Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Baned 05-16-05, 01:25 PM	This is just a quick conversion of the Atma Weapon (the sword, not the monster) from Final Fantasy VI to D&D. It probably needs work, so let me know what you guys think. Atma Weapon Artifact This +2 brilliant energy weapon is capable of doing extra damage based on the weilder's current HP. Unlike a regular brilliant energy weapon, the Atma Weapon is fully capable of harming undead, constructs, and objects. Constructs and Objects will lose most, if not all, of their AC, due to this. For every 25 HP the wielder currently has, 1d6 of damage is added, with no limit. It can also bypass 5 points of any type of damage reduction. The weapon changes it's type, depending upon the user's current HP. Normal weapon proficientcies for each type must be followed, or you suffer the standard penalties. See below: -10 to 25: +2 Brilliant Energy Dagger 26 to 50: +2 Brilliant Energy Short Sword 51 to 75: +2 Brilliant Energy Long Sword 76 and up: +2 Brilliant Energy Bastard Sword Edit: Added suggestions from other posts. Edited again.
Keenath 05-16-05, 01:46 PM	That definitely reflects Atma, except that Atma wasn't actually brilliant energy. It didn't have any particular bonus to hit through armor -- the glowy thing was just a visual effect, and you could certainly declare that your minor artifact looks like that. (And yes, this is almost certainly minor artifact-level power.) By the way, did you know "atma" is a corruption of "ultima"? When the translators first got their hands on the game, they didn't know what it was SUPPOSED to be called, and the japanese is written phonetically as "ah-ti-maa", so they just translated it in to "atma".
Fenris Frost 05-16-05, 01:47 PM	Sounds frightening. Though I must say, what kind of wussy barbarian only has 22 CON at level 30?
Draco Light 05-16-05, 03:32 PM	That definitely reflects Atma, except that Atma wasn't actually brilliant energy. It didn't have any particular bonus to hit through armor -- the glowy thing was just a visual effect, and you could certainly declare that your minor artifact looks like that. (And yes, this is almost certainly minor artifact-level power.) Oddly enough, no, Brilliant Energy does make some sense. The Atma Weapon did happen to ignore defense, and thus regularly did more damage to anything else if you were at high life. Ignoring armor and shield bonuses? I could see the equivalent. Personally, I'd make it ignore DR as well. However, on a related note, if you were at lower life, the Atma Weapon was junk, besides the ignore defense point. I'd make that more obvious, here. ... Statting the monster would've been more fun, though...
chocobochicken 05-16-05, 04:49 PM	You might want to verify that this is based on current HP. ;)
311RA29 05-16-05, 07:00 PM	Yes! Weilding dual Atma weapons at 9999 HP with Terra was the best!
Baned 05-16-05, 11:00 PM	Edited Weapon Description. Sounds frightening. Though I must say, what kind of wussy barbarian only has 22 CON at level 30? Well without magical aid, he would have had 7 chances to up a score by one point, and based on my friend's Barb, a good many of those would be invested into STR instead. You might want to verify that this is based on current HP. ;) Good point. Statting the monster would've been more fun, though... That's my next project. By the way, did you know "atma" is a corruption of "ultima"? When the translators first got their hands on the game, they didn't know what it was SUPPOSED to be called, and the japanese is written phonetically as "ah-ti-maa", so they just translated it in to "atma". I know, but keeping the name Atma more uniquely identifies it to FFVI. It also keeps it from seeming to be a similar form of the Ultima spell. (Which oddly enough, survived being translated to it's intended word.)
Keenath 05-16-05, 11:29 PM	Oh, I didn't mean you should change it! I just find that translation amusing. One point is that you really need to make Atma a minor artifact instead of a major one. After all, in the game you could get a second Atma by fighting through the Colesseum. That makes it minor, because there's only one of a major artifact, by definition. Well, that, and the fact that its power level is nothing like good enough to make it Major.
Baned 05-17-05, 12:51 AM	Oh, one thing for those of you who aren't familiar with this game, just imagine a blue light saber from Star Wars, except with a gold hilt to get an idea what the weapon looks like. One point is that you really need to make Atma a minor artifact instead of a major one. After all, in the game you could get a second Atma by fighting through the Colesseum. That makes it minor, because there's only one of a major artifact, by definition. Well, that, and the fact that its power level is nothing like good enough to make it Major.Well I wasn't entirely clear on Artifact classification. Do you still think Minor, even though I added the bit about DR?
DarkSoldier 05-17-05, 05:51 AM	The weapon's in-game description is "Transforms at level-up, grows as HP increases." I don't know what the first part describes, but the second part means that it should appear as a dagger at 1 to 29 hp, shortsword at 30-59, longsword at 60-89, and bastard sword at 90+, and inflict damage appropriately.
Baned 05-17-05, 08:20 AM	The weapon's in-game description is "Transforms at level-up, grows as HP increases." I don't know what the first part describes, but the second part means that it should appear as a dagger at 1 to 29 hp, shortsword at 30-59, longsword at 60-89, and bastard sword at 90+, and inflict damage appropriately.I thought about altering it's strength and length, but i figured that might just be too much hassle.
Keenath 05-17-05, 11:31 AM	I really do think it's only qualified as a minor artifact. Even as it is, major artifacts are generally things of ultimate power, and this just doesn't seem good enough. It's good, yes -- the Staff of the Magi is also good. But it just isn't on the same level as, say, the hand and eye of Vecna, or the Shadowstaff. Or, for that matter, the Annulus (destroy it to completely destroy one target, even a god...)
Baned 05-18-05, 12:19 AM	Ok, well like I said, I haven't studied Artifacts that close, but I just figured it's too powerful for just a Magical Weapon classification.
Count Arioch the 28th 05-18-05, 01:00 AM	One point is that you really need to make Atma a minor artifact instead of a major one. After all, in the game you could get a second Atma by fighting through the Colesseum. That makes it minor, because there's only one of a major artifact, by definition. Off topic here, but how could you get a second atma weapon?
chocobochicken 05-18-05, 08:23 AM	You can steal one from one of the 3 statues at the end of the game before fighting Kefka. Can't remember which one it is, though.
Keenath 05-19-05, 12:14 PM	There's actually 3 Atma Weapons in FF6: 1) Under the stairs in the Cave of the Sealed Gate. This is the one everyone finds. 2) Steal from AtmaWeapon (the monster) on the Floating Island just before Kefka blows up the world. 3) At the very end of the game, you fight in 4 boss battles in a row. In the third, there are two monsters/statues called "Girl" and "Sleep". You can steal Atma from Sleep, but you can't actually equip it as far as I know, because you're already in the end-of-game battle. Shadow could throw it, though. There may also be one you can steal in the arena. I'm not sure on that one -- I don't know which enemy has it, if any of them do; it could just be a rumor.
PrinceAzar 05-19-05, 12:21 PM	What's FF6? :confused:
Dungeon Master 05-19-05, 12:57 PM	It's Final Fantasy 3 in the US. Atma was good but Ilumina was better. If you want to make Atma truly a major artifact, have it deal the wielder's current HP in damage. ;)
PrinceAzar 05-19-05, 01:08 PM	FF6 = Final fantasy 3? :confused: :confused: what...i've heard of these Final Fantasy games, but never sure what they were about.
Draco Light 05-19-05, 01:14 PM	There's actually 3 Atma Weapons in FF6: 1) Under the stairs in the Cave of the Sealed Gate. This is the one everyone finds. 2) Steal from AtmaWeapon (the monster) on the Floating Island just before Kefka blows up the world. 3) At the very end of the game, you fight in 4 boss battles in a row. In the third, there are two monsters/statues called "Girl" and "Sleep". You can steal Atma from Sleep, but you can't actually equip it as far as I know, because you're already in the end-of-game battle. Shadow could throw it, though. There may also be one you can steal in the arena. I'm not sure on that one -- I don't know which enemy has it, if any of them do; it could just be a rumor. #2 is false, and #3 is true enough. There is no way to get it in the arena, either. You actually can switch your weapons in midfight (just go up off the top of your item list to access your equipped weapons), but either way, you get it for maybe a fight and a half, so it's not too great. Sort of fun to throw, though. Further considering the Brilliant Energy... I really want it to have that ability, but it really shouldn't have that weakness against undead/constructs (as the Atma Weapon did just fine killing both of those). Maybe have it work as a touch attack instead? I dunno. And ignore 1d4 DR? That's a bit... bizarre. Sometimes it makes things less resistant? Why not make it just a static number?
Wyrd Bearer 05-19-05, 01:15 PM	*Well, I admit this is way off topic and I have nothing real to contribute to the conversation, and I could easily just PM the info, but this way it will clear up this discussion for anyone else who is confused* FF6 is the 6th FF in Japan, which was the 3rd one released in the US. We're a little behind here over in the states.
PrinceAzar 05-19-05, 01:21 PM	I have no idea what Final Fantasy is, besides the fact it's a type of adventure game.
Keenath 05-19-05, 02:02 PM	Yeah, er, sorry about that. Final Fantasy 6 is the japanese counting system (FF1-3 were on NES, 4-6 on SNES, and 7+ on Playstation). When FF3 (american) was re-released on the Playstation, they retitled it back to the japanese system, so the disc I have says FF6. #2 is false, and #3 is true enough. Well, I've found at least one FAQ on GameFAQs that says you can, but it could be wrong. I'd have to go back and play again to find out.
Draco Light 05-19-05, 03:23 PM	Well, I've found at least one FAQ on GameFAQs that says you can, but it could be wrong. I'd have to go back and play again to find out. Trust me, it's false. I was just playing through the game maybe... two~three weeks ago. I'm pretty sure you get an Elixer from Atma Weapon on the continent. Fancy Atma (in Kefka's Tower) gives you some other decent weapon, but it's not the Atma Weapon.
Cli' San Aquanova 05-20-05, 10:03 AM	I know, but keeping the name Atma more uniquely identifies it to FFVI. It also keeps it from seeming to be a similar form of the Ultima spell. (Which oddly enough, survived being translated to it's intended word.) Yeah, Atma is a lot more unique than Ultima, and sounds a bit cooler (for VI). Now, how would we stat Atma itself? ;) And I never quite understood why there were two Atmas. Was the first encountered (Atma Weapon) a clone of the true Atma? -C'SA :u:Bring Back Merfolk!!!:u:
Karanth 05-20-05, 01:57 PM	How about statting the Ultima spell? We may need to move this over a bit, though...
lordsathien 05-20-05, 08:13 PM	Definately an epic spell.
Baned 05-20-05, 11:11 PM	I'm currently pouring over the Monster Making section of MM 3.5 so I can make Atma Weapon to the best of my abilities. Perhaps the sword can be a prize for slaying the creature, instead of just finding it in a cave like in FFVI. Thanks for all your help with the Atma Weapon sword. Now on to the next project. (Link below) Edit: w00t. http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=433344
Johannixx 05-21-05, 05:58 AM	Well, let's look at how the Atma weapon functions in the game itself: 1. It grows more powerful as the wielder gains HP, and becomes weaker as the wielder is wounded. 2. It ignores damage reduction, but is neutral in terms of extra damage, i.e. it doesn't exploit any weaknesses that the target might have. 3. It doesn't do extra damage when used to attack from behind. How do we represent this in-game? 1. I like the idea of making the weapon grow from a dagger to a bastard sword as the wielder's HP grows. I also like the scale presented earlier. However, I would say that as a dagger, it's a +2 weapon. As a shortsword, +3. As a longsword, +4. As a bastard sword, +5. Also, each 25 hp the wielder currently has grants bonus to damage of +1d6. 2. Let it ignore DR, and function as a touch attack. This is highly powerful, but then so is the item itself. 3. It doesn't allow a character to use Sneak Attack.
Baned 05-21-05, 10:33 AM	Taking in all input... Processing... How about this scale for growth, and other changes: +1d6 per 25 current HP Ignores first 5 points of any Damage Reduction (Maybe more?) +2 Dagger up to 25 HP +3 Short Sword from 26 - 50 HP +4 Longsword 51 - 75 HP +5 Bastard Sword at 76 HP and up Treated as a brilliant energy weapon, except it can hit Undead and Constructs just as well as it can with fleshy foes.
jukar 05-21-05, 11:01 PM	You know, as tired as I am of everyone going nuts over FF, and as tired as I am of seeing people trying to convert FF to D&D, this made me smile. No matter how tired of FF I get, FF6 will always have a special place in my heart, and the Atma Weapon will always be the coolest damn weapon ever in my mind. I think you did a good job of converting it, I'd love to add it to my campaign!
Baned 05-21-05, 11:22 PM	You know, as tired as I am of everyone going nuts over FF, and as tired as I am of seeing people trying to convert FF to D&D, this made me smile. No matter how tired of FF I get, FF6 will always have a special place in my heart, and the Atma Weapon will always be the coolest damn weapon ever in my mind. I think you did a good job of converting it, I'd love to add it to my campaign! Well to make it compatible with pretty much any standard (or even heavily house-ruled) D&D campaign, I tried to stay within how weapons function with core 3.5 rules. You don't need an FF6 campaign with heavily modified battle systems and what not. This is simply a new weapon that can fit in the pages of the DMG's Magic Item chapter. Anyways, thanks for the praise at the end, but remember these fine folks here helped me fine tune it.
shadowflamedancer 06-06-05, 02:40 PM	I have no idea what Final Fantasy is, besides the fact it's a type of adventure game. Oh you poor poor child. So much time I have spent basking the the worlds of Final Fantasy that to find out some have never ventures there at all brings tears to my eyes and pain to my heart. [/corny poetics] A fairly detailed account of what Final Fantasy (often called FF in internet-ese) is can be found here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_fantasy), and an account of FF6 (one of my personal favorites, and it is safe to say that I am not alone in that opinion) can be found here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ff6). I hope that you can better understand FF6 and the FF series as a whole after you read these. Check out a couple of the games. FF6, FF7, & FF10 are supposed to be the best (public opinion), I also like FF9 alot, but it's not for everyone.
Baned 06-06-05, 11:45 PM	...an account of FF6 (one of my personal favorites, and it is safe to say that I am not alone in that opinion)... Greatest game ever made.
shadowflamedancer 06-07-05, 12:55 AM	Greatest game ever made. Wonderful choice my friend! I have to say I am tied with FF6, Ocarina of Time and Tales of Phantasia (which was never released in the US, so I got a ROM with a SNES emulator, I highly recomend it). But FF6 has wonderful plot & characters, well designed enemies and bosses, times you want to laugh from the pure ludicriousness of it all, and moments that make you want to cry from either sorrow or awe. Once again, wonderful choice. I highly recomend this to all people. You can get in in the FF Anthology for PS/PS2, or on a rom online. CHeck out Amazon or Ebay, or somthing similar. It's soooooo good.
Johannixx 06-07-05, 01:24 AM	I've still got the original SNES "Final Fantasy 3" cartridge. It's by far my favorite FF game.
Doctor_Jello 06-07-05, 02:23 AM	its good to see i am not the only one who loves the atma weapon. ITs got a special place near and dear to my heart. As far as the ultima epic spell goes... Its quite possible it could be a 9th level spell because at the beginning ultima took a long time to cast so i will make casting time based on caster level, as well as damage at higher levels to the maxinum to kill any character of competing level. the barbarian at 17th level character only has 267 hps. this spell deals 306. If you ever got brave and went brachasaur hunting you know how i feel. Evocation sorc/wiz spell level 9 V,S,Special 17 3 rounds, 18 2 rounds, 19- 1 rounds, 20 - 1 standard action saving throw: none SR: yes All enemies within a 10ft radius per caster level takes 20 points of damage per caster level with no maxinum damage cap. damage reduction applies. Special. must take the ultima feat. Ultima You can cast the 9th level spell ultima prerequisites: caster level 17, you have to collect the 10 dragon orbs and slay an old dragon of both the metallic and the chromatic kind. DMs Descretion is advised.
Johannixx 06-07-05, 03:57 AM	its good to see i am not the only one who loves the atma weapon. ITs got a special place near and dear to my heart. As far as the ultima epic spell goes... Its quite possible it could be a 9th level spell because at the beginning ultima took a long time to cast so i will make casting time based on caster level, as well as damage at higher levels to the maxinum to kill any character of competing level. the barbarian at 17th level character only has 267 hps. this spell deals 306. If you ever got brave and went brachasaur hunting you know how i feel. Evocation sorc/wiz spell level 9 V,S,Special 17 3 rounds, 18 2 rounds, 19- 1 rounds, 20 - 1 standard action saving throw: none SR: yes All enemies within a 10ft radius per caster level takes 20 points of damage per caster level with no maxinum damage cap. damage reduction applies. Special. must take the ultima feat. Ultima You can cast the 9th level spell ultima prerequisites: caster level 17, you have to collect the 10 dragon orbs and slay an old dragon of both the metallic and the chromatic kind. DMs Descretion is advised. In FF6 at least, Ultima was gained from the Ragnarok esper. The esper Crusader was the one gained by killing the ten dragons. Crusader taught Meteor and Merton, not Ultima.
Baned 06-07-05, 09:10 AM	I wasn't aware DR applied to any spells. Perhaps you meant Spell Resistance instead?
Doctor_Jello 06-07-05, 08:24 PM	i stand corrected. read somewhere that spells that do pure damage you apply DR but DMG 292 states that spells, spell like abilities and supernatural abilities don't apply DR
Soulshade 06-08-05, 12:29 AM	By the way, did you know "atma" is a corruption of "ultima"? When the translators first got their hands on the game, they didn't know what it was SUPPOSED to be called, and the japanese is written phonetically as "ah-ti-maa", so they just translated it in to "atma". An odd coincidence, then, that "Atma" also means soul/prana/life force. Which seems quite fitting for a weapon that bases its power off the life force of its wielder.
nexusguardian 06-14-05, 12:25 PM	ok you might want to change the ability of its growth and or add the function to allow those who cant wield the said weapon (say a sorcerer andthe bastard sword) cause i do not remember terra being much of a fighter and she could handle the sword at any length without penalty ... so might want to glamour it with a special glamour that still affects it with the length but doesnt apply the weapon type so anyone can use it .... and as for cost of the stuff it would be astronomically an epic weapon btw ... cause the bonuses it will have if you use the ones you got so far and from the abilities and bonuses each size grants you will be well over +10 ... so if you could please also include in a furture responce what abilities and stuff you figured into the weapon so it can be used as well and maybe also recreated since it is a minor artifact ... well i will talk no further
Baned 06-14-05, 02:11 PM	ok you might want to change the ability of its growth and or add the function to allow those who cant wield the said weapon (say a sorcerer andthe bastard sword) cause i do not remember terra being much of a fighter and she could handle the sword at any length without penalty ... so might want to glamour it with a special glamour that still affects it with the length but doesnt apply the weapon type so anyone can use it .... and as for cost of the stuff it would be astronomically an epic weapon btw ... cause the bonuses it will have if you use the ones you got so far and from the abilities and bonuses each size grants you will be well over +10 ... so if you could please also include in a furture responce what abilities and stuff you figured into the weapon so it can be used as well and maybe also recreated since it is a minor artifact ... well i will talk no further Actually, Terra was one of the best combatants in the game. She could equip some of the most powerful swords, like Ragnarok and Illumina. And if I remember, her Morph was similiar to a Barbarian Rage, except it increased Magic power, too, making her weapons even more deadly. Anyways, if a Sorcerer used the sword, he'd suffer the RAW penalties for not having proficiencies (unless he spent a feat to get what he needed) in the weapon under my current description. I'm not exactly sure what all you're saying in your post. When I plan on giving this to my players, they're going to be epic or very-near, no lower than Lv. 17-18 I'm thinking. The party barbarian (assuming he doesn't multiclass, and the fighter/wizard isn't greedy) could easily have well over 150 HP, if not in the 200 range. That means he now has a bastard sword capable 1d10+6d6+2+STR damage (An average of 56+STR damage, assuming 150 HP, not 200), while the attack roll will bypass most of a creature's AC and any damage reduction. Now, if you dare, factor in when this Barb goes into a rage... Holy crap, this thing is very powerful. I didn't realize so much until I did that Barb example. But that's at full HP, so it'll weaken as he takes damage. Maybe I need to tweak it a little.
kmccoy 06-14-05, 02:14 PM	I really like the concept, but when you change a weapons type it counts down on characters using it who weapon specialization and weapon focus. Couldn't you leave it as one weapon, or come up with something that lets it turn into the favored weapon of whatever class you are?
Baned 06-14-05, 02:36 PM	Well my original idea was that it was a Longsword, as far as proficiencies are concerned, at all lengths. Maybe I'll change it back to that. Either way, it'll anger the Fighter/Wizard who's spent 3 different feats on enhancing his Greatsword ability.