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Crystal Ball

Crystal Ball
  • Category: Wondrous Item
  • Rarity: Very Rare (Requires Attunement)

While touching this crystal orb, you can cast Scrying (save DC 17) with it.

Tactical Applications​

Combat Strategy: Provides intelligence gathering and reconnaissance capabilities essential for strategic planning. Most effective for advance scouting and information warfare.

Class Synergies:

  • Spellcasters: Natural fit for characters with divination magic specialization
  • Leaders: Excellent for tactical commanders requiring battlefield intelligence
  • Any Class: Universal benefit for strategic planning and reconnaissance

Build Considerations: Most valuable for characters who can leverage information advantages and strategic planning capabilities.

Acquisition Methods​

Crafting Requirements: Requires perfect crystal orbs, powerful divination enchantments, and master-level scrying expertise. Typically costs 25,000-40,000 gp.

Common Sources:

  • Rewards from divination specialists or oracle encounters
  • Inheritance from wizards or scholars specializing in information magic
  • Commission from enchanters with divination school expertise
  • Trade agreements with organizations requiring intelligence capabilities

Alternative Acquisition: Some spy networks and military intelligence units commission these orbs for strategic operations.

Value & Trade​

Estimated Value: 30,000-50,000 gp, with extreme variation based on regional demand for intelligence capabilities.

Trade Considerations: Highly valued by military leaders, spy organizations, and anyone requiring reliable intelligence gathering.

Character Integration​

Roleplay Elements: Suggests scholarly interests, strategic thinking, or connections to divination magic. May indicate leadership roles or intelligence operations.

Character Concepts:

  • Strategic commander who values intelligence and tactical planning
  • Scholar or researcher specializing in divination and information magic
  • Spy master or intelligence operative requiring reliable reconnaissance
  • Character with responsibilities requiring advance warning and planning

Adventure Hooks​

The Intelligence War: Strategic conflicts require reliable information about enemy movements and preparations.

The Missing Person: Scrying becomes essential for locating kidnapped allies or tracking fleeing enemies.

The Strategic Planning: Military campaigns require advance reconnaissance of enemy positions and defenses.

The Oracle's Tool: Divination quests involve using scrying to uncover hidden truths or prophetic visions.

Variants & Customization​

Greater Crystal Ball (Legendary): Provides enhanced scrying range, resistance to detection, or additional divination abilities.

Crystal Ball of True Seeing (Very Rare): Combines scrying with true sight capabilities for enhanced reconnaissance.

Secure Scrying Orb (Very Rare): Includes protections against counter-scrying and detection by enemies.

Specialized Variants:

  • Military Intelligence Orb: Optimized for battlefield reconnaissance and tactical planning
  • Scholar's Research Ball: Enhanced abilities for historical research and knowledge gathering
  • Spy's Surveillance Sphere: Improved stealth capabilities and counter-intelligence features

Lore & History​

Origins: Created by ancient diviners who sought reliable methods for gathering information across great distances.

Historical Significance: Several major strategic victories and intelligence coups succeeded due to information gathered through crystal ball scrying.

Cultural Impact: In magical communities, these orbs represent the pinnacle of divination magic and strategic intelligence capabilities.

Divination Magic: The orbs serve as focal points for scrying magic, reflecting deep understanding of distant perception and information gathering.

Balancing Notes​

Introduction Timing: Best introduced at higher levels (12+) when strategic information gathering becomes crucial without overwhelming investigation scenarios.

Campaign Impact: Provides significant intelligence capabilities that can alter how information gathering and strategic planning work.

Information Balance: The scrying abilities require careful consideration of how much information players should access.

Encounter Design​

Recommended Challenges:

  • Strategic scenarios where advance intelligence provides crucial advantages
  • Investigation adventures requiring distant observation and reconnaissance
  • Military campaigns where enemy monitoring becomes essential
  • Situations where information gathering drives narrative progression

Tactical Adjustments: Enemies may employ counter-scrying measures, magical wards, or other methods to limit crystal ball effectiveness.

Divination Magic: Other items that provide information gathering or future sight capabilities.

Intelligence Equipment:

  • Items that enhance investigation and information gathering abilities
  • Equipment that provides communication or surveillance capabilities
  • Tools that work synergistically with strategic planning and reconnaissance

Complementary Equipment: Items that benefit from or enhance information-based tactics and strategic planning.

Roleplay Opportunities​

Strategic Thinking: Characters develop appreciation for intelligence gathering and tactical planning advantages.

Information Ethics: Players must consider the moral implications of surveillance and privacy invasion.

Leadership Development: The orb encourages development of strategic thinking and command capabilities.