Talk:Rituals (4E)

Using Rituals

Participants

Many rituals mention participants. A participant is someone who tried to support the success of the ritual, whether successful or not.

Rituals and Resting

Rituals with a cast time of 10 minutes can be performed during a short rest.

Deception Rituals & Disbelief

The disbelief difficulty on deception rituals in the original rule varies too widely. With a good caster check supported by ritual assistants, disbelief is impossible even on an Insight roll of 20. This becomes especially important with illusions that cannot merely be ignored, such Hallucinatory Terrain, Sympathy, and Fairy Debt.

A proposed way to resolve this is that the Insight DC is 10 + the Arcana skill bonus of the caster, regardless of the ritual check result. In extreme cases, it is still impossible to disbelieve, but this comes up much more rarely.

Rituals as Skill Challenges

In certain cases, it might be necessary to perform a ritual in an action scene, usually because of time constraints or because the opposition interrupted the ritual casting. In such circumstances, one minute of cast time is equal to one success during a skill challenge. The key skill of the ritual is the primary skill of the skill challenge, and other skills can be used depending on the situation and type of ritual. The listed secondary skills generally work, in addition to any creative skill uses players can come up with.

The DC of these checks is 15 +2/3 level of the ritual. One character able to cast the ritual must always try and use the key skill each round. Record each such roll; the highest such attempt is used as the ritual check, with a +2 for each other character who contributed at least one success to the ritual.

If the ritual is performed in combat, there is no time limit. If it is performed out of combat, the usual three-round limit on skill challenges applies.

This is just a first draft of a skill list; I don't even have my books with me

Key Skill	Secondary Skills
Arcana	Bluff
Religion	Diplomacy
Nature	Athletics
Heal	Endurance
Ritual Type	Secondary Skills
Binding	Intimidation
Creation	History
Deception	Diplomacy
Divination	Perception
Exploration	Stealth
Restoration	Insight
Scrying	Dungeoneering
Travel	Acrobatics
Warding	Thievery

Many rituals affect "participants". Who counts as participants in this case? (assuming e.g. half the party fights to keep off the monsters while the other half completes the ritual) --Mats 19:37, 28 December 2008 (CET)

Those who make at least one attempt to support the ritual are participants IMO. This should perhaps be defined, tough 4E leaves many such definitions open.--Starfox 12:44, 10 January 2009 (CET)

Travel is not a skill. Did you mean Nature? --Urban 19:55, 28 December 2008 (CET)

Acquiring Rituals

Rituals and all associated paraphernalia are considered consumables if there are special campaign rules for such things. Ritual components are an exception; they can never be acquired at less than full price. Residuum can also be sold at full price, and is equivalent to gold as a currency, tough not all traders accept it.

Creating Rituals

Creating a new ritual from scratch is a long, hard, expensive process. It is generally best to see if one can be found somewhere in the world before endeavoring to research it from scratch. Developing high-level rituals is an especially daunting task.

To make a new ritual you need to go trough the following steps.

• Design the ritual rules, making a complete writeup and have the GM agree to it.
• Research the ritual for one day per level of ritual, paying five times the market price.
• Make a roll using the key skill, with a difficulty of 10 + the level of the ritual.
  • If this roll fails, it can be attempted again, at the cost of one week and the casting cost of the ritual in components.
• Once created, decide if you want to keep the ritual secret, or spread it and gain profit. If you choose the later, you earn back four times the Market Price of the ritual.

Rituals in Development

This section describes rituals in development for use with 4th edition Dungeons & Dragons.

Spirit Gossip

You learn of things significant to spirits in the area.

Level: 4	Component Cost: 75 gp
Category: Divination	Market Price: 35 gp
Time: 1 hour	Key Skill: Nature
Duration: Instantaneous

You talk to spirits and listen to what they have to say; the result is similar to that of using Streetwise to listen for rumors, only you learn of things relevant to spirits and not people.

You listen to rumors in one spirit locale, which is generally about 10 miles in radius, but if there is a distinct territorial division in the area the ritual's effects do not cross such a boundary. Examples of such borders include city/countryside limits, a shore separating land and sea, or the limits of a major forest. The ritual must be performed in the locale you wish to inquire about, and involves wandering around and actually conversing with spirits, which incurs a risk of encountering hostile creatures if such are present.

Depending on the success of your Nature check, you learn more or less useful information. If you have a history of aiding spirits and nature in this area, you gain a +5 bonus to the Nature check.

Nature Check Result	Information gained
9 or lower	The mood of the area and the dominant alignment, if any.
10-19	Environmental problems or dangers to the environment in the area.
20-29	A general description of what kind of creatures live in the area. If there are any creatures that are unusual for the terrain or locale, you learn of their location.
30-39	A detailed description of the flora and fauna of the area, as well as any environmental dangers.
40 or higher	Detailed information of the locations of all creatures, settlements, and locations of interest in the area, as well as general information about the nature of each.

Mindbending

You bend the mind of a creature, making it see you in a favorabe light.

Level: 6	Component Cost: 100 gp
Category: Binding	Market Price: 300 gp
Time: 10 minutes	Key Skill: Arcana
Duration: Variable

Perform this ritual on a willing or helpless creature. Your Arcana check suffers a penalty equal to half the target's level. Depending on the result, the ritual lasts for variable lengths of time. A result of zero or less is a failure.

Arcana Check Result	Duration
9 or lower	One hour
10-19	24 hours
20-29	3 days
30-39	One week
40 or higher	A fortnight

While the effect lasts, the creature will see you as a trusted friend and companion and will regard you actions and suggestions in the best possible light. It will trust you over its other friends and will tolerate your other friends and companions.

The works like a power with the Charm keyword. You can give the subject orders, but you must succeed at a Charisma vs. Will attack to convince it to do anything it wouldn't ordinarily do. The rite does not provide communication or language skills. The target gets a save against the effect in every round when you or one of your allies puts it in danger. Any effect that grants an additional save can be used to give the target a chance to break free, but the target cannot use such effects on himself. It is generally a good idea to keep the charmed creature well away from combat.

Mental Puppet

You control the target like a puppet on a string.

Level: 11	Component Cost: 500 gp
Category: Binding	Market Price: 1,500 gp
Time: 10 minutes	Key Skill: Arcana
Duration: Variable

Perform this ritual on a willing or helpless creature. Your Arcana check suffers a penalty equal to half the target's level. Depending on the result, the ritual lasts for variable lengths of time. A result of zero or less is a failure.

Arcana Check Result	Duration
9 or lower	One hour
10-19	24 hours
20-29	3 days
30-39	One week
40 or higher	A fortnight

While the effect lasts, you control the creature like a puppet, its every action controlled by you. The works like a power with the Domination, and Implement keywords. If you spend a standard action, you can make it perform a specific action, otherwise its only action is to follow you around at a distance of 2 squares. If you wish the target to make an attack in combat or otherwise do something highly dangerous, you must make an Charisma vs. Will attack; if this fails the target does nothing this round.

The target does not normally get so makes saves to end the effect, but any effect that grants an additional save can be used to give the target a saving throw to break free. Trying to force the target to do actions that go completely against its nature grants it an immediate chance to save against the effect.

Mind Switch

You possess a creature, forcing its spirit into your own body.

Level: 13	Component Cost: 1,000 gp
Category: Binding	Market Price: 3,000 gp
Time: 1 hour	Key Skill: Arcana
Duration: Variable

Perform this ritual on a willing or helpless creature. Your Arcana check must exceed the creature's Will defense. If you are successful, the duration depends on the result of the Arcana check (not the margin).

Arcana Check Result	Duration
9 or lower	One hour
10-19	6 hours
20-29	24 hours
30-39	3 days
40 or higher	One week

Once successful, the ritual makes you and the target exchange bodies. In the new body, you can use all the target's abilities, just as if you were that creature, while you lose all of your original abilities. The target can use none of your class abilities, powers, skills, or feats, but retain your hit points and attributes. You each keep your personality and motivations.

You can end the ritual at ay time as a minor action. If either of you should start to die the effect ends. You also return once the duration is up. Regardless of how the effect ends, each of you end up in your original body in its current condition, possibly dead or dying.

Body Theft

You possess a creature, forcing its spirit into your own body.

Level: 23	Component Cost: 25,000 gp
Category: Binding	Market Price: 75,000 gp
Time: 1 hour	Key Skill: Arcana
Duration: Instantaneous

Perform this ritual on a willing or helpless creature. Your Arcana check must exceed the creature's Will defense. The target must be a creature of the same race, gender and with the same highest physical attribute; if Strength is your highest physical attribute, Strength must also be the target's highest physical attribute.

Once successful, the ritual makes you and the target exchange bodies. You do not exchange any attributes or abilities, but you do change age and appearance. Any conditions and effects stay with the body, making this a way to get rid of a curse, disease, or other affliction. You do not have access to each others memories, but appearance, voice, and mannerisms stay with the body, giving you a +5 bonus to Bluff checks to impersonate each other.

When you touch, it is possible for either of you to end the ritual by forcing his way back into the old body with a Charisma vs. Will attack. This is a standard action when within melee reach and the only way to end the ritual.

Magic Jar

You possess a creature, forcing its spirit into a prison.

Level: 18	Component Cost: 5,000 gp
Category: Binding	Market Price: 15,000 gp
Time: 1 hour	Key Skill: Arcana
Duration: Variable

Perform this ritual on a willing or helpless creature. Your Arcana check must exceed the creature's Will defense. If you are successful, the duration depends on the result of the Arcana check (not the margin).

Arcana Check Result	Duration
9 or lower	One hour
10-19	24 hours
20-29	3 days
30-39	1 week
40 or higher	1 month

When casting this ritual, you transfer the target's spirit into a container, usually a small urn, jar, or a large gemstone (included in the component cost). Your own spirit enters the target's body, while your own body body falls into a state of suspended animation.

In the new body, you can use all the target's abilities, just as if you were that creature, while you lose all of your original abilities. You keep your personality and motivations.

You can end the ritual at ay time as a minor action. If either body should start to die the effect ends. You also return once the duration is up. Regardless of how the effect ends, each of you end up in your original body in its current condition, possibly dead or dying.

Ambiance Adaption

You become resistant to ambient energies. Sunlight and searing air will not burn you, arctic cold will not chill you, toxic air will not poison you.

Level: 11	Component Cost: 250 gp
Category: Warding	Market Price: 15,600 gp
Time: 30 minutes	Key Skill: Nature
Duration: Variable

You are immune to any effect that does damage over a time of more than rounds. A superhot desert that inflicts damage every minute will not harm you; a fire that inflicts damage per round will. You do not need to eat, drink, breathe or excrete.

The duration of the effect depends on the result of the Nature check.

Nature Check Result	Duration
9 or lower	2 hours
10-19	8 hours
20-29	24 hours
30-39	3 days
40 or higher	1 week

Arcane Smite

Arcane force pulverizes everything in a small area.

Level: 10	Component Cost: 550
Category: Exploration	Market Price: 1,600
Time: 15 minutes	Key Skill: Arcana
Duration: 1 round

You must specify a target spot when you begin the ritual, and it strikes in a burst 5 area with a range of 40, using the Arcana check as an attack against Fortitude inflicting a number of d6 of damage equal to the Arcana check. This is usually enough to reduce everything in the target area to rubble.

Essence of the Totem

The target draws power from his totem spirit.

Level: 3	Component Cost: 50 gp.
Category: Exploration	Market Price: 125 gp.
Time: 10 minutes	Key Skill: Nature
Duration: Variable

The first time this ritual is used, the target can choose to select an animal totem. Failing to do so means the ritual fails. Depending on the totem selected, this offers different benefits. You can only change totem while advancing in level.

While under its ritual, the target takes on slight features of his totem animal, perhaps pointed ears, beast eyes, animal teeth, or even a vestigial tail. These effects are significant enough to be noticeable, and people often react negatively to them; you suffer a -2 penalty to Bluff and Diplomacy as a result.

The benefits depend on your totem. There are different classes of totem; each represents many specific types of animal spirits. For example, the Hunter totem could be a wolf, cheeta, shark, falcon, or other animal that depends on speed to chase down prey.

Totem	Benefit
Gatherer	Extra minor action each round
Grazer	2 extra healing surges
Hunter	+1 speed.
Prey	You can take a move action in a surprise round
Stalker	Move up to 4 squares without penalty when using Stealth
Vigilant	+2 Initiative

The duration depends on the result of the Nature check, and you can end it at any time as a minor action.

Arcana Check Result	Area
9 or lower	1 hour
10-19	2 hours
20-29	4 hours
30-39	8 hours
40 or higher	24 hours

Essence of the Totem

The target draws power from his totem spirit.

Level: 3	Component Cost: 50 gp.
Category: Exploration	Market Price: 125 gp.
Time: 10 minutes	Key Skill: Nature
Duration: Variable

The first time this ritual is used, the target can choose to select an animal totem. Failing to do so means the ritual fails. Depending on the totem selected, this offers different benefits. You can only change totem while advancing in level.

While under its ritual, the target takes on slight features of his totem animal, perhaps pointed ears, beast eyes, animal teeth, or even a vestigial tail. The game effects game effects depend on your totem.

Totem	Benefit
Bat	Blindsight 1 (sonic)
Cat	+2 power bonus to Athletics and Stealth checks.
Badger	+2 power bonus to Nature and Dungeoneering checks.
Bear	+2 power bonus to Endurance and Nature checks.
Bull	+5 power bonus to Strength checks (not Strength based attacks).
Dolphin	Swim at half land speed.
Eagle	+2 power bonus to Intimidate and Perception checks.
Fox	+2 power bonus to Bluff and Diplomacy checks.
Goat	+2 power bonus to Athletics and Endurance checks.
Hawk	+2 power bonus to Insight and Perception checks.
Horse	+1 power bonus to land speed.
Monkey	+2 power bonus to Athletics and Acrobatics checks.
Mouse	+2 power bonus to Perception and Stealth checks.
Owl	+2 power bonus to History checks, low-light vision.
Otter	+2 power bonus on Athletics and Thievery checks.
Raccoon	+2 power bonus on Acrobatics and Thievery checks.
Rat	+2 power bonus on Streetwise and Thievery checks.
Raven	+2 power bonus to Arcana and Religion checks.
Shark	+2 power bonus on Nature and Perception checks.
Snake	+2 power bonus on Heal and Religion checks.
Wolf	+2 power bonus to Endurance and Perception checks.

The duration depends on the result of the ritual check, and you can end it at any time as a minor action.

Arcana Check Result	Area
9 or lower	1 hour
10-19	3 hours
20-29	9 hours
30-39	1 day
40 or higher	3 days

Sound of Doom

Angelic trumpets blast the target area.

Level: 15	Component Cost: 3,900 gp
Category: Exploration	Market Price: 7,500 gp
Time: 15 minutes	Key Skill: Religion
Duration: 1 round

You must specify a target spot when you begin the ritual, and it strikes in a burst 4 area with a range of 20, using the Religion check as an attack against Fortitude inflicting a number of d6 of thunder damage equal to the Religion check. This is usually enough to reduce everything in the target area to rubble and create difficult ground. The target area becomes obvious during the last minute of the ritual.

Totemic Possession

The target allows himself to be possessed by his totem spirit.

Level: 8	Component Cost: 250 gp.
Category: Exploration	Market Price: 600 gp.
Time: 10 minutes	Key Skill: Nature
Duration: Variable

While under this ritual, you take on major features of your totem animal, typically growing fur on parts of the body, getting pointed ears, beast eyes, sharp teeth, or even a tail. You retain full control, but the possession is distracting and makes you behave in an animalistic manner. See Essence of the Totem for totem selection rules. This has the following game effects:

• -2 penalty to Bluff, Diplomacy, and Insight.
• Benefits depending on your totem, from the table below.

Totem	Benefit
Bat	Blindsight 6 (sonic)
Badger	+2 power bonus to Nature and Dungeoneering checks. Burrowing speed 1 (tunneling)
Cat	+2 power bonus to Athletics and Stealth checks. Low-light vision
Bear	+2 power bonus to Endurance and Nature checks and to healing surge value.
Bull	+5 power bonus to Strength checks (not Strength based attacks), quintuple carrying capacity
Dolphin	Swim at land speed, with a +2 power bonus.
Eagle	+2 power bonus to Intimidate and Perception checks as well as to Initiative checks.
Fox	+2 power bonus to Bluff, Diplomacy, and Insight checks. Replaces the normal penalties.
Goat	+2 power bonus to Athletics and Endurance checks. +1 damage on a charge.
Hawk	+2 power bonus to Insight checks and +5 power bonus to Perception checks.
Horse	+2 power bonus to Endurance checks and Strength attribute checks. +1 power bonus to land speed.
Monkey	+2 power bonus to Athletics and Acrobatics checks, climb speed equal to half land speed.
Mouse	+2 power bonus to Perception checks and +5 power bonus to Stealth checks.
Owl	+2 power bonus to all Knowledge checks, low-light vision.
Otter	+2 power bonus on Athletics and Thievery checks. Swim at land speed.
Raccoon	+2 power bonus on Acrobatics, Perception, Stealth, and Thievery checks.
Rat	+2 power bonus on Stealth, Streetwise, and Thievery checks.
Raven	+2 power bonus to Arcana, Nature, Religion, and Spot checks.
Shark	+2 power bonus on Nature and Perception checks. Swim at land speed.
Snake	+2 power bonus on Arcana, Insight, Heal, and Religion checks.
Wolf	+2 power bonus to Endurance and Perception checks. +1 power bonus to speed.

The duration of the possession depends on the result of the ritual check, and you can end it at any time as a minor action.

Arcana Check Result	Area
9 or lower	30 minutes
10-19	1 hour
20-29	2 hours
30-39	4 hours
40 or higher	8 hours

Call Lightning

You call the wrath of nature to strike like a siege engine.

Level: 5	Component Cost: 100
Category: Exploration	Market Price: 250
Time: 15 minutes	Key Skill: Nature
Duration: 1 minute

As you perform the ritual a small thundercloud gathers, cumulating in a lightning strike. It becomes obvious where the lightning will strike one minute before it actually strikes. You must specify a target spot when you begin the ritual, and it strikes in a burst 1 area with a range of 100, using the Nature check as an attack against Reflex. It strikes the same area each round for one minute (10 rounds), each time inflicting lightning damage equal to the Nature check. Make a separate check for each round of the duration. In most cases, it can be assumed to destroy whatever is in the area, reducing it to rubble.