Insightful Gauntlets

From: Vigilism

Lore: In the ancient lore of Vigilism, the Insightful Gauntlets are revered artifacts believed to have been forged by the skilled hands of Auron, the Ever Watchful. These gloves are imbued with the essence of heightened touch and tactile sensitivity, bestowing upon the wearer the ability to discern hidden or concealed objects. It is said that the Insightful Gauntlets were created to aid the vigilant in their quest for truth and justice, granting them an advantage in delicate tasks that require dexterity and precision.

Tier One Stats:

• Enhanced Perception: The Insightful Gauntlets enhance the wearer’s touch and tactile sensitivity, granting advantage on Sleight of Hand checks or picking locks. This represents their heightened ability to manipulate objects with precision and uncover hidden mechanisms or secrets.
• Object Detection: The gauntlets aid in discerning hidden or concealed objects, providing advantage on Perception checks related to tactile or touch-based investigation.

Skills Gained:

• Sleight of Hand Proficiency: The Insightful Gauntlets enhance the wearer’s sleight of hand abilities, granting proficiency in Sleight of Hand checks or advantage on related skill checks.

Cost and Requirements:

• Cost: The Insightful Gauntlets are considered rare and valuable artifacts, making them relatively expensive and difficult to acquire. They may be obtained through quests, trials, or as a reward for exceptional acts of perception, dexterity, or unwavering dedication to the principles of Vigilism.
• Requirements: To wear the Insightful Gauntlets, one must demonstrate proficiency in wearing gloves, possess a certain level of dexterity and tactile sensitivity, and earn the approval of experienced Vigilists who recognize their commitment to the faith and their dedication to uncovering hidden truths.

Tags:

• Exceptional Tactility: The Insightful Gauntlets enhance the wearer’s touch and tactile perception, granting advantage on tasks that require delicate manipulation or uncovering hidden objects.
• Vigilant Manipulation: The gauntlets aid in the manipulation of objects, enabling the wearer to perform intricate tasks with precision and dexterity.
• Guardian’s Insight: The Insightful Gauntlets represent the bearer’s enhanced perception and dedication to the pursuit of truth, providing advantage on Sleight of Hand checks and aiding them in their role as vigilant protectors.
• Additional: Dexterity, Manipulation, Finesse, Vigilism, Auron, Artifact, Hands, Touch, Perception, Precision

The Insightful Gauntlets, being a revered artifact associated with Vigilism, are not commonly sold through conventional means. Instead, they are typically obtained through specific channels within the Vigilism community. Here’s more information on how they might be acquired and utilized:

• Sanctuaries of Insight: The primary place where the Insightful Gauntlets might be obtained is within the Sanctuaries of Insight, the temples, and strongholds of Vigilism. These sanctuaries serve as centers of knowledge and training, where the clergy and experienced Vigilists safeguard and occasionally bestow such exceptional artifacts upon individuals who have demonstrated exceptional perception, dexterity, and unwavering commitment to the faith.
• Trials of Dexterity: To acquire the Insightful Gauntlets, followers may need to undergo trials or tests that evaluate their manual dexterity, tactile sensitivity, and their commitment to Vigilism. These trials could involve tasks that require delicate manipulation, precise touch, or showcase exceptional hand-eye coordination.
• Quests of Perception: The Insightful Gauntlets might be obtained through quests specifically focused on perception and uncovering hidden knowledge. These quests could involve retrieving hidden artifacts, disarming complex traps, or solving puzzles that demand exceptional dexterity and tactile perception.

Regarding usage, the Insightful Gauntlets are primarily utilized in environments and scenarios that require enhanced touch and manipulation:

• Investigative Tasks: The gauntlets prove invaluable in investigative tasks that demand precision and tactile perception. They aid in picking locks, disarming traps, and uncovering hidden compartments or mechanisms.
• Fine Manipulation: The Insightful Gauntlets enhance the wearer’s ability to handle delicate objects and perform intricate tasks that require dexterity and tactile sensitivity. They aid in tasks such as forging documents, crafting intricate items, or manipulating small objects with precision.
• Lockpicking and Thievery: The gauntlets excel in lockpicking and thievery scenarios, granting the wearer advantage on Sleight of Hand checks. They aid in manipulating locks, bypassing security measures, and performing stealthy tasks that demand finesse.
• Artifact Retrieval: Followers of Vigilism use the Insightful Gauntlets to retrieve hidden or concealed artifacts. The gloves aid in discerning hidden compartments, uncovering secret doors, or recovering ancient relics that are protected by complex mechanisms.

The Insightful Gauntlets are not items that can be readily bought or sold, but rather obtained through specific trials, quests, or tests that recognize the follower’s exceptional perception, dexterity, and dedication to the principles of Vigilism. They are highly regarded within the Vigilism community, symbolizing the bearer’s enhanced touch and dedication to uncovering hidden truths and protecting against deception.

Perception of Activation: The Insightful Gauntlets, like other artifacts of Vigilism, don’t have a dramatic, visually obvious “activation.” Their power is subtle and intrinsic, a constant enhancement of the wearer’s tactile senses and dexterity, rather than a sudden burst of energy. However, there are subtle perceptual shifts that occur when the gauntlets are donned and the wearer focuses their intent.

• User’s Perspective:
  • Sight: There’s no direct alteration of vision. However, the user might find their gaze naturally drawn to details that involve tactile information – the texture of a surface, the subtle seams of a hidden door, the intricate workings of a lock. This is not a visual enhancement, but rather a shift in attention guided by the enhanced tactile sense.
  • Hearing: No direct auditory changes are associated with the gauntlets.
  • Touch: This is the primary sense affected. The moment the gauntlets are donned, the user experiences a significant increase in tactile sensitivity:
  • Enhanced Texture Perception: The user can feel the slightest variations in texture, even through the leather of the gauntlets. They can distinguish between different materials by touch alone, identify imperfections in surfaces, and feel the subtle vibrations of moving mechanisms.
  • Increased Dexterity: The gauntlets seem to guide the user’s movements, making their hands feel lighter, more agile, and more precise. Fine motor skills are significantly enhanced.
  • Subtle Energy Flow: The user might feel a faint tingling or warmth in their hands and forearms, a subtle indication of the magical energies flowing through the gauntlets.
  • Smell: No direct olfactory changes are associated with the gauntlets.
  • Taste: No direct taste is associated with the gauntlets.
  • Extra-Sensory (Mind’s Eye): The user experiences a heightened sense of spatial awareness and proprioception (the sense of one’s own body position and movement). They become more aware of the precise position of their hands and fingers, and they can more easily visualize the internal workings of mechanisms they are manipulating. They might experience brief, intuitive flashes of insight – feeling the tumblers of a lock click into place, sensing the tension on a tripwire, or anticipating the movement of a small object.
  • Extra-Sensory (Emotional): The gauntlets promote a state of calm focus, dexterity, and precise action. Feelings of clumsiness, hesitation, or frustration are suppressed, replaced by a sense of confidence and control. The user feels connected to the objects they are manipulating, as if their hands are an extension of their will.
• Observer’s Perspective:
  • Sight: There’s no visible aura or glow emanating from the gauntlets. However, an astute observer might notice the exceptional dexterity and precision of the wearer’s movements. They might appear to handle objects with unnatural grace and skill, almost as if their hands are moving of their own accord.
  • Hearing: The wearer’s movements might become quieter and more precise, making them harder to detect by sound, especially when manipulating small objects or mechanisms.
  • Smell: No olfactory changes are associated with the gauntlets.
  • Extra-Sensory (General): Individuals with sensitivity to magic or fine motor control might feel a subtle sense of precision and intent emanating from the wearer. There’s a feeling that the wearer’s hands are operating at a heightened level of skill and awareness.
  • Extra-Sensory (Mind’s Eye): Other’s using the Mind’s Eye would not detect a change.
• Positives:
  • Enhanced Dexterity: The gauntlets significantly improve the user’s manual dexterity and fine motor skills.
  • Increased Tactile Perception: The heightened sense of touch allows the user to gather information and manipulate objects with greater precision.
  • Improved Lockpicking/Trap Disarming: The gauntlets are particularly effective for tasks that require delicate manipulation, such as picking locks or disarming traps.
  • Increased Confidence: The feeling of control and precision boosts the user’s confidence in their abilities.
• Negatives:
  • Sensory Overload: The heightened tactile sensitivity can be overwhelming in environments with a lot of tactile stimuli, potentially leading to distraction or discomfort.
  • Dependence: The user might become overly reliant on the gauntlets’ enhancements, neglecting to develop their own natural dexterity.
  • Subtle, Not Invincible: The gauntlets enhance existing skills; they don’t grant superhuman abilities or make the wearer immune to mistakes.
  • Limited Scope: The gauntlets primarily enhance tactile perception and dexterity. They don’t provide any direct benefits to other senses or abilities.

Recipe: Crafting the Gloves of Subtle Touch — This recipe details the intricate and demanding process of creating gloves that emulate the legendary Insightful Gauntlets. True replication is impossible, as the originals are artifacts blessed by Auron, but this method aims to create gloves that significantly enhance dexterity, tactile perception, and fine motor skills.

• Materials Needed:
  • Shadowsilk:
    • Source: Silk produced by a rare breed of spiders, or moths, that dwell in deep caves or underground ruins, completely devoid of light. These creatures spin silk that is exceptionally fine, strong, and sensitive to vibrations. The silk must be harvested with great care, as it is easily damaged.
    • Quantity: Enough to line the interior of both gloves. This will vary depending on the size of the gloves, but assume at least 1 square foot of woven silk.
  • Nerveskin Leather:
    • Source: Leather crafted from the skin of a creature known for its agility, dexterity, and heightened senses (e.g., a quickling, a phase spider, a displacer beast – depending on the setting). The creature must have been captured and dispatched with minimal damage to its hide, and the tanning process must be performed with exceptional skill to preserve the skin’s natural sensitivity.
    • Quantity: Enough to form the outer layer of both gloves, extending from the fingertips to mid-forearm.
  • Silver Wire (Fine):
    • Source: Pure silver, drawn into an extremely fine, flexible wire.
    • Quantity: 50 feet
  • Quicksilver (Purified):
    • Source: Highly purified quicksilver (mercury), treated alchemically to remove impurities and enhance its conductive properties. Handling quicksilver is extremely dangerous and should only be attempted by trained alchemists.
    • Quantity: 1 ounce (contained in a sealed, shatterproof vial)
  • Oil of Dexterity:
    • Source: A specially prepared oil, often used by artisans and thieves, said to enhance manual dexterity and fine motor skills. This may require a separate recipe or quest to obtain.
    • Quantity: 1 vial (approximately 2 ounces)
  • Ink of Precision:
    • A special mix of rare components used by scribes and cartographers.
    • 1 vial
  • Charcoal:
    • High-grade charcoal used for sketching.
    • 2 sticks.
• Tools Required:
  • Leatherworking Tools (Masterwork): A set of exceptionally fine and precise leatherworking tools, including needles, awls, knives, punches, and a stitching horse. These tools must be made of high-quality materials and kept in perfect condition.
  • Silversmithing Tools: Fine pliers, tweezers, and a small hammer for working with the silver wire.
  • Alchemical Apparatus (Optional): If purifying the quicksilver or creating the Oil of Dexterity, a full set of alchemical equipment will be required.
  • Magnifying Lens: A high-quality magnifying lens for examining fine details and ensuring precise work.
  • Needles (Microsurgical): Extremely fine needles, typically used for microsurgery, for working with the Shadowsilk and applying the quicksilver.
  • Containers made of glass.
• Skill Requirements:
  • Master Leatherworker (20+ ranks): Crafting the gloves from the delicate Nerveskin leather and Shadowsilk requires exceptional skill and precision.
  • Expert Silversmith (10+ ranks): Working with the fine silver wire requires a delicate touch and a steady hand.
  • Expert Alchemist (15+ ranks): Purifying the quicksilver and creating the Oil of Dexterity (if necessary) requires advanced alchemical knowledge. Handling quicksilver requires extreme caution and specialized safety procedures.
  • Expert Surgeon/Embalmer (Optional, but highly recommended) (15+ ranks): The precision required for applying the quicksilver and working with the Shadowsilk is comparable to that of delicate surgical procedures.
  • Expert in Dexterity-based skill (e.g., Sleight of Hand, Disable Device) (15+ ranks): The crafter must possess a deep understanding of fine motor control and tactile sensitivity to imbue the gloves with their intended properties.
  • Expert in Religion (10+ Ranks):
• Crafting Steps:
  • Preparation (1 week): The crafting process should ideally begin during a period associated with dexterity and precision, such as a time when a constellation associated with craftsmanship or agility is ascendant. The crafter must engage in dexterity exercises and fine motor skill practice for at least one hour each day leading up to the crafting. The workshop must be meticulously cleaned, organized, and well-lit (despite using Shadowsilk, good lighting is needed for the crafting process).
  • Shadowsilk Lining (2 weeks): Carefully line the interior of the gloves with the Shadowsilk. This is a delicate process, as the silk is extremely fine and easily damaged. The silk must be attached to the leather in a way that allows for maximum sensitivity and doesn’t impede finger movement. Use microsurgical needles for this stage.
  • Nerveskin Leather Shaping (3 weeks): Cut and shape the Nerveskin leather into the desired glove form, ensuring a snug but comfortable fit. The gloves should extend from the fingertips to mid-forearm. Stitch the leather together using extremely fine, strong thread (silk or a synthetic equivalent). The stitching must be precise and even, to avoid creating any pressure points or restrictions on movement.
  • Silver Wire Weaving (2 weeks): Using the fine silver wire, create a delicate network of conductive pathways within the leather of the gloves. This network should follow the natural lines of the hand and fingers, concentrating around the fingertips and palm. This is incredibly intricate work, requiring the use of magnifying lenses and specialized tools. The silver wire will serve to channel and amplify the quicksilver’s effects.
  • Quicksilver Application (1 day): This is the most dangerous step. Using extreme caution and appropriate safety equipment (gloves, respirator, eye protection), carefully apply minute amounts of the purified quicksilver to the silver wire network within the gloves. The quicksilver should be applied in a way that allows it to flow along the wire pathways, creating a continuous circuit. Any spills or direct contact with the quicksilver must be avoided. This step should ideally be performed by someone with experience handling hazardous materials.
  • Oil Treatment (1 week): Once the quicksilver is applied and stabilized (a process that will depend on the specific alchemical treatment used), treat the entire outer surface of the gloves with the Oil of Dexterity. This will further enhance the leather’s suppleness and the wearer’s fine motor skills. Allow the oil to fully absorb into the leather.
  • Etching Using fine tools and ink of precision inscribe runes and symbols.
  • Infusion Ritual (1 day): The final step is a ritual to focus and bind the various elements of the gloves together. This might involve:
    • Wearing the gloves while performing a series of increasingly difficult dexterity exercises.
    • Meditating on the principles of Vigilism and the nature of tactile perception.
    • Chanting invocations to Auron or to entities associated with skill and precision.
    • Exposing the gloves to a source of focused energy (e.g., a precisely aligned beam of light, a carefully controlled electrical current).

This recipe is extremely demanding and potentially dangerous, requiring mastery of multiple crafts, access to rare and hazardous materials, and a deep understanding of anatomy, alchemy, and fine motor control. The resulting gloves, while not possessing the full divine power of the original Insightful Gauntlets, will be potent artifacts, capable of significantly enhancing dexterity, tactile perception, and fine motor skills. The process itself is a testament to the dedication and skill required to achieve true mastery of hand and mind.

Grabbers of Groping
How to Find Things You Really Shouldn’t (Probably)

Brace yourselves, you grubby-fingered lot, for a tale… twisted by time, garbled by grandmothers, and probably embellished by bards with more imagination than integrity. This… this is the saga, as best as anyone can piece it together, of the… Grabbers of Groping. Or maybe they were the Mittens of Minute Manipulation. Or… the… Hand-Socks of… Hidden… Stuff. The ancient chroniclers… they were… not gifted with… clarity.

Long ago, before pockets were… practical, before gloves were… fashionable, before… people… even… knew what they were… missing, really, there was… a problem. A big problem. People… lost things. Constantly. Keys. Coins. Socks. Spoons. Surprisingly important… scrolls. (Scrolls were… a big deal. Back then).

They… searched. They… fumbled. They… groped. In… dark corners. Under… furniture. Inside… surprisingly large… and… grumpy… badgers. (Badgers… again. They seem to… turn up… everywhere). They… found… things. Sometimes. Usually… the wrong things. Dust bunnies. Spiders. Half-eaten… sandwiches. The… occasional… lost… sock. (But… never… the matching one).

There was… a… person. Or maybe a… thief. Or… possibly… a very frustrated… librarian. They were called… Nimble Fingers. Or maybe Sticky Hands. Or… Possibly… Bartholomew. The translations are… consistently… terrible.

This Nimble Fingers, they were… tired. Of… losing things. Of… not finding things. Of… accidentally… grabbing… surprisingly large… spiders. They wanted to… find things. Easily. Quickly. Without… the… screaming. (Theirs… or the… spiders’).

They… tried… things. They… tied… strings. To… everything. This… did not work. (It… mostly… just… created… a very large, very tangled… mess). They… trained… ferrets. To… retrieve… lost… items. This… worked, a little, but the ferrets were… unreliable. And… prone to… hoarding. Shiny… things. They… tried… praying. To… the… god of… lost… things. (There were… a lot of… gods. Back then). This… was… surprisingly… unhelpful.

One day (or… maybe… night. Details are… fuzzy), Nimble Fingers, they were… searching. For… something. Again. Probably. Maybe… their… keys. Or… their… dignity. Or… possibly… a… particularly delicious… cheese… sandwich. They… stumbled. (As one… does). Into a… workshop. Or maybe a… laboratory. Or… possibly… just… a very… messy… shed.

And there, on a… workbench. Or maybe a… table. Or… possibly… just… a… pile of… other… lost… things, they saw… them. Gloves. Strange… gloves. Glowing… gloves. Or maybe they were just… very… clean… gloves. They… felt… strange. Tingly. Sensitive. Knowing. (Or… maybe… they just… needed… a… good… wash).

Nimble Fingers, they… put them on. Because… of course they did. Who wouldn’t put on… strange, glowing… (or… maybe… clean)… gloves… found in a… messy… shed? And… something… clicked. Or maybe it… whirred. Or… possibly… it just… made a… very… faint… squishing… sound. The translations are… maddeningly… imprecise.

Their… hands. They… felt… different. Sharper. More… aware. They could… feel… things. Tiny things. Hidden things. Things they… shouldn’t… be able to… feel. The… texture of… dust. The… vibrations of… a… spider… walking on the… ceiling. The… faint… metallic… tang of… a… lost… coin… under a… floorboard.

They… reached. Into a… dark corner. And… found… their… keys. They… reached. Under a… dusty… shelf. And… found… a… surprisingly intact… cheese… sandwich. (Slightly… stale. But… still… edible. Probably). They… reached. Into a… badger’s… burrow. And… found… (quickly… retracted their… hand). Okay. Some things… were… still… best… left… unfound.

Nimble Fingers, they… became… a… legend. A… finder of… lost… things. A… master… of… manipulation. A… person who… could… pick a… lock… with their… eyes… closed. (Not… recommended. But… possible).

They… used… the… Gloves. The… Grabbers of… Getting-Things. For… good. Mostly. Sometimes… they used them to… find… lost… kittens. Sometimes… they used them to… retrieve… stolen… treasures. Sometimes… they used them to… win… surprisingly unfair… bets… involving… guessing… the number of… beans… in a… jar. (They were… very good… at… that).

But… the… Gloves. They… changed them. They made them… reliant. On the… enhanced… touch. On the… easy… answers. They… forgot. How to… search. How to… look. How to… use their… own… senses.

One day, Nimble Fingers, they… faced their… greatest… challenge. A… puzzle. Or maybe a… trap. Or… possibly… just… a very… complicated… doorknob. It… required… more than just… touch. It required… sight. And… thought. And… possibly… a… small… crowbar. (The scrolls are… uncharacteristically… specific… about the… crowbar).

Nimble Fingers, they… fumbled. They… groped. They… felt… everything. But… they… saw… nothing. The… Gloves, they… were… useless. Worse than… useless. They… were… a… distraction.

And… they… failed. Or… maybe they… succeeded. In a… completely… unexpected… way. The texts… are… contradictory. (And… covered in… what appears to be… cheese… stains). What is know is that they lost something valuable.

Nimble Fingers and the gloves were separated…

And the… Gloves? The original Gloves? The… Hand-Socks of… Hopefully-Not-Finding-Spiders? They… were… lost. Again. Or… maybe… they were… hidden. Or… possibly… they were… just… put… away. In a… drawer. Waiting. For… someone else. Someone… who… needed… to… find… things. But… also… to… remember… that… sometimes… the… best way to… find… something… is to… look. With your… eyes. Not just… your… hands.

Moral of the Story: Don’t rely too much on magic gloves, even if they do help you find lost cheese sandwiches. Use your other senses. Use your brain. And… maybe… learn to… live with… a little… bit of… clutter. Also, seriously, be careful around badgers. And… spiders. And… possibly… cheese sandwiches of… unknown… origin. And maybe get some pockets.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

    Gloves of the Unseen Hand

• (Minor Artifact)
• These supple leather gloves, seemingly ordinary at first glance, grant the wearer an unnatural sensitivity to touch and an uncanny ability to manipulate small objects. However, this heightened perception comes at a cost, blurring the line between the physical and the unseen.
• Sanity Cost: 0/1d4 Sanity loss to don the gloves for the first time. Each hour spent wearing the gloves costs 1 Sanity point.
• Effects:
  • Preternatural Dexterity: The wearer gains a +20% bonus to any Dexterity, Sleight of Hand, Locksmith, or Mechanical Repair skill rolls that involve fine motor skills or tactile manipulation.
  • Unseen Vibrations: The wearer can feel subtle vibrations and energy flows through their hands. This grants a +10% bonus to any Spot Hidden rolls made to detect hidden objects, traps, or mechanisms by touch alone. The wearer may, at the Keeper’s discretion, also gain cryptic clues or unsettling sensations related to the object’s history or purpose (potentially costing additional Sanity).
  • Thin Veil: While wearing the gloves, the wearer is more susceptible to the influence of the unseen world. They suffer a -10% penalty to resist any form of psychic attack or influence from Mythos entities that involve subtle manipulation or suggestion.
• Investigator Adaptation: The Gloves of the Unseen Hand are a powerful but risky tool for Investigators. They offer significant advantages in situations requiring delicate manipulation, investigation, or disarming traps. However, the Sanity cost and increased vulnerability to Mythos influence make them a dangerous item to use regularly. They should be reserved for situations where their benefits outweigh the considerable risks.

Blades in the Dark

    The Fingersmith’s Touch

• (Fine Gear, Subtle, Eerie)
• These gloves, crafted from impossibly thin and supple leather, seem to almost meld with the wearer’s hands, granting them unparalleled dexterity and an uncanny sense of touch. They whisper with the secrets of hidden mechanisms and forgotten crafts.
• Quality: 3
• Usage:
  • Fine Manipulation: Grants +1d to Finesse rolls when picking locks, disarming traps, performing sleight of hand, or crafting delicate objects.
  • Hidden Mechanisms: Grants +1d to Tinker or Wreck rolls when attempting to understand, disable, or manipulate hidden mechanisms or complex devices.
  • Whispers of the Past: The wearer can spend 1 stress to gain a brief, cryptic vision or tactile sensation related to the history of an object they are touching. This information might be helpful, misleading, or simply unsettling (GM’s discretion).
• Properties:
  • Subtle: The gloves’ effects are not immediately obvious, making them useful for discreet operations.
  • Eerie: The gloves’ unnatural sensitivity and the whispers they convey can be unsettling to others.
• Crew Adaptation: The Fingersmith’s Touch is a valuable asset for a crew of Shadows, Assassins, or Smugglers. They enhance the wearer’s ability to overcome obstacles that require finesse, precision, and an understanding of hidden mechanisms. The “Whispers of the Past” ability adds a unique element of risk and reward, encouraging players to delve into the history of objects and locations.

Dungeons & Dragons (5e)

    Insightful Gauntlets

• (Wondrous Item, Rare, Requires Attunement)
• These supple leather gloves are reinforced with thin metal plates and etched with intricate runes. They grant the wearer enhanced dexterity and an almost preternatural ability to perceive hidden objects and mechanisms.
• Properties:
  • Dexterity Enhancement: While wearing the gauntlets, your Dexterity score increases by 2, to a maximum of 20.
  • Expert Manipulation: You have proficiency in Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) checks. If you are already proficient, you add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.
  • Investigative Touch: You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) and Intelligence (Investigation) checks that rely on touch.
• These gloves will give four additional item slots.
• Campaign Adaptation: The Insightful Gauntlets are a valuable item for any character who relies on dexterity, fine motor skills, or investigation. They’re particularly well-suited for rogues, bards, artificers, and any character who frequently interacts with traps, locks, or hidden objects.

Knave

    Spider-Fingered Gloves

• Gloves made of impossibly thin and supple leather, seemingly clinging to the wearer’s hands.
• Bonus: +2 to rolls made to pick locks, disarm traps, perform sleight of hand, or manipulate small objects.
• Abilities (Roll 1d6 each time the gloves are used for a delicate task):
  • Perfect Precision: The task automatically succeeds, regardless of difficulty.
  • Hidden Mechanism: You instantly detect any hidden mechanisms or traps associated with the object you are manipulating.
  • Subtle Vibration: You feel a faint vibration that reveals a hidden clue or a secret about the object (GM’s discretion).
  • Clumsy Fumble: You drop the object or trigger a trap (if applicable).
  • Numbing Touch: Your hands become numb and clumsy, imposing disadvantage on your next action.
  • Unsettling Sensation: You feel a brief, disturbing sensation of something crawling on your skin, suffering 1d4 damage to your Wisdom score (recoverable with rest).
• Slots These gloves allow the user to use four extra items.
• Drawback: Each time the gloves are used, there is a 1 in 6 chance that they attract the attention of spiders or other vermin (GM’s discretion).
• Character Adaptation: The Spider-Fingered Gloves are a powerful but unpredictable tool. Their significant bonus to dexterity-based tasks makes them a tempting choice for any character, but the random nature of their abilities and the potential drawback encourage careful consideration and strategic use. The GM should use the drawback to introduce complications and challenges, forcing the player to weigh the benefits of the gloves against their potential dangers. They encourage a play style of risk and reward.

Fate (Core/Condensed)

• Insightful Gauntlets
• (Artifact)
• These supple gloves, crafted from the hide of a creature with exceptional senses, grant the wearer unparalleled dexterity and an intuitive understanding of mechanisms and hidden details.
• Aspects:
  • High Concept: Gloves of the Master Thief (or similar, reflecting the character’s focus)
  • Trouble: Overly Sensitive (can be overwhelmed by tactile input or distracted by minor details)
  • Other Aspects: Whisper-Light Touch, Secrets in Every Seam, Hands of a Surgeon
• Skills:
  • Provides a +2 bonus to overcome obstacles or create advantages related to picking locks, disarming traps, performing sleight of hand, crafting delicate objects, or investigating objects by touch.
  • Can be used to create advantages related to understanding the workings of mechanisms or detecting hidden compartments.
• Stunts:
  • Uncanny Fingers: Spend a Fate point to automatically succeed at a task requiring extreme manual dexterity, such as picking an incredibly complex lock or disarming a highly sensitive trap, regardless of the difficulty.
  • Tactile Intuition: Spend a Fate point to gain a cryptic clue or piece of information about an object you are touching, such as its history, its purpose, or a hidden danger associated with it.
  • Feather-Light Touch: Spend a Fate point. For the rest of the scene, any attempts to detect you via touch on are at -2.
• Slots: The user can now carry four additional items.
• Consequences: The gauntlets can be used to absorb physical or mental consequences related to failed dexterity checks or being overwhelmed by sensory input.  However, doing so increases their Trouble. Each time add “Tingling Numbness” to the gloves.
• Character/Campaign Integration: The Insightful Gauntlets are well-suited for a character who is a thief, a spy, an artisan, or an investigator. The aspects and stunts encourage a playstyle focused on finesse, precision, and uncovering secrets through touch. The “Overly Sensitive” aspect provides opportunities for complications and roleplaying, as the wearer struggles to manage the flood of tactile information.

Numenera/Cypher System

    Gauntlets of the Artificer’s Sense

• (Artifact, Level 4)
• These gloves, crafted from a flexible, unknown material that seems to hum with subtle energy, grant the wearer an enhanced sense of touch and an intuitive understanding of mechanisms.
• Level: 4
• Form: Gloves
• Effect:
  • Enhanced Dexterity: Reduces the difficulty of all tasks related to fine motor skills, manual dexterity, and manipulating small objects by one step.
  • Tactile Analysis: Reduces the difficulty of all tasks related to understanding, repairing, or disabling mechanisms by one step.
  • Hidden Details: The wearer can spend 2 Intellect points to gain a +3 bonus to their next action related to searching for hidden objects, compartments, or traps by touch.
  • Sensory Overload: Each time “Hidden Details” is used, the wielder must make an Intellect defense roll (difficulty 4). Failure results in 1d4 Intellect damage (ignores Armor) as the gloves overwhelm them with tactile information.
  • Depletion: 1 in 1d10 (each time “Hidden Details” is used). If depleted, the gloves become inert and must be recharged by exposing them to a specific type of energy or phenomenon (e.g., a device that emits subtle vibrations, a flow of kinetic energy, a concentration of numenera).
• Slots: These gloves provide four extra item slots.
• Character/Campaign Integration: The Gauntlets of the Artificer’s Sense are a versatile artifact, suitable for a variety of character types in Numenera. Their abilities make them ideal for exploration, crafting, and interacting with the strange technology of the Ninth World. The depletion mechanic and the risk of sensory overload encourage careful use and create opportunities for adventure.

Pathfinder (Second Edition)

    Insightful Gauntlets

• (Artifact)
• These supple leather gloves are reinforced with delicate silver wire and etched with runes of perception. They enhance the wearer’s dexterity, tactile sensitivity, and ability to uncover hidden details.
• Usage: worn (gloves); Bulk: L
• Traits: Artifact, Invested, Magical, Divination
• Properties:
  • Dexterous Hands: While wearing the gauntlets, you gain a +2 item bonus to Thievery checks and to any skill checks made to pick locks, disable traps, or perform other tasks requiring fine motor skills.
  • Tactile Perception: While wearing the gauntlets, you gain a +2 item bonus to Perception checks that rely on touch.
  • Hidden Insight: Once per day, you can spend a single action, which has the concentrate trait, to focus your tactile senses on an object you are touching. You automatically detect any hidden compartments, mechanisms, or traps associated with that object.
• Slots: +4 item slots.
• Campaign Integration: The Insightful Gauntlets are a valuable item for any character who relies on dexterity, fine motor skills, or investigation. They’re particularly well-suited for rogues, investigators, inventors, and any character who frequently interacts with traps, locks, or hidden objects.

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)

    Gloves of the Master Thief

• (Artifact)
• These supple leather gloves, seemingly ordinary at first glance, grant the wearer an uncanny sense of touch and an almost preternatural ability to manipulate small objects.
• Device Type: Gloves
• Powers:: The gloves grant the following abilities.
  • Nimble Fingers: The wearer gains a +2 bonus to Thievery, Lockpicking, and Repair rolls that involve fine manipulation.
  • Tactile Sense: The wearer gains a +2 bonus to Notice rolls that rely on touch.
  • Find Weakness: Can use their action to touch an item and learn of its structural weakness.
• Notes: The gloves are exceptionally well-made and comfortable, allowing for maximum dexterity.
• Slots: The gloves allow for four extra item slots.
• Campaign Integration: The Gloves of the Master Thief are a valuable asset for any character who relies on stealth, thievery, or fine manipulation. Their bonuses to Thievery, Lockpicking, Repair, and Notice make them a significant advantage in a variety of situations. They’re a suitable reward for a challenging quest, a treasure found in a thief’s stash, or a signature item for a master criminal or a skilled artisan. The GM should consider the overall power level of the campaign and the availability of other magical items before introducing these gloves.

Shadowrun (6th World Edition)

    “Microsense” Gloves

• (Custom Gear)
• These gloves, crafted from advanced polymers and incorporating a network of micro-sensors, enhance the wearer’s tactile perception and manual dexterity to an extraordinary degree.
• Availability: 16R (Restricted)
• Cost: 32,000¥
• Effects:
  • Fine Manipulation: The gloves grant a +3 dice pool modifier to any tests involving fine motor skills, such as Locksmith, Palming, Forgery, or Demolitions (when disarming explosives).
  • Tactile Sensors: The gloves provide a +2 dice pool modifier to Perception tests that rely on touch, allowing the wearer to detect subtle vibrations, temperature changes, or hidden mechanisms.
  • Feedback System: The gloves provide haptic feedback, allowing the wearer to “feel” the internal workings of locks and other mechanisms. This grants a +1 dice pool modifier to any Locksmith or Hardware tests made to bypass or disable such devices.
• Wireless Bonus: If the gloves are wirelessly enabled (risky!), they can interface with other devices, providing additional data and potentially enhancing the wearer’s abilities further (+1 die to relevant tests). However, this also makes the gloves vulnerable to hacking.
• Slots: Four additional item slots.
• Runner/Campaign Adaptation: The “Microsense” Gloves are a high-end piece of gear, suitable for a street samurai specializing in infiltration, a decker who also engages in physical tasks, or a rigger who needs to perform delicate repairs. Their bonuses to fine manipulation and tactile perception make them incredibly versatile, but their Restricted availability and high cost mean that acquiring them will be a significant challenge.

Starfinder

    Gloves of the Tactile Adept

• (Hybrid Item, Level 10)
• These gloves, crafted from a combination of advanced polymers and magically-treated leather, enhance the wearer’s dexterity and grant them an almost preternatural sense of touch.
• Level: 10
• Price: 20,000 credits
• Bulk: L
• Properties:
  • Dexterity Enhancement: While wearing the gloves, you gain a +2 enhancement bonus to Dexterity-based skill checks.
  • Tactile Perception: You gain a +2 insight bonus to Perception checks that rely on touch.
  • Trap Sense: You gain a +2 insight bonus to Engineering checks made to disable traps.
  • Hidden Compartment Detection: Once per day, you can spend 10 minutes examining an object or area while wearing the gloves. If there are any hidden compartments, mechanisms, or traps within the area you examined, you automatically detect them.
• Slots: +4 Item slots.
• Character/Campaign Integration: The Gloves of the Tactile Adept are a valuable item for operatives, mechanics, and any character who relies on dexterity, fine motor skills, or investigation. Their bonuses to skill checks and their ability to detect hidden elements make them versatile and useful in a variety of situations.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

    Sensor Gloves

• (TL-10 Gear)
• These gloves, incorporating advanced micro-sensors and haptic feedback technology, enhance the wearer’s tactile perception and manual dexterity.
• Tech Level: TL-10
• Weight: 0.5 kg
• Cost: Cr5,000
• Effects:
  • Dexterity Enhancement: The gloves grant a +1 DM to all Dexterity checks involving fine motor skills or manual manipulation.
  • Tactile Sensors: The gloves provide a +2 DM to any Investigate or Recon checks that rely on touch, allowing the wearer to detect subtle vibrations, temperature changes, or hidden mechanisms.
  • Security Bypass: The gloves grant a +1 DM to Security checks made to pick locks or disable traps.
• Slots: +4 Item slots.
• Character/Campaign Integration: The Sensor Gloves are a useful piece of equipment for a variety of characters, particularly those involved in espionage, infiltration, or technical tasks. Their bonuses to Dexterity, Investigate, Recon, and Security make them versatile and valuable in a range of situations.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)

    Gloves of the Master Thief

• (Magical Item)
• These gloves, crafted from supple, dark leather and embroidered with subtle runes of dexterity and perception, enhance the wearer’s fine motor skills and tactile sensitivity.
• Encumbrance: 0
• Availability: Rare
• Properties:
  • Nimble Fingers: While wearing the gloves, you gain a +20 bonus to Dexterity tests related to picking locks, disarming traps, performing sleight of hand, or crafting delicate objects.
  • Subtle Touch: While wearing the gloves, you gain a +10 bonus to Perception tests that rely on touch.
  • Keen Senses: The gloves subtly heighten the wearer’s awareness of their surroundings, granting a +1 SL (Success Level) to any Initiative tests.
• Slots: Four Item Slots.
• Character/Campaign Adaptation: The Gloves of the Master Thief are a valuable item for any character who relies on dexterity, stealth, or fine manipulation. They’re particularly well-suited for thieves, spies, assassins, and artisans. The significant bonus to Dexterity tests makes them incredibly effective for their intended purpose, but their Rare availability means they should be a significant reward or a carefully guarded treasure. The GM should consider the impact of these gloves on the campaign’s balance and adjust challenges accordingly.