This week we’re going to take another card from Magic the Gathering and figure out how to use it in 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons. Today we’re taking a look at the Null Brooch from the Exodus block. This artifact allows you to interrupt and counter an opponent’s spell at the cost of discarding your hand. What would that look like if it were a magic item?
The Null Brooch is an item created by and worn by a group of mage hunters in order to better defend themselves against harmful magic that they may come into contact with in the course of their duties while hunting down rogue magic users. In order to make the construction of these items easier, the Null Brooch is designed to interact with the lifeforce of the wearer, drawing on some of it to increase it’s power and efficacy. Relying on it too much will kill the wearer, but used judiciously, it can be an incredibly effective tool to help preserve an agent’s life.
This one is a little bit more straightforward than some other magic items I’ve played around with. It can be powerful in the right circumstances, but very dangerous if overused. If you know me, you know I love the exhaustion mechanics in 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons and I don’t think that it gets enough love, and so when I saw the “discard your hand” kicker as the price for this card, I knew instantly that was the way to go with the magic item especially if you choose to house rule some additional ways to remove exhaustion levels in your home game.
So what do you think? How would you use this item in your own games? What other Magic cards are there that would fit into a Dungeons and Dragons game? Let me know below.
Ben Erickson
