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Oil of Slipperiness

Oil Of Slipperiness
  • Category: Potion
  • Rarity: Uncommon

One vial of this oil can cover one Medium or smaller creature, along with the equipment it's wearing and carrying (one additional vial is required for each size category above Medium). Applying the oil takes 10 minutes. The affected creature then gains the effect of the Freedom of Movement spell for 8 hours.

Alternatively, the oil can be poured on the ground as a Magic action, where it covers a 10 -foot square, duplicating the effect of the Grease spell in that area for 8 hours.

This sticky, black unguent is thick and heavy, but it flows quickly when poured.

Tactical Applications​

Combat Strategy: Applied to surfaces or self to create extremely slippery conditions, enabling escape, movement advantages, and area denial. Excellent for tactical positioning and crowd control.

Class Synergies:

  • Any Class: Universal utility for movement enhancement and tactical positioning
  • Escape Specialists: Perfect for characters requiring reliable escape methods and mobility options
  • Crowd Controllers: Essential for characters needing area denial and movement restriction
  • Tactical Maneuvering: Excellent for characters using environmental manipulation and positioning

Build Considerations: Single-use item with versatile applications. Most valuable for characters wanting environmental control and movement advantages.

Acquisition Methods​

Crafting Requirements: Requires slipperiness magic, friction enchantments, and lubrication materials. Creation cost 6,000-12,000 gp and takes 8 weeks.

Common Sources:

  • Alchemical specialists and friction magic practitioners
  • Treasure hoards of legendary escape artists and mobility experts
  • Commission from enchanters specializing in movement magic
  • Found in the collections of tactical specialists and environmental manipulators
  • Rewards from grateful organizations requiring mobility and escape capabilities

Alternative Acquisition: Sometimes discovered in alchemical laboratories or obtained from mobility creature encounters.

Value & Trade​

Estimated Value: 8,000-15,000 gp, with higher demand among escape specialists and tactical manipulators.

Trade Considerations: Popular among rogues, escape artists, and anyone requiring environmental control and movement advantages.

Character Integration​

Roleplay Elements: Suggests experience with alchemical substances, escape expertise, or professional roles requiring mobility and tactical positioning.

Character Concepts:

  • Master escape artist with environmental manipulation and mobility expertise
  • Alchemical specialist requiring friction control and movement enhancement
  • Character with extensive experience in tactical positioning and crowd control
  • Environmental manipulator needing reliable methods for area control

Adventure Hooks​

The Great Escape: Emergency scenarios where slippery surfaces enable escape from impossible situations.

The Tactical Advantage: Combat encounters where environmental control provides positioning benefits.

The Area Denial: Defensive scenarios where slippery surfaces prevent enemy movement and access.

The Environmental Control: Puzzle situations where friction manipulation enables solutions and progress.

Variants & Customization​

Greater Oil of Slipperiness (Rare): Enhanced duration and larger area coverage with improved slippery effects.

Oil of Total Friction Control (Very Rare): Enables both slippery and sticky surface creation for versatile control.

Escape Artist's Oil (Rare): Optimized for personal application with enhanced escape capabilities.

Specialized Variants:

  • Crowd Control Oil: Enhanced for area denial with larger coverage and longer duration
  • Personal Escape Oil: Optimized for self-application with mobility bonuses
  • Tactical Oil: Includes additional environmental manipulation capabilities

Lore & History​

Origins: Created by ancient alchemists who needed reliable methods for environmental control and tactical positioning.

Historical Significance: This oil enabled crucial escapes and tactical victories through environmental manipulation.

Cultural Impact: Represents the mastery of friction magic and the creative application of environmental control.

Magical Craft: Demonstrates understanding of friction magic and the complex processes required for surface manipulation.

Balancing Notes​

Introduction Timing: Appropriate for levels 4-10 when environmental control becomes valuable and tactical positioning is important.

Campaign Impact: Provides versatile utility balanced by single-use limitation and creative application requirements.

Environmental Control: Surface manipulation can alter encounter dynamics and provide creative solutions.

Encounter Design​

Recommended Challenges:

  • Escape scenarios where slippery surfaces enable survival and tactical withdrawal
  • Combat encounters where environmental control provides positioning advantages
  • Crowd control situations where area denial prevents enemy movement
  • Puzzle challenges where friction manipulation enables creative solutions

Tactical Adjustments: Encounters may need alternative challenge methods when environmental control is available.

Environmental Items: Other oils and items that provide environmental manipulation and surface control.

Mobility Equipment:

  • Items that enhance movement and escape capabilities
  • Equipment for environmental control and tactical positioning
  • Tools for professional escape artistry and mobility enhancement

Complementary Equipment: Items that enhance movement or provide additional environmental control capabilities.

Roleplay Opportunities​

Environmental Mastery: Characters develop expertise in surface manipulation and tactical positioning.

Escape Artistry: Slippery surface capabilities create opportunities for advanced escape techniques and mobility consulting.

Tactical Innovation: Environmental control enables creative problem-solving and tactical advantage creation.