Big Item

[Mokona]

Our party of 5th level characters found a +2 adamantine, disruption warhammer. By the book this item is way too powerful for a 5th level character and would cost 35,312 gp.

Which would you choose:

Sell the powerful warhammer and give each of the five characters in the party 3,531 gp and 2 sp. So all five characters can have a +1 weapon and +1 armor of their choice.

Let the most appropriate character keep the warhammer until the rest of the party has roughly equal treasure.

It doesn't matter what you want because your DM (like mine) doesn't allow the buying and selling of magic items. So you're stuck with what you get.

 

[Crothian]

if it is a good weapon for one of the characters keep it for them. If not, give it away to an NPC.

 

[Eolin]

Basically, what Crothian said.

There's a now-dead philosopher name of Bentham. He was pro progress and human happiness (read: pleasure). He endowed a chair at his old university, which his frozen head occupies. He only votes in case of a Tie, and then, whatever it is, he's For It.

Similarly, whatever Crothian says, I'm for it.

Note: Unless he makes fun of me. My feelings might get hurt.

 

[Razz0putin]

Similarly, whatever Crothian says, I'm for it..

Eolin I'd have to say from what I've read of Crothian that's some sound advice

 

[Eolin]

well, he is the most prolific poster. By far. That's got to carry wisdom with it.

Right?

 

[A'koss]

A disruption warhammer could definitely come in handy, I'd certainly keep it given the choice. Selling it for 50% of it's value seems such a waste for such a useful weapon at this level but if I were inclined to get rid of it (eg. it's not useful to the group) I'd think about trading it to a prominent NPC (probably a high ranking cleric) in the campaign for... something. Something the group might want, but could not easily get any other way?

I once ran a game where the PCs had dreams of building a merchant fleet and a uniquely magical "donation" to an influential church gained their "blessing" and exclusive trade rights. That alone was worth many times the value of the item itself. This is just an example obviously and probably not all that relavent to your game but sometimes thinking outside the gp value can be useful in the long-term.

A'koss.

 

[Celebrim]

+2 adamantine, disruption warhammer

How good is the DM?

If the DM is a particularly good DM, then I suggest that this +2 adamantine disruption warhammer is a plot device and it is there for a purpose.

One thing you might want to do is do a legend lore on this thing, talk to a bard and see if he has anything in his lore on this item, and so forth. Is the sucker cursed? Is there a prophesy surrounding it? Does it belong to someone who is going to want it back? Is there some legendary nigh-invulnerable undead creature native to these parts?

If none of this proves to be true and it turns out to be an ordinary +2 adamantine disruption warhammer with no particular history and no foreseeable role in future plots and your DM is the type that actually has a place where you can sell +2 adamantine disruption warhammers, then its likely that there are more of these sorts of things in your future and you might as well sell it unless someone has weapon focus (warhammer) because better things are coming.

 

[Delemental]

Like Celebrim, I have to wonder if this weapon wasn't placed on purpose. Does your DM do random treasure rolling and stick with the results no matter what, or does he pick and choose treasure?

If you don't want to keep it, but your DM doesn't allow straight selling of magic items, then give it to the church. If your world has some sort of undead-hating religion (like Pelor for Greyhawk) they might really, really appreciate this item. Enough to be willing to barter for future services (free healing, restorations, cure diseases, maybe even a resurrection).

 

[Nifft]

Yeah, like the others have said: either keep it for destiny and other plot-goodness or find a noble, church or other powerful NPC group who will put the item to good use, and grant your group favors in the future.

-- N

 

[D-rock]

Make sure it isn't cursed, there might be a reason it seems to good to be true.