vorpal

[pisceanmars]

i seem to remember that there was an errata on the vorpal quality saying that it could only sever the head or limbs within the weapon's natural crit range.

also on a related topic, i've had a player who has degenerated into a power hungry number cruncher, recently buying a keen vorpal scimitar. i allowed this because, one he traded a high lvl item for it, and also because i am all for my players having free will. along with that, it brings the interesting side effects of what other npc's and the like think about the character. the problem is that the PC is a fighter6/cleric of pelor 5, key word in there being pelor. so, due to his newfound bloodthirsty purchases and practices, i plan on his god refusing to grant him his divine spells.

now, i'm asking if this is too harsh. keep in mind he can always give up the weapon and atone and all that, or generally attempt to convert to one of the evil pantheons, but i want to really make sure i'm making a move that can be seen as objective and something the god of good would do.

any comments would be deeply appreciated.

 

[Nightfall]

Not if he's not acting an goodly manner consistant with Pelor. If he's just being a bloodthirsty brute, he CERTAINLY deserving of losing his clerical abilites (spells and all)

 

[Xeriar]

I would have given him a warning before making the trade, but it looks too late.

There are better, twinkier things that would be more appropriate to Pelor, as I get the impression that Pelor is more about overcoming the types of things immune to this stuff (undead, powerful spellcasters otherwise immune, etc.)

I mean, a +5, Corrosive, Flaming, Frosting, Screaming, Shocking weapon is not only cooler, it's more reliable

If he starts using the blade with abandon, he will probably feel the loss of his domains first, then gradually lose access to other spells, if he doesn't get the hint.

 

[Sejs]

I don't think I quite understand. Pelor is upset with him because he got a sword that cuts people's heads off, instead of a sword that kills people in another way?

Or is it that he's going around, just randomly killing people, and being a Bad Person in general. Breaking canonical law and, spitting on sundials.


'Cause if it's that his god is mad that he's got a weapon that kills people via head-removal, I think the situation's kinda silly. As long as he's using his newfound head-removal powers to protect the weak, and bring light into the world and serve the greater good... what's the problem?

 

[Aaron L]

No errata on the vorpal ability that I am aware of. And if Pelor is indeed upset at his servant having a magic sword that cuts heads off...well, non magical swords cut heads off, too, and if they cut a head off in one fell swoop it causes a lot less pain for the creature that must be put down, so I would say that Pelor would actually like the vorpal sword.

Just because a player wants the best weapon available for their character does not make them a number cruncher or a munchkin. Could you imagine a real world soldier wanting less than the optimal equpiment? Why would a fantasy warrior want any less?

 

[Plane Sailing]

I'm surprised that a vorpal weapon doesn't handily exceed the expected wealth guidelines for an 11th level character... what would you say the total value of his magic items etc. comes to?

 

[pisceanmars]

.

i would actually be ok with the sword if he just roleplayed the desire for it, buying it etc., but in character he would have absolutely no concept of that type of magical enhancement.
i mean, it could have been as simple as walking into the store and saying, " i want a sword that cuts heads off" and i would have been partially accepting of it. i just want to have a reason why his character would want that sword, after a campaign full of healing spells and temple repairing and other assorted religious acts. and when you buy a keen vorpal scimitar, and pick imp. crit for it, it comes off as something more akin to a character who goes for the jugular, which would apply itself in my opinion to heironious if any god of good at all.

oh yeah, they did have more money than that, they just spent it all days before he bought that sword.