Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 pauln6 Dec 01, 2014 16:51:56	Is this item overpowered?  It's only a bonus action to ignite, it doesn't require concentration to maintain, it lasts until you are disarmed, it applies extra damage to every attack.   Obviously you can't use it while stealthing and some monsters are immune to file (but rarely to the slashing damage of the magical weapon itself).  I'm not seeing any major drawbacks.   Does it need any of the following to balance it?   Concentration Charges Duration plus recharge on a short rest.   Can anybody think of any spells or class features that are comparable so that I can put it into context?
#2 CCS Dec 01, 2014 18:05:34	You're over thinking this. You turn on you're lightsaber & go..... it doesn't need any more context than that.
#3 AaronOfBarbaria Dec 01, 2014 18:13:42	No, it isn't overpowered. Fire is, if my count was correct, still the most frequently resisted and immune damage type and you glow like a beacon when using the weapon - flashy weapon means looking very dangerous, which means being the prime target of any hostile force attempting to take you and your party down.   And no other magic weapons require concentration or have a duration, so why would you saddle flametongue with one?
#4 Saelorn Dec 01, 2014 18:39:44	It's a magic item. If you think it's overpowered for the level of the party, then don't give it to them.
#5 Kentus Dec 01, 2014 19:04:19	Not having the DM yet, but if it requires attunement, there is already a balancing-mechanism. If it doesn't, well, magic weapons are meant to be awesome. ;)
#6 pauln6 Dec 02, 2014 0:51:37	Let me put it this way.  We've just converted our PCs from the previous edition and all the PCs, including the paladin that uses the flametongue, are saying wtf, 2d6 damage at will, indefinitely?  The sword belongs to our paladin and our fighter is looking at his +1 undead bane and saying, why would I not just trade this in for a flametongue?  FYI his sword glows in the presence of undead too so being visible is just as disadvantageous and he can't turn the sword off if undead are around.  It glows weakly so I guess he could sheath it without putting himself at too much risk.
(Reply to #6) AaronOfBarbaria	pauln6 wrote:
#8 clinker17 Dec 02, 2014 7:35:08	If I remember correctly the Flametongue doesnt have any pluses to hit soooo maybe that balances it alittle. Not like you need pluses to hit in this edition anyways.
#9 Coredump00 Dec 02, 2014 11:26:48	What level are the PCs?  A straight conversion is likely to have way too much magic, and more powerful at that...
#10 pauln6 Dec 02, 2014 13:18:11	They are levels 10-13 in this edition but have been playing since 1e.  I think the flametongues were originally obtained in 1e.  While I appreciate that flametongues can't be bought off the shelf I don't want the other PCs to feel short-changed by the system.  His sword requires attunement too don't forget, albeit he can still use it as a sword +1 without attunement.   I am going to playtest as is but so far nobody seems to have a problem with the balance issues.  I'm not sure I do either, the other sword is +2 +1d6 radiant vs undead, helps him resist energy drains, and can dispel magic 1/day.  It's not a terrible sword by any stretch, I'm simply wondering if peoples' experience is that flametongue simply does too much damage overall.
(Reply to #6) crimfan07	pauln6 wrote:
#12 sleypy Dec 03, 2014 16:49:08	If you really feel that it is too powerful give the people who don't have them an extra wonderous item to balance things out. I gave a few players a 3e or 4e feat as a extra trait/boon to balance things out.