Bane weapon = +7???

[kreynolds]

Finally! You have no idea how long I've been looking for that. God am I glad I don't make staffs!

 

[Hypersmurf]

Finally! You have no idea how long I've been looking for that.

I told you...

... but did you believe me?

Noooo...



-Hyp.

 

[drnuncheon]

A reasonable opinion, but not supported by what is written in the DMG (for what that is worth).

Page 246, Adding New Abilities:

"If the item is one that takes up a specific space on the character...any additional power added to that item doubles the cost."

kreynolds: It doesn't apply to staffs, they don't take up spaces on the character. It's basically for rings & wondrous items.

J

 

[Mal Malenkirk]

Actually, neutral people can use holy or unholy weapons. Or both, one in each hand - only people of the opposing alignment get the negative level.

*sigh* You're right. Silly me, I forgot that this was one of my few houserule.

I didn't want neutral to be a "power" aligment, able to use all the alignment based items and spells while being immune to them at the same time.

i.e.

A good character can use holy weapon but is affected by the powers of an unholy weapon.

An evil character can use an unholy weapon but is affected by the powers of an holy weapon.

A neutral character can use both and is affected by none? By the rules yes, but unfair. So IMC a neutral character can't wield either type of sword in exchange for being immune to the effect of both.

 

[Hypersmurf]

A neutral character can use both and is affected by none? By the rules yes, but unfair. So IMC a neutral character can't wield either type of sword in exchange for being immune to the effect of both.

Huh? How does that work?

An evil character wielding a holy sword receives a negative level, but he still does extra damage when he hits something else evil.

What do you mean when you say "a neutral character can't wield" a holy sword? If he isn't losing the level, what's to stop him picking it up and swinging it?

Or do you mean that neutral and evil characters can't get the benefits of the holy enchantment? That it only radiates holy power in the hands of a good character?

-Hyp.

 

[kreynolds]

kreynolds: It doesn't apply to staffs, they don't take up spaces on the character. It's basically for rings & wondrous items.

J

Yeah. I already said that. Thanks though.

 

[Palskane]

One nice thing....

... that our DM does is allow a bane weapon to crit its specific creature. For example, if you have an undead bane sword, you can crit an undead. But only with that weapon. Makes it just a bit more useful, and needless to say, there are not very many bane weapons in his game. However, my priest of Kelemvor has an undead bane scythe with knockback vs. undead (only) as well.

 

[jontherev]

I can think of a few reasons:

1) Holy weapons need holy smite which is a 4th level spell, thus needing the services of a 7th level cleric with the Good domain. Bane weapons just need summon monster I which requires a 1st level arcane caster or cleric of any stripe. (Plus, of course, someone with the Craft Magic Arms & Armor feat for both.)

2) If you know you're going to be fighting lots of a particular kind of enemy, bane may well be better. Jethrok Giantbane the dwarven giant-hunter might want the extra +2 to hit, since he's fighting giants most of the time anyway. (And he might be fighting Neutral giants, too.)

J

1)True, but many party clerics would have the Good domain. This is not exactly a huge obstacle to overcome. My point is that they are both +2 enchantments, and Bane is much less powerful. Imo, it should almost be a +1 enchantment (not quite though).

2)This is obviously true. If you are going through something huge like Against the Giants, I'd much rather have that Bane weapon. However, MOST campaigns imo do not focus on one monster enough to make a Bane weapon as helpful as a Holy weapon. And they cost the same?

I just think Bane weapons are too wimpy. I'd rather see them as +3 enchantments with REALLY nasty effects, like 5 points of wounding damage per hit or something like that. As it is now, it feels much less useful and costs too much imo.

 

[kreynolds]

How about throwing Bane and Holy on the same sword? Now you get +2 & +2d6 against a particular creature, and if they are evil you get another +2d6 holy damage. Of course, right off the bat your sword is gonna cost you 50,000 gp. But boy is it worthi it!

 

[drnuncheon]

1)True, but many party clerics would have the Good domain. This is not exactly a huge obstacle to overcome.

Really? In my experience, clerics tend to go for the "sexier", more interesting, non-alignment domains, because they tend to reflect the aspects of their deities more than the alignment domains do.

J