A *better* magic sword?

[rbingham2000]

Here's an idea:

Just ditch enhancement bonuses altogether - it's not clear what they represent anyway. Instead, just add magical properties onto the weapon as logical. Flaming swords are simply flaming. Swords that are magically sharp are keen

You may have to create a couple of new properties. A balanced weapon might be treated as being one size category smaller, allowing a longsword to be used with Weapon Finesse, or a bastard sword to be used one-handed even without a feat. Another property might add a die size to the weapon's damage.

J

I like both of these ideas -- the ditching of the numerical enhancement bonus and the "balanced" weapon property.

Maybe for bane weapons, instead of granting a +2 enchantment bonus against the weapon's chosen enemy, the weapon instead inflicts double damage against said foe when it hits. The dreaded Demonslayer sword, for example, would deal a nasty 2D8 damage against demons, but would only deal the regular 1D8 damage against anything else.

 

[Jdvn1]

I'm reminded of the time that King Arthur lost his first magical sword (the one from the stone) and Merlin's reply was basically, "Eh, we've got more. C'mon, we'll go to the lake and get you a new one." And the new one was better.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

And as Thanee mentioned, if you keep the actually boni of the sword to yourself, and only tell your players the magical properties of their weapons, it will keep the sense of wonder for them.

Ugh. Two problems:

1) That's a LOT more work for the DM. His head may well explode more often as a result.

2) It is possible, in a fantasy setting, to figure out the difference between one sword and the next. Take the sword out back and start whacking at a log of a certain type/thickness of wood. Then compare to the base weapon. Keen, maiming, and vorpal can be determined by the mass slaughter of livestock (and then you sponsor a feast for the commoners!)

Brad

 

[maddman75]

No, but it seems to me that you are being unnecessarily limiting simply because you don't like the mechanical progression of +1, +2, +3, etc.

Would it feel better to you if you look at it this way:

1. Come up with ten names of weaponsmiths, maybe: Rogan, Pratar, Briyan, Marsal, Vindal, Chapat, Murtab, Wroati, Aloo, Tabak.

2. These are the only ten weaponsmiths in the entire world who have created magical weapons of greater than +1 value. Pick one to be the greatest (maybe Briyan), assign the others as having made +4 weapons, +3 weapons and +2 weapons.

3. Now you have a system of comparing the power weapons (and how well they are crafted) without using numbers. Everyone knows that a Briyan blade is the finest ever made by mortal hands. A Vindal blade is the equal of a Rogan blade, and superior to anything made by the other weaponsmiths. On the other hand, an Aloo or Tabak blade is only slightly better than the weakly enchanted weapons crafted by minor mages.

These rules can also add flavor to a PC magic weapon crafter. Making a simple +5 weapon is boring, but becoming famous for equalling the craftsmanship of Briyan is something to brag about.

That idea is *so* stolen. Though you have to take into account old swords as well. I rather like the idea that a bard would be able to identify a blade, and know its bonus in mechanical terms. I'm seriously going to hack on D&D, removing clerics, changing hit points, and banning evocation for a more sword & sorcery feel. Coming up with something like this is perfect for the kind of setting I want to have.

What I've done so far to make the magic system less mechanical and feel more magical was to define what all that gold was going for. IMC, there are rare gems known as Amberlite. These glowing gems are what allow permenant magic items. When someone makes a magical blade, the extra GP cost is mostly how much amberlite is needed to create that item. Further, an item can be destroyed to be used elsewhere, though this extraction wastes 50% of the value. Mechanically, this is identical to selling items for half price at ye ole magic shoppe and buying a new item, but feels more magical and less mercantile.

So with that system, the plus of a sword is obvious from the amount of amberlite used to make it. While it isn't a 1-1 ratio, a longsword with a single gem in the hilt is likely +1, while one with many large gems in the hilt and pommel is a weapon of great power.

It also gets rid of ambiguity over magical items. Magic items are ones with glowing freakin gems mounted on them!

 

[Dyne]

I've been toying with the idea of different levels of masterwork, as opposed to different levels of magic items. Magic items would be reserved for special abilities, like flaming or bane, as opposed to a simple attack or damage bonus.

 

[A'koss]

I love bringing in more flavorful ideas for magic weapons. There is no +1, +2, +3 IOC... we used a die progression chart to increase the damage instead. Instead of a +4 longsword you'd have sword that inflicted 2d8 damage (1d8 - 1d10 - 1d12 - 1d6+1d8 - 2d8). Bonuses on attack rolls themselves were rare, and don't necessarily mirror the attack bonus.

Special abilities often reflected the craftsman who made it and the previous long-term weilders of the weapon. It's as though a little of their spirits transfered into it. You could find weapons that provided bonueses to ability scores, skills, saves, class abilities, temporary level boosts, hit points and feats. If you possessed such a weapon for a time you could also impart something of yourself into it as well.

Magical weapons IMG are rarer than normal but damn near impossible to destroy - sundering them is extraordinarily difficult (though they will happily sunder non-magical weapons to prove their superiority...).

Details are key... it's not just a +4 sword - it's beautiful adamantine/black iron pattern welded blade with runes twisted in silver along it's fullered spine. Chevroned wire grip, and a twisted round adamantine pommel. Clearly the work of the northman mastersmith Yrael of Nareldyr...

Cheers!

A'koss.

 

[drnuncheon]

I decribed one magic sword as 'bearing purple runes that seem to drink the light around them'. That's one of the few times I've seen my players go for a disarm instead of a kill.

J

 

[francisca]

I decribed one magic sword as 'bearing purple runes that seem to drink the light around them'. That's one of the few times I've seen my players go for a disarm instead of a kill.

J

Brilliant!

Consider it snarfed.

 

[der_kluge]

No, but it seems to me that you are being unnecessarily limiting simply because you don't like the mechanical progression of +1, +2, +3, etc.

Would it feel better to you if you look at it this way:

1. Come up with ten names of weaponsmiths, maybe: Rogan, Pratar, Briyan, Marsal, Vindal, Chapat, Murtab, Wroati, Aloo, Tabak.

That's a really cool idea. Damn, that's the second really cool idea I've seen on ENworld today. Must be some kind of record.