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Portable Hole

Portable Hole
  • Category: Wondrous Item
  • Rarity: Rare

This fine black cloth, soft as silk, is folded up to the dimensions of a handkerchief. It unfolds into a circular sheet 6 feet in diameter.

You can take a Magic action to unfold a Portable Hole and place it on or against a solid surface, whereupon the Portable Hole creates an extradimensional hole 10 feet deep. The cylindrical space within the hole exists on a different plane of existence, so it can't be used to create open passages. Any creature inside an open Portable Hole can exit the hole by climbing out of it.

You can take a Magic action to close a Portable Hole by taking hold of the edges of the cloth and folding it up. Folding the cloth closes the hole, and any creatures or objects within remain in the extradimensional space. No matter what's in it, the hole weighs next to nothing.

If the hole is folded up, a creature within the hole's extradimensional space can take an action to make a DC 10 Strength (Athletics) check. On a successful check, the creature forces its way out and appears within 5 feet of the Portable Hole. A closed Portable Hole holds enough air for 1 hour of breathing, divided by the number of breathing creatures inside.

Placing a Portable Hole inside an extradimensional space created by a Bag of Holding, Handy Haversack, or similar item instantly destroys both items and opens a gate to the Astral Plane. The gate originates where the one item was placed inside the other. Any creature within 10 feet of the gate and not behind Total Cover is sucked through it and deposited in a random location on the Astral Plane. The gate then closes. The gate is one-way only and can't be reopened.

Tactical Applications​

Dimensional Storage: Provides massive storage capacity and tactical positioning options through dimensional space. Exceptional for equipment management, tactical deployment, and creative problem-solving through dimensional manipulation.

Class Synergies:

  • Any Class: Universal utility for storage and tactical positioning regardless of class or build
  • Equipment Specialists: Perfect for characters managing extensive gear collections and tactical equipment
  • Tactical Engineers: Essential for characters requiring creative problem-solving and dimensional manipulation
  • Support Builds: Excellent for characters providing party support through equipment management and tactical deployment

Build Considerations: Extremely valuable utility item without attunement requirement. Most valuable for characters prioritizing equipment management and creative tactical solutions.

Acquisition Methods​

Crafting Requirements: Requires dimensional magic, spatial enchantments, and planar manipulation essences. Creation cost 30,000-60,000 gp and takes 40 weeks.

Common Sources:

  • Dimensional magic specialists and spatial manipulation practitioners
  • Treasure hoards of legendary artificers and dimensional engineers
  • Commission from master enchanters specializing in spatial magic
  • Found in the collections of dimensional researchers and spatial specialists
  • Sometimes discovered in dimensional laboratories or obtained from spatial creature encounters

Alternative Acquisition: Often found in locations with strong connections to dimensional magic and spatial manipulation.

Value & Trade​

Estimated Value: 40,000-80,000 gp, representing very rare utility with extremely high practical value.

Trade Considerations: Extremely valuable for practical utility, popular among all adventurers requiring storage solutions.

Character Integration​

Roleplay Elements: Suggests experience with dimensional magic, spatial manipulation, or professional roles requiring extensive equipment management.

Character Concepts:

  • Dimensional engineer with spatial expertise and creative problem-solving experience
  • Equipment specialist managing extensive gear collections and tactical deployment systems
  • Character with extensive experience in dimensional manipulation and spatial magic
  • Support specialist providing party utility through dimensional storage and tactical equipment management

Adventure Hooks​

The Dimensional Storage: Adventures where massive storage capacity enables equipment transport and tactical deployment.

The Spatial Solution: Problem-solving scenarios where dimensional manipulation provides creative solutions to physical challenges.

The Equipment Cache: Mission scenarios where portable storage enables tactical advantages and equipment accessibility.

The Dimensional Trap: Creative applications where spatial manipulation enables tactical positioning and battlefield control.

Variants & Customization​

Greater Portable Hole (Legendary): Enhanced storage capacity and additional dimensional manipulation capabilities.

Tactical Deployment Hole (Very Rare): Optimized for combat with rapid access and tactical equipment deployment.

Secure Dimensional Storage (Rare): Enhanced with security features and dimensional lock mechanisms.

Specialized Variants:

  • Combat Equipment Hole: Enhanced for battle with rapid weapon and armor access capabilities
  • Exploration Storage Hole: Optimized for adventure with enhanced capacity and environmental protection
  • Merchant's Dimensional Hole: Specialized for trade with enhanced organization and inventory management

Lore & History​

Origins: Created by ancient artificers who needed reliable methods for massive storage and dimensional manipulation in magical research.

Historical Significance: These holes enabled crucial explorations and the success of major engineering projects through dimensional storage capabilities.

Cultural Impact: Represent the mastery of dimensional magic and the practical applications of spatial manipulation in everyday life.

Magical Craft: Demonstrates advanced understanding of dimensional magic and the complex processes required for stable spatial manipulation.

Balancing Notes​

Introduction Timing: Appropriate for levels 10-20 when storage becomes crucial and dimensional manipulation provides significant utility.

Campaign Impact: Provides massive utility advantages balanced by extremely high cost and rarity.

Utility Focus: Most valuable in campaigns featuring extensive exploration and equipment-intensive adventures.

Encounter Design​

Recommended Challenges:

  • Equipment management scenarios where storage capacity determines mission success
  • Creative problem-solving situations where dimensional manipulation enables tactical solutions
  • Exploration adventures where massive storage enables extended expedition capabilities
  • Tactical deployment scenarios where dimensional access provides battlefield advantages

Utility Adjustments: Adventures may need to account for massive storage capacity and creative dimensional applications.

Dimensional Items: Other items that enhance dimensional manipulation and provide spatial utility capabilities.

Storage Equipment:

  • Items that improve storage effectiveness and equipment management
  • Equipment for dimensional manipulation and spatial control
  • Tools for professional dimensional research and spatial engineering

Complementary Equipment: Items that enhance dimensional abilities or provide additional spatial benefits.

Roleplay Opportunities​

Dimensional Mastery: Characters develop expertise in spatial manipulation and dimensional engineering techniques.

Utility Leadership: Storage capabilities create opportunities for party support and equipment management responsibilities.

Creative Innovation: Dimensional manipulation enables advanced problem-solving and tactical solutions through spatial engineering.