How Has Your group used the "SUN BLADE"

[questionmark]

I am thinking of introducing the sun blade(SB) from the dmg into my game but I have some questions.

1. Could a rogue use a SB to sneak atk undead?

2. IS this a "frozen" item or could pc get a wizard/blacksmith to further enchant the blade. If so what is the base enchantment of a sunblade.

3. Could a SB be something other than a bastard sword. Like a greatsword that acts like a bastard sword, or perhaps a greataxe.

4. Is this the only weapon that can crit undead? Does every good vampire hunter or undead slayer have one.

5. How did your game go with a sunblade in the party's hands?

6. Is the sunblade properties tied to a specific metal (sundanium or sum such) or is it a enchantment placed on any metal.

7. Has any one had a pc try to have one made? Or are they always found,looted, or given as a reward.

8. I play in the FRCS so anyone have any thoughts on a story background for this weapon. It seems to me that every adventurer in faerun that had the money and frequently dealed with undead would own at least one one of these no question.

9. Do intelligent undead wet their pants when a palladin struts in to their crypt sportin a SB? Should their be some kind of frightfull presence.

10. Was anyone else surprised to see the sunblade in 3.5?

11. Why does it only cost fifty thousand three hundred and thirty five gold?

Thanks alot.

 

[Piratecat]

The hunter of the dead has an intelligent sunblade in my game; it's tremendously useful.

 

[Eolin]

Given the price, that means its a +5 weapon ... (5 squared) times 2 is 50k. The rest is how much a masterworked bastardsword costs. That's +2 for the bonus, +2 for the bane-like enchantment, and a +1 for the super brightness stuff. More or less. Now that we know that, we can answer the other questions:

1. I'm not sure. I'd probably say no -- while the SB allows them to be critted, undead are still immune to crits -- the rogue doesn't know where to hit to get the sneak attack in.

2. Since its a +5, I say its your call. Expensive as crap, though.

3. Gm call. It won't upset much of anything, so i say yes.

4. This is a lot like the Bane enchantment, only a bit more powerful. I'd say GM call. I know of no other standard item that can.

5. The forsaker grabbed it and before the guy with the Oath of Poverty could talk him out of it, it was DR for a few weeks.

6. Magic. Sweet Magic.

7. We always find em. But i reckon some good-aligned weapon maker would be obliging.

9. I would.

10. No

11. Its a plus five, as discussed above.

 

[Hypersmurf]

A Sunblade has no special ability to crit undead.

"Against Negative Energy Plane creatures or undead creatures, the sword deals double damage (and x3 on a critical hit instead of the usual x2)."

It deals x3 damage if you manage to achieve a critical hit against a Negative Energy Plane creature or undead creature. But undead are immune to crits, so unless you have a feat or class feature that allows you to crit undead, that x3 never actually comes into play except against Negative Energy creatures.

The 3E Main FAQ addressed the question:

A magical sun blade deals double damage (and x3 on a
critical hit instead of the usual x2) against creatures from
the Negative Energy Plane. This implies the sun blade can
critical hit an undead. Is that true? If so, can a rogue using
the sword make sneak attacks against undead creatures?
Can a ranger use his favored enemy bonus against undead
creatures? Also, when dealing double damage, what gets
doubled and how? Do you roll damage once and double
everything? Or do you just roll damage twice?
You can’t inflict a critical hit on an undead creature, even
with a sun blade, and you cannot make sneak attacks against
undead creatures or use the ranger’s favored enemy bonus
against them.
To get the x3 critical with the sun blade, you have to use the
weapon against a negative energy creature that is susceptible to
critical hits, such as an outsider or magical beast.
When dealing double damage to an undead or negative
energy creature, roll all damage (including all your normal
damage bonuses and the sword’s +4 bonus against evil
creatures, if applicable) twice. Note that the reason the sword
deals a x3 critical against negative energy creatures is because
it’s dealing double damage. (When you double a double, you
get a triple, see Multiplying on page 275 of the Player’s
Handbook.)

-Hyp.