Gale's hunger triggers in certain locations.
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I mentioned this in the hotfix thread, but just to say it here, I do get the feeling that folks are occasionally overreacting to some of this stuff.
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Anyway, if I had my druthers, Gale would constantly need to feed on magic items. He'd never get the help from Elminster, but instead would have to draw upon items to even use his spells.
I prefer the idea that Gale has been entirely cut off from the weave and that he can only use magic because he's drawing on the power of the orb, which needs to constantly feed on items to power his magic.
I would also give Gale a unique, once per long rest, counterspell. Something where the orb reaches out and sucks away a magical spell before it has a chance to take effect, thereby negating that day's need for a magic item.
