Stacking Spell Storing

[jabberwocky]

Is there anything in the rules that would prevent somebody from making a weapon that had multiple spell storing abilities? And if they did, could the wielder release multiple stored spells on a successful hit, since they're free actions?

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I wouldn't allow it, as a DM...I don't think there's anything that states you can't, but there may be.

But really, just think of it. If you can do that, then you can have a Flaming Flaming Longsword.

 

[jabberwocky]

I wouldn't allow it, as a DM...I don't think there's anything that states you can't, but there may be.

But really, just think of it. If you can do that, then you can have a Flaming Flaming Longsword.

I'm not sure I want to allow it either, but I also think that, aside from the silliness of it, a Flaming Flaming Sword is fine. It's not essentially any different than having a Flaming Shocking Sword. On the other hand, a Wounding Wounding Longsword does strike me as really silly, but I could probably even justify that (I could imagine a +4 ability that did double of what wounding did, say, Eviscerating or something, and thats not any different than Wounding Wounding). Though there are some abilities I think obviously can't get added twice, like Ghost Touch or Brilliant Energy. I'm just not sure whether Spell Storing falls into the 'Why not?' or 'That makes no sense!' category.

 

[Andion Isurand]

No, do not allow the same ability to be applied to a weapon more than once.

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There is a Valorous ability ( +1 weapon ability ) in either Unapproachable East or Races of Faerûn. This ability doubles a weapon's damage on a charge.

If one were allowed to apply it to a weapon 5 times...

They would deal at least 6 times the normal damage on a charge.

This is after one might add extra damage from using Power Attack, a Barbarian's Rage. And if one were to add True Strike and/or Sneak Attacks into the mix, it would make things even more ugly.

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Now, if one were to apply the Spell Storing Ability into a weapon five times... they could essentially cram five spells into their weapon.

If they attacked with this weapon while using True Strike, all 5 spells would benefit from one casting of True Strike, in addition to the weapon dealing its normal damage.

A spellcaster can essentially load their weapon up way ahead of time with spells like Vampiric Touch, and save a True Strike attack for the BBEG.

This can get really ugly, so this makes a second case against letting one apply the same ability more than once to the same weapon. Whether or not the rules banned this in the first place.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I'm not sure I want to allow it either, but I also think that, aside from the silliness of it, a Flaming Flaming Sword is fine. It's not essentially any different than having a Flaming Shocking Sword. On the other hand, a Wounding Wounding Longsword does strike me as really silly, but I could probably even justify that (I could imagine a +4 ability that did double of what wounding did, say, Eviscerating or something, and thats not any different than Wounding Wounding). Though there are some abilities I think obviously can't get added twice, like Ghost Touch or Brilliant Energy. I'm just not sure whether Spell Storing falls into the 'Why not?' or 'That makes no sense!' category.

...and when you get into the realm of Keen Keen Rapiers...its time to just smack the PCs.

 

[Andion Isurand]

consider this....

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A +1 scimitar or +1 kukri dagger ( a Light Melee Martial weapon in 3.5 )

1d6 or 1d4 damage

18-20/x2

Keen Keen Keen Keen Vorpal (+9 worth of abilities)

( 6-20/x2 = new threat range )

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Uhhh.... ooops.....

 

[Andion Isurand]

oh, the +4 version of the "Wounding" ability would probably be called "Greater Wounding"

 

[jabberwocky]

Well, Keen is already safe, because a x*keen weapon doesn't expand the threat range (that whole no stacking improved crit ranges thing in 3.5). Though smacking the PC's who try it is always fun. And I'm perfectly content with stacking elemental abilites. There's not even any reason why you couldn't make a Ghost Touch Ghost Touch Sword, it would just be really, really stupid.
I'm thinking I'll just rule the spell storing ability as a quickened spell, so no more than one a round, though you could get a multiply spell storing weapon and hold more spells at once. The abuse that originally prompted this question was five poison spells cast by a high-level druid all going off at once. 5d10 Con damage with save DCs in the mid/high twenties, and repeating a minute later was just a terrifying concept. But stretched over five rounds, it wouldn't be so much of a BBEG takedown.
So in general, I'm thinking abilities stacking is all good, even more options. Except for that Valorous ability...no, just no.

 

[LordJaeden]

consider this....

********************************************

A +1 scimitar or +1 kukri dagger ( a Light Melee Martial weapon in 3.5 )

1d6 or 1d4 damage

18-20/x2

Keen Keen Keen Keen Vorpal (+9 worth of abilities)

( 6-20/x2 = new threat range )

********************************************

Uhhh.... ooops.....

Vorpal only triggers on a natural 20 now, so Keen provides no benefit to a Vorpal weapon.

Also, Flaming, Shock, Frost, and all the other similar effects don't really stack. You could have a Flaming Shock longsword but only one of the two effects would be active at one time.

One thing you could do is make a more powerful version of the effect, ie. Greater spell storing, which does almost twice what the original did for twice the cost. holds a 5th level spell or a 3rd and a 2nd level for a +2 bonus. Of couse now I'm drifting towards house rules....

 

[jabberwocky]

Also, Flaming, Shock, Frost, and all the other similar effects don't really stack. You could have a Flaming Shock longsword but only one of the two effects would be active at one time.

Really? I've never seen anything that indicates this would be the case. Could you let me know where this could be found? I've been allowing multiple energy enchantments active at the same time for ages now...