How do you rule on invisible weapons?

[Zzyzx]

The rules for invisible creatures or characters in combat are relatively clear. But the invisibility spell can be cast on objects, and can even be made "permanent".

What rules would you use for a character that wanted to use an invisible sword in combat?

Or a character shooting invisible arrows?

 

[bestone]

Good frigin question

I...dont...know??

Im always a fan of the circumstance bonus, i'd apply some sorta circumstance bonus, as it would be a wee bit harder to time your dodges and parries against and invisible item, or dodge an invisible arrow.

hrmm, i'd like to see how other people would do it aswell, makes me wanna make a permanency-invisible rapier for a rogue.. of course, once it starts getting bloodied it'll be easier to follow

 

[Jack Simth]

DM's friend +2 circumstance to hit.

Until it's used to strike a critter, at which point it's made an attack and breaks invisibility.

 

[William drake]

Depends.

If the player is holding an invisible weapon, and fighting standard foe for that level, than that foe should beabel to tell, just by where the player is holding the weapon, just where that weapon's reach is, and afte the first hit, what it is.
However, if that weapon is a throwing weapon, and is thrown at a foe, they should only get a listen check, and if fail, then it just hits them as if they were flatfooted, if they hear it, then they get a reflex save to try and move but with a high difficulty, but that depends on you. I mean, somethings might move to fast for the player to hear it, let alone react to what they've heard.
Invisible weapons, just like people or monsters, are super dangerous. Play them that way, but make it rare so that it doesnt hold the game back.

 

[Darklone]

Thinking about an invisible whip...

 

[bestone]

than that foe should beabel to tell, just by where the player is holding the weapon, just where that weapon's reach is, and afte the first hit, what it is.

so your trying to say, that you can tell exactly if your opponent is wielding a longsword or a shortsword, just by "where" he is holding that weapon? unlikely

if the weapon is invisible, and he was holding, say a longsword, all you'd see is his hand in a loose fist, you wouldnt know how long the weapon he's using is at all, im sure after a few hits, you could Guess at its reach, or even what it is, but it would still be difficult

After the first hit knowing what it is? sort of, you could tell if it was slashing, piercing or bludgeoning, but you May not be able to tell if you just got cracked in the head with a mace or a club *circumstantially of course, sometimes it may be plainly clear*

Even if you had a good guess, and even if that guess was correct, it would still make it more difficult to fight against, your timing for parries and dodges would have to be perfect

Unless of course your trying to say that oh, even tho i cant see it, i know he's holding a longsword, and that makes it just as easy to fight against

 

[atomn]

Maybe this will help... Complete Scoundrel has a new magic item, Bladeshimmer (pg 114), that can be applied to non-living items to turn them invisible. It's rules say: if someone's holding the now invisible item it looks as if their hand is empty except by a keen eyed observer. Make an opposed check of the holder's Sleight of Hand (with a +10 bonus modifier) as the DC for the spotter's Spot check. A defender is considered flat-footed when attacked by an invisible weapon unless they make their Spot check to notice something is amiss.

 

[XO]

Blind-Fight

I'll remove Dodging and Dex from the target... But would limit the penalty if the target knows Blindfighting.

And I will penalize the attacker unless he has Blindfight.

High Int or Wis may eliminate or mitigate penalties: you must envision or imagine "where" your blade or other weapon is right now.

 

[hong]

What a silly concept.

No benefit, no penalty.

 

[RigaMortus2]

Considering the weapon is invisible to the wielder as well, I would think that the wielder would have at least a little bit of difficulty swinging the weapon. So I agree with the above poster, no benefit and no penalty.