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.

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

Acquiring Rituals

It is personal knowledge, not a ritual book, that enables you to cast a ritual. Some form of handbook or description is needed to actually cast the ritual, but the magic is in you, not in the prop. The market price of the ritual is the cost to learn it, generally in materials needed to practice with the ritual until you have mastered it, but it also includes tutor or book expenses. Merely purchasing a writeup of a ritual costs 10% of this cost, and if useful if your ritual book is lost or as a back up.

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.

Obsolete Rituals

The Obsolete Rituals (4E) page contains rituals not likely to get any more attention or development, but which I still don't want to just delete

Purge

You clear an area of dirt, infection, and traces of magic.

Level: 1	Component Cost: 35 gp.
Category: Exploration	Market Price: 5 gp.
Time: 10 minutes	Key Skill: Arcana, Nature, or Religion
Duration: Instantaneous

You clean an area or an object, removing physical and magical taint. The object is made clean,safe to handle, free of odor, and will not carry poison or be infected with disease. The ritual also removes any lingering auras in the area, making it impossible to use it as a magical link to someone or to see if any magic has been performed there.

This ritual cannot remove any magical effect that s currently operating, nor can it be used to negate the poison or disease-carrying abilities of creatures.

The size of the object or area that can be covered depends on the result of the ritual check.

Key skill Check Result	Size of the object or area
9 or lower	Small (One-handed weapons)
10-19	Medium (Armor, Two-handed weapons) or Close Blast 1
20-29	Large or Close Blast 4
30-39	Huge or Close Blast 7
40 or higher	Gargantuan or Close Blast 10

Spirit Gossip

You learn of things significant to spirits in the area.

Level: 9	Component Cost: 375 gp.
Category: Divination	Market Price: 175 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 a specific cave complex, 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 the target 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.

The target does not normally get so makes saving throws to end the effect, but any effect that grants an additional save can be used to give the target a saving. Such powers and effects can be directed at either your body or the target's.

Body Theft

You permanently exchange bodies with the victim.

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

Ambiance Adaptation

Calling upon mother nature, you become one with the environment. Sunlight and searing air will not burn you, arctic cold will not chill you, smog will not poison you. The land will even feed and nourish you if you do not eat.

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

Totem Aid Circle

You open up the spirit world and can all seek the aid of your totems.

Level: 8	Component Cost: 275 gp.
Category: Exploration	Market Price: 625 gp.
Time: 10 minutes	Key Skill: Nature
Duration: Variable

As Totem Aid, except all participants in the ritual can be affected.

Totem Scout Circle

Project your spirits in the form of animals.

Level: 8	Component Cost: 150 gp.
Category: Exploration	Market Price: 625 gp.
Time: 10 minutes	Key Skill: Nature
Duration: Variable

This is the same as the Totem Scout ritual, except each participant in the ritual can posses an animal based on their totem.

Totem Scout

You project your spirit in a totem animal.

Level: 6	Component Cost: 75 gp.
Category: Exploration	Market Price: 325 gp.
Time: 10 minutes	Key Skill: Nature
Duration: Variable

This is a Totem ritual.

You gain control of an animal of your totem species and can see trough its senses. This animal must start within a thousand squares (one mile) of you. If there is no animal of the correct species in range, the ritual fails. Sustaining the ritual is a standard action, and allows you to control the totem scout and perceive through its senses. There is no need for line of sight or line of effect.

The totem scout uses your attributes except as outlined below, but is a minion and cannot make attacks. It cannot speak, manipulate objects, open doors, or otherwise interact intelligently with creatures or objects. The ritual ends if the totem scout takes any damage. The size of the totem scout is the same as that of a natural animal of its type. The totem scout gains a special bonus depending on your totem.

Totem	Benefit
Gatherer	Totem Scout can manipulate objects and open doors
Grazer	Ritual does not end when the totem scout is damaged; it can take as much damage as you can.
Hunter	+4 speed
Pouncer	+2 speed, +4 initiative
Prey	+2 Speed, +5 Perception
Stalker	+5 Stealth

The maximum range and duration of the ritual depends on the result of the Nature check.

Nature Check Result	Duration	Range
0-9	10 minutes	1,000 (1 mile)
10-19	1 hour	5,000 (5 miles)
20-29	2 hours	10,000 (10 miles)
30-39	4 hours	15,000 (15 miles)
40 or more	8 hours	20,000 (20 miles)

The totem scout is magically linked to you, even after it has been defeated, and counts as a personal possession for the purpose of targeting powers and rituals.

Totem Aid

The target draws power from his totem spirit.

Level: 3	Component Cost: 55 gp.
Category: Exploration	Market Price: 125 gp.
Time: 10 minutes	Key Skill: Nature
Duration: Variable

This is a Totem ritual.

The target must sacrifice some blood in this ritual; this costs a healing surge. In addition, he takes on slight features or traits of his totem, from just a beastly demeanor to pointed ears, beast eyes, animal teeth, or even a vestigial tail. This is significant enough to be noticeable, and people often react negatively; the target suffers a -2 penalty to Bluff, Diplomacy, and Streetwise as a result.

The benefits depend on your totem.

Totem	Benefit
Gatherer	Once per round you can take an extra minor action taken from the list of minor actions in PH, chapter 9 Combat. You cannot use this bonus action for other things that use minor actions.
Grazer	Temporary hit points equal to your level. These return after each short rest.
Hunter	+1 speed.
Pouncer	+2 Initiative
Prey	You can take move actions (only) in a surprise round even if you are surprised.
Stalker	Move up to normal speed without penalty when using Stealth. You must still make a Stealth check in a round you move more than 2 squares, but you do so at no penalty.

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

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

Totem Talk

You can talk to animal spirits.

Level: 3	Component Cost: 25 gp.
Category: Divination	Market Price: 90 gp.
Time: 10 minutes	Key Skill: Nature
Duration: Instantateous

You speak to the spirit-guides of animals. It is as if you are speaking to the animals themselves, and they respond intelligently. There must be animals within 100 squares (150 yards) of you when you use this rite. The animal not put itself in a dangerous position or allow itself to be used, but answers questions about the locale it lives in.

You do not need a to select a Totem to use this rite, but if you have a Totem, animals will react differently depending on your totem and the type of animal you talk to. If the animal is of a different type than your totem, you suffer a -5 penalty on the Nature check; if it is of your specific totem species you gain a +5 bonus.

An animal normally remembers a fairly small area, perhaps 5 miles across. Certain animals such as raptors and wolves range further afield, but have less depth of knowledge over their area; impose a -5 penalty on the Nature check but increase the size of the area to 15 mile radius or even more.

The information gained depends on the result of the Nature check.

Nature Check Result	Information
9 or lower	The health and motivations of the animal you talk to; what it lives on and what threatens it.
10-19	A general description of nature in the area the animal lives in.
20-29	A general description of all creatures the animal knows of in the area.
30-39	An account of the settlements in the area; their location, size, and exterior.
40 or higher	An account of what creatures passed trough the area in the last week and how they traveled.

Call of the Wild

Animals spread news for you

Level: 3	Component Cost: 50 gp.
Category: Exploration	Market Price: 90 gp.
Time: 1 hour	Key Skill: Nature
Duration: Instantateous

You make an animal call, and other animals present in the area repeat this call, carrying it far and wide. This message must be a simple one; a call for help, a warning, a signal of triumph or despair. Anyone in the area trained in Nature can decipher the message and if they know you they will understand you sent it.

The message can spread far and wide, but only to and through wilderness areas; anyone more than one mile from the wilderness cannot perceive the call. Otherwise it will be carried to the limits of the range during the performance of the ritual, with the exact distance depending on the result of the Nature check.

Nature Check Result	Range
9 or lower	5 miles
10-19	15 miles
20-29	50 miles
30-39	150 miles
40 or higher	500 miles