Intelligent Item Question, special purpose quality

[fba827]

I was in the process of creating an Intelligent Weapon for a campaign.

While doing so, I was a little confused by the special purpose quality. Not in that I don't understand what it is, but rather, according to what is written, two things in the DMG appear to conflict so I wanted to see if someone to explain what it is I am missing ...

Reference #1: (3.5 DMG, p269)
Table 7-30, foot note #6 seems to imply that a special purpose can be used as an alternative to a greater power. (so a percentage roll of 98 - 100% on the chart)

Reference #2: (3.5 DMG, p271)
Intelligent Item example Jomnoth is the only example item listed that has a special purpose. However, looking at the ability scores it has and the fact that it has two lesser powers implies that the item is of the 60-79% range on table 7-30. (i.e. not high enough to have a would-be greater power that was replaced by the special purpose).

Bottom line, p269's footnote and p271's example seem to be at odds with each other. However, I may simply be missing something. Is there something in all of this that is simply not apperent to me?

Thanks in advance!!

Side Note #1:
Referencing DMG p270, the special purpose quality description does not seem to address the particular topic of when an item has it, only that it can have it and that it may be a challenge in a campaign.

Side Note #2:
I already know I am going to give it a special purpose regardless of the fact that the item I am making is not powerful enough to have a would-be greater power. I just wanted to understand if in doing so, I am going against what the DMG advises or not.

 

[Telperion]

Okay, it reads here very clearly how powerful an intelligent item needs to be for it have a special purpose: you need to roll between 98 - 100 to get a greater power, and at the DM's discretion you can change that greater power into a special purpose. That's what the DMG suggests.

Personally I don't follow this rule, but that's another matter.

 

[fba827]

Yeah, it does seem clear/plain until you turn the page and have the example item (reference #2 given in the original post) that appears to oppose that. So is the example item just wrong?

 

[Telperion]

Yeah, it does seem clear/plain until you turn the page and have the example item (reference #2 given in the original post) that appears to
oppose that. So is the example item just wrong?

I think the example is incorrect, although I personally don't like the thought that only really powerful intelligent items can have a special purpose. I don't recall ever creating these things randomly anyway, so I just craft them the way I want and hang the rules. These things are way too rare and great storytelling tools to just throw around randomly, is what I think.