Cursed Legacy Weapon (Thoughts) - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Cursed Legacy Weapon (Thoughts)

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Cernunnos56
Mar 20, 2008 6:21:55 My general idea for a cursed legacy weapon that I wan't to give to my tragic villian BBEG. Once he is slain it might go to a PC. I still haven't taken the time to fill in the specifics (the weapon's Ego score, Seth's back story, the legacy magical property progression, ect.), but I know that I want the weapon to eventually have the vicious magic ability.

Any way here is a quick summary of it...

Thoughts...

BLOODSONG (+1 longsword)

DESCRIPTION:
This weapon is unnaturally adept at hitting things, it is as if the weapon itself never wants to miss the opportunity to taste blood. If you are in combat and using this sword you never miss your target, either naturally or unnaturally, however you do pay a price when the weapon must take measures to strike your opponent.

MECHANICS:
This weapon is:
Certain Striking- Always hits.
Lethal Striking- Hits someone as if they had no DR.

This sword has several unique abilities pertaining only to itself. It is Certain Striking and Lethal Striking. Meaning that it always hits its target, and when it strikes it hits the target as if it had no DR. In addition its purpose is to corrupt good characters, and then eventually enslave them. It has no intention on serving characters that are already evil, because it cannot turn them.

You never miss when you attack with the this sword. When you roll to attack and the result is below the target's AC, follow the chart below:

Your Character's Level: Result
Level 1-10: You subtract from your hit points half of the difference from what you rolled and the target's AC.
Level 10-19: You subtract from your hit points the difference from what you rolled and the target's AC.
Level 20+ : You subtract from your hit points double the difference from what you rolled and the target's AC.

In addition you can choose to change a natural 1 to an automatic critical hit, however, doing so you and the target both take half of the damage rolled.

When you roll to attack and the result is above the target's AC, follow the chart below:

Your Character's Alignment: Result
Good: You gain temporary hit points equal to the number that you exceeded the target's AC.
Evil: You gain permanent hit points equal to the number that you exceeded the target's AC. If this number exceeds your maximum hit points, then the remaining hit points are temporary.

In addition if you naturally critical someone you gain temporary or permanent hit points (depending on your alignment) equal to the amount of damage you deal.

If you are a non-evil creature, every week you carry this blade you must make a Will save. The base of this save is DC 10 + 1 every time you willingly draw this blade. If you fail the Will save your alignment turns one step toward evil.

If you are an evil creature that the sword has turned, every week you carry this blade you must make a Fort save. The base of this save is DC 10 + 1 every time you willingly draw this blade. If you fail the Fort save then your body become possessed by Seth Heironson (possibly becoming the property of the DM.) Whenever you want to perform an action contrary to what Seth wants, then you must make a Will save vs. this weapon's ego score. The only way to remove this condition is if the sword is no longer in your hands and a wish, greater wish spell (or the equivalent) are then cast.

If you are an evil creature (that the sword has not turned), then you lose 1 point of Constitution damage every hour that the sword remains in your possession.
#2
wraithstrike
Mar 20, 2008 9:02:05 I can't imagine any player liking this idea. They are forced to play another alignment eventually, and the sword provides more negatives than positives overall. Whether the character is evil or good they will most likely throw the sword away or just refuse to use it and sell it. The risk far outweigh the rewards.

Who is Seth Heironson?

Now on with where I was going. The autohit idea is not worth it. If I am fighting a monster that hits hard, and I am having a bad dice day I have to deal with the damage I take because I rolled low, and the damage I am taking from the monster, and if the monster is a tank(giant,ogre, other things that hit hard) then I might be pulling out a new character sheet, and if I am a cleric/paladin I may lose my deity's support eventually.
#3
Cernunnos56
Mar 20, 2008 10:44:45
Who is Seth Heironson?

I'm going to make a good back story for him. Long story short... he was an evil megalomaniac, that killed his entire village. Soon he raised an army of followers (he was most charismatic) and conquered much of the countryside. It took the combined might of several armies to quell his followers. Soon it was realized that he could not be killed by ordinary means. So the mighty armies gathered the brightest wizards who imprisoned his soul in a gem, which was then buried deep underground.

Many centuries later the gem was discovered by a dwarven magicsmith, who was looking for a perfect gem to adorn a new magical weapon he crafted with his elven companion. He placed it on the sword and Seth's spirit fused with the sword, empowering it even more.

His power, rage and cruelty was so great that within seconds of joining the sword he convinced the elf to kill the dwarf, and in doing so he himself died. Later the sword cried out to a new master who took it and ventured the world around him...

Now on with where I was going. The autohit idea is not worth it. If I am fighting a monster that hits hard, and I am having a bad dice day I have to deal with the damage I take because I rolled low, and the damage I am taking from the monster, and if the monster is a tank(giant,ogre, other things that hit hard) then I might be pulling out a new character sheet, and if I am a cleric/paladin I may lose my deity's support eventually.

That is why the drawbacks aren't as painful at a low level... besides... the item is cursed!
#4
wraithstrike
Mar 20, 2008 12:52:55 My point is that if I were wielding a sword and it made me lose HP, and I had to make a save, whether I failed the save or not the sword would immediately stop being used. I might not know what the save was against, but characters know when they are making saves, and that would be more than enough for me to put the item away.
The autohit is counter by the fact that you could also take auto-damage along with whatever the enemy throws at you. I would rather have a regular weapon, and go with whatever my party can provide for assistance.
Whether I lose my character to the DM or death it is still a character I can't use/control, and no player wants to just sit at the table while someone else plays his character, and no character wants to be controlled by some outside force.
If you really want you can go ahead and introduce it(it's your campaign), but I have not met a player who would keep it, after suffering the ill affects of it.

Would you keep it, and if so why?
#5
Cernunnos56
Mar 20, 2008 14:18:41
If you really want you can go ahead and introduce it(it's your campaign), but I have not met a player who would keep it, after suffering the ill affects of it.

Would you keep it, and if so why?

Actually... to be completely honest with you...

YES!

(I also asked a PC the same question when I came up with the idea for this sword, and his response echoes mine.)

And I tell you why...

Purely for the role play factor! I have had DMs do all kinds of things to my characters, and have also had things happen to my characters! The key is not to get too attached to your PC. I tend to do this fairly easy because I roll with the punches... and get whatever outcome derives from it, be it good or bad!

Unless the DM randomly rolls for treasure, if something is introduced in a game its for a reason. If I can advance a DMs plot by taking the bate and having fun roll playing with it... I'm the type of player THAT WILL do it!

Not only does it make for fun and exciting games... but also memorable characters! If my character dies by holding the sword, then it only serves to enhance its legend. If instead I turn evil and get to play an evil PC (or the DM takes him over) then again... it only enhances the sword's legend (Think Arthas in WOW!)

Besides... you don't always have to use the weapon in a fight and you can pull it out if your other weapons do not harm a creature.

The only exception I would have with taking this sword is if I were an arcane spellcaster (which I wouldn't touch a longsword anyway) or a paladin that had no intentions of going evil and becoming a blackguard (although as a PC I would not know the outcome of possessing the sword!)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Cernunnos56 Mar 20, 2008 6:21:55	My general idea for a cursed legacy weapon that I wan't to give to my tragic villian BBEG. Once he is slain it might go to a PC. I still haven't taken the time to fill in the specifics (the weapon's Ego score, Seth's back story, the legacy magical property progression, ect.), but I know that I want the weapon to eventually have the vicious magic ability. Any way here is a quick summary of it... Thoughts... BLOODSONG (+1 longsword) DESCRIPTION: This weapon is unnaturally adept at hitting things, it is as if the weapon itself never wants to miss the opportunity to taste blood. If you are in combat and using this sword you never miss your target, either naturally or unnaturally, however you do pay a price when the weapon must take measures to strike your opponent. MECHANICS: This weapon is: Certain Striking- Always hits. Lethal Striking- Hits someone as if they had no DR. This sword has several unique abilities pertaining only to itself. It is Certain Striking and Lethal Striking. Meaning that it always hits its target, and when it strikes it hits the target as if it had no DR. In addition its purpose is to corrupt good characters, and then eventually enslave them. It has no intention on serving characters that are already evil, because it cannot turn them. You never miss when you attack with the this sword. When you roll to attack and the result is below the target's AC, follow the chart below: Your Character's Level: Result Level 1-10: You subtract from your hit points half of the difference from what you rolled and the target's AC. Level 10-19: You subtract from your hit points the difference from what you rolled and the target's AC. Level 20+ : You subtract from your hit points double the difference from what you rolled and the target's AC. In addition you can choose to change a natural 1 to an automatic critical hit, however, doing so you and the target both take half of the damage rolled. When you roll to attack and the result is above the target's AC, follow the chart below: Your Character's Alignment: Result Good: You gain temporary hit points equal to the number that you exceeded the target's AC. Evil: You gain permanent hit points equal to the number that you exceeded the target's AC. If this number exceeds your maximum hit points, then the remaining hit points are temporary. In addition if you naturally critical someone you gain temporary or permanent hit points (depending on your alignment) equal to the amount of damage you deal. If you are a non-evil creature, every week you carry this blade you must make a Will save. The base of this save is DC 10 + 1 every time you willingly draw this blade. If you fail the Will save your alignment turns one step toward evil. If you are an evil creature that the sword has turned, every week you carry this blade you must make a Fort save. The base of this save is DC 10 + 1 every time you willingly draw this blade. If you fail the Fort save then your body become possessed by Seth Heironson (possibly becoming the property of the DM.) Whenever you want to perform an action contrary to what Seth wants, then you must make a Will save vs. this weapon's ego score. The only way to remove this condition is if the sword is no longer in your hands and a wish, greater wish spell (or the equivalent) are then cast. If you are an evil creature (that the sword has not turned), then you lose 1 point of Constitution damage every hour that the sword remains in your possession.
#2 wraithstrike Mar 20, 2008 9:02:05	I can't imagine any player liking this idea. They are forced to play another alignment eventually, and the sword provides more negatives than positives overall. Whether the character is evil or good they will most likely throw the sword away or just refuse to use it and sell it. The risk far outweigh the rewards. Who is Seth Heironson? Now on with where I was going. The autohit idea is not worth it. If I am fighting a monster that hits hard, and I am having a bad dice day I have to deal with the damage I take because I rolled low, and the damage I am taking from the monster, and if the monster is a tank(giant,ogre, other things that hit hard) then I might be pulling out a new character sheet, and if I am a cleric/paladin I may lose my deity's support eventually.
#3 Cernunnos56 Mar 20, 2008 10:44:45	Who is Seth Heironson? I'm going to make a good back story for him. Long story short... he was an evil megalomaniac, that killed his entire village. Soon he raised an army of followers (he was most charismatic) and conquered much of the countryside. It took the combined might of several armies to quell his followers. Soon it was realized that he could not be killed by ordinary means. So the mighty armies gathered the brightest wizards who imprisoned his soul in a gem, which was then buried deep underground. Many centuries later the gem was discovered by a dwarven magicsmith, who was looking for a perfect gem to adorn a new magical weapon he crafted with his elven companion. He placed it on the sword and Seth's spirit fused with the sword, empowering it even more. His power, rage and cruelty was so great that within seconds of joining the sword he convinced the elf to kill the dwarf, and in doing so he himself died. Later the sword cried out to a new master who took it and ventured the world around him... Now on with where I was going. The autohit idea is not worth it. If I am fighting a monster that hits hard, and I am having a bad dice day I have to deal with the damage I take because I rolled low, and the damage I am taking from the monster, and if the monster is a tank(giant,ogre, other things that hit hard) then I might be pulling out a new character sheet, and if I am a cleric/paladin I may lose my deity's support eventually. That is why the drawbacks aren't as painful at a low level... besides... the item is cursed!
#4 wraithstrike Mar 20, 2008 12:52:55	My point is that if I were wielding a sword and it made me lose HP, and I had to make a save, whether I failed the save or not the sword would immediately stop being used. I might not know what the save was against, but characters know when they are making saves, and that would be more than enough for me to put the item away. The autohit is counter by the fact that you could also take auto-damage along with whatever the enemy throws at you. I would rather have a regular weapon, and go with whatever my party can provide for assistance. Whether I lose my character to the DM or death it is still a character I can't use/control, and no player wants to just sit at the table while someone else plays his character, and no character wants to be controlled by some outside force. If you really want you can go ahead and introduce it(it's your campaign), but I have not met a player who would keep it, after suffering the ill affects of it. Would you keep it, and if so why?
#5 Cernunnos56 Mar 20, 2008 14:18:41	If you really want you can go ahead and introduce it(it's your campaign), but I have not met a player who would keep it, after suffering the ill affects of it. Would you keep it, and if so why? Actually... to be completely honest with you... YES! (I also asked a PC the same question when I came up with the idea for this sword, and his response echoes mine.) And I tell you why... Purely for the role play factor! I have had DMs do all kinds of things to my characters, and have also had things happen to my characters! The key is not to get too attached to your PC. I tend to do this fairly easy because I roll with the punches... and get whatever outcome derives from it, be it good or bad! Unless the DM randomly rolls for treasure, if something is introduced in a game its for a reason. If I can advance a DMs plot by taking the bate and having fun roll playing with it... I'm the type of player THAT WILL do it! Not only does it make for fun and exciting games... but also memorable characters! If my character dies by holding the sword, then it only serves to enhance its legend. If instead I turn evil and get to play an evil PC (or the DM takes him over) then again... it only enhances the sword's legend (Think Arthas in WOW!) Besides... you don't always have to use the weapon in a fight and you can pull it out if your other weapons do not harm a creature. The only exception I would have with taking this sword is if I were an arcane spellcaster (which I wouldn't touch a longsword anyway) or a paladin that had no intentions of going evil and becoming a blackguard (although as a PC I would not know the outcome of possessing the sword!)