A kinder, gentler vorpal weapon.

[InvaderSquoosh]

Jabberwocky!

Multiplier this, damage that, mechanics every-where. Sheesh, you guys are no fun at all.

How about going back to the source of the word for some inspiration on softening the vorpal blade? Let us recant the relevant section of that nonsensical poem from Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There:

[color=white]
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
  The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
  The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
  Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
  And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
  The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
  And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
  The vorpal blade went snicker-snack! 
He left it dead, and with its head
  He went galumphing back.

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
  Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
  He chortled in his joy.
[/color]

So, just what is meant by vorpal? Well, as far as I understand, it's just as nonsensical as a Jabberwock! A creative DM should feel free to impart any meaning to vorpal that he or she wishes. Personally, I think it sounds kind of nasty. Well, that's probably the fault of cultural inertia, but what the hey. Here's what I cooked up:

Vorpal: This potent and feared enchantment grants the weapon a Keen enchantment, an extra die of damage, and does maximum damage when a critical hit is scored. Also, should a creature drop below 0 HP from damage due to a vorpal weapon, instant death occurs in a suitably gory fashion, preferrably the amputation of a limb or lopping of the head. Creatures immune to critical hits are immune to the instant death effect. A vorpal weapon makes a snicker-snack sound as it cleaves its foes.

 

[Lela]

One of my versions of vorpal is that the crit multiplier is tripled. So the longsword has x6, the axe x9, and the scythe x12. So it is useful to every weapon.

Merc. Greatsword. Ahhh, droolllllllllll.

Vorpal: This potent and feared enchantment grants the weapon a Keen enchantment, an extra die of damage, and does maximum damage when a critical hit is scored. Also, should a creature drop below 0 HP from damage due to a vorpal weapon, instant death occurs in a suitably gory fashion, preferrably the amputation of a limb or lopping of the head. Creatures immune to critical hits are immune to the instant death effect. A vorpal weapon makes a snicker-snack sound as it cleaves its foes.

This sounds quite scary actually. Max damage on a Crit, it scales similar to that of a Flaming Burst or Icy Burst. I don't know that it would be a +5 though, maybe a +4 (+3 is too low). It might also be worth mentioning whether or not things like Flaming Burst are considered in the Max Crit Damage part.

The best part is the sound though. I think I'll adopt it regardless.

Whodat: Regardless, a Vorpel weapon should be something to quest for. If you could buy them, they'd be more common. Even a sickly prince or lord with money can take down a Fighter 20 with one of those. Make him look for it.

Bonus Points if you can get the rest of the party to have moral or honor issues with the idea of an insta death weapon. You'd think most Fighters and Paladins would be against such a thing that lowers the value of their training. With a Vorpal weapon, even a child can take down a knight.

*Notices closeness with current politics and steps back from Eric's grandma.*

 

[navriin]

IMC I've pretty much decided to change vorpal to an auto-confirm weapon. That is any threat scored with a vorpal weapon is automatically a crit. Still makes them deadly, but not guaranteed to kill. (I dislike a weapon which basically makes the past 20 levels you took in fighter worthless)

I suppose when coupled with burst weapons it could be nasty, haven't really actually play-tested it yet thought.