| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Seethyr |
Posted - 20 Nov 2022 : 17:26:56
Hizagkuur (3e Underdark) is a metal mined by the dwarves of Iltkazar. It had the following 3e properties which don’t seem to translate well to 5e. Any ideas on how to do so?
-Always masterwork
-Grants cold resistance 2 (armor)
-+1 electricity and +1 fire damage (weapons)
- Behaves like silver for overcoming damage reduction
Just for Descriptive purposes it’s also said to be a pale, silvery gray metal that “forever retains the spark of its smelting fires.” It also weighs as much as steel. |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 28 Nov 2022 : 18:43:18
Like others, I've preferred the 2e version. I picture a shield which is enchanted with electrical and cold resistance, but then it has a shield boss that has a spike on it that's made entirely of hizagkuur that zaps anyone punched with it. The shield boss acts as a mirror. This shield was specifically created for fighting beholders and other beings with gaze attacks. |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 28 Nov 2022 : 18:38:29
quote:
Originally posted by TheIriaeban
quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik
Skilled craftsmen and talented artisans always take great care not to damage, spill, or waste precious, expensive, rare materials.
Whether they craft wooden joins or royal meals or gold and silver or mithril and hizagkuur.
And dwarves take their craft most seriously. They make sure there are no accidents.
Fair enough but I can think of at least one interruption that the dwarf smith couldn't control: an attack. If the new stronghold was attacked with a large enough force, it could be an all hands call to battle, rare materials be damned.
Having said that, I thought of a better means to the result I am looking for: since the material is so rare, it could be made into bars that are put on a door with iron or some other conductive material so that the whole door is "electrified".
Or an annoying fly... see Sindri and the creation of Mjolnir |
| Athreeren |
Posted - 21 Nov 2022 : 06:29:59
quote:
Originally posted by Seethyr
Hrmmm. With the exception of lightning and fire affinity, those two seem like completely different materials. Also, reflecting back magic 100% is some artifact level powers in 5e. That’s god mode for a mined metal.
There's an Adventurers' League story where the dungeon is made entirely from hizagkuur. You'd think that people would have learned since the mithril gates from Tomb of Horrors. When we say that players will take anything that isn't nailed down, it's just an expression: there's no reason not to take the wall too, if it's valuable enough! |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 21 Nov 2022 : 03:45:51
An inert source of continuous electrical power could have many uses. For invention, industry, warfare. Even in a pre-industrial medieval-like setting.
Irregular lumps and pellets of the metal could be "wired" into all manner of devices. Or assorted small fragments could be broken apart then surrounded by another metal to fashion electrical ingots or objects. I imagine that arrowheads, speartips, and battering rams which deliver an electrical charge might be quite useful for certain applications. Though I don't imagine an electrical blade or armour would be too useful because of hazards to the user. Tiny shocks which don't deliver "damage" (in game terms) would still be uncomfortable, painful, or harmful. Some technology-minded dwarf is sure to figure out how to build bullets, shells, primers, and detonators from the stuff.
Tiny electrical particles (powders, dusts) might be useful components for certain spellcrafts, useful ingredients for certain alchemies. Larger clumps might be incorporated into magical items. |
| TheIriaeban |
Posted - 21 Nov 2022 : 02:48:09
quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik
Skilled craftsmen and talented artisans always take great care not to damage, spill, or waste precious, expensive, rare materials.
Whether they craft wooden joins or royal meals or gold and silver or mithril and hizagkuur.
And dwarves take their craft most seriously. They make sure there are no accidents.
Fair enough but I can think of at least one interruption that the dwarf smith couldn't control: an attack. If the new stronghold was attacked with a large enough force, it could be an all hands call to battle, rare materials be damned.
Having said that, I thought of a better means to the result I am looking for: since the material is so rare, it could be made into bars that are put on a door with iron or some other conductive material so that the whole door is "electrified". |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 21 Nov 2022 : 01:24:10
Skilled craftsmen and talented artisans always take great care not to damage, spill, or waste precious, expensive, rare materials.
Whether they craft wooden joins or royal meals or gold and silver or mithril and hizagkuur.
And dwarves take their craft most seriously. They make sure there are no accidents. |
| Kentinal |
Posted - 20 Nov 2022 : 23:34:37
quote:
Originally posted by TheIriaeban
Question: Given the fact that once this stuff cools, it cannot be reworked, what do you think the dwarves would do with some that accidently spilled or was left to cool in a crucible?
Which version?
2nd There does not appear much can be done with it except use in walls as fill or plating. It can not really be handled by any not immune to electrical damage. Maybe might melt or break the crucible to better use the Hizagkuur in the walls defense construction.
3rd Not sure if same rule applies. However of course if can not be reworked the uses are limited to wind chimes, plating walls or other type of functions. Line a furnace, There can be some thinks that even odd shapes can be used for. |
| TheIriaeban |
Posted - 20 Nov 2022 : 22:03:46
Question: Given the fact that once this stuff cools, it cannot be reworked, what do you think the dwarves would do with some that accidently spilled or was left to cool in a crucible? |
| Gary Dallison |
Posted - 20 Nov 2022 : 20:34:09
The 3e version is the slag byproduct that dwarves sell to humans.
The 2e version is the finished alloy that they keep to themselves and guard jealously.
How i would deal with it anyway. |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 20 Nov 2022 : 20:20:57
I don't know how the power scales in 5E. But in 2E, reflection and spell turning are 5th/7th level magics, there are all sorts of lesser abjurations which can neutralize, reshape, and redirect spells or magical energies.
The 2E and 3E writeups do seem like they're describing different metals. But perhaps it is the same metal alloyed (and "enchanted") through different dwarven rituals. Metallurgy in the real world has many examples where only the tiniest change in proportions, the slightest change in temperatures and treatments, or the inclusion of a trace ingredient can produce dramatically different properties in the final alloy. |
| Seethyr |
Posted - 20 Nov 2022 : 19:55:28
Hrmmm. With the exception of lightning and fire affinity, those two seem like completely different materials. Also, reflecting back magic 100% is some artifact level powers in 5e. That’s god mode for a mined metal. |
| TheIriaeban |
Posted - 20 Nov 2022 : 18:18:15
This is what is in 2e VGtATM. That would seem to be much easier to translate.
Hizagkuur is unsuitable for use in the crafting of magical items or items that are to be worn because once it has cooled and hardened after being worked, it reflects all magic cast at it 100 percent back at the source and also deals 2d12 points of electrical damage per touch (or per round of continued contact) to all beings coming into contact with it. It sees most use as a sheathing for fortress gates, vault doors, and seals on coffers or hatches of crucial importance.
Items made primarily of hizagkuur automatically succeed in all item saving throws vs. normal fire, cold, and electricity. They receive a +6 bonus to all item saving throws vs. magical fire and lightning and a +1 bonus to all item saving throws vs. acid, crushing blow, fall, and disintegration. |
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