More weapon ability ideas?

[Kemrain]

In the theme of kreynolds, I thought I'd throw up an idea or two. I'm not terribly familiar with the weapons that exist in the DMG and such, so these may already exist, and if they do, I'll edit my post to something more interesting.

I don't recall there being a weapon that bypasses the armor bonus from worn or natural armor. Basically something so sharp that it just slices through armor like it wasn't there, rendering all attacks melee touch attacks.

What about a weapon with added sonic damage? I just had this mental image of a hammer or a mace that crackled with thunder whenever it struck home. Maybe only on crits or something, but, it's a really cool idea.

I know this is a rather halfassed attempt, but, I'm at work, and working halfassed, too. Let me know what you think, and if these ideas are viable (or stolen.)

- Kemrain the Halfassed.

 

[kreynolds]

I don't recall there being a weapon that bypasses the armor bonus from worn or natural armor. Basically something so sharp that it just slices through armor like it wasn't there, rendering all attacks melee touch attacks.

Here's one I whipped up a while back, mostly pulling from ideas I found here, then adding my own touch...

Fine Edged
The blade of a fine edged weapon is of such amazing sharpness that it is capable of slicing through even the strongest of armor and other materials. A fine edged weapon ignores up to 10 points of hardness of the objects they strike. Furthermore, they ignore up to 5 points of mundane armor bonuses. Upon a successful critical hit, a fine edged weapon deals an extra 2d6 points of slashing damage. Only slashing weapons can be crafted with this ability.
Strong transmutation; CL 12th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, gaseous form, keen edge; Price: +4 bonus.

What about a weapon with added sonic damage? I just had this mental image of a hammer or a mace that crackled with thunder whenever it struck home. Maybe only on crits or something, but, it's a really cool idea.

Thundering, from the DMG. For +1d6 sonic per hit, there's Screaming from MaoF (which may also be in the A&EG as well).

 

[Ferret]

Brillient energy has the effects of the first idea.

 

[kreynolds]

Brillient energy has the effects of the first idea.

Yeah, but it doesn't work on undead or constructs, who can have natural armor.

 

[Spatzimaus]

Brilliant Energy SHOULD have bypassed Natural Armor, but it didn't. It doesn't even bypass Shield AC in 3.5E, as written. And, the undead/construct limitation hurts a bit more; it's not that you face them all the time, but any enchantment that becomes utterly useless in a certain situation just leads to the Golf Bag o' Doom.

The problem is, if you make an enchantment that bypasses Natural Armor entirely, look at what it does to old Dragons; going from an AC in the 30s/40s to an AC of 2 hurts a bit. No matter what price you set, it'll be overpowered in those situations. In 3.5E it's even more pronounced since you can stack inherent Natural AC with amulet/spell Natural AC.

 

[kreynolds]

The problem is, if you make an enchantment that bypasses Natural Armor entirely, look at what it does to old Dragons; going from an AC in the 30s/40s to an AC of 2 hurts a bit. No matter what price you set, it'll be overpowered in those situations. In 3.5E it's even more pronounced since you can stack inherent Natural AC with amulet/spell Natural AC.

Yeah, that's why I took the approach I did with fine edged, limiting the armor bypass like that.

 

[Kemrain]

Fine Edge

That makes some good sense. I default to human vs human thinking in D&D, so the dragon natural armor bit passed my by completely. I like this idea a lot, and have used it in some games (Anyone play ADoM? Phase Daggers?) before to great effect. Limiting it is a little disapointing at first, but it makes some good sense. I'd put it to 10 both for hardness and for armor penetration, simply because I like the idea of it slicing through platemail like air. Yay! I get to have a lightsaber in D&D! Heh.

- Kemrain the Sharp... Like a Brick.

 

[kreynolds]

I'd put it to 10 both for hardness and for armor penetration, simply because I like the idea of it slicing through platemail like air.

You'd put what to 10?

 

[Kemrain]

Furthermore, they ignore up to 5 points of mundane armor bonuses.

I'd bump that up to 10, so you ignore harness and armor bonuses equally. Unless I'm not getting it, somehow...

- Kemrain the Confused.

 

[kreynolds]

I'd bump that up to 10, so you ignore harness and armor bonuses equally.

You could do that, but that would easily put the price at +5, maybe even higher. Besides, hardness and armor aren't really the same thing, thus the separation.