Hi folks, DM here.
So my party is going through Goodman Games 5e conversion of The Lost City. They are level 5.
I had them encounter a random wayward rock gnome merchant, who was seeking gems. He sold the party a Ring of Mind Shielding.
One of the effects is that, if you die while wearing it, your soul becomes embedded in the ring. If there is a soul in the ring, it can communicate telepathically with its wearer.
I decided, on a lark, after they looted it, that there would already be a soul in the ring, making it a sentient item of sorts. However, when they asked me who, I stuttered for a second and named one of the “dead gods” of the campaign, Usamagarus. Who is the missing god of magic, wisdom, knowledge, etc. And, I decided to roleplay him as a senile, forgetful wizard, also on a lark when they tried to communicate with him. He claims he committed suicide voluntarily after he stopped being worshipped.
Okay, now I need ideas. You’re a senile wizardry God type character that’s been trapped in a ring for 700 years. I won’t goals, quirks, etc. assuming he has real no interest in being reincorporated.
So far I’ve mostly been pondering mannerisms, playing grampa Simpson “back in my day” stuff.
Anyway, should be fun 😊
Nah it’s only a trope DMPC if you overshadow the characters.
If they invest resources into this guy, they will feel like they’ve earned it.
The wizard I mentioned, I never gave him a similar mechanic, but I have an old halfling with a magical staff, in Pathfinder 2. The staff can use a few cantrips and stores books, but I set it up so he’s not magical himself. If he casts a spell from the staff, he needs a caster to donate spell slots to recharge the staff, same basic idea. It was a hit at my table, they were discussing convincing him to stay with the party as a long-term companion, but he didn’t overshadow them, because I didn’t give him real agency over the staff. This halfling was willing to help them if they filled the staff for him, unconditionally, so the real “trigger” is one of their casters going “alright, I’ll recharge the staff”, and then they got to cast one of the few preselected spells from it.
Framing is key, though. A boastful spell-slinging ring would absolutely make the party feel like they’ve just made him more grand. Instead, a reluctant but easily persuaded entity can say things like “Well, that went better than it did when I had a body” or “That’s pretty unorthodox, but clearly, you knew what you were doing” or similar.
If the party has to try to get him to do it, even a tiny amount, then it becomes part of the plan, just like any other magic item would, even though its sapient.
Thats been my experience, at least. They’re included, so it’s not stepping on their toes.
The old halfling was a guide they hired to a temple, and an excellent cook, but a retired adventurer himself, and not the “secretly level 20” kind of retired adventurer, either. He won’t budge from the comforts of his wagon, but is excited to be out and about in the world. That attitude makes all the difference, and lets me drop nearly anything I want, as he is well-traveled, and can recall anything I’d like him to.