Artifacts and Unique Weapons [Archive] - Wizards Community

Artifacts and Unique Weapons [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Darkxarth
05-18-06, 11:12 PM Okay, I like creating weapons, but I don't want to make all of my unique weapons Artifacts, it seems like that makes Artifacts almost too commonplace.

I mean, do Artifacts have to be super powerful? I think they do, but then, what do I call non-Artifact one-of-a-kind weapons? I don't have the Weapons of Legacy book, and specific weapons, like Holy Avenger, can have multiples. I don't want 14 different magic weapons, but I don't want to make my +3 Club (it's unique, trust me) an Artifact.

Should I maybe make them Minor Artifacts? Or is that too commonplace as well?
Vanigo
05-19-06, 02:41 AM Eh, it's up to you. While adding tons of artifacts to the game does introduce some issues (what with the indestrucability and all), it's not exactly insurmountable. You could also simply say that some regular magic items can't be duplicated for whatever reason. (Some people say that this is what minor artifacts represent; the book isn't entirely clear.)
goblin_gronth
05-19-06, 03:26 AM just a suggestion...

If you dont have a NPC that would fit, could make one.
A NPC has made this weapon for perhaps a cause/purpose. Obviously the NPC would have the Craft Magic Arms and Armor feat.

I have used a version of this idea. Where the NPC is in need of adventures to accomplish something and have used the magical weapons as the means to get it done. The characters done always get the magical item. In the other one i had them use it through the adventure and they learned what it could do as the proceeded through the campaign.
Seeker95
05-19-06, 07:25 AM 1. do Artifacts have to be super powerful?
2. what do I call non-Artifact one-of-a-kind weapons?
3. Should I maybe make them Minor Artifacts?
4. Or is that too commonplace as well?1. No. Artifact means nobody knows how to make another one. That's all.
2. A non-artifact one-of-a-kind weapon is called whatever the owner calls it. Elric called his Stormbringer.
3. Minor artifact means not super-powerful, but nobody can make one. If that fits, go for it.
4. Minor artifacts can be commonplace. They may not be all-that-powerful at all. But nobody knows how to make them.

If you have a pretty unique weapon, but a weaponsmith could make another one, it is not an artifact, no matter how powerful it is.
Arquinsiel
05-19-06, 08:05 AM Make the item creation process require a spell that the item's crater researched themselves but which was unfortunaltely lost in the fire resulting from the raid that brought the item into the wider world. Simple.

2. A non-artifact one-of-a-kind weapon is called whatever the owner calls it. Elric called his Stormbringer. Bad example for the following reasons:
1: Stormbringer is a super-powerful artifact (as suggested in the BoVD and stated in the d20 suppliment Dragon Lords of Melniboné)
2: Stormbringer has a twin named Mournblade.
3: Stormbringerbut is a sentient being that is humanoid in it's natural form. It also happens to be of near-deific power (having killed a few gods) and is present in every universe in one form or another (the Black Sword, Sword of Paracelsus, and the Sword of the Dawn for example).

A better example would be something like the sword of Teclis from the warhammer setting, it's just a sword that can call down lightning and gives a bit of a strength boost IIRC but it was created by a mage who is arguably the most powerful in the world and hence simply beyond the abilities of lesser crafters. Not that it's easy to make magic items in the warhammer world.
Darkxarth
05-20-06, 01:25 PM The problem with Minor Artifacts is that "they're not unique, they just can't be made anymore." I may make them Minor Artifacts anyway.
My problem was how to categorize them, but I think that it's been answered. I think...
Maybe I'll just call them Unique Weapons, simple, easy, straightforward.
Thanks for all the help.
Vanigo
05-20-06, 05:08 PM 1. No. Artifact means nobody knows how to make another one. That's all.
No, it also means it's indestructible by all normal means (unless you count MDJ as normal, anyway). And that it makes MDJ casters sad. And that it can be used as a material component to cast apocalypse from the sky.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Darkxarth 05-18-06, 11:12 PM	Okay, I like creating weapons, but I don't want to make all of my unique weapons Artifacts, it seems like that makes Artifacts almost too commonplace. I mean, do Artifacts have to be super powerful? I think they do, but then, what do I call non-Artifact one-of-a-kind weapons? I don't have the Weapons of Legacy book, and specific weapons, like Holy Avenger, can have multiples. I don't want 14 different magic weapons, but I don't want to make my +3 Club (it's unique, trust me) an Artifact. Should I maybe make them Minor Artifacts? Or is that too commonplace as well?
Vanigo 05-19-06, 02:41 AM	Eh, it's up to you. While adding tons of artifacts to the game does introduce some issues (what with the indestrucability and all), it's not exactly insurmountable. You could also simply say that some regular magic items can't be duplicated for whatever reason. (Some people say that this is what minor artifacts represent; the book isn't entirely clear.)
goblin_gronth 05-19-06, 03:26 AM	just a suggestion... If you dont have a NPC that would fit, could make one. A NPC has made this weapon for perhaps a cause/purpose. Obviously the NPC would have the Craft Magic Arms and Armor feat. I have used a version of this idea. Where the NPC is in need of adventures to accomplish something and have used the magical weapons as the means to get it done. The characters done always get the magical item. In the other one i had them use it through the adventure and they learned what it could do as the proceeded through the campaign.
Seeker95 05-19-06, 07:25 AM	1. do Artifacts have to be super powerful? 2. what do I call non-Artifact one-of-a-kind weapons? 3. Should I maybe make them Minor Artifacts? 4. Or is that too commonplace as well?1. No. Artifact means nobody knows how to make another one. That's all. 2. A non-artifact one-of-a-kind weapon is called whatever the owner calls it. Elric called his Stormbringer. 3. Minor artifact means not super-powerful, but nobody can make one. If that fits, go for it. 4. Minor artifacts can be commonplace. They may not be all-that-powerful at all. But nobody knows how to make them. If you have a pretty unique weapon, but a weaponsmith could make another one, it is not an artifact, no matter how powerful it is.
Arquinsiel 05-19-06, 08:05 AM	Make the item creation process require a spell that the item's crater researched themselves but which was unfortunaltely lost in the fire resulting from the raid that brought the item into the wider world. Simple. 2. A non-artifact one-of-a-kind weapon is called whatever the owner calls it. Elric called his Stormbringer. Bad example for the following reasons: 1: Stormbringer is a super-powerful artifact (as suggested in the BoVD and stated in the d20 suppliment Dragon Lords of Melniboné) 2: Stormbringer has a twin named Mournblade. 3: Stormbringerbut is a sentient being that is humanoid in it's natural form. It also happens to be of near-deific power (having killed a few gods) and is present in every universe in one form or another (the Black Sword, Sword of Paracelsus, and the Sword of the Dawn for example). A better example would be something like the sword of Teclis from the warhammer setting, it's just a sword that can call down lightning and gives a bit of a strength boost IIRC but it was created by a mage who is arguably the most powerful in the world and hence simply beyond the abilities of lesser crafters. Not that it's easy to make magic items in the warhammer world.
Darkxarth 05-20-06, 01:25 PM	The problem with Minor Artifacts is that "they're not unique, they just can't be made anymore." I may make them Minor Artifacts anyway. My problem was how to categorize them, but I think that it's been answered. I think... Maybe I'll just call them Unique Weapons, simple, easy, straightforward. Thanks for all the help.
Vanigo 05-20-06, 05:08 PM	1. No. Artifact means nobody knows how to make another one. That's all. No, it also means it's indestructible by all normal means (unless you count MDJ as normal, anyway). And that it makes MDJ casters sad. And that it can be used as a material component to cast apocalypse from the sky.