Samurai's Ancestral Daisho

[Xeoble]

Can a samurai sacrifice gold and pray to put abilities on their katana that have a base price in gold?

e.g. Samurai pays 1,280 gp, prays for 2 days, gets Balance (OA) on their katana.

 

[Xeoble]

Anyone?

 

[Xeoble]

Wow, great responses, what do you think, Xeoble?

I don't know, Xeoble, i'm kinda on the fence about this one, how about you, Xeoble?

Well, i think it should be allowed because it adds more flavor, you, Xeoble?

Dead wrong, Xeoble, Ancestral Daisho doesn't specifically state that and therefore cannot work like that.

Thanks, Xeoble!

No problem, Xeoble.

 

[hammymchamham]

why not?

 

[hong]

I wouldn't see a problem with it. If you want to move beyond strict pluses, the limit for enchanting a daisho is half the starting gp value by PC level, as given in the DMG table.

 

[Ranger REG]

If the ability count as an enhancement bonus, you may.

 

[green slime]

hmmm...

I really, really dislike those abilities that don't have a enhancement bonus. Thus in my game, I always convert it to a enhancement bonus. Otherwise you are just asking for some munchkin to go in and place a large number of special weapon abilities (Agility, Balance, Blurring, Focus, Flying, Initiative, Passage, Silent Moves, Taint Resistant just from OA) that is not restricted in the least by the max +10 bonus rule.

The only restriction on the samurai is the Weapon Bonus... So how are you going to prevent each of those abilities being imbued into the weapon? The only thing left is character wealth, and after 10th level, that becomes less and less of an issue.

I'd recommend converting each ability to a enhancement bonus, and see if the character is still interested...

 

[hong]

hmmm...

I really, really dislike those abilities that don't have a enhancement bonus. Thus in my game, I always convert it to a enhancement bonus. Otherwise you are just asking for some munchkin to go in and place a large number of special weapon abilities (Agility, Balance, Blurring, Focus, Flying, Initiative, Passage, Silent Moves, Taint Resistant just from OA) that is not restricted in the least by the max +10 bonus rule.

1. Non-epic items are limited to 200,000 gp (although IMO this is a rather arbitrary limit anyway).

2. Resistance bonuses to saves (eg agility) don't stack with resistance bonuses from elsewhere.

3. Competence bonuses to skills (eg balance) don't stack with competence bonuses from elsewhere.

4. Enchantments like displacement don't stack with items that provide displacement.

Really, if someone wants to put all these into their weapon, why not? It's no different, from a game-mechanical point of view, to using any other item slot. If they want to stump up the cash, let them.

If anything, it's the "weapon enchantments must have a bonus" rule that screws up pricing guidelines.

 

[green slime]

1. Non-epic items are limited to 200,000 gp (although IMO this is a rather arbitrary limit anyway).

Strange. I can't find that rule in my DMG...
You cannot invoke the Epic Rules, in a campaign which makes no use of said rules.

2. Resistance bonuses to saves (eg agility) don't stack with resistance bonuses from elsewhere.

And yet that is irrelevant. It frees a ring finger, or a cloak space...Which is also irrelevant. The thing being, that the use of these abilities increases the power of the weapon well beyond what is appropriate (IMO) for a samurai of that level. The "Total Sacrifice Required" should, IMO (again), if you are going to allow the investment of these abilities into the sword, be the maximum limit of gp the Samurai can invest in a single weapon.

3. Competence bonuses to skills (eg balance) don't stack with competence bonuses from elsewhere.

See above.

4. Enchantments like displacement don't stack with items that provide displacement.

See above.

Really, if someone wants to put all these into their weapon, why not? It's no different, from a game-mechanical point of view, to using any other item slot. If they want to stump up the cash, let them.

Ahh but it is different! Because the Samurai can imbue these powers without resorting to convincing an Item Creator to imbue the ability into any other object.

If anything, it's the "weapon enchantments must have a bonus" rule that screws up pricing guidelines.

I disagree. I think if this mechanic should be more widespread, but perhaps you can give an example to prove your point? In what way do weapon enhancements with bonuses screw up pricing guidelines?

I feel it is a "healthier" mechanic than the one at present for imbuing multiple abilities into wonderous items...for instance.

 

[hong]

Strange. I can't find that rule in my DMG...
You cannot invoke the Epic Rules, in a campaign which makes no use of said rules.

Fine, I said that the 200,000 gp limit was silly anyway.

And yet that is irrelevant.

Huh?

It frees a ring finger, or a cloak space...Which is also irrelevant.

And costs double, for doing so. Compare the price of the displacement weapon enchantment with that of the cloak of major displacement. This is exactly the same formula as used for pricing other magic items.

The thing being, that the use of these abilities increases the power of the weapon well beyond what is appropriate (IMO) for a samurai of that level. The "Total Sacrifice Required" should, IMO (again), if you are going to allow the investment of these abilities into the sword, be the maximum limit of gp the Samurai can invest in a single weapon.

You appear to have failed to notice this bit:

If you want to move beyond strict pluses, the limit for enchanting a daisho is half the starting gp value by PC level, as given in the DMG table.

Ahh but it is different! Because the Samurai can imbue these powers without resorting to convincing an Item Creator to imbue the ability into any other object.

Which is hardly a major benefit, given that nothing in OA states that assumptions regarding magic are different to any other D&D world. The gp cost is exactly what it would be if you made it as a standard magic sword. The fact that you don't need a separate item creator is a frill, nothing more.

I disagree. I think if this mechanic should be more widespread, but perhaps you can give an example to prove your point? In what way do weapon enhancements with bonuses screw up pricing guidelines?

Something like gaining a competence bonus to Balance checks is hardly a benefit that scales with the attack ability of a weapon. Ditto a resistance bonus on Reflex saves. If you get a +4 bonus to Ref saves from a cloak of resistance, the cost is fixed depending on the bonus. The same should apply to gaining the same bonus from a weapon enchantment. Not doing so leads to silly rorts.

I feel it is a "healthier" mechanic than the one at present for imbuing multiple abilities into wonderous items...for instance.

Why?