Cube of Force

• Category: Wondrous Item
• Rarity: Rare (Requires Attunement)

This cube is about an inch across. Each face has a distinct marking on it. You can press one of those faces, expend the number of charges required for it, and thereby cast the spell associated with it (save DC 17), as shown in the Cube of Force Faces table.

The cube starts with 10 charges, and it regains 1d6 expended charges daily at dawn.

Cube of Force Faces

Spell	Charge Cost
Mage Armor	1
Shield	1
Tiny Hut	3
Private Sanctum	4
Resilient Sphere	4
Wall of Force	5

Tactical Applications

Combat Strategy: Provides versatile defensive and utility options through multiple spell access. Most effective for characters who can strategically manage charges for maximum tactical benefit.

Class Synergies:

• Any Class: Universal benefit from diverse spell access regardless of magical ability
• Non-Spellcasters: Exceptional value for characters without regular spell access
• Support Classes: Excellent for characters who focus on defensive and utility magic

Build Considerations: Most valuable for characters who can benefit from both defensive spells and utility magic, requiring strategic charge management.

Acquisition Methods

Crafting Requirements: Requires force magic components, multi-spell enchantment expertise, and specialized cube creation. Typically costs 15,000-25,000 gp.

Common Sources:

• Rewards from battles against force magic specialists or defensive mages
• Inheritance from battle mages or fortress defenders
• Commission from enchanters specializing in defensive magic
• Trade agreements with organizations requiring versatile magical protection

Alternative Acquisition: Some military units and defensive specialists create these cubes for personnel requiring varied magical capabilities.

Value & Trade

Estimated Value: 20,000-35,000 gp, with higher demand from non-spellcasters needing diverse magical options.

Trade Considerations: Highly valued by fighters, rogues, and other classes that benefit significantly from spell access.

Character Integration

Roleplay Elements: Suggests practical approach to magic, defensive thinking, or experience with siege warfare. May indicate wealth or military background.

Character Concepts:

• Battle-tested warrior who values magical defensive options
• Fortress defender or siege specialist with practical magic needs
• Wealthy adventurer who can afford versatile magical equipment
• Character with responsibilities requiring both offense and defense capabilities

Adventure Hooks

The Siege Defense: Defensive scenarios require characters with access to protective and barrier magic.

The Versatile Solution: Missions with unpredictable challenges benefit from having multiple spell options available.

The Resource Management: Adventures requiring careful magical resource allocation where the cube's charges become crucial.

The Magical Backup: Situations where non-spellcasters need reliable access to specific magical effects.

Variants & Customization

Greater Cube of Force (Very Rare): Provides more charges, additional spells, or enhanced spell save DCs.

Combat Cube of Power (Rare): Includes offensive spells alongside the defensive options.

Utility Cube of Magic (Rare): Focuses on utility and exploration spells rather than defensive magic.

Specialized Variants:

• Fortress Defender's Cube: Enhanced defensive spells and siege-breaking capabilities
• Explorer's Magic Box: Optimized for wilderness survival and exploration magic
• Battle Mage's Catalyst: Enhanced for characters who combine martial and magical tactics

Lore & History

Origins: Created by practical battle mages who needed reliable access to essential defensive and utility spells.

Historical Significance: Several famous defensive battles and siege scenarios succeeded due to the versatile magical options these cubes provided.

Cultural Impact: In military communities, these cubes represent the practical application of magic for tactical advantage.

Force Magic: The cubes reflect understanding of how to store and channel multiple types of magical energy efficiently.

Balancing Notes

Introduction Timing: Can be introduced at mid-levels (8-12) when spell access becomes valuable and charge management creates meaningful resource decisions.

Campaign Impact: Provides significant utility without overwhelming encounters. The charge system maintains resource management tension.

Spell Variety: The diverse spell selection encourages tactical thinking about when to use different magical effects.

Encounter Design

Recommended Challenges:

• Combat scenarios where defensive spells provide crucial survival advantages
• Exploration situations requiring utility magic for environmental challenges
• Social encounters where privacy or protection magic becomes important
• Resource management scenarios where charge allocation becomes tactically crucial

Tactical Adjustments: Enemies may attempt to force multiple charge expenditures or challenge the cube's daily recharge limitations.

Related Items

Multi-Spell Items: Other magic items that provide access to multiple different spells or effects.

Defensive Magic:

• Items that enhance protective capabilities or provide magical defenses
• Equipment that provides spell access for non-spellcasting characters
• Tools that work synergistically with defensive and utility magic

Complementary Equipment: Items that benefit from or enhance the tactical flexibility that diverse spell access provides.

Roleplay Opportunities

Tactical Planning: Characters learn to think strategically about resource allocation and spell selection for different scenarios.

Magical Appreciation: Non-spellcasters gain understanding of how magical effects can solve tactical and practical problems.

Resource Management: The charge system encourages players to think carefully about when to use finite magical resources.