Books of Swords

[Hypersmurf]

Whatever happens to the wielder is instead reflected on the user, this goes both ways however. Even healing spells will not work on someone wielding Doomgiver.

It's not really a drawback to PCs, though. Firstly, the wielder won't need healing very often, since anything that would damage him damages the attacker anyway.

But if he does, he just hands Doomgiver to the wizard, gets healed, and takes it back...

PCs will always look for the loophole!

Doomgiver's one of the five Swords I don't think would be workable in PC hands.

-Hyp.

 

[domino]

Townsaver doesn't really belong at the low end either. Give Townsaver to a paladin, and he's set. If he can get his hands on Shieldbreaker, he's effectively invincible, in defense of others.

Stonecutter, Dragonslicer (all they need to do is fly out of range) and Wayfinder might belong at the low end.

Coinspinner, Sightblinder at the medium level.

Nearly all the others at the high end. The VERY high end.

 

[domino]

From what I remember, Doomgiver has one power. Whatever happens to the wielder is instead reflected on the user, this goes both ways however.

It has one power that they specify. It may or may not have more. If you're the DM, then it probably won't.

However, it doesn't really NEED any more. You're now effectively immune. PERIOD. All you have to do is avoid Shieldbreaker, and you're good to go.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Townsaver doesn't really belong at the low end either. Give Townsaver to a paladin, and he's set.

Townsaver's powerful, but it's not that great for an adventurer. It's a very situational ability.

The paladin will kick ass in the gaming session where the evil army invades the village (though he might not survive), but Townsaver's just a really sharp, pretty sword when they go hunting the dragon, or retrieving the MacGuffin, or delving into the ancient abandoned Defence Center.

Whereas Shieldbreaker or the Mindsword are ultra-powered in any situation.

-Hyp.

 

[shadowbloodmoon]

That's why I wanted to find out if there was a away to stat them, because if you remember, there were some things even Woundhealer couldn't heal and Soulcutter didn't affect everyone and even Mindsword wasn't foolproof. I want to see if there was some power level, even if epic, that I could baseline them at. They will probably be not as absolute as they are in the stories, but I still want them to feel right as well.

 

[Hypersmurf]

My biggest balancing effect would be playing up the weapons weaknesses. Mindsword makes you one paranoid SOB. Farslayer tells the name of the person who last used it to the next person that picks it up. We all know Shieldbreaker's problem. The only one that I can think of without a weakness is Woundhealer, unless you count the fact that you can't hurt anybody with it....

Wayfinder's is my favourite

Sightblinder seems to draw an awful lot of attention to itself, for being the Sword of Stealth and all...

What's Stonecutter's weakness? Just that it's not especially sexy compared to the rest?

-Hyp.

 

[domino]

I keep just imagining the paladin saying "Leave your swords where they are guys, I got this." And now, he's protecting the party from the whatever.

I was going to say that the Mindsword was also situational, because who usually wants to go adventuring with an army, until I realized that it can just as easily be used against the enemy.

I wonder if it would have any effect against animal level intelligence enemies, or constructs and undead without intelligence.

 

[Hypersmurf]

That's why I wanted to find out if there was a away to stat them.

Here is Sean K Reynolds take (mentioned earlier) on them - somewhat powered down from the book versions. They're also 2nd Edition.

-Hyp.

 

[shadowbloodmoon]

What's Stonecutter's weakness?

You know, that's a good question. I'm trying to remember if they ever actually used the weapon to kill anybody with it. Twelve books is a lot to remember through, even though I've read them all three times. (Yes, folks, it's that good.)

 

[Hypersmurf]

I keep just imagining the paladin saying "Leave your swords where they are guys, I got this." And now, he's protecting the party from the whatever.

... while they stand behind him and cast lots of healing spells

Wasn't there a restriction on Townsaver about it only protecting defenceless people in some sort of fortification?

-Hyp.