DnD House Rules

Sometimes the rules need to be tweaked, or new rules added.

Identifying magic items

Currently there are a number of expensive and time-consuming methods in identifying magic items.

• Identify, a spell that identifies a single item for 100gp. This spell also takes an hour to cast.
• Analyse Dweomer, a spell that identifies items over a period of time for 1,500gp. You also need to be able to cast level 6 spells.
• Or the only free option, Spellcraft, which sets a lofty DC of 70 for magic items

While it might be funny to watch other players put on a ring and flap their arms, submerge their heads in lakes, set fire to their hands, and jump off small ledges to find out what their latest ring does, repeating this process each time can get pretty boring. Similarly single-use items such as ammunition or wondrous items could be used up before the party have even figured out their purpose.

House rule

Spellcraft can be used to identify items in a more functional manner.

• Spellcraft has its DC values for identification changed (see table below).
• Cursed items have their DC for identification increased by 10
• Scrolls take one full round to identify, all other items take one minute.

The following modifiers apply.

• Identify gives a +20 bonus to a check for a single item
• Analyse Dweomer gives a +20 bonus to checks for the duration of the spell
• A relevant item creation featgives a +2 bonus to the checks, such as Craft Wands.

Item	Spellcraft DC
Scrolls	20
Wonderous items (minor)	25
Potions	25
Wonderous items (medium)	30
Weapons	30
Armour	30
Wands	30
Rods	35
Wonderous items (major)	40
Rings	40
Staves	40

Examples

A Wizard with the Brew Potion feat and a Spellcraft of 5 will have a +7 on their roll to identify a potion.

A Sorcerer with a Spellcraft of 10 casting Identify will have a +30 on their roll to identify a cursed set of magic armour (DC 40).

On a result of 30-39 the Sorcerer will identify the armour as if it were not cursed. On a result of 40+ the curse will become apparent. A cursed cloak designed to weigh the player down may be made to look like a cloak of featherfall, and only the higher result would reveal such information. Identify and Analyse Dweomer provide a large bonus to checks, and could be used if an item's authenticity is in doubt.