Bag of Tricks
- Category: Wondrous Item
- Rarity: Uncommon
This bag made from gray, rust, or tan cloth appears empty. Reaching inside the bag, however, reveals the presence of a small, fuzzy object.
You can take a Magic action to pull the fuzzy object from the bag and throw it up to 20 feet. When the object lands, it transforms into a creature you determine by rolling on the table that corresponds to the bag's color. See "Monsters" for the creature's stat block. The creature vanishes at the next dawn or when it is reduced to 0 Hit Points.
The creature is Friendly to you and your allies, and it acts immediately after you on your Initiative count. You can take a Bonus Action to command how the creature moves and what action it takes on its next turn, such as attacking an enemy. In the absence of such orders, the creature acts in a fashion appropriate to its nature.
Once three fuzzy objects have been pulled from the bag, the bag can't be used again until the next dawn.
Gray Bag of Tricks
| 1d8 | Creature | 1d8 | Creature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weasel | 5 | Panther |
| 2 | Giant Rat | 6 | Giant Badger |
| 3 | Badger | 7 | Dire Wolf |
| 4 | Boar | 8 | Giant Elk |
Rust Bag of Tricks
| 1d8 | Creature | 1d8 | Creature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rat | 5 | Giant Goat |
| 2 | Owl | 6 | Giant Boar |
| 3 | Mastiff | 7 | Lion |
| 4 | Goat | 8 | Brown Bear |
Tan Bag of Tricks
| 1d8 | Creature | 1d8 | Creature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackal | 5 | Black Bear |
| 2 | Ape | 6 | Giant Weasel |
| 3 | Baboon | 7 | Giant Hyena |
| 4 | Axe Beak | 8 | Tiger |
Tactical Applications
Combat Strategy: Provides reliable temporary allies for flanking, distraction, or additional damage. Most effective when used strategically to control battlefield positioning or overwhelm enemies with numbers.
Class Synergies:
- Rangers and Druids: Natural affinity for animal allies enhances tactical coordination
- Support Classes: Summoned creatures can protect spellcasters or provide battlefield control
- Solo Characters: Excellent for characters who lack regular allies or need tactical flexibility
Build Considerations: Most effective in open terrain where creatures have room to maneuver. The daily limit encourages strategic timing rather than casual use.
Acquisition Methods
Crafting Requirements: Requires rare fabrics, animal essence, and conjuration magic. Typically costs 1,000-2,000 gp in materials and specialized expertise.
Common Sources:
- Traveling circuses and entertainers with magical acts
- Druid circles that maintain connections to animal spirits
- Rewards from animal-protection or rescue missions
- Inheritance from rangers or beast masters
Alternative Acquisition: Some regions offer these bags as rewards for protecting local wildlife or solving animal-related problems.
Value & Trade
Estimated Value: 2,500-4,000 gp, with gray bags commanding premium prices due to their more powerful creature selection.
Trade Considerations: Popular among adventurers and anyone who works alone in dangerous areas. Different bag colors appeal to different tactical preferences.
Character Integration
Roleplay Elements: Suggests an affinity for animals or practical approach to problem-solving. Characters may develop preferences for specific creatures or tactical applications.
Character Concepts:
- Former circus performer who used animals in their act
- Lonely adventurer who appreciates temporary companionship
- Tactical genius who values battlefield flexibility
- Animal lover who enjoys working with different creatures
Adventure Hooks
The Wild Circus: A traveling circus has lost their collection of bags of tricks, and their magical animal acts are failing without them.
The Beast Master's Legacy: A legendary ranger's collection of different colored bags holds clues to finding their hidden sanctuary.
The Overpopulation Problem: Someone has been using multiple bags of tricks irresponsibly, leading to an ecosystem disruption that the party must resolve.
The Creature Hunt: Specific creatures from the bags are needed for a magical ritual, requiring careful planning and multiple summonings.
Variants & Customization
Enhanced Bag of Tricks (Rare): Creatures persist for 24 hours instead of until dawn and may be summoned 5 times per day instead of 3.
Specialized Animal Bag (Uncommon): Contains creatures from specific environments (aquatic, aerial, underground) rather than the standard tables.
Intelligent Bag of Tricks (Very Rare): Summoned creatures retain their intelligence and personality between summonings, developing relationships with the user.
Specialized Variants:
- Exotic Bag of Tricks: Contains more unusual creatures like pseudodragons or stirges
- Combat Bag of Tricks: Focuses on creatures with strong combat abilities
- Utility Bag of Tricks: Emphasizes creatures with useful non-combat abilities
Lore & History
Origins: Created by ancient druids and rangers to provide companionship and assistance during long journeys through dangerous territories.
Historical Significance: Several famous explorers and scouts used bags of tricks to survive impossible odds or complete crucial missions.
Cultural Impact: In frontier societies, these bags represent the ideal of cooperation between civilization and nature.
Magical Theory: The bags tap into the connection between the Material Plane and the realms where animal spirits reside, temporarily manifesting their essence.
Balancing Notes
Introduction Timing: Excellent for early to mid-levels (3-10) where the summoned creatures remain relevant but not overwhelming.
Campaign Impact: Provides tactical flexibility without permanent power increases. The temporary nature maintains resource management tension.
Action Economy: The bonus action command system encourages active tactical engagement without overwhelming complexity.
Encounter Design
Recommended Challenges:
- Encounters where additional allies provide meaningful assistance
- Situations that benefit from specific creature abilities (tracking, climbing, etc.)
- Tactical scenarios where positioning and flanking matter
- Extended adventures where the daily limit creates resource management decisions
Tactical Adjustments: Enemies may target summoned creatures first or use area effects to neutralize multiple allies simultaneously.
Related Items
Summoning Magic: Other items that provide temporary allies or creature assistance.
Animal Companions:
- Items that enhance relationships with natural creatures
- Equipment that provides communication with animals
- Tools that offer protection or benefits in natural environments
Complementary Equipment: Items that work well with animal allies, such as Beast Speech abilities or creature-enhancement magic.
Roleplay Opportunities
Animal Relationships: Characters may develop emotional attachments to frequently summoned creatures, treating them as recurring companions.
Tactical Leadership: Commanding summoned creatures provides practice in battlefield leadership and tactical coordination.
Environmental Awareness: Different creatures' abilities encourage players to think about environmental factors and creature capabilities.