Gem (EM)

See also Table H: Gems & Jewelry (EM).

A few definitions concerning gemstones are in order. Most minerals (and gems are usually minerals) are of two types—crystalline, occurring as single stones or clusters of stones, each having a definite structure that is regularly repeated throughout crystals of the same sort; or massive, occurring as continuous masses of the same mineral, having no regular structure that is readily discernible. (Technically, massive minerals are actually composed of a great number of microscopic crystals in most cases.)

Crystalline stones are often faceted, a process by which they are flaked or ground into a series of flat surfaces that together usually form one of several customary cuts, in the shape of symmetrical but irregular polyhedra. Both crystalline and massive stones may be smooth cut, which is the act of forming them into regular shapes with flat surfaces suitable for engraving (those often found in rings). They may be made into cabochons, oval or dome-shaped, with one flat side for mounting. They may also be carved into beads, figurines, symbols, and other shapes, or simply polished in the natural shape of the stone. Massive stones are sometimes found in large enough masses to be shaped like one would shape wood or stone; sections may be sawn off a large stone and used decoratively as slabs; or they may be carved (or even turned on lathes) into jars, bowls, and other functional shapes.

Inclusions are any of the specks of other materials, bubbles, tiny flaws, impurities, and the like which affect the appearance of a stone by their presence. Cat's-eyes, found among many mineral families, are caused by certain patterns of inclusions which, when a stone is shaped properly, appear similar to the slit-shaped pupil of a cat's eye. Star gems have analogous patterns creating the illusion of a pale, six-rayed star. Both cat's-eyes and stars must usually be cut as cabochons to display the effects (known by the terms chatoyancy and asterism respectively). The value of a given stone will depend on its size, color, relative freedom from flaws, and the skill with which it has been cut.

Those mystical properties associated with the various gems are to be associated with the "classical" forms; thus, while topaz exists in blue, colorless, and pink varieties, the mystical properties associated with the various gems are to be associated with the "classical" forms; thus, while topaz exists in blue, colorless, and pink varieties, the mystical properties with which topaz is credited are linked only to the traditional honey-yellow stone (and the similarly colored "oriental topaz"). When stones normally occur in a number of different colors, such as with agate, jade, jasper, and spinel (to name a few), this restriction does not apply. In the following text, each type of gem mentioned in the DMG is referenced by at least one of its popular names. The information on gem category (ornamental, fancy, etc.) and base value in gold pieces is taken from the DMG.

Reputed magical properties of gems: The Dungeon Master can use this list in a number of ways. The DM may choose gems with appropriate magical properties as needed material for the creation of a magical diagram or as part of the material components for the spells listed in the Fiendomicon of Iggwilv (see Spellbook). The gems marked with an asterisk may also be used to refuel Daoud's wondrous lanthorn.

Gem Type	Effects or Uses	Gem Type	Effects or Uses
Agate	Restful and safe sleep	Jade	Skill with music and musical instruments
Alexandrite	Good omens	Jasper	Protection from venom
Amber	Wards off disease	Jet	Soul object material
Amethyst	Protects against drunkenness or drugging	Lapis Lazuli	Raises morale and courage
Beryl	Wards off enemies	Malachite	Protection from falling
Bloodstone	Weather control	Sunstone	Wards off spells, evil spirits, and poisons
Carbuncle	Powers of dragons' sight	Moonstone	Causes lycanthropy
Carnelian	Protection from evil	Olivine	Protection from spells
Cat's-eye agate	Protection from spirits	Onyx	Causes discord among enemies
Chalcedony	Wards against undead	Peridot	Wards against enchantments
Chrysoberyl	Protection from possession	Ruby	Gives good luck
Chrysolite	Wards off spells	Sapphire	Aids understanding of problems, kills spiders, boosts magical abilities
Chrysoprase	Invisibility	Sapphire Star	Protection from magic
Coral	Calms weather, ensures safety in river crossings, cures madness, halts bleeding	Sard	Benefits wisdom
Diamond	Invulnerability vs. undead	Serpentine	Adds to wile and cunning
Hematite	Aids fighters, heals wounds	Topaz	Wards off evil spirits
Jacinth	Luck for travelers, wards off plague, protection from fire	Turquoise	Aids horses in all ways (but the stone shatters when it operates)

Gem Color	Meaning or Significance
Black	The Earth, darkness, negation.
Blue	The heavens, truth, spirituality.
Clear	The sun, luck.
Green	Venus, reproduction, resurrection, sight.
Red	Control of hemorrhaging, heat.
White	The Moon, enigmas.
Yellow	Secrecy, homeopathy, jaundice.

Find the value of each gem or group of gems on the table below, and check for gem variations:

Roll	Class	Base Value
01-25	Ornamental Stones	10 gp
26-50	Semiprecious Stones	50 gp
51-65	Fancy Stones	100 gp
66-80	Precious Stones	500 gp
81-90	Hardstones	Varies
91	Shells	Varies
92-99	Gems	1,000gp
00	Jewels	5,000 gp

Ten percent of these gems are worth more or less than their base value, either because of imperfections or a particularly splendid cut. Use the Gem Variation Table:

Roll	Result
1	Stone increases to the next higher value; roll again, ignoring a result of 1.
2	Stone is double base value.
3	Stone is 10-60% above base value.
4	Stone is 10-40% below base value.
5	Stone is half base value.
6	Stone is decreased to next lower base value; roll 1d6 again, ignoring a result of 6.
7-8	Stone is uncut and in rough form (if possible). Value is 10% of that listed until polished and cut by someone with jewelry proficiency. At that time, roll again on this chart with 1d6.

If the specific type of stone is desired, go to the appropriate table below and roll the stone type. Note that some gems have both economic value and commodity value if they can be used in creating magical items or magical spells.


Roll	Ornamental Stone	Roll	Ornamental Stone
01-02	Agni Mani	51-52	Nelvine
03-04	Algae	53-54	Nune
05-06	Augelite	55-56	Obsidian
07-08	Azurite	57-58	Oolite
09-10	Banded Agate	59-60	Ophealine
11-12	Blue Quartz	61-62	Rhodochrosite
13-14	Bluestone	63-64	Rosaline
15-16	Chrysocolla	65-66	Sagenite
17-18	Corstal	67-68	Sanidine
19-20	Crown of Silver	69-70	Sarbossa
21-22	Disthene	71-72	Satin Spar
23-24	Epidote	73-74	Sharpstone
25-26	Eye Agate	75-76	Sheen
27-28	Fire Agate	77-78	Silkstone
29-30	Fluorspar	79-80	Snowflake Obsidian
31-32	Frost Agate	81-82	Sunstone
33-34	Goldline	83-84	Thuparlial
35-36	Greenstone	85-86	Tiger Eye Agate
37-38	Hematite	87-88	Turquoise
39-40	Hyaline	89-90	Variscite
41-42	Lapis Lazuli	91-92	Violane
43-44	Lynx Eye	93-94	Webstone
45-46	Malachite	95-96	Wonderstone
47-48	Microcline	97-98	Woodtine
49-50	Moss Agate	99-00	Zarbrina


Roll	Semiprecious Stone	Roll	Semiprecious Stone
01-02	Agate	48-49	Malacon
03-04	Alestone	50-51	Mellochrysos
05-06	Andar	52-54	Moonstone
07-08	Aventurine	55-56	Mykaro
09-10	Bloodstone	57-58	Mynteer
11-12	Boakhar	59-62	Onyx
13-15	Carnelian	63-64	Orprase
16-18	Chalcedony	65-66	Phenalope
19-21	Chrysoprase	67-68	Rainbow Obsidian
22-24	Citrine	69-72	Rock Crystal
25-26	Clelophane	73-74	Samarskite
27-28	Datchas	75-77	Sardonyx
29-30	Dioptase	78-80	Serpentine
31-32	Gold Sheen	81-82	Skydrop
33-34	Hambergyle	83-86	Smoky Quartz
35-36	Hydrophane	87-88	Spodumene
37-38	Hypersthene	89-91	Star Rose Quartz
39-40	Iol	92-93	Tabasheer
41-43	Irtios	94-95	Tchazar
44-45	Jasper	96-97	Witherite
46-47	Luriyl	98-00	Zircon


Roll	Fancy Stone	Roll	Fancy Stone
01-03	Alexandrite	51-53	Jet
04-06	Amber	54-56	Kornerupine
07-10	Amethyst	57-60	Laeral's Tears
11-13	Angel's Skin	61-63	Mocca Stone
14-16	Brandeen	64-66	Octel
17-20	Cairngorm	67-70	Precious cat's-eye
21-23	Chrysoberyl	71-73	Scapra
24-26	Chrysolite	74-76	Shandon
27-30	Coral	77-80	Sinhalite
31-33	Golden Sapphire	81-83	Star Diopside
34-36	Green Sapphire	84-86	Tourmaline
37-40	Heliotrope	87-90	Tremair
41-43	Hyacinth	91-93	Ulvaen
44-46	Jade	94-96	Waterstar
47-50	Jargoon	97-00	Ziose


Roll	Precious Stone	Roll	Precious Stone
01-07	Aquamarine	52-59	Pearl
08-14	Euclase	60-67	Peridot
15-21	Flamedance	68-75	Raindrop
22-29	Garnet	76-81	Rusteen
30-37	Heliodor	82-88	Sphene
38-44	Horn Coral	89-95	Spinel
45-51	Orbaline	96-00	Topaz


Roll	Gem Stone	Roll	Gem Stone
01-05	Black Opal	54-58	Red Tears
06-11	Fire Opal	59-63	Rhodolite
12-16	Jasmal	64-68	Sapphire
17-21	Moonbar	69-74	Sard
22-26	Opal	75-79	Shou Lung Topaz
27-32	Orange Sapphire	80-84	Shou Lung Amethyst
33-37	Orblen	85-89	Tomb Jade
38-42	Orl	90-95	Water Opal
43-47	Purple Sapphire	96-00	Zendalure
48-53	Ravenar


Roll	Jewel	Roll	Jewel
01-06	Amaratha	37-47	Emerald
07-17	Beljuril	48-58	Jacinth
18-25	Black Sapphire	59-69	King's Tears
26-36	Diamond	70-71	Rogue Stone
72-82	Ruby	83-85	Shou Lung Emerald
85-93	Star Ruby	94-00	Star Sapphire


Roll	Hardstone	Roll	Hardstone
01-06	Alabaster (5 sp)	37-42	Luspeel (3 gp)
07-12	Archon (2 gp)	43-48	Marble (3 gp)
13-18	Hornbill Ivory (7 sp)	49-54	Meerschaum (2 gp)
19-24	Iris Agate (2 gp)	55-60	Pipestone (1 gp)
25-30	Ivory (1-5 gp, depending on quality)	61-66	Psaedros (6 sp)
31-36	Lumachella (26 sp)	67-72	Serpentine Stone (3 gp)
73-78	Soapstone (9 sp)	79	Star Metal (10,000 gp)
80-85	Sulabra (7 sp)	86-91	Tempskya (1 gp)
92-95	Turritella (8 sp)	96-00	Xylopal (22 sp)


Roll	Shell	Roll	Shell
01-05	Abalone, Red (10 gp)	37	Cowrie, Purple Star (4,000 gp)
06-07	Abalone, Green (25 gp)	38-44	Flame Helmet (50 gp)
08-14	Black Helmet (45 gp)	45-51	Horned Helmet (50 gp)
15-21	Conch (10 gp)	52-58	Mother of Pearl (5 sp for one pound)
21-28	Cowrie, Tiger (10 gp)	59-65	Nacre (1 gp for one pound)
29-33	Cowrie, Pearl (20 gp)	66-72	Nautilus (5 gp)
34-36	Cowrie, Opal (100 gp)	73-79	Red Helmet (20 gp)
80-85	Sardonyx Helmet (40 gp)	86-90	Shambos (1-5 gp per shell plate)
91-94	Trochus (4 gp)	95-98	Turbo (2 gp)
99-00	Unio (1 gp)

Gem (EM)

Magic Gem List[]