According to the DC, the source of this weapon is Dragon 316 (why do I find that number oddly familiar?) and the weapon is called the Poison Ring.
Ordinarily, this is used to deliver poison. But the method of delivery is the fact that every attack you make with the weapon has to be a Touch attack to deal damage.
Note that the weapon itself includes no rules about adding extra damage to the one point it normally deals, like it should to prevent the weapon from becoming a mundane version of Wraithstrike...
I know we can do something to abuse this...
EDIT: Oh wait, it does 1 pt of static damage, not 1d1, so I guess AoC would not work. Darn.
The ring deals 1 point of damage on a successful touch attack, plus the poison's normal damage. The victim may have to make a DC 10 Wisdom check to recognize the source of the attack if not in combat. Author: Eric Cagle & Evan Michael Jackson. Source: #316.
By the way I interpret it, if you opt to make a touch attack, you deal ONLY 1 damage (not including your Strength modifier) and the poison's ability damage. But if you opt to make a regular attack (akin to punching with the ring on), you deal 1 + Strength modifier damage.
By the way I interpret it, if you opt to make a touch attack, you deal ONLY 1 damage (not including your Strength modifier) and the poison's ability damage. But if you opt to make a regular attack (akin to punching with the ring on), you deal 1 + Strength modifier damage.
That is an interpretation, and probably the intent of the weapon itself. But the fact that it can be Enchanted alone makes the item more potent.
Let's just assume it functions as a Wraithstrike for the sake of this thread. It is able to use Power Attack to increase the damage (by RAW), so this can really get out of hand (can this technically do that? It is a ring, after all) to get a nice amount of damage. As a Light weapon, we can use TWFing.
And Aura of Chaos only works with Damage Dice that are rolled. This never even uses dice to begin with (aside from the d20).
Let's just assume it functions as a Wraithstrike for the sake of this thread. It is able to use Power Attack to increase the damage (by RAW), so this can really get out of hand (can this technically do that? It is a ring, after all) to get a nice amount of damage.
Even if you do assume that it can deal more than 1 damage on a touch attack, you can't Power Attack with it, because it's a light weapon.
EDIT: Drat, Ninja'd
Other than that, maybe stack a lot of SA and/or Skirmish on top?
~Bowen
Even if you do assume that it can deal more than 1 damage on a touch attack, you can't Power Attack with it, because it's a light weapon.
I just checked Power Attack and Light weapons in the PHB I have with me. Unless they errataed that line in, then yes, you can. Let me check the SRD first.
Edit:
You can’t add the bonus from Power Attack to the damage dealt with a light weapon
Ok, there is the rule. SO no PA for us. No biggie. Sneak Attack and Insightful Strike/Factotum tricks, however, are indeed game for this.
Sticking to the ToB train of thought could you use it to pull some stormguard warrior + AoB shenanigans? Seems like having to only make touch attacks when using AoB would help continue the cycle for a little longer. I think the total damage would probably end up being less though considering it only does 1 pt/hit.
Unless they were flanked/flat-footed...
This really can get unsane can't it?
Give the poison ring the impact property for extra fun.
IF you can make it bigger then it is no longer a light weapon.
However, I think SA/SS/DA damage is a better way to get damage from this item.
There was also a maneuver that did a fixed number of dice on a touch FA. I forgot the name, and people recommended it for Stormguard warrior prep round.
Yeah sure. Warblade + Assassin's stance + Craven + AoB + flanked/flat-footed enemy =
Give the poison ring the impact property for extra fun.
This is going to get really stupid, really fast.
Thri-Kreen Warblade with Multiweapon FIghting and AoB/TSS. Ewww.
I think my Twin Blade class will love this weapon...
Mm... Weapon of Energy; Prescience, Offensive; Wounding enchantment and SA dice.
Add in Marrowcrushing (BoVD) and you are getting 2 Con damage with each attack that deals damage!
Only problem I am seeing is DR/ anything not magic! 1 point of damage is crap against DR.
Add in Marrowcrushing (BoVD) and you are getting 2 Con damage with each attack that deals damage!
Only problem I am seeing is DR/ anything not magic! 1 point of damage is crap against DR.
Arcane Strike can fix that. You need a gish build, but the damage is just "extra damage" so should easily count for overcoming DR.
Oh, and there is serious competition. The Spinning Sword, from Secrets of Xen'Dirk.
A spinning sword has reach, so you can strike opponents
10 feet away with it. In addition, unlike most other weapons
that have reach, it can be used against an adjacent foe.
The Weapon Finesse feat can be used with a properly
sized spinning sword, even though it isn't a light weapon. A
spinning sword can't be wielded in two hands to apply 1-1/2
times a character's Strength bonus on damage rolls.
A spinning sword can be worn as a belt, its grip
functioning as a buckle. A successful DC 15 Search check
is required to discern that a spinning sword carried in
this way is a weapon. If Sleight of Hand is used to conceal
a spinning sword as a belt, the wearer gets a +6 circum*
stance bonus on the check.
1d6, 19-20, One-Handed exotic weapon. It almost rivals the Spiked Chain. Almost.
If you are going with sneak attack and dex, make it feycrafted. Feycrafted light weapons do 1 category less damage (but it cannot go any lower) and you get weapon finese when using it for free.
Speaking of thrikreen and mutlihanded fun, why not graft the ring into you hand with an illithaid graft or psionic power? Then you can enchant it, wear the savage species necklace that adds to natural attacks, and throw in kensai just to be silly. With the sizing enchantment you can push it up to a colossal ring spike and it still counts as a light weapon (since a natural attack). Only down side is you cannot use the hand for other things I think, to bad since it is only a small ring.