Vanguard Treads

These massive boots have spiked, treaded soles and look large enough to fit a heavily armored ogre. A row of inset amethysts runs around the top cuff.

Vanguard treads provide you with superior traction and stability, which provides the following effects:

• You can move through difficult terrain (such as rubble, undergrowth, steep slopes, stairs, or snow) at normal speed and without suffering any other impairment.
• You are unaffected by slippery ice, wet stones, or other surfaces where traction is a problem.
• You gain a +8 bonus on attempts to resist bull rushes and a +4 bonus on grapple checks to resist a grapple attempt if that grapple would move you into another square.

Areas that have been magically manipulated to impede movement (such as by an entangle spell) still affect you, as do water, quicksand, and other nonsolid surfaces. You still have to slow down for narrow paths requiring Balance checks and for surfaces steep enough to require Climb checks.

If the terrain deals damage (such as the burning ground on the Elemental Plane of Fire), you still take that damage.

The massive spikes and treads on the soles of vanguard treads leave a distinctive trail. Anyone following you gains a +10 circumstance bonus on Survival and Search checks made to track you.

Lore: Ancient giants made the first vanguard treads to aid their scouts in navigating difficult terrain and hazards (Knowledge [arcana] DC 15).

Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, spider climb.

Cost to Create: 1,550 gp, 124 XP, 4 days.

Source: Magic Item Compendium, page 145.