Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gluestick 03-10-07, 07:56 PM	For example, if I have a normal weapon, can I add keen to it? Osay I have a weapon with Flaming on it, could I just add a new new bonus on for the cost of the bonus itself, or would I have to make a completely new item?
draconic_swine 03-10-07, 09:21 PM	For some reason I can't find anything about it in the SRD, but I'm pretty sure that you can add enhancements to a weapon/armour after the fact - your +4 keen flaming longsword of wounding could very well have started out as a simple +1 longsword, with everything else added over time. Of course, this could be something my brain made up without tellling me, but that's how I've always played it.
Thamius 03-10-07, 11:09 PM	For example, if I have a normal weapon, can I add keen to it? Osay I have a weapon with Flaming on it, could I just add a new new bonus on for the cost of the bonus itself, or would I have to make a completely new item? Yes and no. You cannot take any normal weapon and make it magical in any way, you must start with a masterwork weapon. Then, you must add at least +1 of enhancement bonus to it before you can start adding special qualities. Finally, the question of upgrading existing magical weapons with more enhancement bonuses or special qualities: The rules aren't as clear, so it depends on the DM. Personally, I allow upgrades to weapons and armor, with the price being the difference between the old and new items. For example, to upgrade a +1 Flaming sword to add Keen to it, you would have to pay the cost difference between a +2 and +3 item. In addition to an enhancement bonus, weapons may have special abilities. Special abilities count as additional bonuses for determining the market value of the item, but do not modify attack or damage bonuses (except where specifically noted). A single weapon cannot have a modified bonus (enhancement bonus plus special ability bonus equivalents) higher than +10. A weapon with a special ability must have at least a +1 enhancement bonus. Now, if you really want to start an old debate back up, ask about upgrading a special quality like Flaming to become Flaming Burst...
Wharin 03-11-07, 12:32 PM	While it was never actually written in the core rules (IIRC), I believe the Sage stated that its completely reasonable to allow it. Here's how it'd work: So lets pretend you had a +1 Long Sword, and you wanted to upgrade it to a +1 Keen Longsword. Keen is an +1 enchantment so you effectively have a +2 weapon now. So to calculate the cost of upgrading your weapon is [+2 longsword cost] - [+1 longsword cost]. Which if memory serves is 6k.
bloodtalon 03-11-07, 04:54 PM	i say yes the reson is that if the book of exalted deeds has a feat that allows any one to upgrade a wepon a wizard should be able to .
Banatine 03-11-07, 07:03 PM	Wharin is absolutely right. That is exactly how it works. Also, if you used the craft magic arms and armour feat, it would only require 3,000 gp + 240 xp (I think). :) They speak about it in the rules for item familiars, which is where I read it.
ClementWillowbreaker 03-12-07, 12:04 AM	It gets mentioned with Item Familiars/Ancestral Weapons because no one wants to throw one away to get a better one. The default assumption of DnD is that you don't care about your specific sword, so trading it in isn't an issue. Most players in my experience like hanging on to their weapons as a source of continuity. Now, this also has the mechanical benefit of saving you money from having to resell your old gear at half-cost, which can be significant. It can be partially balanced out by losing your weapon for weeks on end of downtime while you wait for it to get enhanced. The real balancing factor is not being able to take advantage of found/captured gear. Treasure is priced with the assumption that you sell it, so using a found weapon would give you more magic for your gp. If you sell a perfectly good +3 battleaxe to upgrade your own +2 longsword, you are technically losing out. So a DM that does this just needs to keep an eye on character wealth just a bit more carefully.