Serious inquiries only please - 100th level adventure hook and module in development

[Yair]

Magical Items: Okay, a +5 flametongue is probably ridiculous for 100th level characters. However, instead of +50 flametongue, I was thinking artifacts (at least lesser artifacts) with weird powers, and inspired by things such as Elric's Stormbringer. Here is an example of epic magic sword as I see it.

-- This +5 shortsword does not deal 1d6+5 of damage, but 3d6 +15 of damage per hit. It's because this is a multi-dimensional sword with 1 normal blade in the normal plane, plus 2 other twin blades that exist in the probability layers of alternate dimensions. As such, this sword ignores incorporeality and damage reduction. Then, once per day, it can invoke a multidimensional swirling of blades (duration: 5 minutes), so it deals 10d6 +50 of damage per hit, as 10 twin blades operate simultaneously. Additionally, once per day the blade can cast a Blade Barrier spell of 5 foot radius around the wielder, and that moves with him.

But why can't this be done with standard rules for epic items? Why artifacts? Certainly, it would be difficilt to reproduce this exact sword using Epic rules, but they can produce some awesome stuff that, with the right fluff, can sound pretty epic.
I'll try to do your sword as an epic magic item, see you later today...

 

[Yair]

Obviously, Turnail’s weapon cannot be given a price according the core guidelines, although I still think the core rules can provide a reasonable estimate of it’s cost. Following a little closer to the guidelines, here’s my representation of the same basic idea.

The Dimensional Sword
This weapon appears as a blurry straight blade surrounded by fleeting shadows of other blades that dance around it, stoky, short blades of all sorts. In truth it has no single blade, being an amalgam of a multitude of blades scattered over different dimensions. It can be wielded as a +7 shortsword, but because of its numerous blade types it ignores any DR and affects incorporeal targets. The blades even seep through to the ethereal plane, and can affect ethereal targets as if the wielder was on the ethereal plane [but not the other way around?]. For every hit three blades are considered to have hit the target, which thus sustains 3d6 base damage instead of 1d6. However, Strength bonus, sneak attack damage, and other cumulative damage sources apply only once.

In addition, the wielder may command the sword to surround himself with whirling blades, inflicting 15d6 damage to anyone within 5 feet of him (Reflex DC 21 for half damage). These additional blades appear for only an instant, but ignore DR and can damage incorporeal and ethereal creatures just like the regular blades.

Last, once per round, the dimensional sword can hack its target and scatter her remains across untold dimensions. The wielder may designate any one target he has hit this round, even with a touch attack. If the target succeeds at a Fortitude save (DC 26), she suffers 10d6 extra damage from the whirling blades. If she fails the save, she still suffers the extra damage but is also destroyed (as per the destruction spell) unless she succeeds in a spell resistance check against the sword. This ability can affect objects as well as creatures.

Caster Level 23; Prerequisites Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Craft Epic Magic Arms and Armor, quickened destruction, blade barrier, chaos hammer, order’s wrath, ironwood, etherealness, plane shift, disintegrate; Market Price 13,144,912 gp; Cost to Create 6,572,757 gp + 141,449 XP.

As a foundation, I take the Mace of Ruin (+7 weapon, ignores DR and criticals objects and constructs) for 1000312 gp. I ignored the object shtick, it isn’t fitting, but applied the disintegrate towards harming objects with dimensional shredding, so I kept everything as-is.
To allow it an extra +2d6 base damage, I figured I’ll the Anarchic, Axiomatic, and the same ability for Neutrally-aligned targets; that’s another +6 bonus. It isn’t quite the same as the damage is multiplied on a critical, but hey we’re paying thrice for getting it once so I call it even.
It’s also has Ghost-touch, for another +1.
Now the etherealness part requires a continuous etherealness effect. That’s a cost of CL x 9 x 2000 x 2 x 1.5 with minimum CL 17. (x2 for 1 minute/level, x1.5 for being an additional power on a slot item)
The blade barrier effect is a command-word blade barrier so costs CL x 6 x 1800 x 1.5. The blade barrier does not remain and is very small, but no SR is allowed and the save is for half only. It may be a little cheap for its price, but I’ll just leave it at that.
The dimensional shredding is a quickened destruction effect, a truly epic ability. As a use activated ability, it costs CL x 11 x 2000 x 1.5 x 10 (x10 being for epic), with a minimal CL of about 23 (to get that level 11 slot). This sets the CL for the entire item, and also the minimal prime ability modifier (+5).
So we have:
A Mace of Smiting, 1000312 gp
Bonuses increased by +7, the difference being +2940000 gp
+1242000 gp for etherealness.
+372600 gp for the blade barrier, DC 10+6+5
+7590000 gp for the shredding, DC 10+11+5
Total: 13,144,912

There is a lot of hand-waving and assumptions, but still I think it’s better than just throwing artifacts at the adventurers without any regard to game balance.
Not that I know much about game balance at these levels, but I’m hoping the wealth rules hold except for a few loose ends (like the divine power spell).

 

[Turanil]

In addition, the wielder may command the sword to surround himself with whirling blades

Last, once per round, the dimensional sword can hack its target and scatter her remains across untold dimensions.

Well, I much like what you've done for the sword! However, the blade barrier and dimensional hack ability almost at will... isn't this overpowered?

 

[Yair]

Well, I much like what you've done for the sword! However, the blade barrier and dimensional hack ability almost at will... isn't this overpowered?

Hmm, pergaps.
Again, it's hard to gauge balance at this level. But to activate the blade barrier requires a standard action, so it's expensive. Compare this with a level 100 fighter's full attack or whirlwind attack - and I suspects it will pale in comparison, and even a standard good attack I think could be more lethal. I admit, however, I'm not really sure about this.
The dimensional hack may seem impressive, but the Fort DCs are extremely low for this level, so it effectively adds a quickened level 7 spell each round - which is no big deal for level 100 guys, who can throw around level 29 or epic spells. (For that matter, true resurrection isn't a big deal itself.) Another way to think of it is as adding 10d6 to one attack, which is impressive but then this is the sword's primary shtick.

I basically went by the guidelines as much as I could. But maybe it is too cheap. I suggest instead limiting them to 5/day each; it's the same price by the guidelines, but obviously less effective.

 

[CRGreathouse]

I basically went by the guidelines as much as I could. But maybe it is too cheap. I suggest instead limiting them to 5/day each; it's the same price by the guidelines, but obviously less effective.

I don't think it's too cheap at all. I'd keep it as you have it now.

 

[DM-Rocco]

I won't snip comments, but I think that giving people artifacts complicates things slightly since artifacts are immune to a lot of stuff, like almost every mord thron at it. I do like your blade, very cool, and I wouldn't mind putting things like that in it, but I think Yair is right, we should try to keep things along the epic price scale. I guess I wouldn't mind a mix of things either, what is everyone elses feelings on this?

 

[Turanil]

Okay, lets say that the multidimensional sword is epic rather than artifact. In any case, I personally like stuff like this rather than a flat-out +50 bonus. The multidimensional sword could probably do as much damage as a +50 sword; however, it's a question of aesthetic. For me +5, maybe +7 is the maximum enhancement an item should get. Otherwise, I do find +10 and beyond items silly (and at +50 totally ridiculous). So my personnal preference is to try to come up with explanations that lead to epic items that don't break the +5/+7 limit. As has been done for the sword. I think something similar could be attempted with other items:

-- Armor? It is not a metal armor. It is a bunch of elementals or castle walls that have been put in a warped dimension between the wearer and his environment. When creatures strike at the character, they don't strike at a +7 full-plate armor. No, they unknowingly must bypass several layers of stone walls, metal fortifications or what not. Hence it's next immpossible to hit them, and the character seems to end up with a +50 AC...

-- Wand of Fire? It doesn't cast normal fireballs. It opens a channel between the sun and the area where the spell is cast. Try to resist that... It looks like spell DC = 50 and magic resistance doesn't work (only a slim chance that the SR will actually resist the channeling aspect).

I hope you see my point.

 

[DM-Rocco]

Okay, lets say that the multidimensional sword is epic rather than artifact. In any case, I personally like stuff like this rather than a flat-out +50 bonus. The multidimensional sword could probably do as much damage as a +50 sword; however, it's a question of aesthetic. For me +5, maybe +7 is the maximum enhancement an item should get. Otherwise, I do find +10 and beyond items silly (and at +50 totally ridiculous). So my personnal preference is to try to come up with explanations that lead to epic items that don't break the +5/+7 limit. As has been done for the sword. I think something similar could be attempted with other items:

-- Armor? It is not a metal armor. It is a bunch of elementals or castle walls that have been put in a warped dimension between the wearer and his environment. When creatures strike at the character, they don't strike at a +7 full-plate armor. No, they unknowingly must bypass several layers of stone walls, metal fortifications or what not. Hence it's next immpossible to hit them, and the character seems to end up with a +50 AC...

-- Wand of Fire? It doesn't cast normal fireballs. It opens a channel between the sun and the area where the spell is cast. Try to resist that... It looks like spell DC = 50 and magic resistance doesn't work (only a slim chance that the SR will actually resist the channeling aspect).

I hope you see my point.

Turanil,

I do see your point and I like your creative input. I really like how you are going to think out of the box. I have to ask though, when we design this module, are you we going to post it on ENworld and perhaps a few other places for others to play in, if so, and I thought that was the general plan, then evenutally every metal/castle armor and trans-dimensional sword will have to come down to a D&D stat that the d20 system can handle.

I don't mind calling things one thing or another, but if in the end, if a +50 suit of armor has the same protection as a suit +5 of castle fortification (good luck if you pierce the privies ) then why not just call it a +50 suit of armor and give it a really cool history. Some people do read those descriptions on the items history you know.

I don't want you too get mad and decide not to help out becuase you may think everyone is harshing down your ideas, we aren't. I really like your ideas. But in the end we have to have something that fits in the game and that will be a challange to others who want to run it. If another DM picks up this module and has his party make characters, they won't have access to your creative mind for a source book, they will go to the EPHB, as broken as it can be.

In the end, it doesn't really matter if we allow them +50 market price weapons with a +25 weapon enhancement on them or a blade that can cut through dimensions if they do the same general thing in the end. Does that make sense? I hope so.

Anyway, I made a Dwarven Defender since Yair has posted his character, I am posting this one. He doesn't have gear, but his stats are reflected as if he had certain items to boost stats. He doesn't have a weapon yet, so his weapon enhancement is not part of his attack bonus. I could have cheesed him out and taken two paladin levels and two monk levels and a few Legendary Dreadnuaght levels, but I am keeping things simple, one base class and one prestiege class, like I had said.

He is very tough, over 3,000 HP, 90 dr/-, fast healing 30 and he will be large size due to a permenant enlarge spell so his reach with a large chain would be 15' with improved whirlwind and improved combat reflexes, he should kick some butt. Of course, I guess it all depends on how we are doing gear, I would waste time with his gear right now cause I think we need to settle that issue before I spend time on a shopping spree.

Unbreakable: Male dwarf Ftr12, DD 88; Medium-size humanoid; HD 12d10 (72), 88dl2(612) + 2,400 (CON) + 3 (Toughness) hp 3,087; Init +21 ; Spd 50 ft., fly 60 ft. good; AC 35 (touch 15, + 20 natural + 5 DEX flat-footed 30); Atk +114/+109/+104/+99 melee (2d6+66/18-20/X2 (+1d6 on crit and fort save DC 100 or die) Chain, Spiked) or max power attacking for 20 Atk +94/+89/+84/+79 melee (2d6+106/18-20/X2 (+1d6 on crit and fort save DC 100 or die) Chain, Spiked) or +110/+105/+100/+95 (ld8+60, +0 warhammer) or +91 ranged (2d8+40/19-20/X3, dwarven thrower); SQ Dwarf traits; AL LN; SV Fort (55+24=79), Ref (47+21=68), Will (51+17=69), DR 90/-, Fast healing: 30;
Str: 90 + 40 (Base 16 (10), +17 level enhancements, +30 enhancement, +5 inherit, +2 Ioun stone, Great STR XX)
Dex: 53 + 21 (Base 12 (4), +4 level enhancements, +30 enhancement, +5 inherit, +2 Ioun stone)
Con: 58 + 24 (Base 16 (10), + 2 racial, +3 level enhancements, +30 enhancement, +5 inherit, +2 Ioun stone)
Int: 21 + 5 (Base 14 (6), +6 enhancement +5 inherit)
Wis: 45 + 17 (Base 8 (0), +30 enhancement +5 inherit, +2 Ioun stone)
Cha: 19 + 4 (Base 8 (0), -2 racial, +5 inherit, +6 enhancement, +2 Ioun stone)
Skills and Feats: Climb +140(100), Jump +140(100), Swim +140(100), Ride +39(18), Tumble +71(50), Spot +117(100), sense motive +117(100)
Fighter Bonus Feats: Improved Critical (Chain, Spiked), Weapon Focus (Chain, Spiked), Weapon Specialization (Chain, Spiked), Greater Weapon Focus (Chain, Spiked), Greater Weapon Specialization (Chain, Spiked), Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Chain, Spiked), Epic Weapon Specialization (Chain, Spiked)
Character level feats to 20th level: Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Combat Expertise, Whirlwind, Endurance, Toughness
Epic Character Feats: Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Combat Reflexes, Great Strength XX, Improved Whirlwind Attack, Blind Fight, Dire Charge
Epic Dwarven Defender Feats (26): Fast Healing X, Overwhelming Critical, Devastating Critical (DC 60 + STR40 + dc 100), Damage Reduction II, Epic Prowess X, Epic weapon focus (Chain, Spiked), Improved combat reflexes

 

[Yair]

Okay, lets say that the multidimensional sword is epic rather than artifact. In any case, I personally like stuff like this rather than a flat-out +50 bonus. The multidimensional sword could probably do as much damage as a +50 sword; however, it's a question of aesthetic. For me +5, maybe +7 is the maximum enhancement an item should get. Otherwise, I do find +10 and beyond items silly (and at +50 totally ridiculous). So my personnal preference is to try to come up with explanations that lead to epic items that don't break the +5/+7 limit. As has been done for the sword. I think something similar could be attempted with other items:

...

I hope you see my point.

Turnail, you definitely have a talent for flavor. However, I think such unusual explanations should be used sparingly, for else they would lose their impact. For most items/abilities, I think it is better to leave the flavor explanations in the background. Kolshadai's armor, for example, is probably a holy relic of his church enmeshed with legends and mythic flavor - but describing these will be countereffective. It's better, especially for a one-off adventure, to reserve bombastic flavor to a few select items per character at most.

Regarding the Plot: I personally liked Turnail's revised storyline, but I do have two comments I want to make.
1) Characters: The adventure as written presupposes using level 20 adventurers as the initial cast, if I understand correctly. This will be very problematic for most campaigns, as they're not level 20 (mostly far below, a few higher, and so on). I just don't think it's a useful start, people are going to have to make the level 20 characters anyways.
Even if this obstacle is lifted, the next chapter sees these same characters manified to level 100. In other words, what we get is a totally unknown party of level 100 characters. At such a high level, each character's abilities can be so wildly different that I suspect it will be next to impossible to design an adventure that will threaten but not overwhelm the party unless we know exactly who we are dealing with. I think it will be next to impossible to design a "generic" level 100 adventure that will work for any reasonable level 100 party.
I suggest going back to the "pregenerated" strategy. We should design a party of 4 to 6 characters, and fit the adventure to it. Otherwise, I fear the adventure won't be balanced to the party.

2) God: While I really like putting the creator-god into the campaign as Turnail did (especially tying up that schyzophrenia loose end!), I dislike the idea that the other gods defeated him. It's not a religious issue (I'm an atheist), it's just that I feel it downgrades God to god, neutering the grandour of inserting God into things in the first place.
I suggest having the various gods, along with their creation of the multiverse, be an aspect of God's dementia rather than his defeat. They struggle to keep the god insane, and themselves existing. In struggling to defeat the wizard & cleric the characters hence work to maintain God's insanity, adding a little moral twist: do they defend the multiverse at the cost of the suffering and dementia of God himself?
Note this also makes any planar travel a travel in a schizophrenic god's mind. I suggest that God's glimmer of sanity will start to unite these different landscapes, leading to them bleeding together in Turnail's confluence of time and dimensions.

 

[Turanil]

2) I suggest having the various gods, along with their creation of the multiverse, be an aspect of God's dementia rather than his defeat. They struggle to keep the god insane, and themselves existing.

Okay. Different fluff for the same story.