May 10

May 10 Let's Go Shopping at the Adventurer's Store

As mighty adventurers, we spend our time prowling dungeons, discovering ancient ruins, or traveling the planes in search of fame, glory, and riches. But what do we do with all that gold we fought for? We buy fancy magic items, of course! You'll probably have some leftover gold and silver, and there are plenty of useful items to buy.

"Common" equipment is often overlooked. It could be some simple type of armor or weapon that you never consider. Maybe it's some gear that comes with your starting pack, most of which is promptly relegated to the bottom of your backpack, gathering dust. I talked about some of these items here and how they can be helpful and possibly save your character from certain death.

If you're looking for something a little more exotic, The Adventure Store has a collection of items that may pique your interest. For instance, you might want your character's armor to be more than a boring old chainmail suit. You may need a specialty item to pull off a daring heist. Whatever the reason, we've put together a comprehensive list of armor, weapons, and gear that can add a unique twist to your campaign.

While we'd love it if you'd consider buying The Adventurer's Store, you could also do a search for an item that you think would be cool to have. Homebrew shouldn't be limited to monsters and magic items. You can create a 'stat block' for the simplest of equipment. Below, you'll find a couple of examples we've come up with for you to use in your campaign, or as a template or creating your own.

Armor

Reinforced Jacket. This jacket contains extra padding and metal or bone ribbing that provides additional protection than a common jacket. Due to its relatively light padding, it is often disguised as a thick formal jacket or by bodyguards who want to appear nondescript. Here are the reinforced jacket’s stats.

Cost: 50 gp
Armor Class (AC): 11 + Dex modifer
Strength: —
Stealth: —
Weight: 8 lbs.
Property: Concealed

The Concealed property is a little added bonus to armor, making it more attractive to certain classes. It is easy to disguise and can be built into existing clothes. A Concealed Jacket grants the wearer advantage on all Deception checks made to hide the presence of this armor when it is disguised as another type of clothing, like a heavy coat or thick dinner jacket.

Buckler. You could find the buckler in the early editions, but it unfortunately fell by the wayside in the 5th edition. It's a shame cause this little shield comes in quite handy for duelists or two-weapon warriors. A buckler is crafted from wood or metal and is carried in one hand. It's inexpensive, weighs very little, and provides easy maneuverability.

Art Credit - maurilustrador (for Mitos y Leyendas TCG)

Cost: 8 gp
Armor Class (AC): +1
Strength: —
Stealth: —
Weight: 2 lbs.
Property: Quick Grip

The Buckler's Quick Grip property makes it a fantastic addition for all two-weapon players. When you need just a bit higher AC, you can don this shield as an object interaction instead of the average time it takes, typically 1 action for shields. On the flip side, when you want to pull out your rapier at attack with two weapons, you can doff this shield as a free action if you drop it to the ground or as an object interaction if you wish to stow it on your person.

Weapons

Brass Knuckles. If you’re into hand-to-hand combat, this is the weapon for you. This simple weapon fits snuggly over your knuckles and gives your punches that additional oomph you’re looking for.

Simple Melee Weapon
Cost: 5 gp
Damage: 1d4 bludgeoning
Weight: 1 lb.
Properties: Light, open-handed

The Open Handed property allows you to hold an item while wearing it. Note we said item, not weapon. Don’t discount this because you can’t hold another sword. You can, however, grab and hold a potion of healing, which could be the difference between knocking out your opponent or rolling death saves.

Art Credit - Unknown (from Mortal Kombat, Warner Bros. Games)

Tessen (War Fan): This is a weapon for all the monks out there. The tessen is a folding fan, usually made from leather or lacquered paper and attached to heavy iron spokes. It is most often used for protection against missile fire or as a concealed weapon. It is a great concealed weapon and can be used to block missile fire…or fan yourself if it’s hot outside.

Martial Melee Weapon
Cost: 10 gp
Damage: 1d6 slashing
Weight: 1 lb.
Properties: Finesse, light, parry

The Parry property can preserve some of your precious hit points. If you’re a fan of martial arts movies, you’ve probably seen the Tessen blocking incoming arrows or deflecting punches. When you’re wielding a Tessen and are targeted by an attack, you can use your reaction to grant yourself a bonus to your Armor Class equal to your proficiency bonus against the triggering attack.

Gear

I love the bandolier, but I can’t understand why it’s not in the 5th edition. However, you can find it in Pathfinder and many classic Western movies. A bandolier is a pocketed leather or heavy cloth belt that runs from one shoulder and diagonally across your body to your waist. With up to 8 pockets even spaced on it, the bandolier can hold items that weigh no more than a cumulative 10 pounds. You can use it to store artisan tools, potions, or ammunition. The best part is you can draw or stow an object from the bandolier without using your Object Interaction.

Smokestick: This is another item missing in the 5th edition but found in Pathfinder. The best comparison is that a smokestick is like a road flare. Giving the stick a hard twist instantly creates a screen of thick, opaque smoke filling a 5 ft. square. It’s a nasty, dense smoke, and anyone or anything inside the smoke is blinded and heavily obscured from those outside the smoke. It lasts 1 minute and, like most items or spells that produce smoke, can be dispersed by a strong wind.

These are just a few items in the Adventurer’s Store, along with new feats and unique special materials. I hope this inspires you to create your own weapon, armor, or equipment. They are easy to make, fun to use, and can add a bit of spice to your game.

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