"Evening Out" weapon [Archive] - Wizards Community

"Evening Out" weapon [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ruinous
11-05-04, 10:31 AM I am DMing a game with two very powerful characters an incubus and an elf wizards (both evil), however the incubus at thje moment far outstrips the elf in terms of poer, and more importantly, character.

So, i was thinking of somehow giving a weapon or item to the elf which adds an interesting aspect to his character.

I was thinking along the lines of a magical heirloom (sp?) that starts out with little or no power but as he acheives some preset thing it gains a little power, maybe spell storing, or ability bonus

It might be an idea to make it capable of distignuishing between actions, so that the item only gives its best powers when the elf is fufiling part of a pact, lets say.

Any opinions?
tarkin
11-05-04, 11:03 AM two ways to do that.

1) Fake it, Simple way: Make it intelligent and have it "reveal" new powers later on that it has control over. Never tell the player everythign about it, don't bother to price it out, just give it powers you think are appropriate.

2) Do it right, complex way: Use the "Ancestral" rules in Complete Warrior
CruelDM
11-05-04, 11:24 AM As DM you are ultimately in control to do whatever you deem you need to, fun aint it? At anyrate, you could have the evil elf wizard strike a bargain with a being of pure evil from a foreign plane (is there animosity or dislike between the elf and incubus?) slowly transforming him (at your pace) to a minor/major (your choice) devil, or demon. If the elf wizard is a player you could have a possessed weapon/item or minor artifact do the same, or simply the blessing of a dark god.

What heinous acts would the character need to commit to gain more powerful, additional abilities? Thats up to you, but this allows you control of the progression and multiple role play hooks and opportunities if your needing those.

Good Gaming.
Someone
11-05-04, 01:30 PM What level are the incubus and elf, respectively? Though I would expect the demon to be a sorceror, not a wizard. Don't forget that incubi start at an effective level of 12, so unless the elf has a lot more class levels, the demon is always going to outstrip them in power.
The Colonel
11-05-04, 04:53 PM How about a nice symbiote?
No, not one of the crap ones out of the books, make one up - or try the Arcane Symbiote from one of the Shattered Lands creature collections by Sword and Sorcery and fiddle with it.
Uber Goblin
11-05-04, 06:12 PM hmm... Would a quickened truestrike weapon be possible? :D

or how about am item that gives the elf Divine power- turns his BAB = to his HD.

Nothing like making a wizard a warrior with one spell.
Ruinous
11-07-04, 07:26 AM Strangly, they are both very low level (3) the incubus is level 3 in the "succubus" class found in savage species.

Most of the power difference comes from the incubus having rolled incredibly high stats, i didnt want to change this as the elf rolled far above average as well (though not as high) and both players rolled their characters infront of me, so their is no precedent for the characters having been cheated, just very lucky. Most of the problem comes at later levels as the incubuc will gain not only spells, but reasonable combat ability boosted by the massive stat bonus's that the class gives.

I'm probably going to go with the possesed weapon idea, i'd like a reason why the elf (who comes from the nobility) has become an outcast and is evil (of the rape maidens in a taveren variety) and a demonic weapon fills up many holes and gives me a large amount of legitimate control of the pace of power progression, a number of plot hooks and an interesting character history for his family (and, further more, connection to the incubus)

Thanks for your replies
Rntaboy
11-07-04, 12:05 PM two ways to do that.

1) Fake it, Simple way: Make it intelligent and have it "reveal" new powers later on that it has control over. Never tell the player everythign about it, don't bother to price it out, just give it powers you think are appropriate.

2) Do it right, complex way: Use the "Ancestral" rules in Complete Warrior
What page is the "ancestral" stuff on?
Rntaboy
11-09-04, 10:29 AM Anyone?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ruinous 11-05-04, 10:31 AM	I am DMing a game with two very powerful characters an incubus and an elf wizards (both evil), however the incubus at thje moment far outstrips the elf in terms of poer, and more importantly, character. So, i was thinking of somehow giving a weapon or item to the elf which adds an interesting aspect to his character. I was thinking along the lines of a magical heirloom (sp?) that starts out with little or no power but as he acheives some preset thing it gains a little power, maybe spell storing, or ability bonus It might be an idea to make it capable of distignuishing between actions, so that the item only gives its best powers when the elf is fufiling part of a pact, lets say. Any opinions?
tarkin 11-05-04, 11:03 AM	two ways to do that. 1) Fake it, Simple way: Make it intelligent and have it "reveal" new powers later on that it has control over. Never tell the player everythign about it, don't bother to price it out, just give it powers you think are appropriate. 2) Do it right, complex way: Use the "Ancestral" rules in Complete Warrior
CruelDM 11-05-04, 11:24 AM	As DM you are ultimately in control to do whatever you deem you need to, fun aint it? At anyrate, you could have the evil elf wizard strike a bargain with a being of pure evil from a foreign plane (is there animosity or dislike between the elf and incubus?) slowly transforming him (at your pace) to a minor/major (your choice) devil, or demon. If the elf wizard is a player you could have a possessed weapon/item or minor artifact do the same, or simply the blessing of a dark god. What heinous acts would the character need to commit to gain more powerful, additional abilities? Thats up to you, but this allows you control of the progression and multiple role play hooks and opportunities if your needing those. Good Gaming.
Someone 11-05-04, 01:30 PM	What level are the incubus and elf, respectively? Though I would expect the demon to be a sorceror, not a wizard. Don't forget that incubi start at an effective level of 12, so unless the elf has a lot more class levels, the demon is always going to outstrip them in power.
The Colonel 11-05-04, 04:53 PM	How about a nice symbiote? No, not one of the crap ones out of the books, make one up - or try the Arcane Symbiote from one of the Shattered Lands creature collections by Sword and Sorcery and fiddle with it.
Uber Goblin 11-05-04, 06:12 PM	hmm... Would a quickened truestrike weapon be possible? :D or how about am item that gives the elf Divine power- turns his BAB = to his HD. Nothing like making a wizard a warrior with one spell.
Ruinous 11-07-04, 07:26 AM	Strangly, they are both very low level (3) the incubus is level 3 in the "succubus" class found in savage species. Most of the power difference comes from the incubus having rolled incredibly high stats, i didnt want to change this as the elf rolled far above average as well (though not as high) and both players rolled their characters infront of me, so their is no precedent for the characters having been cheated, just very lucky. Most of the problem comes at later levels as the incubuc will gain not only spells, but reasonable combat ability boosted by the massive stat bonus's that the class gives. I'm probably going to go with the possesed weapon idea, i'd like a reason why the elf (who comes from the nobility) has become an outcast and is evil (of the rape maidens in a taveren variety) and a demonic weapon fills up many holes and gives me a large amount of legitimate control of the pace of power progression, a number of plot hooks and an interesting character history for his family (and, further more, connection to the incubus) Thanks for your replies
Rntaboy 11-07-04, 12:05 PM	two ways to do that. 1) Fake it, Simple way: Make it intelligent and have it "reveal" new powers later on that it has control over. Never tell the player everythign about it, don't bother to price it out, just give it powers you think are appropriate. 2) Do it right, complex way: Use the "Ancestral" rules in Complete Warrior What page is the "ancestral" stuff on?
Rntaboy 11-09-04, 10:29 AM	Anyone?