Rod of Lordly Might

• Category: Rod
• Rarity: Legendary (Requires Attunement)

This rod has a flanged head, and it functions as a magic Mace that grants a +3 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls made with it. The rod has properties associated with six different buttons that are set in a row along the haft. It has three other properties as well, detailed below.

Buttons. You can press one of the following buttons as a Bonus Action; a button's effect lasts until you push a different button or until you push the same button again, which causes the rod to revert to its normal form:

Button 1. A fiery blade sprouts from the end opposite the rod's flanged head. The flames shed Bright Light in a 40 -foot radius and Dim Light for an additional 40 feet, and the blade functions as a magic Longsword or Shortsword (your choice) that deals an extra 2d6 Fire damage on a hit.

Button 2. The rod's flanged head folds down and two crescent-shaped blades spring out, transforming the rod into a magic Battleaxe that grants a +3 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls made with it.

Button 3. The rod's flanged head folds down, a spear point springs from the rod's tip, and the rod's handle lengthens into a 6 -foot haft, transforming the rod into a magic Spear that grants a +3 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls made with it.

Button 4. The rod transforms into a climbing pole up to 50 feet long (you specify the length), though the rod's buttons remain within your reach. In surfaces as hard as granite, a spike at the bottom and three hooks at the top anchor the pole. Horizontal bars 3 inches long fold out from the sides, 1 foot apart, forming a ladder. The pole can bear up to 4,000 pounds. More weight or lack of solid anchoring causes the rod to revert to its normal form.

Button 5. The rod transforms into a handheld battering ram and grants its user a +10 bonus to Strength (Athletics) checks made to break through doors, barricades, and other barriers.

Button 6. The rod assumes or remains in its normal form and indicates magnetic north. (Nothing happens if this function of the rod is used in a location that has no magnetic north.) The rod also gives you knowledge of your approximate depth beneath the ground or your height above it.

Drain Life. When you hit a creature with a melee attack using the rod, you can force the target to make a DC 17 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes an extra 4d6 Necrotic damage, and you regain a number of Hit Points equal to half that Necrotic damage. Once used, this property can't be used again until the next dawn.

Paralyze. When you hit a creature with a melee attack using the rod, you can force the target to make a DC 17 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target has the Paralyzed condition for 1 minute. The target repeats the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. Once used, this property can't be used again until the next dawn.

Terrify. While holding the rod, you can take a Magic action to force each creature you can see within 30 feet of yourself to make a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, a target has the Frightened condition for 1 minute. A Frightened target repeats the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. Once used, this property can't be used again until the next dawn.

Tactical Applications

Versatile Weapon: Transforms between multiple weapon forms with different magical abilities. Exceptional for combat versatility, tactical adaptation, and having multiple weapon options in a single item.

Class Synergies:

• Martial Classes: Perfect for fighters, paladins, and other weapon specialists requiring combat versatility
• Weapon Masters: Essential for characters focusing on multiple weapon types and combat adaptation
• Tactical Combatants: Excellent for characters needing weapon flexibility and situational combat options
• Versatile Warriors: Outstanding for characters combining multiple combat styles and weapon techniques

Build Considerations: Requires attunement but provides multiple weapon forms with magical enhancement. Most valuable for martial characters prioritizing weapon versatility and combat adaptation.

Acquisition Methods

Crafting Requirements: Requires weapon mastery magic, transformation enchantments, and versatility essences. Creation cost 40,000-80,000 gp and takes 60 weeks.

Common Sources:

• Weapon mastery specialists and transformation enchanters
• Treasure hoards of legendary weapon masters and versatile warriors
• Commission from master enchanters specializing in weapon magic
• Found in the collections of combat experts and weapon specialists
• Sometimes discovered in weapon vaults or obtained from weapon master encounters

Alternative Acquisition: Often found in locations with strong connections to weapon mastery and combat versatility.

Value & Trade

Estimated Value: 55,000-110,000 gp, with extremely high demand among weapon specialists and martial combatants.

Trade Considerations: Extremely valuable among martial classes and anyone requiring weapon versatility and combat adaptation.

Character Integration

Roleplay Elements: Suggests experience with weapon mastery, combat versatility, or professional roles requiring multiple weapon types and tactical adaptation.

Character Concepts:

• Weapon master with transformation expertise and combat versatility experience
• Versatile warrior using multiple weapon forms for tactical advantage and combat adaptation
• Character with extensive weapon experience requiring combat flexibility
• Tactical combatant combining weapon mastery with traditional martial techniques

Adventure Hooks

The Combat Challenge: Battle scenarios where weapon versatility provides crucial tactical advantages and combat effectiveness.

The Weapon Mastery: Adventures requiring multiple combat styles where transformation enables success and adaptation.

The Tactical Mission: Scenarios where weapon flexibility advances objectives and combat versatility.

The Versatile Combat: Encounters where weapon adaptation determines combat success and tactical effectiveness.

Variants & Customization

Greater Rod of Lordly Might (Legendary): Enhanced weapon forms and additional combat abilities with improved versatility capabilities.

Rod of Ultimate Mastery (Artifact): Includes comprehensive weapon control and ultimate combat versatility.

Warrior's Mastery Rod (Legendary): Optimized for combat with enhanced weapon damage and tactical transformation.

Specialized Variants:

• Combat Mastery Rod: Enhanced for battle with improved weapon effectiveness and tactical combat capabilities
• Versatile Warrior Rod: Optimized for adaptation with enhanced transformation speed and weapon flexibility
• Tactical Combat Rod: Specialized for strategy with enhanced weapon coordination and combat versatility

Lore & History

Origins: Created by legendary weapon masters who needed ultimate combat versatility for their martial achievements.

Historical Significance: These rods enabled crucial military victories and the success of weapon mastery throughout history.

Cultural Impact: Represent the pinnacle of weapon craftsmanship and the mastery of combat versatility.

Magical Craft: Demonstrates master-level understanding of weapon magic and the most complex transformation processes.

Balancing Notes

Introduction Timing: Appropriate for levels 12-20 when weapon versatility becomes crucial and combat adaptation provides significant advantages.

Campaign Impact: Provides powerful weapon versatility balanced by extreme cost and attunement requirement.

Combat Focus: Most valuable in campaigns featuring diverse combat challenges and weapon-focused encounters.

Encounter Design

Recommended Challenges:

• Combat scenarios where weapon versatility enables tactical adaptation and combat effectiveness
• Martial encounters where weapon transformation provides strategic advantages and combat superiority
• Tactical situations where weapon flexibility advances combat coordination and martial effectiveness
• Versatility challenges where weapon adaptation determines combat success and tactical advantage

Weapon Adjustments: Encounters may need to account for multiple weapon forms and enhanced combat versatility.

Related Items

Weapon Items: Other items that enhance weapon mastery and provide combat versatility.

Combat Equipment:

• Items that improve martial effectiveness and weapon capabilities
• Equipment for weapon mastery and combat enhancement
• Tools for weapon magic and martial improvement

Complementary Equipment: Items that enhance weapon abilities or provide additional combat benefits.

Roleplay Opportunities

Weapon Mastery: Characters develop expertise in multiple weapon forms and combat techniques.

Combat Leadership: Weapon versatility capabilities create opportunities for leading martial missions and combat operations.

Martial Excellence: Weapon mastery enables impressive combat demonstrations and versatile fighting capabilities.