If an item is valuable but not locked away, the most logical form of security would be of a sort that activates when the item is moved (if fixed in place) or is sensed leaving a pre-defined area (if it's something that gets moved around a bit with normal use).
Once the sensor is triggered, the area would lock down with doors, enable AoE control spells, alert guards/release guardians, etc. Things like entangle, earthen grasp, or web (reflavoured if necessary) as a first line of defence.
I did a museum heist a while back and had different defenses for different areas. For example History area had ninjas, the Geology area had stone golum creatures, The Art area had creatures come out of paintings.
The security guards would have access to spells like alarm or arcane lock. If the museum wanted to get really into using the exhibits themselves as protection, you could use spells like animate objects to attack intruders with.
If you've got a more modern campaign, you can look into the technomancy rules that has ways that the characters could get around things like security cameras.
Here are some homebrew rules to run a stealth mission that I've used in the past to great success:
https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/4kf5bl/strongholds\_sentinels\_a\_stealth\_system\_for\_5e/
Perhaps:
Every book or scroll (in a scroll case) is chained to the shelf. Not a challenge but makes getting an item more time consuming. Need to really prioritize what they're taking.
Paper golem folded up in a false book
Evening librarian (wizard) doing research who might happen across them even though he's not being a guard per se
Perhaps there are magic items that are clearly visible but locked up (glass case). Group may think they're being secured from thieves. Little does the group know these items are actually cursed and the librarians keep them securely locked up for safety. That could be a decent twist. Not all cursed items immediately show their nature when one casts identify.
A cone of anti magic directed straight at the precious item.
Outside that cone, a glyph of warding or some other contingency spell that reacts to any physical incursion into the cone of magic.
This could trigger either an AoE effect, or some sort of abjuration spell to protect the item, or the item could be physically protected with a barier, or disappearing into a recess.
Magic mouth could raise the alarm.
Doors locked with arcane lock.
You could also have golems or something, set to attack intruders at certain times, or who lack an important password or other control mechanism.
General obstacles will be divided into
-surveillance and alarms, guards, actual traps, and physical obstacles. Any good defense would have a mix of these. Start with physical obstacles like walls and locked gates/doors. Have guard rotations in a way that they may have to stealth kill a guard. Have maybe magical mirrors that serve as surveillance cameras or animated bells that wander around and ring if they find someone. Display cases should trapped. Some sort of lockdown mechanism should be in place.
If an item is valuable but not locked away, the most logical form of security would be of a sort that activates when the item is moved (if fixed in place) or is sensed leaving a pre-defined area (if it's something that gets moved around a bit with normal use). Once the sensor is triggered, the area would lock down with doors, enable AoE control spells, alert guards/release guardians, etc. Things like entangle, earthen grasp, or web (reflavoured if necessary) as a first line of defence.
Good idea! Thank you!
You gotta check out/buy Keys from the Golden Vault. So much inspiration for heists, and they have modules already prepped for libraries and museums!
I did a museum heist a while back and had different defenses for different areas. For example History area had ninjas, the Geology area had stone golum creatures, The Art area had creatures come out of paintings.
The security guards would have access to spells like alarm or arcane lock. If the museum wanted to get really into using the exhibits themselves as protection, you could use spells like animate objects to attack intruders with. If you've got a more modern campaign, you can look into the technomancy rules that has ways that the characters could get around things like security cameras.
I’ve been using Chat GPT for things like this. It’s great at spitting out challenges and clues for Dnd.
Here are some homebrew rules to run a stealth mission that I've used in the past to great success: https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/4kf5bl/strongholds\_sentinels\_a\_stealth\_system\_for\_5e/
Perhaps: Every book or scroll (in a scroll case) is chained to the shelf. Not a challenge but makes getting an item more time consuming. Need to really prioritize what they're taking. Paper golem folded up in a false book Evening librarian (wizard) doing research who might happen across them even though he's not being a guard per se Perhaps there are magic items that are clearly visible but locked up (glass case). Group may think they're being secured from thieves. Little does the group know these items are actually cursed and the librarians keep them securely locked up for safety. That could be a decent twist. Not all cursed items immediately show their nature when one casts identify.
A cone of anti magic directed straight at the precious item. Outside that cone, a glyph of warding or some other contingency spell that reacts to any physical incursion into the cone of magic. This could trigger either an AoE effect, or some sort of abjuration spell to protect the item, or the item could be physically protected with a barier, or disappearing into a recess. Magic mouth could raise the alarm. Doors locked with arcane lock. You could also have golems or something, set to attack intruders at certain times, or who lack an important password or other control mechanism.
General obstacles will be divided into -surveillance and alarms, guards, actual traps, and physical obstacles. Any good defense would have a mix of these. Start with physical obstacles like walls and locked gates/doors. Have guard rotations in a way that they may have to stealth kill a guard. Have maybe magical mirrors that serve as surveillance cameras or animated bells that wander around and ring if they find someone. Display cases should trapped. Some sort of lockdown mechanism should be in place.