Alarming Character Combination

[Archade]

Okay, here's the deal. I have a player who is playing a half-dragon ranger/dervish with two scimitars. He's getting to be quite the moulinex. No problems there (although dervish dancing and flying together cause some stress on the noggin).

Now he wants blessed weapons. The Book of Exalted Deeds gives the weapon condition blessed as a +1 modifier that creates the effect of a bless weapon spell. Couple that with improved critical and two scimitars, and we have someone who can automatically gain criticals on a d20 roll of 15+ vs evil creatures, and oh, 4-6 attacks a round while moving.

The combination is really powerful, and the only thing that shocks me is blessed is only a +1 effect. Is this right? Has it been errata'd or changed in any later books?

 

[andargor]

Doesn't he need a standard action to activate the bless effect?

Also, throw more elementals and undead his way.

Andargor

 

[Hypersmurf]

Doesn't he need a standard action to activate the bless effect?

Nope - 'permanent and always in effect'.

-Hyp.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Now he wants blessed weapons. The Book of Exalted Deeds gives the weapon condition blessed as a +1 modifier that creates the effect of a bless weapon spell. Couple that with improved critical and two scimitars, and we have someone who can automatically gain criticals on a d20 roll of 15+ vs evil creatures, and oh, 4-6 attacks a round while moving.

The combination is really powerful, and the only thing that shocks me is blessed is only a +1 effect. Is this right? Has it been errata'd or changed in any later books?

Or he could put an elemental enchantment on it for +1 for an extra d6 per hit (every one) that ignores DR and has some other nifty uses.

I really think the brokenness here is coming from the use of a template that gives you +8 strength, not from the enchantment.

 

[Corsair]

I'd like to point out that if that is the worst you've seen, you don't have much to worry about.

However, remember that the BoED is OPTIONAL material. If you don't like it, don't allow it. You're the DM right?

 

[Plane Sailing]

If I were you I'd not allow blessed weapons from BoED. It is very cheap (same price as keen, much better benefit!) and takes away paladin schtick. Plus it poses you an in-game problem.

Just don't use it.

 

[werk]

Couple that with improved critical and two scimitars, and we have someone who can automatically gain criticals on a d20 roll of 15+ vs evil creatures, and oh, 4-6 attacks a round while moving.

Are you using an insta-crit house rule instead of crit-threat? That build should be bad, but not automatically critting on every roll over 15 unless he's fighting mooks.

 

[ken-ichi]

That is what the bless weapon spell does. Any threat on an evil creature is automatically confirmed.

 

[Gabriel Stryffe]

I'd like to point out that if that is the worst you've seen, you don't have much to worry about.

I agree, try running a character who is a 8th level Samurai, 4th level Aijutsu Master, and a 4th Level Kensei (3rd ed. OA) who crits, or threatens to crit on a 12 through 20. That's when it's time to start equipping all of your Bad Guys with the Holy Hand Grendade of Antioch.

 

[Rystil Arden]

I agree, try running a character who is a 8th level Samurai, 4th level Aijutsu Master, and a 4th Level Kensei (3rd ed. OA) who crits, or threatens to crit on a 12 through 20. That's when it's time to start equipping all of your Bad Guys with the Holy Hand Grendade of Antioch.

Assuming 3.0 as you did, that build is nothing compared to a Ranger / Disciple of Dispater / Weapon Master with Improved Critical and Favoured Enemy Critical fighting his favoured enemies with a Falchion.

It threatens a crit on a 3.