Tuesday Magic Item – Grandfather’s Book
23 November, 2010When I first began the path of a venturer, I had no idea what the world held is store for me. I was luck, oh so lucky, that my grandfather had given me a book to help me find my way in the world. And what a book it was, filled with information from near and far. Many a time, it had just the what I needed to know, just when I needed to know it. Now, as you are setting fourth into the wide world, I give it to you. May it help you as much as it helped me.
Grandfather’s Book
This thick leather bound volume is packed with useful information for any and all. The first of these books was made by an archmage for his granddaughter to act as a guide for her when she choose to travel in the wide world.
Grandfather
Grandfather’s Book is an amazing reference book, containing far more pages of information then could actually fit between its covers. The book is very difficult to damage (hardness 8, 15 hit points) and even fire and water, the usual banes of books, have little effect on it.
When making a knowledge check, the owner can gain a +2 circumstance bonus to the roll by taking at least five minutes (or more as determined by the DM) to check to see what information Grandfather’s Book has on the subject. Once a day, the owner of the book may ask a question and open the book and find the answer as if they had made a Knowledge check of 21. Lastly, the owner of the Grandfather’s Book gains a +2 morale bonus to saves against fear.
Aura faint abjuration, divination and transmutation; CL 10th
Slot none; Price 5,000; Weight 5 lbs
Construction
Requirements Create Wondrous Item, comprehend languages, detect thoughts, fox’s cunning, mage armor, owl’s wisdom, protection from energy, secret chest, the creator must have at least 5 ranks in five different Knowledge skills; Cost 2,500 (+200 xp for D&D)
Notes: Inspired by William Hartnell who played the first Doctor in Doctor Who which first premiered on this day back in 1963.
Sea of Stars RPG Design Journal 
Cool item!
I have often given players a similar bonus when using subject-specific books or with library access. I can’t believe that I didn’t think of the next logical step: a magical reference book.
Great item.
Thank you. I wanted something which echoed the tech in Doctor Who without being too technological or powerful.
I keep thinking of it as a fun item for a starting character (“Wait, let me see what the book has to say about this.”).
I really like this one in particular. It goes against the assumptions of D&D 3.x in a way, because so many of the magical items are ‘standard issue’, whereas this one is rooted in a relationship, which is far superior.