I Like Multipart Items
I think they are cool.
Some History
Back in my formative years, when the fam' played 2.0 my brothers character had a magic sword. It was an intelligent singing and dancing sword. We only had like 3 pieces i believe, the blade, the pommel and the handle?
As more pieces were found it would get stronger. And I loved it so much.
Reflection
looking at the idea now there is an obvious problem How do they find the other pieces Normally players missing an item is fine. They walk past the secret room with the ring of wishes? you are breathing a sigh of relief.
But if they miss a piece then there is the very real possibility of them not completing it. and that sucks
My very thorough solution
Just have the items point to the other items (or use a map).
There is this powerful bow in one of my campaigns. Each of the three pieces tells you the general direction of one other. This also tells players that there are other parts to collect.
Sort of a Joesky Tax but not realy
Saturniinae, the holy bow of the hea'ns
Long a go back when the moth empire was around, there were quite a few great and powerble weapons. this was on of them. Of course when the lizard folk came up from their mud and swamps to ransack the place they broke it up and scattered the pieces (it was too powerful to be destroyed).
Staff of Darkness
A staff. Made of the darkest wood. In the middle is a handle engraved with peace lilies. there are notches on both ends. maybe they once held something
requires attunement
you know the general direction of the Arrow of Moonlight
- +2d6 necrotic damage on a new moon
- +1d6 necrotic damage every other day but a full moon
- +1d12 necrotic on an eclipse, the day where the night sky shows its supremacy by causing the sun to bleed
once per long rest you may surround yourself with an orb of shadows (10m radius). There may be no light greater than dim in this area. all allies gain 1d6 temp hp each round. It lasts for a minute.
Arrow of Moonlight
an arrow made of a silvery metal. it glows softly. when shot from a bow it shoots a replica out of hard light instead, staying in your hand
requires attunement
you know the general direction of the String of Stars.
- +2d6 radiant damage on a full moon
- +1d6 radiant damage every other day but a new moon
- +1d12 radiant on an eclipse
once per long rest you may cause all shots caused by the arrow to glow brightly and pass through solid material for one minute. if you do so that shot ignores armor (it flies straight through it, magic and dodging and stuff still works, it can hit undead, but not most constructs)
String of Stars
a long string with loops on either end. it is made of multicoloured thread, of all the colours of the stars
requires attunement
you know the general direction of the Staff of Darkness.
- +1d6 radiant damage when the moon is waxing
- +1d6 necrotic damage when the moon is waning
once per long rest you can cause strings of light to bind anyone in a 6m radius area. Dex save DC 11. or be restrained, blinded, and be given disadvantage on saves by these ropes. you can save again at the start of each round. the maximum duration of these multicoloured ropes is 1 minute.
Combinations
you may attune to any combination of these items with only one attunement slot if you are attuned to two of these you can use a once per long rest ability of them an additional time if instead you are attuned to all of them you can use their once per long rest abilities upto an additional three times in total.