magic weapons: special materials after the fact

[Psion]

I don't see a problem from a balance standpoint, but I think special material lose their flavor if they can just be layered on.

Of course, I make alternate special "catch all" materials to help avoid the golfbag syndrome (mithril weapons are all good and silver, black iron is evil and iron) and I want to maintain the flavor of those materials being special vice just another mechanical wingding, so take that for what it's worth.

 

[Holy Bovine]

Certain elements I could see being 'added' to a weapon's profile. The barbarian described above by alsih2o with his greatclub I could easily see getting it enchanced to the point that it counts as 'adamantine' or 'mithril' or even 'cold iron'. that is not to say the wooden club actually becomes these elements but rather that it is considered to be these elements for purposes of damage reduction.

 

[Czhorat]

I actually don't mind a little bit of what some people here refer to as "golf bag syndrome". Sure, many warriors are associated with one special weapon. I DO find it more interesting, however, if that weapon isn't always the best choice. I just feel it adds some flavor to an encounter if, for example, the battle-axe and shield-wielding fighter has to switch to a two-handed greatclub to fight some gigantic skeletal monstrosity. The switch in weapons would set that battle apart and perhaps let the fighter see how deadly he still is without things like his weapon focus and specialization feats.

Just my own two cents.

 

[Umbran]

I don't see a problem from a balance standpoint, but I think special material lose their flavor if they can just be layered on.

I tend to agree with this. In terms of narrative, simply dunking your magic sword into some molten silver to plate it is just lousy. No drama.

I too might allow a weapon to be transformed into a new material, but that would require some major mojo.

If you're looking to have weapons go up in power with the character, you might just consider getting rid of the materials rule altogether. If you're only dealing with magical plusses, it becoming enchanted with the character's greatness is simple enough.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

It seems that WotC has already broken the special materials principles they came out with in 3.5. In the new Mini's Handbook they have a +1 Longsword of Transmutation. After the first hit against a DR monster it automaticly transmutes into whatever the DR needs. It is priced equavalently to a +4 longsword so reverse engineering puts this at a +3 bonus. The Prereq spell is Limited Wish.

[Opinion]
I was never happy with the 3.5 DR system. I believe that magic weapons by thier very nature should trump all materials. I had no problem with the old +1/+2/+3/+4/+5 DRs. You might be able to convince me that reducing the amounts from 50 to 15 is reasonable, but never that materials are better than magic. I also predicted that it wouldn't be to long until a 3rd party publisher came up with a transmutation ability for weapons. What I did not expect was for WotC to do this itself, and so soon after they released 3.5 saying that they wanted to make materials more important. I am still irritated that all the old books are not backwards compatible, but at least now magic swords are worth something. So we no longer have a need for the golfbag and the issue of plating can be achieved even better now with a +3 bonus.
[/Opinion]

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Nope, no plating. Of course, there's no item creation either since I dropped d20 like yesterday's fish-wrapper months ago.

Not to ask a dumb question but.....

Why post on a thread that is obviously aimed at D20 DnD 3.5 then?

 

[Harlock]

In terms of "powering up" a weapon with a character, I really liked the daisho approach in OA for a basis. If it fits the flavor in your world and whatever system you grant XP by, why not charge some XP and maybe some money as well to get a special weapon ramped up a bit.

Oh, and if you own the Miniatures Handbook look at Weapon of Transmutation on page 42. It costs them some to hit and damage, but not too much for what it can do.

 

[kengar]

Not to ask a dumb question but.....

Why post on a thread that is obviously aimed at D20 DnD 3.5 then?

Because I was voicing my opinion on d20/3.Xe based upon my experiences with the system when I did use it.

 

[Pyrex]

Plating the weapons isn't enough. I would probably allow a wizard with Polymorph Any Object and Craft Magic Arms & Armor to transmute the weapons though.

The ritual would require materials equal to (new value - old value) to a minimum of 250gp, 1/25th the materials value in xp an one day per 1000gp in materials.

 

[Steverooo]

Sorry, folks, but I have to disagree with the majority... (yet again). Alchemical silver is designed to be put on other weapons! It can be added to any weapon, like it or not!

Other materials, however, are not. I would not allow the material of a weapon to be changed, with the exception of adding/removing Alchemical silver, above. YMMV...