Radical Antigravity
A wide greatshield, surprisingly lightweight and balanced in the middle. When released it starts vibrating and hovering, defying gravity. A constant hum signals its weird and unstable nature.
+1 Greatshield: This heavy shield grants you a +3 bonus to AC.
Recall: Bonus Action. You extend your arm, if you are not holding anything in that hand and the shield is still within 10ft of you, it is automatically picked up and equipped.
Follow: Action.You drop the Drift Shield and it starts hovering horizontally a few inches from the ground surface. In this position it can hold your equipment and up to a creature of medium size. The Shield follows you slowly, keeping within 10ft of you.
Stay Put: Action. You drop the Drift Shield and it starts hovering vertically in front of you. Until you use the Recall ability, the Drift Shield can’t be moved and confers Heavy Cover (+5 to AC) to one creature standing right behind it.
Slide: 1/Short Rest. Action. You drop the shield in front of you and ride it as it flies forward. Move 60ft without provoking opportunity attacks. Any creature in your path must DEX13 or take 1d6 bludgeoning damage and fall Prone.
During your movement you can choose one medium creature in your path, they don’t have to roll and are instead picked up and move with you on the shield, falling Prone within 5ft of you when the slide ends.
At any point during the movement you can drop out of the shield, if you do so the shield continues moving in a straight line.
At the end of the movement the Drift Shield stops hovering and falls to the ground, inactive until you use the Recall ability.
Sliding Forward
This curious magical shield offers more than a simple bonus, it is an entire new toolkit for the character wielding it! Being a defensive item, it is a good fit for those Fighters lacking options, but we GMs can only drop magical items on the party and let their creativity and resourcefulness loose.
Many cool stunts could be done by the Rogue for example, moving away from a tricky situation. A shy Cleric could plant it as a barricade while she heals, only to rush into battle to help her friends, knocking goblins left and right. Even a grumpy Wizard could find this tool of war useful for extra protection and carrying books!
Not to mention some environment-based tricks: traverse the river of lava on the Shield or drop it down a precipice with a Goblin on it!
No matter what, be prepared to react to some shenanigans happening, and be open to creative use of the Shield. No point in giving out toys if you can’t make up new games with them. Actually that last statement should be in the Cool Magic Items article!
Hooks
Where does a gravity-defying shield come from? Probably a very weird place.
| d6 | Hook |
| 1 | Drift Shield and Drift Lances were the signature weapons of the Khaldashi Dragon Guard.Their hovering abilities were particularly useful while fighting on dragonback. One of the remaining shields is still placed at the feet of a colossal dragon skeleton, revered as a god in its temple. |
| 2 | The Drift Shield is the only part that can be harvested from an ancient Mechanical Golem. It is not clear if the construct ever worked, but analysing the old scroll deeper in the dungeon reveals that the shield is, in fact, the inhibitor piece. |
| 3 | A shady old dealer offers the Shield for a cheap price, or even in exchange for a drink at the tavern. Not many remember the Flamboyant Fox, the name the old lady had while performing ridiculous heists as a master thief. The Shield was one of her tools, now only a reminder of past glories. |
| 4 | Thalomeus the Mad is sad to have left weird tools like this shield in his laboratory, just before mysteriously disappearing. Some swear to have seen him fly away upwards from his Tower, shouting like a madman. |
| 5 | The Drift Shield is located in the armory of the dungeon and was used to cross the pit of lava barring entrance to the deepest treasure rooms. A cowardly and ingenious kobold guard, ‘Feex’, will recur to it to escape the party. |
| 6 | Astral Elf Raiders use these objects to assail and board ships on the Astral Sea. Young Elves train to be able to do tricks and stunts with the Drift Shield, while Elder Warriors scoff at its usage. |
Variations
Why should drifting be reserved to shields only? You can still take the Recall, Follow and Slide abilities with these variations, but they have a unique one that substitutes the Stay Put one.
| d6 | Equipment | Action Ability (in place of ‘Stay Put’) |
| 1 | Lance | Barrier: The Drift Lance starts to hover in front of you, swinging at the extremities. The Lance blocks a line 15ft long and 5ft wide, providing half cover (+2 AC) to creatures within 5ft of the area. A creature that steps in the area must STR15 or be pushed 15 ft and be knocked Prone. |
| 2 | Mantle | Platform: The Drift Mantle extends to its full length at a height of your choosing. It is considered a solid 10x10ft platform until Recalled. |
| 3 | Greatsword | Vortex: The Drift Greatsword’s hilt fixates in the air and the blade starts swinging like a clock hand. The swinging greatsword covers a 10x10ft area, any creature moving into the area must DEX15 or take 2d6 slashing damage. |
| 4 | Wheelbarrow | When you take the Slide Action with the wheelbarrow, the creature you choose to pick up doesn’t fall down from the Wheeless Wheelbarrow at the end of the movement. Elevate: The Wheeless Wheelbarrow starts slowly ascending, carrying with it whatever it was holding and up to two medium creatures with it. It raises at the end of your turn, by 15ft each time. |
