9/29/2025
For the September 2025 Blog Carnival, “Magic Rocks” hosted by Wobble Rocket
The Diablo series famously has the ability for gemstones to be socketed into weapons and armor, providing different elemental effects. I do not see why we don’t steal that for our own games.
In the Diablo series there are usually five gemstones: Topaz, Amethyst, Ruby, Diamond, and Emeralds. In Diablo IV they added in Sapphires and Skulls (which count as gems?) bringing the total up to 7, but let’s stick with the classic five for now. They each do different things depending on if they’re socketing into a weapon, a piece of jewelry, or a piece of armor. I think we can apply those same rules to some generic OSR stuff:
Amethyst (100g value)
Weapon: After landing a critical blow with this weapon, regain HP equal to the your total HD times 2 (a 5 HD character would give 10 HP, not 5d8 * 2 HP)
Jewelry: +2 on saves vs Spells
Armor: Gain +d6 HP from magically received healing (potions, spells, etc)
Topaz (100g value)
Weapon: Critical hits with this weapon roll triple the dice for damage, not double
Jewelry: +2 on saves vs Paralysis
Armor: In response to being critically hit in combat, inflict damage to your attacker as if they had struck themselves with a normal hit using the same attack/weapon
Diamond (100g value)
Weapon: Attacks with this weapon are treated as magical (this, like all other abilities, is only activated at will)
Jewelry: +2 on saves vs Death
Armor: Treat critical hits against you as normal hits
Emerald (100g value)
Weapon: Critical hits with this weapon that kill the enemy give you your turn back in combat
Jewelry: +2 on saves vs Wands
Armor: Gain +2 AC against a ranged attack (can be decided after the attack is rolled), +1 if playing Aketon
Ruby (100g value)
Weapon: Critical hits with this weapon always deal maximum damage
Jewelry: +2 on saves vs Breath
Armor: Gain +2 AC against a melee attack (can be decided after the attack is rolled), , +1 if playing Aketon
Getting Gems Socketing
It takes an arcane magic user of at least 3rd level (a 5th level Seer of Dwarf if you’re playing Aketon) to be able to properly “socket” a gemstone into an item. The process of socketing is not just having the gemstone placed in an item, it’s doing it in such a way and with such ritual processes that activates the sacred geometry in the stone, allowing the user to draw on its power.
One item can only hold a single gemstone. Anymore and the sacred geometry is thrown out of rhythm, and the effect is lost.
A character may utilize one gemstone socketed item of each type at a time (one weapon, one armor, one jewelry). Anymore and the sacred geometry is thrown out of rhythm, and the effects are lost.
It costs 50g to have a gemstone socketed in an item by an NPC magic user. This takes d6 hours as they preform the proper rituals.
Anytime they would be used, there’s a 1-in-6 chance of the gemstone cracking. Once its cracked it cannot be repaired. If cracked again, it shatters, permanently destroying it.
Gemstones of 500g value or greater are called “greater gemstones” and can crack twice before breaking. Some gemstones can be discovered pre-cracked, these are always worth less than 100g, but can still be socketed if you’d like with the same effects.
Thank you for reading!
Until we meet again,
GOOD LUCK ON YOUR ADVENTURES
Ward Against Evil 
Leave a comment