Can a Whip be 'Vorpal'

[RUMBLETiGER]

Yet if his fist was sheathed in white hot flames, I'm pretty sure you'd still experience first degree burns.

Yup. zero Bludgeoning damage, but definitely some fire damage.

...or a punch in the shin could make my head fall off.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

That's the magic of vorpal.

Player: "I try to trip him with my vorpal guisarme. Rolling touch attack." *rolls nat 20*

DM: "Roll to confirm that you touch him critically."

Player: *rolls* "Does a 25 do it?"

DM: "As your character attempts to sweep at the enemy's feet, his head suddenly flies off, killing him instantly."

Player: "And he goes prone too, right?"

 

[kitcik]

That's the magic of vorpal.

Player: "I try to trip him with my vorpal guisarme. Rolling touch attack." *rolls nat 20*

DM: "Roll to confirm that you touch him critically."

Player: *rolls* "Does a 25 do it?"

DM: "As your character attempts to sweep at the enemy's feet, his head suddenly flies off, killing him instantly."

Player: "And he goes prone too, right?"

I love this.

But, obviously, DM can fluff it as s/he likes - maybe the guisarme takes the enemy's lower legs off at the calves, severing two major arteries and it bleeds out in seconds.

 

[Li Shenron]

I would rule in perspective:

Does it work if a PC wants a vorpal whip? No.

Does it work if a BBEG is using it against the PCs? Hell, YES!