Help me Balance this Weapon Ability

[EOL]

Does any one remember the anything items in the UA? Well I'm thinking of something along those lines for weapons and possibly armor.

So say we call this ability Variance. The DM would have to decide on what level of variance the weapon had. For an example let's say +3. At that point anyone using the weapon could (as a move equivilant or possibly a standard action) assign that +3 in any fashion he wanted. So it could be keen and holy or flaming, defending and ghost touch, or any other combination of abilities adding up to +3.

So what would this ability be worth plus wise? I'm thinking +2 on top of the "variance rating" or possibly double the variance rating.

Thoughts?

 

[Crothian]

I think that doubling is the way to go. But even that might not be enough. This is very powerful and versatile. With all the possibilities from all the books, this would be the perfect weapon in any situation.

 

[twjensen]

Ouchie, tough call

Adding a + won't work.

A Variance +2 sword at 25,000 GP seems about right (total bonus, +5).

But then a Variance +3 sword at 36,000 GP is a nifty bargain.

And a Variance +4 sword at 49,000 GP is an outright steal.

The DM throws the book at you when you want a +5 Variance weapon for the low, low price of 64,000 GP.

So, 2x bonus multiplier?

Now our Variance +2 costs 16,000 GP and seems a bit like the obvious purchase.

The +3 costs 36,000 GP. oops.

The +4 is now 64,000 GP, still a tough call.

The +5 is now 100,000 GP, still underpriced.

Overall, that doesn't work either. A 3x multiplier is going to just make things silly, who'd buy the dumb thing when there are so many great other magic items?

Maybe this is a weapon for the "let's not and say we did" pile.

Or, resorting to logic, how much for a car that can transform into an SUV, or a sports car, or a minivan, or some other type of car that hasn't even been concieved of yet?

Obviously, such a thing cannot be had at any price. So we're talking priceless artifact loaned by some extra-planar thing, and yes, the extra-planar thing will want it back, and NO, you cannot default on your late fees.

 

[BluWolf]

I would make this a minor artifact. Forged from the stuff of da proto-universe. A cool item but way too powerful to be forged by mere mortals.

I would also keep the + at +3 maximum.

 

[EOL]

Obviously limiting it to +3 kind of goes without saying. I'm not in favor of any one ability on any weapon being +8 and even +6 could be excessive. It sounds like you might want to create a limited list of abilities get rid of something like bane which could be very abusive. and maybe a couple of others. It's just an idea I'm toying with and as a matter of fact if I was going to introduce it, it would have come from an extra planer source....

 

[Crothian]

I like the idea and it should be workible. I never thought about that bane possibility. Ya, that just screams "Abuse Me!".

How about a list of certain powers that it can be used from? You said this is going to be from an "extra planer source". So, have the list reflect the source.

 

[EOL]

Yeah that's a good idea. If I do it, it will be coming from a celestial to a paladin, So eliminating stuff like unholy, chaos, wounding, bane and a couple of other's would make quite a bit of sense.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Hmm. Perhaps you could make it a simple +1 enhancement, that works similar to the defending ability:
"You can transform a part of the fixed magic enhancement bonus of your weapon into another weapon ability of the same cost. You do no longer gain the old bonus of the enhancement (To hit and to damage).
You can not change natural enhancement bonus (like from admantite) nor enhancement bonus of a spell (Greater Magic Weapon).
Changing the properties is a standard action.

Example (Let`s call it the "variety enhancement")
Krusk owns a Flaming +3 Battle Axe of Variety.
He can, if he wishes, change it to a Holy Flaming +1 Battle Axe of Variety (giving up 2 points of the bonus for the other part).
He would attack with the weapon like with a +1 Great Axe (+1 on all attacks), and inflict 1d8+STR+1 slashing damage +1d6 fire damage, and an additional +2d6 holy damage against evil opponents.

He could make it a Defending Flaming +2 Battle Axe of Variety, and use the remaining +2 enhancement bonus to add the bonus to his Armor Class.

He could not make the weapon a Shocking +3 Battle Axe of Variety, since he cannot change the Flaming Ability of the weapon.
If the Battle Axe was made from Admantite, he could have made a Flaming Shocking Holy Battle Axe of Variety, and use the natural enhancement bonus due to the admantite to add it to his attack and damage, but he cannot change this natural enhancement bonus to get even further advantages.

If a mage would cast Greater Magic Wepaon on his Battleaxe, and give it a +3 enhancement bonus, he could make a flaming shoking holy battle axe of variety, and would still have a +3 enhancement bonus due to the spell, but he could not use this bonus to change the weapon further.