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Afetbinttuzani
Senior Scribe
Canada
434 Posts |
 Posted - 30 Dec 2008 : 22:22:25
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I would like to some help interpreting the 2E DMG. Under magical weapons the description of the "Sword of Sharpness" reads as follows:
quote:
"Sword of Sharpness: This weapon is treated as +3 or better for purposes of who or what can be hit by it, even though it gets only a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls. Its power is great, however, for on a very high attack roll, it will sever an extremity—arm, leg, neck, tail, tentacle, whatever (but not head) determined by random dice roll:
Opponent is..............Modified score to sever*
normal/armored.........................19-21
larger than man-sized..................20-21
Solid metal or stone.....................21
* Considering only the sword's bonus of +1."
I do not understand the first line. Could someone offer an explanation? Also, how have other DMs administered this weapon in the Realms?
Many thanks,
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Afet bint Tuzaní
"As the good Archmage often admonishes me, I ought not to let my mind wander, as it's too small to go off by itself."
- Danilo Thann in Elfsong by Elaine Cunningham |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36877 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2008 : 23:19:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Afetbinttuzani
"Sword of Sharpness: This weapon is treated as +3 or better for purposes of who or what can be hit by it, even though it gets only a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls.
I assume this is the line you don't understand... Certain critters have immunity to lesser weapons (DR in 3.x terms, I guess). Some of these critters could only be hit by +3 weapons -- so the sword of sharpness would hit them. However, the sword is a +1 weapon, not a +3 weapon. |
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Afetbinttuzani
Senior Scribe
Canada
434 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2008 : 23:44:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Afetbinttuzani
"Sword of Sharpness: This weapon is treated as +3 or better for purposes of who or what can be hit by it, even though it gets only a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls.
I assume this is the line you don't understand... Certain critters have immunity to lesser weapons (DR in 3.x terms, I guess). Some of these critters could only be hit by +3 weapons -- so the sword of sharpness would hit them. However, the sword is a +1 weapon, not a +3 weapon.
That could be it. There aren't many such critters, though. A quick look in the 2E Monstrous Manual tells me that the only a Pit Fiend Baatezu, an Iron Golem, a Pheonix and a Tanar'ri can only be hit but a +3 magical weapon.
Thanks Wooly |
Afet bint Tuzaní
"As the good Archmage often admonishes me, I ought not to let my mind wander, as it's too small to go off by itself."
- Danilo Thann in Elfsong by Elaine Cunningham |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2008 : 00:55:13
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| That's definitely what it means. |
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Afetbinttuzani
Senior Scribe
Canada
434 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2008 : 01:09:17
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quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
That's definitely what it means.
Great. Thanks guys. |
Afet bint Tuzaní
"As the good Archmage often admonishes me, I ought not to let my mind wander, as it's too small to go off by itself."
- Danilo Thann in Elfsong by Elaine Cunningham |
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dwarvenranger
Senior Scribe
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2008 : 01:23:44
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| As an aside, has anyone seen a 3rd/3.5 ed conversion for the Sword of Sharpness? |
If I waited till I knew what I was doing, I'd never get anything done.
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36877 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2008 : 02:20:25
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quote:
Originally posted by dwarvenranger
As an aside, has anyone seen a 3rd/3.5 ed conversion for the Sword of Sharpness?
I'd imagine that it'd be pretty easy... Just make "sharpness" a weapon property, and say that it overcomes a certain amount of DR -- but still only causes normal damage. |
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Lord Karsus
Great Reader
USA
3746 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2008 : 02:35:39
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I'd imagine that it'd be pretty easy... Just make "sharpness" a weapon property, and say that it overcomes a certain amount of DR -- but still only causes normal damage.
-That sounds right. I'd make it a +1 Bonus (+2,000 GP in cost), and it acts as if it were a +3 weapon, in terms of bypassing Damage Reductions. I'd make a further synergy bonus (a la Magic Item Compendium) that enhances this to a +5. |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6680 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2008 : 05:02:32
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Didn't the old v.3.0 version of "Surestriking" do exactly that?
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3248 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2008 : 05:33:34
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| I keep thinking that it should be a synergy ability with the Maiming ability in the Magic Item Compendium. But I can't think of any type of spell that would sever limbs that may produce the effect in a weapon. |
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dwarvenranger
Senior Scribe
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2008 : 19:52:16
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| I get the DR bit easy enough, just wondering about the severing of a random limb. Probably could just roll a d4 and see I guess. |
If I waited till I knew what I was doing, I'd never get anything done.
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36877 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2008 : 20:18:13
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quote:
Originally posted by dwarvenranger
I get the DR bit easy enough, just wondering about the severing of a random limb. Probably could just roll a d4 and see I guess.
Maybe make it an increased chance of a crit, with the crit causing the severing? |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3248 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2008 : 20:46:49
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That's why I was looking at it being a synergy ability off Maiming. The Maiming ability adds extra +Xd6 damage (x being the Crit Multiplier - 1) on a successful critical hit. Sharpness seems to be a step between Maiming and Vorpal.
The difficulty is that the rules don't really support damage that permanent disables a foe. Either it's a lot of cuts that can be healed or instant death (Vorpal). Since there's no (official) critical hit locations for 3.5, you'd have to see what third party partners may have for hit locations (I know the Open Content from Unearthed Arcana doesn't). |
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
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Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
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dwarvenranger
Senior Scribe
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2008 : 21:44:44
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| Well Paizo has their critical hit deck which has some interesting opportunities. But I think that the best bet is to have it automatically overcome DR, and then on a nat 20, to roll a d4 (d6 if creature has wings and a tail), kinda like the vorpal ability. What do you think? Sound like a +4 (slashing weapon only) ability? |
If I waited till I knew what I was doing, I'd never get anything done.
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Zanan
Senior Scribe
Germany
942 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2009 : 21:12:41
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| Well, essentially the sword of sharpness was a "lesser" version of a vorpal blade. It just didn't cut the head off, but extremities. No 3,xE item that I know of deal like damage - and "maiming" will hardly have as terrifying effects on say a barbarian or fighter in 3E as a sword of sharpness would have. Of course, low HD creatures and characters will be terrified, but they are also terrified by any greatsword coming near them. If somesuch is converted, one needs to balance the effect accordingly. Mind you, going by the 3.xE (and most likely 4E too) rules there is so far no "front" and "back" of a character and hence a shield tied to ones back would (by the rules) not provide any sort of shield bonus to a character attacked from this direction. (It does in my games, of course.) |
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Artemel
Learned Scribe
USA
110 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2009 : 22:25:45
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I'd make a sword of sharpness a step between wounding and vorpal.
+4 modifier, slashing weapon only.
On a natural 20 threat, a confirmed critical removes an appendage (chosen at random). Creatures with appendages, but immunity to criticals thru type, are still subject to the limb loss, though that may not hinder them much (ie, losing an arm simply means the skeleton attacks less frequently).
Also, against opponents who lose a limb and are subject to criticals, they take 1d4+1 Con damage. (This way the damage scales and even high level opponents fear the weapon.)
Sound feasible? |
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2E Sword of Sharpness
