Derpy Hooves: Trixie, can't we hit this git with the Elements of Harmony? It outta do enough damage to leave 'er gobsmacked.
Trixie: Sure, except one of us already used our once-a-week team power.
GM: Derpy, take 29 damage.
Derpy Hooves: Bollocks!
Zecora: This is so whack! Who used up our best attack?
Trixie: Hello! You blasted Cadenza with it two rooms ago, remember? The lich with all those ioun stones in her hair? Thanks for vaporizing the magical loot, by the way.
(beat)
Zecora: ...I'm not apologizing.
GM: The dragon readies another full attack. Last round, Trixie. Ready to fry?
At the time I was putting this together, my wife was running a marathon of old Doctor Who episodes with Sarah Jane and the idea struck me- "Give Derpy a British accent!"
So I did, and I think it works. :)
I wouldn't think Derpy's British, but since she rides around in the TARDIS all the time and the Doctor /does/ speak English with a UK accent and mannerisms and colloquialisms, it would probably rub off on Derpy Hooves.
Go ahead and watch a Doctor Who/Red Dwarf marathon and try not to speak British for a while. :) Same principal in effect.
Ioun stones only have internal limitations, such as not stacking with iterations of itself. This is assuming, of course, that there is no exception within the description of the given ioun stone. Depending on the version of game, it is additionally possible to create customized ioun stones that are steps above the normal versions through following a given equation.
For example, the Emerald Ellipsoid ioun stone from Pathfinder has no known limit according to its description. An individual could technically purchase a hundred of them and use them all.
This is all assuming, of course, that the DM does not implement any sort of limitation on ioun stones (many do). This can vary from being one of each type, to no more than 5, to anything else. It varies wildly between DMs.
From a physics perspective, ioun stones would only be limited by the spherical radius from the head, which is between 1 and 3 feet. However, arguing from this basis would result in blindness should a character completely fill this radius.
As a small aside, ioun stones can only affect intelligent creatures, which require an int score of 3 or higher.
Though, on the upside, with enough Ioun stones you could make it so that no one could ever shoot you directly in the head. Granted, that'd be a lot of Ioun stones, but at least you'd never be short of magical effects.
I was always fond of the 'don't eat or drink' stone, very handy for those with poor bookkeeping skills.
Here's an idea for you. The fabled helm of Ioun. It is abunch of adamantine coated ioun stones that free float around the head, and automatically adjust to fit. Due to the number of them, they act as a secondary helmet, but they adjust to fit around any hat or helm. There are over a dozen stones. Roll dice to determine the ioun bonuses, but the helm overall merely has a +2 ac with no armor restrictions.
What do you think? Too overpowered? It would probably be a very rare item.
Considering that it would be an artifact level item (or just a unique one), I don't think it would be overpowered at all. Sure you would probably have to make it the focus of a quest or even a campaign, but that's where the fun's at.
The problems with having many IOUN stones are well-known. They are extremely valuable and extremely snatchable. They are quite visible and attention-grabbing. They are somewhat distracting. And, of course, it is extremely dangerous to mine them.
Ha ha! Yes! Finally, my headcanon is vindicate! Sorta! Maybe!
...Look, I'm just saying, I wanted Ditzy/Derpy to have a British accent back before "the Last Roundup". I just figured it'd be awesome that this mare everyone thinks is a complete goof actually is just clumsy but well-refined. *Sigh* Ah, well. I guess fanwork is the only place she'll be such.
All of my siblings and I agree that Derpy is secretly a genius, on par with Twilight, and she pretends otherwise to keep everyone else from picking her brain all the time.
She is, however, exceptionally clumsy. Hence, her destructive ability.
huh i sorta remember reading somewhere about there being a limit to how many you can have, and the workaround to it was undergoing a ritual to embed them into your flesh.
That's something slightly predictable with me. If I sunder PC equipment, they'll usually find something of equal or greater value shortly after. Or enough standard treasure to commission a replacement.
I might have a villain sunder their weapons and/or armor. It's a quick and surprisingly effective way to make the players HAAAAAATE the villain. Because your equipment is more than just a sword and the shield. Your equipment is your livelihood, your survival. Your equipment is your friend, and when someone attacks you friend to get to you, it makes things personal.
See, this is why I always horde my powers. You never know what's around the next corner. Gotta succeed by the skin of your teeth for the first few encounters, so you can blow everything on what is probably the final boss.
Of course, that explains why I like characters whose resources aren't terribly limited; there ain't no limit to how many times you can sneak attack in a day!
this is why i like combining reserve feats, metamagic cost reducers and heighten spell. there's nothing like being able to summon huge elementals as an at will power.
My Assault on Dragon Keep Let's Play continues, and I'm also apparently guesting in Oblivious's Dead Space LP. Check both of those out if you like listening to me talk (and don't mind very M For Mature games).
How did Zecora get away with not rhyming Apologizing to something? She rhymes Whack to attack... How did she miss apologizing, unless the ellipsis is supposed to rhyme...?
Guest Author's Note: "They say there's no 'I' in Team. Well there's no 'Loot' in Collateral either."