Sundering Bones and the Crab Claw

[Dareoon Dalandrove]

I have an idea for a new magic item for a cleric of mine: an armored crab claw arm. As I build up the nessisary requirements and a list of things that I want the claw to do I thought "I'd like to be able to grab oppentents and snap off arms and the like as well as break weapons". So I'm planning on giving the Crab Claw improved sunder. The problem is that I'm not sure about rules for breaking peoples arms or whatever. Any suggestions? Am I going over board?

EDIT
I'd also like a little help in determining cost (gp and xp) of the item. What I have in mind is:
Crab claw shaped armor for left arm
+2 enchanment to str (4000?)
+2 weapon (8000?)
because of size acts as sheild (buckler)
Improved Sunder (for crushing weapons)*
Improved Grab and constrict (for crushing enemies)*

*these two I think would be more appropriate after looking through the DMG. Many creatures that have claws have these ablilites. I can grab my opponents and then continue to crush dealing claw dmg (looks like d8) plus str.

Also I figured the material cost to be about 200gp. I used a masterwork tower sheild as an example. It's only covers one arm.

 

[Saeviomagy]

I have an idea for a new magic item for a cleric of mine: an armored crab claw arm. As I build up the nessisary requirements and a list of things that I want the claw to do I thought "I'd like to be able to grab oppentents and snap off arms and the like as well as break weapons". So I'm planning on giving the Crab Claw improved sunder. The problem is that I'm not sure about rules for breaking peoples arms or whatever. Any suggestions? Am I going over board?

I'd suggest - don't have rules for snapping limbs, or your PC's will be winning every fight in 4 hits.

 

[shilsen]

I'd suggest - don't have rules for snapping limbs, or your PC's will be winning every fight in 4 hits.

What he said. Mechanics which bypass hit points can be very troublesome in D&D. That's one of the reasons why people complain about some of the combat maneuvers such as sunder, disarm and trip.

 

[Ottergame]

*thoughts of the Black Knight in Holy Grail come to mind*

Heeee.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

I am reminded of an incident with one of my friends.

"Hmm, I have improved grapple. I grapple his liver."

 

[Dareoon Dalandrove]

I added an edit after rethinking and looking through the dmg.

 

[DanMcS]

I have an idea for a new magic item for a cleric of mine: an armored crab claw arm. As I build up the nessisary requirements and a list of things that I want the claw to do I thought "I'd like to be able to grab oppentents and snap off arms and the like as well as break weapons". So I'm planning on giving the Crab Claw improved sunder. The problem is that I'm not sure about rules for breaking peoples arms or whatever. Any suggestions? Am I going over board?

EDIT
I'd also like a little help in determining cost (gp and xp) of the item. What I have in mind is:
Crab claw shaped armor for left arm
+2 enchanment to str (4000?)
+2 weapon (8000?)
because of size acts as sheild
Improved Sunder (for crushing weapons)*
Improved Grab and constrict (for crushing enemies)*

*these two I think would be more appropriate after looking through the DMG. Many creatures that have claws have these ablilites. I can grab my opponents and then continue to crush dealing claw dmg (looks like d8) plus str.

Also I figured the material cost to be about 200gp. I used a masterwork tower sheild as an example. It's only covers one arm.

Yeah, but you're enchanting it as a weapon as well, so it's got to be at least a masterwork weapon. I'd call it 200 gp for the shield, 350 or so for the weapon, each feat is 10,000 gp or so, and you'll need improved shield bash in it if he wants to attack and still get the shield bonus with it that round.

Call it a flat 500 gp item. Three feats at 10,000 apiece, +2 enchantment at 8000, the strength bonus should be 8000 gp because it's not taking up an item slot, so maybe 50,000 gp for the whole kit.

 

[Dareoon Dalandrove]

Yeah, but you're enchanting it as a weapon as well, so it's got to be at least a masterwork weapon. I'd call it 200 gp for the shield, 350 or so for the weapon, each feat is 10,000 gp or so, and you'll need improved shield bash in it if he wants to attack and still get the shield bonus with it that round.

Call it a flat 500 gp item. Three feats at 10,000 apiece, +2 enchantment at 8000, the strength bonus should be 8000 gp because it's not taking up an item slot, so maybe 50,000 gp for the whole kit.

Where are you coming up with the figure of 10,000 gold peices per feat from? I thought it would be some variation on the "special" chart (for creating items). I envision the item as a weapon. I used the Tower sheild for material cost because it seemed like it would provide enough material. Because of the claw size and shape I thought "mmm it could be a sheild too". 500 gp? I'm not sure but ok. As to not taking up a slot... it could go a few ways (I hadn't given this much thought until you pointed it out) 1: weapon, 2: glove, or 3: sheild.

 

[Dareoon Dalandrove]

Where does the 10,000 gold peice per feat figure come from?

 

[Saeviomagy]

Where does the 10,000 gold peice per feat figure come from?

He made it up.

Personally I think it's too low. A ring of evasion, after all, costs you 25,000 gp.

Given that improved grab and constrict are both monster abilities (close to being class abilities), I'd say they're each 25,000.

In short - this is a very, very effective item you're suggesting, and it's cost should be in line with that.