Slag Vent Gauntlets 218

From: Crucible of Iron Fancy

Item Type: Heavy Hand Armor / Alchemical Catalyst Focus (Tier 1)

Description: Fashioned from the cooled, black volcanic basalt scales of a defeated Slag-Gorged Salamander 115, these heavy gauntlets feature miniature brass exhaust ports built directly along the forearms. The palms are lined with conductive silver wiring wrapped around a tiny, coin-sized purple crystal matrix.

Game Mechanics: These gauntlets function as a specialized casting focus for thermal and transmutative magic. Once per short rest, as an active turn action, the user can execute a vocal command to trigger the exhaust valves. This vents a blinding, 15-foot cone of superheated alchemical steam directly from the gauntlets, dealing heavy fire damage and instantly blinding any hostile targets caught within the spray.

The Flaw: Activating the steam vent generates a massive thermal back-blast that instantly ruins any fragile, hand-blown glass vials or delicate paper scrolls carried loosely in the user’s immediate personal pouches.

Lore and Use

The Slag-Vent Gauntlets 218 represent a volatile bridge between primal monstrosity and rogue alchemy, forged in the suffocating heat of subterranean foundry camps. The foundational plating is meticulously carved from the discarded, thermal-resistant volcanic basalt scales of the Slag-Gorged Salamander 115. These scales are inherently immune to melting, trapping high-intensity thermal energy within their porous structures. Along the forearms, alchemists have integrated micro-engineered brass exhaust piping and pressure relief valves. The true magic occurs within the palms: a dense network of conductive silver wiring is coiled around a coin-sized purple crystal matrix. This matrix acts as a siphon, drawing the ambient warmth of the user’s spellcasting or body heat, superheating the alchemical water stored in internal micro-reservoirs, and building up a lethal accumulation of pressurized steam.

In practice, these gauntlets are a favorite weapon for radical battle-mages, combat alchemists, and frontline saboteurs who excel in close-quarters chaos. Rather than being used for passive protection, the gauntlets are treated as an aggressive, offensive catalyst. The user purposefully wades into dense melees or tight architectural bottlenecks, drawing enemies close before whispering the ignition word. The resulting eruption of pressurized, superheated vapor doesn’t just char armor—it completely flash-boils the moisture in the air, creating an immediate tactical pocket of absolute blindness and searing pain that shatters enemy formations.

Specific Tier 1 Statistics

• Item Slots / Weight: Occupies both Hand Slots (Paired Gauntlets); Weighs 6 lbs.
• Static Defense Bonus: +1 Armor Class / Defense Rating (Blunt physical attacks to the hands/arms are deflected by the basalt scales).
• Magical Catalyst Modifier: Grants a +1 item bonus to spell attack rolls or spell save DCs for spells with the [Fire], [Thermal], or [Transmutation] descriptors.
• Steam Vent Damage: Inflicts 2d6 Fire damage in a 15-foot cone. Targets who fail an appropriate defensive saving throw (DC 13) are also inflicted with the Blinded condition for 1 round.

Temporary Skills Gained (While Equipped)

• Alchemical Venting Protocol: The user gains the ability to use an action to voice an activation command, forcing the forearm valves open. This releases the pressurized, superheated alchemical steam reservoir in a devastating 15-foot cone. This ability recharges fully after the user completes a Short Rest.
• Thermal Siphon Manipulation: The user can intuitively channel raw magical waste energy directly into the palms. When casting a Tier 1 spell that deals fire damage, the user can choose to add +1 damage per die rolled, though doing so increases the volatile heat humming within the brass pipes.

Requirements for Use

• Constitution / Fortitude Attribute: Requires a minimum Constitution score of 12 (or equivalent physical fortitude threshold) to withstand the extreme localized heat radiating from the brass forearms without blistering the user’s skin.
• Spellcasting Ability: The user must possess the ability to cast at least one spell or utilize an alchemical catalyst feature to properly sync with the silver palm wiring.
• Recharge Requirement: The internal micro-reservoirs must be manually refilled with one flask of purified water or liquid alchemical base during a short rest to prime the steam chambers for another blast.

Tags

Heavy-Gauntlets, Alchemical-Focus, Volcanic-Basalt, Salamander-Scale, Brass-Exhaust, Purple-Matrix, Steam-Cone, Thermal-Backblast, Blinding-Spray, Tier-1-Catalyst, Salamander-Scales, Volcanic-Basalt, Steam-Vent, Thermal-Catalyst, Pressure-Ports, Purple-Matrix, Flash-Boil, Backblast-Flaw, Blinding-Cone, Fire-Focus, Tier-1-Hands

Market Sourcing, Financial Value, and Tactical Environmental Deployment

Market Dynamics, Buying, and Selling

The Slag-Vent Gauntlets 218 are prized items within industrial underworlds, highly valued by combat magi, rogue alchemists, and corporate enforcers who require concealed, explosive close-range capabilities.

• Buying: These gauntlets can be purchased from clandestine alchemical syndicates, specialized foundry smiths, or high-tier black-market arms dealers operating near subterranean volcanic vents. A pair in prime condition—with intact basalt scales and a stable purple crystal matrix—commands a retail price of 175 to 225 silver pieces (or roughly 20 to 25 gold credits in standard regional conversions).
• Selling: If an adventurer manages to hunt down a Slag-Gorged Salamander 115, the raw, unrefined volcanic basalt scales can be harvested and sold to armorers for 40 to 50 silver pieces. A fully constructed, secondhand pair of gauntlets can be pawned off to a scrap-broker or fence for 80 to 100 silver pieces, though the payout drops significantly if the internal brass valving is warped or clogged by calcified residue.

Environmental Demands and Deployment

This equipment thrives in cold, damp, or claustrophobic subterranean environments where its superheated exhaust causes the maximum amount of environmental disruption. They are perfectly optimized for frozen cavern systems, cramped sewer lines, under-city maintenance tubes, and ancient tomb corridors.

Conversely, using them in arid desert climates slightly diminishes their sudden shock value, as the ambient humidity is already low. Furthermore, because of the destructive thermal back-blast flaw, they are highly dangerous to wear inside archives, libraries, or alchemical laboratories where unshielded paper scrolls and pressurized glass potion vials are kept exposed on the user’s belt.

Practical Use of the End Results

In tactical combat operations, the Slag-Vent Gauntlets 218 function as an emergency reset button when a spellcaster or skirmisher is completely overwhelmed in close quarters.

• Crowd Disruption: When a fragile caster is cornered by a pack of fast-moving melee ambushers or swarming vermin, the player uses their action to trigger the vocal command. The sudden, blinding 15-foot cone of superheated alchemical steam instantly scorches the attackers, while the secondary flash-blindness mechanic prevents them from executing opportunity attacks, allowing the caster to safely retreat out of harm’s way.
• Enchanted Catalyst Strikes: Beyond the active steam vent, a battle-mage will leverage the silver palm wiring during standard casting rounds. By funneling raw transmutation or fire mana through the crystal matrix, they can artificially amplify the explosive thermal yield of their base cantrips and tier-1 spells, ensuring their low-level offensive magic consistently punches through heavy environmental armor.

Visual Perception

• What’s Perceived: Jagged, charcoal-black plates shifting over a brilliant purple core, followed by a blinding wall of white vapor.
• Description: As you lift your hands, the interlocking volcanic basalt scales slide smoothly across your knuckles. Fine silver filaments woven through the palms glow with an intense, violet luminescence that grows brighter as your internal mana spikes. When activated, a dense, roaring white cone of superheated alchemical steam erupts from the forearm valves, completely obscuring everything directly in front of you.
• Positives: The visual flare of the purple core provides an immediate, clear indication of spell readiness, and the blinding white steam cone physically cuts off the enemy’s line of sight.
• Negatives: The sheer thickness of the basalt plates makes it impossible to see fine hand placements, and the immediate visual back-blast of steam leaves you momentarily disoriented regarding enemy positioning.

Auditory Perception

• What’s Perceived: A low, rhythmic bubbling sound followed by a deafening, mechanical shriek of escaping pressure.
• Description: Your ears pick up a constant, faint liquid boiling sound emanating from the internal reservoirs inside the wrist armor. When the vocal command is uttered, the brass exhaust valves pop open with a violent, high-pitched metallic hiss-shriek that echoes off nearby walls, drowning out all nearby sound for a few seconds.
• Positives: The drop in the bubbling pitch alerts you exactly when the steam chamber has successfully refilled and pressurized.
• Negatives: The deafening shriek of the steam discharge causes temporary ringing in your ears, making it impossible to hear verbal callouts or tactical instructions from your party members.

Tactile Perception

• What’s Perceived: Severe, radiating heat coupled with a violent, backward physical kick along the forearms.
• Description: Slip your hands in, and you immediately feel the dense, rocky weight of volcanic basalt restricting fine finger movement. As the crystal matrix overclocks, a intense, blistering heat radiates against your skin, stopping just short of burning you. When vented, a powerful kinetic recoil punches backward against your elbows, forcing you to stiffen your stance to keep your arms level.
• Positives: The heavy basalt scales feel completely unyielding, turning your fists into brutal, heat-resistant striking bludgeons in close combat.
• Negatives: The intense thermal radiation leaves your skin slick with sweat and tingling with minor heat exhaustion, while the sudden recoil can throw you off balance if your stance is weak.

Olfactory Perception

• What’s Perceived: A choking mixture of hot sulfur, scorched copper, and boiled mineral water.
• Description: The air around your hands becomes thick with the heavy, volcanic smell of raw sulfur and melted rock, bleeding directly off the salamander scales. The moment the valves blast open, a wave of metallic-scented alchemical moisture floods your nose, smelling sharply of overheated pipes and flash-boiled chemicals.
• Positives: The overwhelming sulfurous smell immediately masks the nauseating odors of decay, rot, or subterranean bog gases.
• Negatives: Inhaling the concentrated alchemical steam vapor triggers a sharp stinging sensation in your nasal passages, causing a brief coughing reflex if you don’t keep your face tilted back.

Gustatory Perception

• What’s Perceived: A heavy, dry taste of ash and alkaline bitterness on the back of the throat.
• Description: You do not bite the stone, but the intense heat generated by the silver wiring cooks the surrounding air. Breathing through your mouth while casting introduces a dry, powdery taste of volcanic ash and a bitter, soapy alkaline flavor carried backward by the vaporized alchemical moisture.
• Positives: The intense bitterness triggers an immediate spike in physical alertness, forcing your focus into the current engagement.
• Negatives: It completely strips the moisture from your tongue, leaving you with an aggressive, lingering thirst that requires immediate freshwater consumption to soothe.

Extra-Sensory Perception 1: Thermal Ley-Sight (Sixth Sense)

• What’s Perceived: A blooming, vivid map of thermal energy fields and structural heat signatures.
• Description: Through your attunement with the purple matrix crystal, your mind’s eye bypasses standard vision. You perceive the battlefield as a shifting landscape of heat; living creatures glow like vibrant orange embers, while the cold air of subterranean tunnels recedes into deep blues. You can instinctively feel the exact point where an enemy’s armor is thinnest or where their internal body heat is concentrated.
• Positives: Allows you to perfectly target your 15-foot steam cone to hit the maximum number of hidden or obscured targets, even through total darkness or thick magical smoke.
• Negatives: The sensory overload from staring into high-intensity heat sources (like open forges or massive fire spells) can momentarily stun your spiritual sight, leaving you disoriented.

Extra-Sensory Perception 2: Alchemical Back-Blast Resonance

• What’s Perceived: A sudden, painful telepathic flash of fracturing materials right at the moment of ignition.
• Description: Because the gauntlets are a highly volatile transmutation focus, your awareness briefly bleeds into your immediate personal inventory. The exact millisecond the vocal command triggers the exhaust valves, your mind registers a sharp, phantom sensation of snapping paper and cracking glass—a direct sensory echo of the thermal shockwave destroying the fragile scrolls and potions stored loosely on your belt.
• Positives: This psychic feedback provides instantaneous confirmation that the spell hit its absolute maximum thermal yield without needing to check your targets.
• Negatives: Experiencing the literal “shattering” of your own utility gear as a mental jolt creates a brief wave of psychological stress and regret right in the middle of your offensive push.

Crafting Recipe: Slag-Vent Gauntlets 218

Materials Needed

• Slag-Gorged Salamander Volcanic Basalt Scales (x16): Harvested intact from a defeated Slag-Gorged Salamander 115 to serve as the heavy, heat-immune outer plating.
• Miniature Brass Exhaust Pipe Fittings and Relief Valves (x2 Sets): For building the pressure-venting forearm apparatus.
• High-Conductivity Silver Filament Wiring (x1 Spool): To line the palms and distribute magical energy evenly.
• Coin-Sized Purple Crystal Matrix (x2): The specialized transmutative cores that house the alchemical catalyst matrix.
• Insulated Internal Micro-Reservoirs (x2): Small, heat-shielded metal flasks to contain the alchemical water base.
• Fire-Resistant Dragon-Hide or Asbestos-Treated Cloth Lining (x2 Sets): For the inner gloves to protect the user’s skin from blistering heat.
• Alchemical Solder and Flux (x1 Tin): To securely fuse the silver filaments to the crystal cores.

Tools Required

• Jeweler’s Loupe and Fine Needle-Nose Pliers: For intricately coiling and weaving the silver wiring through the palms.
• High-Heat Soldering Iron: For making clean connections between the conductive silver and the purple matrices.
• Miniature Pipe Cutter and Flaring Tool: For sizing and installing the brass exhaust assemblies along the forearms.
• Leather Awl and Waxed Kevlar Thread: For stitching the heavy basalt scales securely to the inner fire-resistant glove lining.
• Precision Calibration Spanner: For adjusting the tension thresholds on the brass pressure relief valves.
• Alchemical Funnel and Syringe: For injecting the water base into the internal micro-reservoirs during final testing.

Skill Requirements

• Alchemical Engineering / Magitech (Tier 1 Proficient): Required to calibrate the silver wiring and purple crystal matrices without triggering an immediate volatile meltdown.
• Heavy Armorsmithing / Leatherworking (Apprentice Level): Needed to drill, shape, and securely stitch the brittle, dense volcanic basalt plates onto a flexible hand frame.
• Hydro-Pneumatics / Tinkering (Basic): Essential for plumbing the brass exhaust pipes and setting the proper venting pressure for the superheated steam.

Crafting Steps

1. Preparing the Inner Glove and Basalt Plating:

• Stitch Lining: Cut and sew the fire-resistant dragon-hide lining to fit the user’s hands tightly, ensuring double-stitching around the wrists and palms for optimal thermal insulation.
• Scale Mounting: Take the 16 volcanic basalt scales and carefully drill tiny anchor points along their top edges. Lay them across the back of the fingers and forearms in an overlapping, fish-scale pattern, stitching them firmly down to the inner glove using waxed kevlar thread.

2. Wiring the Conductivity Palms:

• Seat the Crystal: Cut a shallow recession into the thick palm padding of each glove and press a coin-sized purple crystal matrix into the center, securing it with an insulating rubber border.
• Weave Filament: Using the jeweler’s loupe and pliers, weave a dense, spiderweb-like pattern of high-conductivity silver wiring across the entire inner palm surface.
• Solder Connections: Gather the ends of the silver web and solder them cleanly onto the conductive facets of the central purple crystal core.

3. Installing the Hydro-Steam Apparatus:

• Mount Reservoirs: Secure an insulated internal micro-reservoir along the flat inner side of each forearm gauntlet, nesting it underneath the basalt scales.
• Plumb Exhausts: Run miniature brass exhaust pipes from the reservoir caps outward through the scales, positioning the open nozzle ports facing forward toward the knuckles.
• Affix Valves: Screw the brass pressure relief valves into the forearm piping lines using a precision spanner, ensuring the gaskets are perfectly airtight.

4. Bridging the Transmutation Catalyst:

• Link Core to Valves: Run a secondary line of insulated silver wire from the purple crystal matrix up the wrist, wrapping it around the heating coils of the micro-reservoirs and connecting it to the valve triggers.
• Program Vocal Trigger: Expose the crystal matrix to a minor pulse of fire magic while speaking your chosen activation word aloud, imprinting the matrix with the vocal command frequency needed to snap the exhaust valves open.

5. Fueling, Calibration, and Pressure Testing:

• Fill Reservoirs: Use the alchemical syringe to inject one flask of purified water or liquid alchemical base directly into each forearm input valve.
• Test Thermal Sync: Channel a low-grade transmutation or fire cantrip into the palms. Verify that the silver wiring glows violet and the bubbling sound of boiling water begins within the reservoirs.
• Venting Execution: Point the gauntlets away from you and utter the vocal command. Ensure the valves snap open cleanly, releasing a symmetrical, blinding 15-foot cone of superheated alchemical steam while checking that the back-blast vents safely clear your forearms.

Fire-Spitting Leather of Boiling Snail-Lizard

In the old days, when the world was cooked too much by the high-up suns and the mountains did leak orange melted stone, there did live a creature named the Slag-Gorged Salamander 115. This was no common frog, but a massive beast of the deep dark pits, which did eat the slag of the earth and grow hard, black volcanic plates upon its meat. The hunters of the iron caves did pursue this great dragon-lizard, and after three moons of stone-throwing, they did defeat its life.

Then did the master of the small fires, a rogue-cook of chemicals named Barnaby the Smelly, gather the black basalt scales from the dead creature’s skin. Barnaby did say, “We shall make a great clothing for the fists, so that we may punch the fire without crying.” He did take the hard scales and did stitch them onto heavy dragon-hide using a needle made of a bone. Along the long bones of the arms, he did attach miniature brass exhaust ports and relief valves, which he stole from an old steam-wagon that was broken in the mud.

But behold! The magic was not yet awake. Barnaby did look into his pocket and did find two coin-sized purple crystal matrices. He did take an entire spool of shiny silver wiring and did weave it across the inner palms of the hands like a very confusing spider’s net. He did attach the silver threads onto the purple stones using a hot iron and alchemical solder flux. When a man did put his hands into these heavy gloves, which did weigh exactly six pounds of burden, the silver wires did suck his internal body warmth and his magic mana, causing the internal micro-reservoirs of water to boil with a fierce, noisy bubbling sound. This was called the Slag-Vent Gauntlets 218.

The ancient scroll tells of a long-ago journey involving an apprentice wizard named Jeremy of the Weak Knees. Jeremy was a boy who did carry many delicate things upon his leather belt. He did have twenty-four hand-blown glass vials filled with expensive glowing liquids, and forty-two paper scrolls containing the grand poems of his grandmother and deep spells of transmutative magic written in yellow ink. Jeremy did purchase the Slag-Vent Gauntlets from Barnaby for the sum of two hundred silver coins, which was all his father’s wealth.

Jeremy did march into the deep, frozen cavern of the Ice-Goblins, where the air was very blue and cold. Because the gauntlets did feature the volcanic basalt scales, his hands were completely warm and did receive a static defense bonus of +1 armor against the blunt clubs of the goblins. Furthermore, because he was a spellcaster, the silver wiring did grant him a +1 item bonus to his fire-throwing cantrips, making his small sparks look like big torches.

Suddenly, out of the deep dark ice, seventy-seven angry goblins did jump with sharp teeth. They did surround Jeremy in a very tight bottleneck corridor. Jeremy was very afraid, and his knees did shake like grass. He did raise his heavy basalt hands and did shout the vocal command of activation, which was a secret word that sounded like a angry sneeze.

Instantly, the brass relief valves along his forearms did snap open with a terrible, high-pitched mechanical hiss-shriek that did cause the ears of the goblins to leak blood. A massive, blinding fifteen-foot cone of superheated alchemical steam did erupt from his hands. The vapor was so hot it did flash-boil the cold air, creating a great white wall of absolute cloud. The seventy-seven goblins were instantly scorched by 2d6 fire damage and did receive the permanent condition of Blinded, causing them to trip over each other and fall into the deep pits of the cavern. Jeremy was saved from the biting teeth!

But alas! The story changes its face to one of great weeping. The extreme thermal back-blast generated by the steam eruption did throw a massive wave of superheated wind backward onto Jeremy’s own body. This hot wind did instantly target his personal pouches. Behold! The twenty-four hand-blown glass vials on his belt did instantly crack and shatter from the thermal shock, spilling all his expensive potions into the dirt. Furthermore, the forty-two delicate paper scrolls did immediately catch fire from the radiating heat, turning the poems of his grandmother and his transmutative spells into gray ash in less than a second.

Jeremy did win the battle against the Ice-Goblins, but he did sit down on the freezing floor and weep many salty tears. He had no more potions to drink, and his magical homework was entirely deleted by his own armor. He did walk back to his village with warm hands but an empty bag, and he did sell the gauntlets to a local blacksmith who used the brass valves to repair a broken beer barrel.

The Moral of the Story

From this broken, ancient ink of the olden days, the traveler must gather this great wisdom: The weapon which burns your enemy with a blinding cloud will also cook the secrets you keep in your own pockets. If you choose to wear the volcanic scales of the dragon-lizard, you must never carry your fragile glass and pretty papers on the same belt, lest your great victory leave you sitting in the ruins of your own wealth.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Item Name: Slag-Vent Gauntlets 218

Classification: Volcanic Artifact / Alchemical Casting Catalyst

Mechanical Profile

• Skill Modifier: Grants a +10% bonus to Science (Chemistry) or Mythos Spells involving heat, fire, or alteration when used as a casting focus.
• Armor Value: +1 Armor point to the arms/hands only, capable of deflecting light physical bludgeoning attacks due to the dense basalt scales.
• Hand Requirement: Occupies both Hand slots (Paired Gauntlets).

Specific Mechanics

• Alchemical Steam Vent: Once per day (or game session), the user can speak the activation command to trigger the forearm valves. This vents a 5-yard (15-foot) cone of superheated alchemical steam. Anyone caught in the cone takes 2D6 fire damage and must succeed on a Hard CON roll or be inflicted with temporary blindness for 1D4 combat rounds.
• The Thermal Flaw: Activating the steam vent generates a massive thermal back-blast. Any fragile, hand-blown glass vials (such as potions or chemical samples) or delicate paper documents (maps, scrolls, or unshielded books) carried loosely in the investigator’s immediate pockets or belt pouches are instantly cracked, scorched, and ruined.

Blades in the Dark

Item Name: Slag-Vent Gauntlets 218

Item Type: Alchemical Catalyst Gloves (Counts as 1 Load)

Functional Profile

• Quality: Tier 1 Fine Alchemical Focus.
• Implements: When you use the Leach or Compel actions to manipulate thermal energy or transmutative forces while wearing these gauntlets, you operate at +1 Effect.

Specific Mechanics

• Superheated Vent: You can unleash a blinding, close-range cone of alchemical steam from your forearms. When you do this to seize an advantage or escape, you gain +1d to your action roll. On a success, targets in the blast area take severe burn injuries and are completely blinded by the vapor.
• The Flaw (Thermal Back-blast): When you activate the steam vent, you suffer a specific collateral consequence: any fragile gear, glass vials of elixir, or paper blueprints carried loosely on your person are instantly destroyed by the heat. This consequence cannot be completely resisted without risking harm to your own hands.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition / 2024)

Item Name: Slag-Vent Gauntlets 218

Item Type: Wondrous Item (Hands), Uncommon (Requires Attunement by a Spellcaster)

Mechanical Profile

• Static Defense: While wearing these gauntlets, you gain a +1 bonus to AC against physical bludgeoning attacks targeting your arms or upper torso.
• Magical Catalyst: While you hold or wear this focus, you gain a +1 bonus to spell attack rolls and the saving throw DCs of your spells that deal fire damage or belong to the Transmutation school.

Specific Mechanics

• Alchemical Steam Vent: As an action, you can speak a vocal command word to trigger the gauntlets’ exhaust valves. A 15-foot cone of superheated steam erupts from your forearms. Each creature in that area must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 2d6 fire damage and is Blinded until the end of your next turn. On a successful save, a creature takes half as much damage and isn’t Blinded. Once used, this feature cannot be used again until you finish a short or long rest.
• The Flaw: When you activate the steam vent, it creates a powerful thermal back-blast. Any non-magical, fragile glass vials or paper scrolls carried loosely in pouches on your belt or torso are instantly shattered or burnt into ash.

Knave (2nd Edition)

Item Name: Slag-Vent Gauntlets 218

Item Slots: Requires 2 Item Slots (Worn on Hands)

System Profile

• Armor Bonus: Adds a +1 bonus to your total Defense score against blunt or striking physical attacks.
• Casting Catalyst: Gives a +1 bonus to any spell casting checks or spell targets when casting a spell related to fire, heat, or changing the shapes of materials.

Specific Mechanics

• Steam Vent: Once per rest, you may use your combat action to shout a vocal trigger phrase. The brass valves shoot a 15-foot cone of superheated alchemical steam. All enemies inside the cone must make a Dexterity save or take 2d6 fire damage and become completely blinded for 1 round.
• The Flaw: The back-blast of intense heat from the steam vent instantly melts, shatters, or burns away any fragile items in your inventory that are not heavily insulated. Any paper scrolls or glass potions stored in inventory slots directly adjacent to your hand/arm gear are instantly destroyed.

Fate Core / Condensed

Item Name: Slag-Vent Gauntlets 218

Item Type: Alchemical Catalyst Focus (Scale: Equipment Asset)

Aspects

• High Concept: Slag-Gorged Salamander Scale Gauntlets
• Trouble: Collateral Thermal Back-blast
• Function: Superheated Alchemical Steam Vent
• The Flaw: Destructive to Fragile Belongings

Stunts & Specific Mechanics

• Alchemical Catalyst Focus: You gain a +1 bonus to Create an Advantage or Attack actions when using magic or alchemical traits involving fire, heat, or transmutation.
• Alchemical Steam Vent: Once per short rest, you can use an action to voice a command that clears a 15-foot cone. Make an Attack roll with a +2 bonus against all targets in that zone. Anyone who fails to defend takes physical stress and gains the temporary aspect Blinded by Steam.
• The Flaw: Whenever you choose to activate the steam vent stunt, you automatically create a situational aspect of Collateral Burn Damage on your own inventory. Any unshielded potions, glass vials, or paper scrolls you are carrying are immediately destroyed.

Numenera & Cypher System

Item Name: Slag-Vent Gauntlets 218

Item Type: Artifact (Level 2)

Description

These heavy gauntlets are crafted from the interlocking volcanic basalt scales of a defeated salamander. Miniature brass exhaust pipes line the forearms, and the palms feature a silver-threaded purple crystal matrix that acts as a volatile transmutative catalyst.

Specific Game Mechanics

• Catalyst Focus (Passive): Any task involving the casting or manipulation of fire, thermal energy, or matter transmutation is eased by one step while wearing these gauntlets.
• Alchemical Steam Vent (Active): As your action, you can voice a command to release a 15-foot cone of superheated alchemical steam. This functions as a Level 3 attack that inflicts 3 points of fire damage and completely blinds all targets within the area of effect for 1 round.
• The Flaw: Activating the steam vent releases an intense thermal back-blast. Any fragile glass vials, chemical elixirs, or loose paper documents carried in your immediate belt pouches or exterior packs are instantly vaporized, shattered, or rendered useless by the sudden wave of intense heat.
• Depletion: 1 in 1d20 (Roll each morning; upon depletion, the internal reservoirs crack, turning the item into standard heavy gloves with no magical or venting properties).

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

Item Name: Slag-Vent Gauntlets 218

Item Category: Held Item (Grasped/Worn Focus); Level: 2

Bulk: 1; Price: 35 gp

Access Requirements: Trained in Arcana or Crafting; Constitution score of +1 (12) or higher.

Mechanical Profile

• AC Bonus: +1 item bonus to AC specifically against physical bludgeoning attacks targeted at your hands or arms.
• Magical Catalyst: While wearing these gauntlets, you gain a +1 item bonus to spell attack rolls and spell save DCs for spells that carry the Fire trait or belong to the Transmutation school.

Specific Mechanics

• Alchemical Steam Vent [two-actions] (Frequency: Once per short rest); Effect: You utter a vocal trigger word, forcing the brass valves along your forearms to snap open. A 15-foot cone of superheated alchemical steam erupts from the gauntlets. Each creature in the area must attempt a DC 16 Reflex save.
  • Critical Success: The creature is unaffected.
  • Success: The creature takes half damage and is not blinded.
  • Failure: The creature takes 2d6 fire damage and is Blinded for 1 round.
  • Critical Failure: The creature takes double damage and is Blinded for 1d4 rounds.
• The Flaw: Activating the steam vent instantly triggers a devastating thermal back-blast across your person. Any non-magical, fragile glass vials or paper scrolls carried loosely in your belt pouches, bandoliers, or vest slots are instantly shattered or incinerated.

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)

Item Name: Slag-Vent Gauntlets 218

Item Type: Heavy Hand Armor / Alchemical Catalyst Focus

Weight: 6 lbs; Price: $300

Minimum Strength: d6

Armor Profile

• Armor Bonus: +1 Armor to your hands and forearms when blocking or deflecting physical impacts.

Special Abilities & Mechanics

• Alchemical Catalyst Focus: The wearer adds +1 to all Shooting, Athletics, or arcane skill rolls when casting or throwing spells with a Fire or Transmutation trapping.
• Alchemical Steam Vent: Once per encounter, as an action, the wielder can shout a vocal command to activate the forearm relief valves. Place a Cone Template directly in front of the character. Everyone inside the template must make an Agility roll at -2. Those who fail take 2d6 fire damage and suffer the Blinded status effect (Treat as a minor Hindrance or severe distraction penalty depending on GM adjudication) until their next turn.
• The Flaw (Thermal Back-blast): The activation of the steam vent causes an immediate wave of localized heat to wash over the user. Any fragile items listed in the character’s active inventory slots—such as glass potion vials, acid flasks, or paper scrolls—are immediately destroyed unless they were explicitly stored inside a specially insulated, heavy iron container.

Shadowrun (6th World Edition)

Item Name: Slag-Vent Gauntlets 218

Category: Body Armor Accessories (Gloves/Gauntlets)

Armor Profile

• Defense Rating Modifier: +1
• Capacity: 2
• Availability: 4R
• Cost: 1,500¥

Specific Game Mechanics

• Alchemical Catalyst Focus: The user gains a +1 dice pool modifier to all Sorcery or Alchemy tests when casting or preparing spells with the [Fire] or [Manipulation] descriptors.
• Alchemical Steam Vent: Once per short rest, as a Major Action, the user can speak a vocal command to release the forearm pressure valves. This vents a blinding, 5-meter cone of superheated steam. All targets within the cone take 3P (Physical) Fire damage and suffer the Blinded status status effect for 1 combat round.
• The Flaw (Thermal Back-blast): Activating the steam vent creates an immediate wave of intense heat around the user’s torso. Any fragile glass vials (like chemical patches or potion components) or delicate paper documents (such as physical manifests or credsticks with fragile exposed components) kept loosely in personal pouches are instantly melted, warped, or incinerated.

Starfinder (2nd Edition)

Item Name: Slag-Vent Gauntlets 218

Item Category: Worn Armor Upgrade (Hands); Level: 2

Price: 275 credits; Bulk: 1

Mechanical Profile

• Static Defense Bonus: While worn, these gauntlets grant a +1 item bonus to AC against physical bludgeoning attacks targeted at your hands or arms.
• Magical Catalyst: You gain a +1 item bonus to spell attack rolls and spell save DCs for spells that carry the Fire trait or belong to the Transmutation school.

Specific Mechanics

• Alchemical Steam Vent [two-actions] (Frequency: Once per short rest); Effect: You utter a vocal trigger word, forcing the brass valves along your forearms to snap open. A 15-foot cone of superheated alchemical steam erupts from the gauntlets. Each creature in the area must attempt a DC 14 Reflex save. On a failure, a creature takes 2d6 fire damage and is Blinded for 1 round. On a success, a creature takes half damage and is not blinded.
• The Flaw: Activating the steam vent instantly triggers a devastating thermal back-blast across your person. Any non-magical, fragile glass vials or paper scrolls carried loosely in your belt pouches, bandoliers, or vest slots are instantly shattered or incinerated.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

Item Name: Slag-Vent Gauntlets 218

Category: Personal Armor Upgrade (Gloves Variant)

TL: 5; Weight: 3 kg; Cr: 750

Armor Profile

• Armor Protection: Adds +1 Protection to the arms and hands against Melee impacts.

Specific Game Mechanics

• Alchemical Catalyst Focus: While wearing these gauntlets, the traveler gains a DM+1 to any checks made to cast, channel, or engineer thermal or transmutative anomalies.
• Alchemical Steam Vent: Once per encounter, the traveler can use a significant action to utter a vocal command, triggering the forearm exhaust valves. This vents a 5-meter cone of superheated steam. Targets caught within the cone must make an Agility check (DM-2) or suffer 2d6 fire damage and be completely blinded for 1 combat round.
• The Flaw (Thermal Back-blast): The activation of the steam vent generates an immediate thermal shockwave against the user’s inventory. Any fragile, hand-blown glass vials, chemical elixirs, or loose paper charts/scrolls carried in immediate personal pouches are instantly ruined, cracked, or reduced to ash.

Warhammer (Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition / Age of Sigmar: Soulbound)

Item Name: Slag-Vent Gauntlets 218

Classification: Aqshy-Fused Heavy Gauntlets

System Profile (Soulbound Syntax)

• Armor Value: +1
• Requirement: Body attribute of 3 or higher; Training in Channelling.

Specific Game Mechanics

• Alchemical Catalyst Focus: The wearer increases their focus pool or gains a +1 bonus to all tests related to casting spells from the Bright Order (Fire) or transmutation miracles.
• Alchemical Steam Vent: Once per short rest, as an action, the wielder can shout a vocal command word to trigger the exhaust valves. A 15-foot cone of superheated steam erupts from the forearms. Each enemy in the zone must make a DN 4:3 Reflex/Agility test. On a failure, they take 2d6 fire damage and are Blinded until the end of their next turn.
• The Flaw (Thermal Back-blast): Activating the steam vent creates an immediate wave of intense heat across the user’s person. Any uninsulated glass vials, potions, or paper scrolls carried loosely in your personal equipment pouches are instantly destroyed by the thermal shockwave.