Cool ideas for a Paladin's sword.

[DWARF]

Okay, since the adventures I run tend to be pretty much dungeon-crawls, or the uses of a mount tend to be fairly limited, I've decided to give our Paladin something else.

I think I'm going to give him a magical sword, and I'm leaning towards making it intelligent. Though, I find the ability's in that section a bit lacking. What kind of ability's would be fun and interesting for a Greatsword-weilding 5th-level Paladin?

As it is a replacement for his bonded mount, ability's that improve with level is a possibility. I'm not so worried about the "rules" so much. What neat stuff do you think I could do for this?

 

[Keith]

How about the ability to summon a mount on the occasions when it would prove useful? Perhaps sometimes a horse, but at other times a flying or aquatic animal? This may be too close to what you want to replace, but it does perk up the mount idea (possibly too much for some people).
Anyway, just a thought.

 

[LuYangShih]

Since this is a replacement for his mount, it is a personal gift from his God/Goddess. As such, I would base the abilities off of that particular deities abilities, powers and beliefs. For example, if he was a Paladin of Pelor, I would give his sword abilities like Light 3/Day, Daylight 3/Day, the Sun type spells later, an increase to his turning power, perhaps bonus abilities against certain types of Undead, and so on. It makes the sword much more personal, and better tied to the Paladins particular faith, in my opinion.

 

[starwolf]

The coolest ability that a sword my Paladin had was one like the old Dreadstar comic. The sword simply existed in another "dimension" , thus the character could never lose it. It was also easier to go into towns without being "armed". Whenever he needed it he could just summon it into being. Of course in 3e this would also make it impossibel to disarm the paladin for more than a round at a time.

 

[DWARF]

This is in Kalamar, and he is a Paladin of The Valiant. Known as the Knight of the Gods, he's really based on valor and justice. Sort of a Paladin's Paladin.

Here's what I had so far.

After days of prayer and fasting, Steel (the PC, not too creative with the name) had not gleaned an answer from his god. Distraught, he decides to give it a days rest. He helps the priests in some menial tasks, packing away items and clothing after a big wedding. In the back of a dark storage area, he finds and old scratched wooden box. The long box has a large bronze lock on it, and seems expensive and important. He grabs the box and walks out, to find the high cleric.

The clerics tells him that inside is an ancient magical relic. It once served the Valiant, but after many years, grew silent and was put into storage. After a short search through a drawer of old keys, the box is opened; inside is a long bronze greatsword, covered in rust. The high cleric gently removes the sword, blowing a thin layer of dust off of it.

"It's too bad so many faithful relics like this have to die, just like everything else".

"I'm..... noh.....", something replies, as if from the ether.

The high cleric, startled, almost drops the ancient blade. Steel reacts and grabs the hilt. They both stand motionless...

"What was that?" Steel asks?

"I said" the blade speaks, "I'm NOT dead! By the Valiant, you try sleep for a few hundred years and everyone's ready to turf you into the dirt!"

-After this, I allow some Role-playing.

Now, for the swords powers, it is made not from bronze, as it seems, but from a powerful divine metal, Celerite. Celerite is a pearlescent white metal, mined and forged on divine planes for use by Celestials and other faithful servants of many gods. It will provide a +1 bonus and +1d4 or 1d6 holy damage.

But other than that, I don't know what I should add for powers. I was thinking perhaps using "weilder does not need to sleep", but I wonder if anyone else has a neat idea.

 

[LuYangShih]

I am not familar with KoK or the god in question, unfortunately, so I'll just have to speculate a bit here. Since he's a Paladins God, why not have the sword improve the Paladins own abilities?

For example:

The Paladins sword (I'll just call it Celerite) grants any Paladin wielding the blade an additional +4 bonus on his Aura of Courage ability. In other words, a Paladins Aura Of Courage grants allies within 10 feet gain a +8 bonus on saving throws against fear effects. Alternatively, Celerite could increase the radius of the Aura Of Courage by 10 feet.


Celerite grants any Paladin wielding the blade the ability to Empower any spell cast by the Paladin, without raising the level of the spell, three times a day.

Celerite grants any Paladin wielding the blade one additional Smite Evil attack per day.

Etc.

Alternatively, if The Valiant has any specific enemies or represents something other than Paladins, you could draw abilities from that, and give the sword bonuses against those specific enemies, or abilities that help in the other areas The Valiant has dominion over.

 

[Impeesa]

Instead of a mount, maybe he can ride the sword like a witch's broom! Just make sure it's sheathed...

--Impeesa--

 

[FireLance]

Instead of a mount, maybe he can ride the sword like a witch's broom! Just make sure it's sheathed...

--Impeesa--

Better still, the sword can transform at will into a Paladin's mount, like a figurine of wondrous power. Useful in and out of the dungeon!

 

[Stone Angel]

I too had a paladin that did not want a mount. So I gave him a leveled sword, the sword gets more powerful as he gains levels. Not just attack and damage though. It gets abilities and such also sometimes he has to do something and what he does may depend on that. Such as the party recently slew a black dragon and he is letting the blade soak in the blood of the dragon for a week. So I will give the sword something based on that.

Hope this helps

 

[Li Shenron]

I am not familar with KoK or the god in question, unfortunately, so I'll just have to speculate a bit here. Since he's a Paladins God, why not have the sword improve the Paladins own abilities?

And you may even say that rather than improving the PC's ability, the sword has the same abilities as well.

The sword can Smite Evil once per day (same as getting +1/day, but of course you need to use the sword).

The sword can Detect Evil at will (the PC doesn't need to concentrate).

"Lay on sword" for additional hp cured/day.

Mmmh... not much of an improvement