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Shield of Missile Attraction

Shield Of Missile Attraction
  • Category: Armor (Shield)
  • Rarity: Rare (Requires Attunement)

While holding this Shield, you have Resistance to damage from attacks made with Ranged weapons.

Curse. This Shield is cursed. Attuning to it curses you until you are targeted by a Remove Curse spell or similar magic. Removing the Shield fails to end the curse on you. Whenever an attack with a Ranged weapon targets a creature within 10 feet of you, the curse causes you to become the target instead.

Tactical Applications​

Cursed Protection: Provides ranged resistance but attracts all nearby ranged attacks to the wielder. Potentially useful for tanks willing to absorb party damage, but extremely dangerous due to the uncontrollable curse mechanics.

Class Synergies:

  • High-HP Tanks: Only viable for characters with massive hit points and damage mitigation capabilities
  • Cursed Item Specialists: Characters with curse removal abilities or curse immunity
  • Sacrifice Builds: Characters designed to absorb damage for party protection (with extreme caution)
  • Curse Researchers: Characters studying cursed items (with proper precautions)

Build Considerations: WARNING: This is a dangerous cursed item. Requires attunement and curse removal to safely remove. Only consider for characters with reliable curse removal access and massive survivability.

Acquisition Methods​

Crafting Requirements: NOT RECOMMENDED - Creating cursed items is dangerous and ethically questionable. Estimated cost 8,000-15,000 gp if attempted.

Common Sources:

  • Cursed treasure hoards and dangerous collections
  • Results of failed enchanting attempts or magical accidents
  • Traps disguised as beneficial items by malicious enchanters
  • Found in the collections of curse researchers (with warnings)
  • Sometimes discovered in cursed locations or obtained from cursed creature encounters

Alternative Acquisition: EXTREME CAUTION ADVISED - Often found in obviously dangerous or cursed locations with appropriate warnings.

Value & Trade​

Estimated Value: Negative value due to curse danger - most knowledgeable dealers will refuse to handle.

Trade Considerations: DANGEROUS ITEM - Reputable dealers will not trade cursed items. Only curse specialists or unethical merchants would consider it.

Character Integration​

Roleplay Elements: Suggests tragic experience with cursed items, desperation, or involvement in curse research requiring extreme caution.

Character Concepts:

  • CAUTIONARY TALE: Character cursed by this item seeking removal and redemption
  • Curse researcher studying dangerous items with proper safety protocols
  • Character with curse immunity or reliable curse removal capabilities
  • WARNING EXAMPLE: Victim of the shield's curse serving as cautionary example to others

Adventure Hooks​

The Curse Removal: Quests to find reliable curse removal for shield victims and curse breaking services.

The Cursed Investigation: Research into the shield's origins to prevent future curse creation and dangerous enchanting.

The Warning Mission: Campaigns to warn others about the shield's dangers and prevent additional victims.

The Redemption Quest: Stories of characters overcoming the shield's curse and learning from the experience.

Variants & Customization​

Purified Shield of Ranged Protection (Rare): Curse-free version providing ranged resistance without the attraction curse.

Shield of Controlled Attraction (Very Rare): Enhanced version allowing voluntary activation of the attraction effect.

Guardian's Sacrifice Shield (Rare): Ethical version allowing conscious choice to attract attacks for ally protection.

Specialized Variants:

  • Shield of Heroic Sacrifice: Allows voluntary attraction activation for ally protection without permanent curse
  • Researcher's Safe Shield: Includes built-in curse removal mechanisms for safe study
  • Redeemed Protection Shield: Purified version providing benefits without curse dangers

Lore & History​

Origins: Created by accident or malicious intent, representing the dangers of poorly understood magical enchantment.

Historical Significance: Serves as a cautionary tale about cursed item creation and the importance of magical safety.

Cultural Impact: Demonstrates the need for curse identification and the dangers of unknown magical items.

Magical Craft: WARNING EXAMPLE of failed enchantment processes and the importance of proper magical safety protocols.

Balancing Notes​

Introduction Timing: NOT RECOMMENDED - If introduced, only with clear warnings and curse removal access at levels 8-16.

Campaign Impact: EXTREMELY DANGEROUS - Can kill characters and destroy party dynamics through forced damage attraction.

Curse Focus: USE WITH EXTREME CAUTION - Only in campaigns specifically dealing with cursed items and curse removal themes.

Encounter Design​

Recommended Challenges:

  • Curse removal scenarios where breaking the shield's curse becomes a primary objective
  • Warning encounters where the shield serves as a cautionary example of magical dangers
  • Safety education situations where the shield demonstrates the importance of magical item identification
  • Redemption stories where characters overcome curse consequences and learn from experience

Curse Adjustments: GAME-BREAKING POTENTIAL - This item can fundamentally alter encounter balance in dangerous ways.

Curse Items: WARNING - Other cursed items that should be handled with extreme caution and proper safety protocols.

Protection Equipment:

  • SAFE ALTERNATIVES: Non-cursed items that provide ranged protection without dangerous side effects
  • Equipment for curse detection and magical safety
  • Tools for curse removal and magical cleansing

Complementary Equipment: CURSE REMOVAL TOOLS - Items that enhance curse breaking or provide protection against cursed item effects.

Roleplay Opportunities​

Curse Awareness: Characters learn the importance of magical safety and curse identification techniques.

Redemption Stories: Curse victims create opportunities for personal growth and learning from dangerous mistakes.

Safety Education: Shield experiences enable teaching others about magical dangers and the importance of caution with unknown items.

⚠️ CREATOR'S WARNING: This item is intentionally dangerous and should only be used with extreme caution in campaigns specifically designed to handle cursed item consequences. Always ensure players understand the risks and have curse removal options available.