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Manual of Gainful Exercise

Manual Of Gainful Exercise
  • Category: Wondrous Item
  • Rarity: Very Rare

This book describes fitness exercises, and its words are charged with magic. If you spend 48 hours over a period of 6 days or fewer studying the book's contents and practicing its guidelines, your Strength increases by 2 , to a maximum of 30 . The manual then loses its magic but regains it in a century.

Tactical Applications​

Combat Strategy: Permanently increases Strength score and maximum, providing enhanced melee damage, carrying capacity, and Strength-based abilities. One-time use item with permanent character enhancement.

Class Synergies:

  • Melee Combatants: Perfect for fighters, barbarians, and other Strength-based combat classes
  • Strength-Based Builds: Essential for characters relying on Strength for class features and abilities
  • Physical Power Specialists: Excellent for characters focused on raw physical strength and power
  • Any Class: Universal benefit for increased melee effectiveness and physical capabilities

Build Considerations: Single-use permanent enhancement requiring careful timing. Most valuable for Strength-based characters wanting permanent physical power improvement.

Acquisition Methods​

Crafting Requirements: Requires strength magic, physical enhancement enchantments, and power-infusing materials. Creation cost 50,000-100,000 gp and takes 6 months.

Common Sources:

  • Ancient training grounds and repositories of strength knowledge
  • Treasure hoards of legendary strongmen and physical power masters
  • Commission from master enchanters with strength enhancement expertise
  • Found in the collections of strength researchers and physical power specialists
  • Rewards from grateful organizations for completing epic strength-based challenges

Alternative Acquisition: Sometimes discovered in strength sanctuaries or obtained through physical power trials.

Value & Trade​

Estimated Value: 75,000-150,000 gp, considered extremely valuable due to permanent ability score enhancement.

Trade Considerations: Artifact-level rarity means most acquisitions involve epic quests or legendary physical achievements rather than purchase.

Character Integration​

Roleplay Elements: Suggests dedication to physical power, strength mastery, or completion of epic trials requiring enhanced physical might.

Character Concepts:

  • Strength master dedicated to physical power and muscle enhancement
  • Character with legendary strength achievements and physical prowess
  • Physical power specialist with expertise in strength improvement
  • Warrior who has completed epic trials requiring enhanced physical might

Adventure Hooks​

The Strength Quest: Epic journeys to locations where strength enhancement becomes possible through legendary physical trials.

The Power Master: Encounters with legendary strongmen who possess knowledge of physical power enhancement.

The Might Trial: Extreme strength challenges where enhanced physical power determines success or failure.

The Physical Supremacy: Character development arcs focused on achieving legendary levels of physical strength.

Variants & Customization​

Greater Manual of Gainful Exercise (Artifact): Enhanced strength bonuses and additional physical power abilities.

Master's Strength Manual (Legendary): Includes strength expertise and physical enhancement knowledge beyond ability scores.

Specialized Strength Manual (Very Rare): Optimized for specific strength-based abilities and physical power aspects.

Specialized Variants:

  • Warrior's Manual: Enhanced for combat applications and weapon-based strength usage
  • Strongman's Manual: Optimized for raw physical power and strength-based challenges
  • Power Master's Manual: Includes advanced strength knowledge and physical enhancement techniques

Lore & History​

Origins: Written by ancient masters of physical power who achieved legendary levels of strength and physical might.

Historical Significance: These manuals enabled legendary heroes to achieve superhuman levels of strength and physical prowess.

Cultural Impact: Represent the pursuit of physical supremacy and the mastery of strength enhancement through magical study.

Magical Craft: Demonstrates ultimate understanding of strength magic and the complex enchantments required for permanent enhancement.

Balancing Notes​

Introduction Timing: Appropriate for levels 10-17 when permanent ability score enhancement becomes accessible and meaningful.

Campaign Impact: Provides significant permanent character enhancement balanced by extreme rarity and single-use limitation.

Permanent Enhancement: Single-use nature requires careful campaign integration and character development timing.

Encounter Design​

Recommended Challenges:

  • Epic quests where strength enhancement rewards extraordinary physical achievements
  • Power challenges where enhanced might enables completion of impossible strength feats
  • Character development arcs focused on physical supremacy and strength mastery
  • Legendary trials where strength improvement represents growth and physical achievement

Tactical Adjustments: Enhanced strength should be factored into long-term character capability assessments.

Ability Enhancement Items: Other manuals and items that provide permanent ability score improvements.

Strength Equipment:

  • Items that enhance strength-based abilities and physical power
  • Equipment for strength mastery and physical enhancement
  • Tools for achieving physical supremacy and might improvement

Complementary Equipment: Items that benefit from enhanced strength or work synergistically with increased physical power.

Roleplay Opportunities​

Physical Supremacy: Characters achieve legendary levels of strength and physical power capabilities.

Strength Expertise: Enhanced strength creates opportunities for physical power consulting and might instruction.

Legendary Status: Permanent ability enhancement marks characters as individuals of extraordinary physical achievement and strength mastery.