the required materials and the crafting fails. On a failure by 10 or more, all the materials are consumed and the crafting fails.

Ability Checks. Different types of items, and different rarities, require different ability checks to successfully craft. The Magic Item Crafting Abilities table shows what ability checks are required to craft items of that type. Some magic items may fit in multiple categories, such as an amulet crafted from wood or suits of armor that also allow a character to cast spells. In these cases, which type the item falls under is determined by the Narrator.

Tool Requirements. Crafting anything requires the right tools for the job—this is especially important when crafting magical items. Each type of magic item and the tools associated with those types are detailed on the General Magic Item Crafting table. A character does not require proficiency with the tools needed to make a magic item, only access to those tools.

At the Narrator’s discretion, enough time spent crafting a specific type of magic item may grant a character proficiency with the required tools. This should only be done after a character has successfully crafted multiple magic items, or after they have created an item of very rare rarity or higher.

Table: Crafting and Minimum Player Level

Rarity	Minimum Player Level
Common	-
Uncommon	3rd level
Rare	5th level
Very Rare	10th level
Legendary	15th level
Artifact	20th level

Campaigns and Crafting

The crafting times listed here are suitable for most groups, but when playing a game that spans years within the campaign setting the Narrator may choose to double, triple, or even quadruple them to match the pacing of the adventures.Alternatively in a campaign that only spans a few seasons within the setting, they may instead be halved. The time needed to craft an item is always at the discretion of the Narrator.

Table: Magic Item Crafting Time and DCs

Rarity	Time to Craft	DC
Common	1 week	13
Uncommon	3 weeks	15
Rare	8 weeks	17
Very Rare	24 weeks	20
Legendary	25 + 4d8 weeks	25
Artifact	Uncraftable, except at the Narrator's discretion.	-

Table: General Magic Item Crafting

Type	Required Tools	Types of Magic Items	Item Examples	Ability Checks
Alchemical	Alchemist's supplies	Potions, powders, preserved items	Explorer's chalk, gallow hand	1: Intelligence 2: Wisdom
Woodcraft	Woodcarver's tools or carpenter's tools	Wooden weapons and trinkets	Message whistle , wood woad amulet	1: Dexterity 2: Dexterity
Smithing	Smith's tools	Metal armor, weapons, and trinkets	cage of folly , flask of inebriation	1: Intelligence 2: Strength
Apparel	Leatherworker's tools or weaver's tools	Clothing, leather armor, and some accessories	midnight pearls , tailored suit of armor	1: Wisdom 2: Dexterity
Stone and Gemcraft	Jeweler's tools or mason's tools	Statues, jewelry, and other trinkets made of stone, crystals, or precious gems	jade tiger , maternal cameo	1: Strength 2: Dexterity
Spellcraft	Narrator's Discretion	Any magic item that replicates the effects of a spell	Skull liqueur , Zlick's message cushion	1: Wisdom 2: Spellcasting ability or Charisma
Cookery	Cook's utensils	Any edible or drinkable item, that isn't a potion	Bag of cheese , luminescent gum	1: Constitution 2: Wisdom
Pottery	Potter's tools	Items made of clay such as dishes, jugs, or figures	Dreamscrying bowl , mug of warming	1: Wisdom 2: Charisma
Hobbycraft	Calligrapher's supplies, painter's supplies, tinker's tools, or weaver's tools	Letters, needlepoint crafts, and other trinkets not covered by the other types	Family scrapbook , library scarf	1: Dexterity 2: Charisma

 

Some magic items are sentient and sapient, possessed by a spirit or given life through arcane power. Despite their outward appearances these objects are full fledged characters with their own agendas, desires, and personalities. Unless otherwise specified, sentient items are NPCs under the Narrator’s control, and adventurers must negotiate with and become allies to them rather than simply use them as items. A sentient item’s properties and abilities are under their own control rather than the wielder’s, and accessing them requires the item’s willful cooperation.

Ability Scores

Sentient magic items have a mind and so also possess mental ability scores (Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma). Each sentient item has these ability scores defined in their descriptions, and is capable of making checks and saving throws just like any other creature.

Unless otherwise specified, sentient magic items don’t possess a typical body and thus usually don’t have Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution scores. These sentient items automatically fail any checks or saving throws made for these ability scores.

Durability and Hit Points

Most magic items are already far more durable than their mundane counterparts but the enchantments required to encapsulate a sentient mind must be steadfastly reinforced. Some sentient magic items have hit points listed within their description along with other statistics normal for a creature. Sentient magic items without hit points can only be broken by special and specific means detailed within the item’s description.

Senses and Communication

Sentient magic items rely on magical senses and forms of communication that can vary wildly between items. Some items may be able to communicate telepathically with their wielder or see with extranormal senses, or they may be severely limited in their capacity to interact with the world around them. Each sentient magic item’s description details its unique sense and communication abilities. Unless otherwise specified, assume that a sentient magic item can at least speak and understand Common, and can see and hear its surroundings as a typical humanoid creature would.

Personality and Conflict

Just like any NPC, sentient magic items have their own unique personality. Some have very specific goals in mind, while others may operate on guidelines or ideals. Sentient magic items can be as deep and complex as any character with intricate backstories and motivations that cannot be summarized by a single attribute or phrase. However, most sentient magic items have some issue or trait that can lead to conflict.

While a sentient magic item and a creature wielding it are not in conflict, the wielder has access to the abilities and properties of the sentient magic item. While a sentient magic item and a creature wielding it are in conflict, the wielder may lose access to some or all of the sentient magic item’s abilities, and the sentient magic item may even be able to inflict additional negative effects or influence the wielder’s actions.

Exactly what leads to conflict, what happens during conflict, and how these conflicts can be resolved depends on the personality of the sentient magic item (detailed in its description).

For example, a lance containing the soul of a righteous cleric might deal radiant damage to its wielder whenever it is used to commit an evil act, and will refuse to function for that wielder until that evil act is atoned for. Alternatively, a staff haunted by an arrogant wizard may refuse to attune to a wielder unless flattered with a high Charisma check, forcibly ending the attunement if it feels unappreciated or insulted.

Creating Sentient Magic Items

Creating a sentient magic item has elements of both character creation and item creation. Use the Backgrounds , Cultures , and perhaps even the Destinies in Chapter 2: Freelinking: Node title Origins does not exist to develop their personality and the information elsewhere in this chapter to create the sentient magic item’s traits and other statistics. In addition, make sure to include the following features:

Sentience: Include the item’s Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. The Narrator can simply select these scores or determine them randomly by rolling 4d6 for each, dropping the lowest roll and totalling the rest.

Then, describe how the item communicates and what languages it knows. Some common forms of communication include:
• Telepathy with the wielder or others.
• An actual audible voice.
• Vague impulses and feelings empathically transmitted.

Finally you’ll need to describe how aware the item is of its surroundings:
• Vision common to most humanoids.
• Darkvision.
• Blindsight.
• Shared awareness using the wielder’s senses.

Personality: The description of a sentient item’s personality can be a simple list of traits or as extensive as a full backstory. Whatever level of detail, the Narrator needs at least some indication of the item’s motivations, what will bring the item into conflict, the repercussions of conflict and how to resolve it.

Common causes of conflict include:
• Going directly against the item’s values.
• Fighting against creatures aligned with the item.
• Insulting or causing the item injury.

Common repercussions of conflict include:
• Damaging the wielder.
• Blocking access to one or more of the item’s features.
• Attempting to control the wielder temporarily through a battle of wills, resolved with a contested Charisma check.
• Forcibly ending attunement.

Common resolutions of conflict include:
• Apologizing with a high Persuasion check.
• Bringing current actions back in line with the item’s values.
• Performing tasks or favors that benefit the item.

Being the Narrator is a gratifying and rewarding experience, but that doesn’t make it easy. This chapter is a trove of advice for running Level Up to be as engaging, enjoyable, memorable, and worthwhile as possible with a focus on two aspects of play: player archetypes and safety tools. When the group isn’t getting along, the party is led astray, or the campaign goes off track Narrators are encouraged to try to better understand the players, focusing on what they’re enthusiastic about so the story and gameplay better suit their passions. Cooperative games like Level Up are just that: cooperative. Whether gripping with mature themes or much more light-hearted quests, safety tools are an essential part of keeping everyone at the table happy and coming back for more.

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Safety Tools

Player Archetypes

Prayer books—any specific collection of scriptures which may include sacred stories, wisdom literature, hymns, creeds, codes, and liturgical formulations—are to divine casters as spellbooks are to wizards. You must have spells from the divine school on your class spell list to attune to a prayer book, and you may only be attuned to one prayer book at a time. Each prayer book has a spell list, and once attuned you may cast those spells, even if they are not otherwise prepared or known. You still must have spell slots of an appropriate level to cast those spells, even as a ritual. The more rare the prayer book, the more powerful spells and benefits they bestow. In addition, you may use an attuned prayer book as a spell focus.

  You can use calligraphy tools to copy or compile a prayer book just like creating any other magic item. In addition to quality materials, you must also have sufficient scripture and religious documents (how much is at the Narrator’s discretion). 

  When creating a custom prayer book, work with the Narrator and use the following guidelines. 

• A prayer book exists to help players explore the world and should encourage interaction with in-world faith in a rich way. The prayer book might relate to a church or religious organization, but it should pose questions, allude to mysteries, and include hints about the world.
• Mechanically, prayer books offer a small set of reliable spells. This helps a divine spellcaster prepare other spells, or expand their limited set of known spells.
• The rarity of a spellbook informs its power. A prayer book offers a maximum spell level based on its rarity:
  • Common: 1st-level only.
  • Uncommon: Up to 2nd-level.
  • Rare: Up to 3rd-level, +1 spell attack and save DC when used as a focus.
  • Very Rare: Up to 5th-level, +2 spell attack and save DC when used as a focus.
  • Legendary: Up to 8th-level, +3 spell attack and save DC when used as a focus. 
  • Artifact: Any spell level, +3 spell attack and save DC when used as a focus.
• Ordinary prayer books should offer no more than 5 spells. Artifacts may offer more.

  When creating prayer books, Narrators should consider the following questions:

• What are the various religious groups and people groups in this campaign? Whose story should be told? Whose story is worth knowing more about?
• What are the important time periods in the history of this faith group? What are some of the religious phrases, beliefs, texts, and practices that originate during this time?
• Through the ages, how would this people reflect their beliefs and experiences in art?
• Are there any traditions, powers, or secrets that were suppressed over time? Were they suppressed by the group in question, or by a rival group?

Valuables include jewelry, equipment, art, and other objects, and can come in nearly limitless varieties. Each of the following tables contains some examples. Of all forms of treasure, valuables are the most useful for showing the characteristics and history of a treasure hoard or its owner. These may include items that point the way to further adventures, like letters and treasure maps.

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25 GOLD VALUABLES (D12)

1 Arms and armor. Rapier or shortbow

2 Artwork. Competent portrait or tavern sign

3 Bracelet. Bronze torque or silver bangle

4 Clothing. Fine fur-trimmed cloak or floppy feathered hat

5 Earrings. Silver and malachite pendants or tiny gold skulls

6 Equipment. A dulcimer or navigator’s tools

7 Useful object. Copper pot, silver hatpin, or nonmagical crystal ball

8 Ring. Copper and garnet ring or plain gold band

9 Statuary. Painted wooden knight or stone elephant statuette

10 Trade goods. Bolt of cloth or 7 pounds of cloves

11 Vial of liquid. Acid or holy water

12 Writing. Ordinary book or local map

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75 GOLD VALUABLES (D12)

1 Ring. Gold band set with a moonstone or lion-headed gold ring

2 Bracelet. Electrum chain or silver and obsidian band

3 Earrings. Chalcedony pendants or small gold or silver studs

4 Necklace. Gold locket or thick silver chain

5 Clothing. Stylish cap or gloves

6 Statuary. Marble figurine or pair of bronze dragon bookends

7 Artwork. Watercolors or worn tapestry of rare plants

8 Trade goods. 5 pounds of saffron or fifteen 1-pound silver bars

9 Arms and armor. Concealable boot dagger or silver-hilted longsword

10 Useful object. Gold-framed mirror, silver and quartz chalice, or silver snuff box

11 Writing. Bestiary or map of a distant land

12 Vial of liquid. Antitoxin or medicinal salve

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250 GOLD VALUABLES (D12)

1 Ring. Mithral band or pearl solitaire

2 Bracelet. Gold armlet or silver and pearl bracelet

3 Earrings. Gold hoops or pearl pendants

4 Necklace. Dragontooth necklace or fine gold chain hung with gold leaves

5 Clothing. Pointy-toed shoes or a stylish silk doublet

6 Statuary. Marble bust or small silver idol

7 Artwork. Excellent portrait of a famous person or fine tapestry

8 Trade goods. 5 grams of diamond dust or five 1-pound gold bars

9 Arms and armor. Gold-hilted sword or silver helmet

10 Useful object. Set of gold buttons, silver ewer, or silver jewelry box

11 Writing. Rare book or treasure map which leads to the discovery of a rare spell of at least 2nd-level

12 Vial of liquid. Faerie dragon euphoria gas (acts as the breath weapon if inhaled) or shadow elf poison (200 gp)

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750 GOLD VALUABLES (D12)

1 Ring. Black pearl nose ring or peridot ring carved with a family crest

2 Bracelet. Gold bangle or platinum chain

3 Earrings. Dangling platinum earrings or white and black pearl pendants

4 Necklace. Coral bead necklace or thick gold chain

5 Regalia. Gold tiara or silver scepter

6 Clothing. Gold-buckled belt or high fashion hat

7 Statuary. Gold idol or jade statuette

8 Artwork. Gold-threaded tapestry or masterpiece painting

9 Trade goods. Bolt of fine silk or 1-pound mithral bar

10 Arms and armor. Gold-handled sword stick (acts as rapier) or half plate

11 Useful object. Gold ewer, gold harp, or gold incense burner

12 Vial of liquid. Two doses oil of taggit (400 gp each) or pale tincture (650 gp)

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2,500 GOLD VALUABLES (D10)

1 Ring. Gold band set with a single emerald or with a dozen tiny opals

2 Earrings. Blue or yellow sapphire earrings 

3 Necklace. Ruby pendant or string of pearls

4 Clothing. Royal dress or robe

5 Statuary. Figurine carved from emerald or gold idol

6 Useful object. Gem-studded gold goblet, gold jewelry box, or fine mithral-inlaid lute

7 Regalia. Platinum orb or silver and topaz crown

8 Vial of liquid. Purple worm poison (2,000 gp) or two doses of wyvern poison (1,250 gp each)

9 Writing. Undiscovered masterpiece play or deed to a fort

10 Arms and armor. Ceremonial gold-etched full plate or royal greatsword with gem-studded hilt 

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7,500 GOLD VALUABLES (D8)

1 Ring. Diamond solitaire or ruby and platinum ring

2 Earrings. Diamond studs or platinum and black sapphire earrings

3 Necklace. Flawless jacinth pendant or string of black pearls 

4 Statuary. Life-sized silver statue or platinum statuette

5 Useful object. Bloodstone and jade chess set, gold and ruby warhorn, or gold bejeweled ewer

6 Regalia. Gemmed gold crown or gold scepter

7 Writing. Full royal pardon for one unspecified crime or legendary tome of magical theory which leads to the discovery of a rare spell of at least 5th-level

8 Trade goods. 8-pound adamantine meteorite or ore of some exotic metal from a different plane (examples: cloudsilver, efreeti brass, glassteel)

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 25,000 GOLD VALUABLES (D8)

1 Necklace. Necklace of rubies or diamonds

2 Jewelry. Adamantine mask or platinum armlet studded with jacinths

3 Statuary. Gold statuette with ruby eyes or life-sized masterpiece bronze statue

4 Regalia. Gemmed gold breastplate or mithral crown

5 Useful object. Black dragon egg, mithral and gold chest with a masterwork lock, or portable door which opens to a permanent demiplane

6 Writing. Bank note for 25,000 gp from a bank in a major city, map that leads to a fabled treasure, mythical city, or the discovery of a rare spell of at least 8th-level