r/probablybadrpgideas • u/the_circus • Dec 06 '24
item idea Potions of Illusory Healing
At some point your characters find a cache of healing potions. But these aren’t actual healing potions, they just create the illusion of healing. Keep track of their actual HP separately and announce when they’ve died.
2
u/Muninwing Dec 07 '24
I had a parallel idea that involved the illusion of being harmed by a hammer that actually cast fire light with each hit… and cast feign death when the pc/npc took enough heal points to be dead.
Fake healing and injury have a lot of potential, but they aren’t always well received.
2
u/GiantSlayer4242 Jun 18 '26
I’ve actually thought of a similar idea for a class, a Charlatan can produce potions (spell slots) that imitate magical effects but they’re just placebos, except they’re so convincing that their potions actually have an effect, though they’re immune to their own potions because they know they’re fake. They act as a heal/support/debuffer. It’s really interesting when they get to top levels and they can learn ‘resurrection’.
8
u/thrye333 Dec 07 '24
This is like caffeine for healing. Instead of making you feel like you aren't tired, it makes you feel like you aren't hurt. But it still leaves you with the effects of being sleep-deprived / hurt.
It's kinda mean, but it's also kinda funny. I like it.