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A Simplified Guide To Tattoos in 5e (D&D) - The Homebrewery
A Simplified Guide To Tattoos in 5e (D&D) - The Homebrewery
Contents
How Do You Tattoo 1 Magical Items 4
Tattooist's Tools ........................................................... 1 Gnomish Inking Apparatus .........................................................4
Tattoo Application ...................................................... 1 Gravesealer Tattoo ........................................................................4
Size .................................................................................................. 1 Greater Blade Pact Tattoo ...........................................................4
Intricacy .......................................................................................... 1 Life Bond Tattoo ............................................................................4
How Long Will It Take? ............................................................... 1 Mark of Elvenkind Tattoo ............................................................4
Sessions ..........................................................................................1 Shapechanger Tattoo ................................................................... 4
Efficiency & Complications ........................................................ 1 Shielding Tattoo ............................................................................ 4
Quality ............................................................................................. 1 Syndetic Tattoo ..............................................................................4
Tiny Dancer Tattoo ....................................................................... 4
Tools of the Trade 2
Available Equipment ...................................................2
Ink ................................................................................................. 2
Extras
Making Your Own ..........................................................2 Created by /u/OrbitalBliss.
T
attoos, both magical and mundane, have been a part of D&D for many years though there have been little to no
actual rules for them. Several 3rd party guides have been written and many have been modifications of guides that
came before them. This guide is no different. The aim here is to provide simple and streamlined rules for tattoos
avoiding much of the fluff and flavour, such as cultures and history, leaving all that up to your own world setting.
Here are the simplified 5e-esque rules for incorporating tattoos into your game quickly and easily.
An attempt has been made to work these rules seamlessly into the rules finally provided within Tasha’s Cauldron
of Everything regarding Magical Tattoos. Even though the provided rules are meager we can respect them.
1
Guide to Tattoos in 5e is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards.
Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. |.|.| Made on Homebrewery
Ink pen 2 cp -
Tattooist’s Tools: This sturdy leather case contains a Temporary tattoo powder 5 gp -
selection of needles, taps and rakes, simple medical supplies
needed to care for the recipient properly, and everything Black ink (1 ounce bottle) 10 gp -
needed for cleaning and sterilizing equipment. It also comes Coloured ink (1 ounce bottle) 15 gp -
with everything to blend and prepare pigments and ink. Magical ink (1 ounce bottle) ~100 gp -
Though it does not come with ink, its weight accounts for the
inks you may have acquired, which are sold separately. Ink base (1 ounce bottle) 1 sp -
Medical Supplies: This is to replace the supplies in the Stylus (empty) 25 gp -
Tattooist's tools once they eventually run out.
Sketchbook: A book suitable for any artist to sketch design
ideas with 50 blank paper pages. This is not of the quality
needed to function as a spellbook.
Temporary Tattoo Powder: This powder is mixed into a Making Your Own
paste and applied to the surface of the skin. It will dry into a
crust which should not be removed for at least 6 to 8 hours, The Tattooist's tools contain everything they need to handle
leaving a temporary tattoo which can last a week or two. and use their inks, but also everything they need for mixing
and preparing their own pigments into ink for use in their art.
Ink
Ink Base: This is the carrier used to produce your own ink.
The inks sold for tattoos are actually the inks, bases, and Pigments of all kinds can be gathered from plants and
pigments needed by the artist to create what they need. A 1oz animals. Perhaps some Nature checks to gather these
bottle of Ink will generally provide for a Medium sized tattoo materials, and proficiency with a Herbalism Kit could help.
with a little to spare. Some colours are harder to find or may Stylus (empty): This is a specially crafted needle used in
require more ink in use.
the creation of magical tattoos.
How much these inks would cost and their availability might
vary widely. Some of these may not be available at all,
and those that are may cost several times this amount.
2
Guide to Tattoos in 5e is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards.
Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. |.|.| Made on Homebrewery
Magical Tattoos
Sometimes tattoos are more than just for show. As with any
They also have some down sides. You can't easily share the
magical tattoos you can have, but other magic items as well.
3
Guide to Tattoos in 5e is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards.
Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. |.|.| Made on Homebrewery
Mark of Elvenkind Tattoo
Magical Items Wondrous item (tattoo), uncommon (requires attunement)
Here are some magical items, mostly tattoos, to work with, Fey Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throws against
but you should be creative and work with your DM to come being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
up with tattoos you'll like. Tasha's Cauldron of Everything has Trance. You don’t need to sleep. Instead, you meditate deeply,
official releases which can also serve as inspiration. remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day.
Gnomish Inking Apparatus Shapechanger Tattoo
Wondrous item, uncommon Wondrous item (tattoo), very-rare (requires attunement)
This set of Tattooist's Tools causes your hands to shake All Shapes and Sizes. As an action you can cast Alter Self,
vigorously yet with precision. Your proficiency bonus is Enlarge/Reduce, or Polymorph on yourself. You can use this
doubled using these tools, your own Constitution saves for feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus,
long tattoo sessions always succeed, and bonus hours of work and regain all expended uses of it when you finish a long rest.
gained from your Wisdom ability check are doubled. Fast Healing. As an action you cast Regenerate on yourself.
This property can’t be used again until you finish a long rest.
Gravesealer Tattoo
Wondrous item (tattoo), very-rare (requires attunement) Shielding Tattoo
Zombie Bane. Your unarmed strikes deal an extra 1d4 Wondrous item (tattoo), uncommon (requires attunement)
radiant damage on a hit to undead creatures.
Shield of Ink. When hit with an attack, you can use your
Lich's Bane. When you hit any creature that has a phylactery reaction to add +2 to your AC, including against the triggering
with an unarmed strike they must make a Wisdom Save DC attack, until the start of your next turn. You can use this
16 or be destroyed. Once restored by their phylactery, the feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus,
phylactery is also destroyed freeing all souls within it. and regain all expended uses of it when you finish a long rest.
Greater Blade Pact Tattoo Syndetic Tattoo
Wondrous item (tattoo), rare (requires attunement by a Wondrous item (tattoo), uncommon (requires attunement)
warlock with the pact of the blade feature) Linking the Ink. While this tattoo is on your skin, you may
Beyond Limits. Your Pact of the Blade feature can now attune up to two more magical tattoos without those counting
affect an artifact or a sentient weapon. against your attunement limit. If this tattoo becomes
unattuned, those tattoos do as well. More than one Syndetic
Life Bond Tattoo Tattoo can be attuned, but all tattoos still take up space.
Wondrous item (tattoo), uncommon (requires attunement)
Bound. A pair of tattoos which must be attuned together. Tiny Dancer Tattoo
Wearers can locate each other within 1,000ft.
Wondrous item (tattoo), uncommon (requires attunement)
'Til Death. While both wearers have more
Strut for the Hut. You may cast the spell Tiny Hut as a ritual,
than 1 hit point, when one of the wearers
however you and all creatures within the dome must dance
or prevented.
4
Guide to Tattoos in 5e is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards.
Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. |.|.| Made on Homebrewery