Disposable weaponry [Archive] - Wizards Community

Disposable weaponry [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
katarl
08-09-05, 04:15 PM I seem to recall the existance of a staff of striking from the old BG series. Basically, you could hit opponents for vastly greater damage, but the staff was charged, and became useless after continual use.

Does anyone use weaponry like that in 3E. Applying charges to weapons doesn't seem unfeasible, or broken (except maybe true strike), and would have more charges than a spell-storing weapon.

Ideas?
Navar
08-09-05, 04:19 PM I think it would be better to make it a uses/day thing than charges. You could do something like:

Flaming (Charged) +2d6 per hit when activated 50 charges. +1 bonus

That would seem balanced to me, but it would depend on the campaign.
CryoSilver
08-09-05, 04:22 PM The closest thing I can think of in the current rules is the Warlock's Scepter (or whatever it's called) that lets you spend charges to increase eldritch blast damage.

What I could suggest to you is to start with base magical weapon damage for ammunition and work from there.

Example: you want a sword that deals +1d6 damage per hit and can do that say... 25 times. That's a +1 enhancement bonus equivalent (flaming, shock, etc). So, base cost starts at +2,000 gp for a +1 weapon. That would buy you 50 projectiles (or one use magical weapons, basically). Halve that for 25 charges to get your total of +1,000 gp on top of whatever the weapon costs.

Only problem with this system is it gets really expensive really fast; so muh so that it would be smarter to get the same weapon except without the charges. Maybe base the cost off of armor enhancement costs (in other words, halve the cost again)?
tarkin
08-09-05, 04:33 PM There are lots of magic items like that, but most are missiles. (Necklace of fireballs, beads of force)

The one that is not a missile that I know of is:

Staff of Power. For 1 charge, you can do double damage for one round.
mvincent
08-09-05, 05:33 PM I seem to recall the existance of a staff of striking from the old BG series. Basically, you could hit opponents for vastly greater damage, but the staff was charged, and became useless after continual use.

Does anyone use weaponry like that in 3E.3.5 has some rods similar to what you are describing, but if they have charges they are generally a number of charges per day. Examples:
Rod of Thunder and Lightning
Rod of Lordly Might
Rod of Flailing
Rod of Withering
etc.

If you just want to power up staff damage, check out shillelagh oil (potion).
NiQil
08-09-05, 07:02 PM 3.5 has some rods similar to what you are describing, but if they have charges they are generally a number of charges per day. Examples:
Rod of Thunder and Lightning
Rod of Lordly Might
Rod of Flailing
Rod of Withering
etc.

If you just want to power up staff damage, check out shillelagh oil (potion).

Actually, I think what you are looking for are psionic weapons. Any psionic character wielding a weapon made from deep crystal can charge 2 Power Points into said weapon for an additional 2d6 damage, and can do so until they run out of Power Points. That's the closest thing I can come up with.
CryoSilver
08-09-05, 08:21 PM Not that it's really relevant, but buying a Staff of Power to use it as a double damage staff 50 times is like buying a 747 to drive to work every day.
syntaxerror37
08-09-05, 11:01 PM This sounds like a staff or rod of striking. I don't know that they were officialy ported to 3/3.5, but I know they "grandfathered" into the ToEE game. Basicly they were treated as a +2 weapon (staff or club, respectfuly) with 50 charges. using a charge doubled (or trippled if 2 were expended) the damage on a critical hit.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
katarl 08-09-05, 04:15 PM	I seem to recall the existance of a staff of striking from the old BG series. Basically, you could hit opponents for vastly greater damage, but the staff was charged, and became useless after continual use. Does anyone use weaponry like that in 3E. Applying charges to weapons doesn't seem unfeasible, or broken (except maybe true strike), and would have more charges than a spell-storing weapon. Ideas?
Navar 08-09-05, 04:19 PM	I think it would be better to make it a uses/day thing than charges. You could do something like: Flaming (Charged) +2d6 per hit when activated 50 charges. +1 bonus That would seem balanced to me, but it would depend on the campaign.
CryoSilver 08-09-05, 04:22 PM	The closest thing I can think of in the current rules is the Warlock's Scepter (or whatever it's called) that lets you spend charges to increase eldritch blast damage. What I could suggest to you is to start with base magical weapon damage for ammunition and work from there. Example: you want a sword that deals +1d6 damage per hit and can do that say... 25 times. That's a +1 enhancement bonus equivalent (flaming, shock, etc). So, base cost starts at +2,000 gp for a +1 weapon. That would buy you 50 projectiles (or one use magical weapons, basically). Halve that for 25 charges to get your total of +1,000 gp on top of whatever the weapon costs. Only problem with this system is it gets really expensive really fast; so muh so that it would be smarter to get the same weapon except without the charges. Maybe base the cost off of armor enhancement costs (in other words, halve the cost again)?
tarkin 08-09-05, 04:33 PM	There are lots of magic items like that, but most are missiles. (Necklace of fireballs, beads of force) The one that is not a missile that I know of is: Staff of Power. For 1 charge, you can do double damage for one round.
mvincent 08-09-05, 05:33 PM	I seem to recall the existance of a staff of striking from the old BG series. Basically, you could hit opponents for vastly greater damage, but the staff was charged, and became useless after continual use. Does anyone use weaponry like that in 3E.3.5 has some rods similar to what you are describing, but if they have charges they are generally a number of charges per day. Examples: Rod of Thunder and Lightning Rod of Lordly Might Rod of Flailing Rod of Withering etc. If you just want to power up staff damage, check out shillelagh oil (potion).
NiQil 08-09-05, 07:02 PM	3.5 has some rods similar to what you are describing, but if they have charges they are generally a number of charges per day. Examples: Rod of Thunder and Lightning Rod of Lordly Might Rod of Flailing Rod of Withering etc. If you just want to power up staff damage, check out shillelagh oil (potion). Actually, I think what you are looking for are psionic weapons. Any psionic character wielding a weapon made from deep crystal can charge 2 Power Points into said weapon for an additional 2d6 damage, and can do so until they run out of Power Points. That's the closest thing I can come up with.
CryoSilver 08-09-05, 08:21 PM	Not that it's really relevant, but buying a Staff of Power to use it as a double damage staff 50 times is like buying a 747 to drive to work every day.
syntaxerror37 08-09-05, 11:01 PM	This sounds like a staff or rod of striking. I don't know that they were officialy ported to 3/3.5, but I know they "grandfathered" into the ToEE game. Basicly they were treated as a +2 weapon (staff or club, respectfuly) with 50 charges. using a charge doubled (or trippled if 2 were expended) the damage on a critical hit.