Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dire_Cohort 05-06-07, 10:52 PM	I just took Craft Magic Arms and Armor in the middle of a campaign focused on the daelkyr. The ECS openly states that byeshk weapons can harm the daelkyr in the equipment section (I didn't have to sneak a peak at the monster chapter, though, of course, I did). My character's K: Planes, however, was not high enough to yield the daelkyr's vulnerabilities, even when we went to Korranberg to do research. Would I be within my rights to have my character seek byeshk to forge weapons out of? Is there an in-character reason to do so? The argument that the daelkyr's kryptonite is well known seems far-fetched (which is why I'm here rather than asking my DM about it first). Maybe if I restrict myself to crafting bludgeoning weapons, which byeshk gives bonuses to? Under what conditions do strange materials like byeshk pop up in your campaigns?
AllWillFall2Me 05-07-07, 12:40 AM	Hmm. In-character seems sketchy at best. However, I'd try this: K: History(fairly low) should reveal that it was the Dhakaan who fought the daelkyr. So go to the Capital of Darguun (name escapes me), and try another K: The Planes/ Gather Info. the goblins should know it better than Korranberg. Logical, in character process: "Well, the dhakaani fought the daelkyr and clearly won, so let's ask them for pointers."
Wymarc 05-07-07, 03:15 PM	even better, the Drakanni fought the forces of Xoriat, so loot their weaponry. The weaponry would be byshek. you reach the conclusion.
Balseraph 05-07-07, 09:02 PM	Indeed - ask around for how the Dhakaani beat the snot out of (warning: major exaggeration! :P) the Daelkyr and someone should be able to tell you. Korranberg, Darguun, Morgrave University, ye-wise-olde-sage-on-toppe-of-yonder-mountain, etc...
Kryptonian Scion 05-09-07, 11:26 AM	The Dhakaani lost the war against the daelkyr. It was the Gatekeepers that defeated them. There is no evidence (that I am aware of) to suggest that the goblins knew about byeshk.
WarlockDa 05-09-07, 08:40 PM	Also keep in mind that only some weapons were made of Byeshk, most noteably weapons of their heroes of the time. So it's not like every single weapon was made of the material. Course you could always make a Shadow Striking weapon per Tome of Magic, automatically attunes itself to your foe's weakness, thus emulating whatever material defeats it's DR. Course this is a +3 feature.
Shady314 05-10-07, 05:26 PM	I just took Craft Magic Arms and Armor in the middle of a campaign focused on the daelkyr. The ECS openly states that byeshk weapons can harm the daelkyr in the equipment section (I didn't have to sneak a peak at the monster chapter, though, of course, I did). My character's K: Planes, however, was not high enough to yield the daelkyr's vulnerabilities, even when we went to Korranberg to do research. Would I be within my rights to have my character seek byeshk to forge weapons out of? Is there an in-character reason to do so? The argument that the daelkyr's kryptonite is well known seems far-fetched (which is why I'm here rather than asking my DM about it first). Maybe if I restrict myself to crafting bludgeoning weapons, which byeshk gives bonuses to? Under what conditions do strange materials like byeshk pop up in your campaigns? You could try rolling a knowledge (dungeoneering) DC 20 check to reveal that byeshk weapons are extremely useful in fighting aberrations. I realize it's likely not as high as your K.planes but hey it'll give you a quick shot. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/eb/20040511a Scroll to where it talks about Byeshk. Byeshk is a prized metal for bludgeoning weapons. Have your character try to find out why. Eventually he'll succeed. It's not a huge secret.
tallric_kruush 05-12-07, 01:31 PM	I'd think a Gatekeeper met in the Eldeen, Shadow Marches, or Droaam would be a good choice for introducing the wonders of Byeshk to your PCs. They are still actively battling aberrations/Daelkyr creations to this day, after all. A Hobgoblin Dirgesinger met anywhere in Khorvaire could likely tell you all about Byeshk, though he/she would have to be convinced to do so. Most of the ancient weapons seem to be regarded as "sacred" Hobgob property by the heirs of Dhakaan, ill-suited to non-goblin hands. The Dhakaani lost the war against the daelkyr. It was the Gatekeepers that defeated them. There is no evidence (that I am aware of) to suggest that the goblins knew about byeshk. Actually, most of the Byeshk weapons you'd find would be hobgoblin-made. Honestly, I wouldn't think there'd be that many items at all made of Byeshk that aren't of hobgoblin make. I wouldn't think the Gatekeeper druids went about forging many greatswords, warhammers, etc... I know the novels aren't canon, but the legendary hobgoblin sword Geth wields in The Dragon Below series is a good example of what we'd see. I was surprised "Skai Shaarat" on page 71 of the PGtE wasn't Byeshk. The Goblins and Gatekeepers were allies (at least by the end of the war), even if it was utlimately the Gatekeeper magic that ended the war. You could say that the atheistic (or at least agnostic) Dhakaani provided the military might and muscle, and the Gatekeepers the divine magic. I would think even the ocassional Gatekeeper item made of byeshk (which is mechanically advantageous only for weapons) was likely made in the forges of Dhakaan. So that is the long-winded way of saying: "Yes, the Dhakaan definitely knew about Byeshk." I'd wager they're the ones who discovered it's useful properties to begin with.
Edymnion 05-12-07, 02:36 PM	Well, you could always get it for the more obvious and well known properties. +1 damage with any bludgeoning weapon. I can't think of any other material that does that, so if you're using a metal bludgeoning weapon, you are likely to already know that the most devistating weapons of it's kind are made of byeshk. I mean, I don't know much about guns, but I can pretty much assure you that any gun nut will be able to tell you what the most powerful handgun/rifle/etc is, even if they could never afford to actually buy one themselves.
tallric_kruush 05-12-07, 03:00 PM	Well, you could always get it for the more obvious and well known properties. +1 damage with any bludgeoning weapon. I can't think of any other material that does that, so if you're using a metal bludgeoning weapon, you are likely to already know that the most devistating weapons of it's kind are made of byeshk. I mean, I don't know much about guns, but I can pretty much assure you that any gun nut will be able to tell you what the most powerful handgun/rifle/etc is, even if they could never afford to actually buy one themselves. That's true. Though byeshk isn't quite as ubiquitous as guns, I'm sure a warrior who has spent time in western Khorvaire, or among the Hobgoblins, might be familiar with the advantage of byeshk for bludgeoning weapons. He wouldn't necessarily know about the Daelkyr weakness, though.
Edymnion 05-12-07, 05:00 PM	That's true. Though byeshk isn't quite as ubiquitous as guns, I'm sure a warrior who has spent time in western Khorvaire, or among the Hobgoblins, might be familiar with the advantage of byeshk for bludgeoning weapons. He wouldn't necessarily know about the Daelkyr weakness, though.Yeah, a generic fighter would have training in bludgeoning weapons. A fighter thats built around one with Focus and Specialization is going to be one of the biggest experts on the weapon and it's use around, so its not a stretch of the imagination in any sense to assume he would know all about his chosen weapon. The people that craft the finest hammers, the best materials to make them out of, etc. The fact that it tears through daelkyr would just be an unexpected bonus to his uber-smasher.
Runepriest 05-12-07, 08:42 PM	Go for Mettaline, like Shadow Striker except you chose it and it can be any metal. Including Mithral (for when your traveling). Plus, it's only +2
Edymnion 05-13-07, 12:45 PM	Go for Mettaline, like Shadow Striker except you chose it and it can be any metal. Including Mithral (for when your traveling). Plus, it's only +2I still hold that as being proof that the entire material DR bypass system is inherently flawed when they have to bring out an enchantment to get around the bag of golf clubs syndrome.
tallric_kruush 05-13-07, 05:25 PM	Yeah, a generic fighter would have training in bludgeoning weapons. A fighter thats built around one with Focus and Specialization is going to be one of the biggest experts on the weapon and it's use around, so its not a stretch of the imagination in any sense to assume he would know all about his chosen weapon. The people that craft the finest hammers, the best materials to make them out of, etc. The fact that it tears through daelkyr would just be an unexpected bonus to his uber-smasher. Agreed. Originally Posted by Runepriest Go for Mettaline, like Shadow Striker except you chose it and it can be any metal. Including Mithral (for when your traveling). Plus, it's only +2 I guess I don't play into high enough levels. A +2 is pretty expensive to me. I'd probably just go with something like "Holy" that bypasses more DR for the buck. I did like the idea of "Metalline" when I first saw it back in Underdark (FR supplement). The book is crap, but it has a few useful odds and ends. Originally Posted by Edymnion I still hold that as being proof that the entire material DR bypass system is inherently flawed when they have to bring out an enchantment to get around the bag of golf clubs syndrome. Yep. Thus the "Holy" enchantment being a reliable favorite. I know I'm not going to carry a "golf bag" of weapons to bypass all the various DRs, but at least I'll get past the omnipresent "and Evil" part.
turalisj 05-14-07, 06:05 PM	Well, you could always get it for the more obvious and well known properties. +1 damage with any bludgeoning weapon. I can't think of any other material that does that, so if you're using a metal bludgeoning weapon, you are likely to already know that the most devistating weapons of it's kind are made of byeshk. I mean, I don't know much about guns, but I can pretty much assure you that any gun nut will be able to tell you what the most powerful handgun/rifle/etc is, even if they could never afford to actually buy one themselves. .50cal semi automatic sniper rifle. It can blow the head off a person from a good mile - two miles away. :D .......What?