Sword of Kas

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Zardnaar

Oct 08, 2014 19:46:29

 

Hello peps I was wondering how one would convert this weapoin the 5E. The following stats are from the 2E Book of Artifacts and the Sword of Kas is a greatsword in 5E terms (a flamberge even).

 

The Sword is intelligent (Int 19, Ego 20) and communicates telepathically, revealimg only two random powers when fisrt touched.

 

Constant. The Sword acts as a +6 defender
(double damage to planar beings), grantsforesight,
and defiles holy water within 30 feet. Invoked. Upon command, the Sword can
shield (3/day) or bestow fire giant Strength (+4
to hit, +10 damage, 1-turn duration, 3/day).
Random. The Sword grants three abilities from Table 24: Immunities and two abilities from Table 25: Major Spell-like Powers.
Curses. First, the Sword inflicts 2d20 damage the first time it‘s touched. Second, all powers fail when it‘s brought within 60 feet of Vema or his artifacts-something the Sword is not aware of. Third, the wielder risks artifact domination; the Sword‘s goal is destroy Vecna and his artifacts. and will try to control its owner to do 80. Last, it must be quenced in blood once per day If successful, the character is compelled to kill (even another PC).

 

+6 is a little high ofr 5E and it is +1 over the maximum PCs can create. So I am thinking it is a +4 sword in 5E rules. Fire giant strength in 5E is 25 and the sword would grant foresight as well. Double damage to planar beings is probably a bit much so +1d6 or 2d6 damage?

 

 Note that I am running an adventure tonight where the Hand and Eye of Vecna will be coming up. They are not in the adventure just being mentioned and I have created rules for intelligent items Note the go score is the DC of a charisma save to avoid artifact possession.

 

 Said sword will not be a long term thing at best used for a single adventure. I have a PC who would love to try and use this sword as he has evil tendencies and likes random things like being ruled by a weapon. 

 

Also feel free to suggest a lesser version wielded by a spawn of Kas called the Sword of Cas (or spear etc). I'm giving the PCs a grand tour of D&D 101 with King Snurre, Mostra and Grugnar making an appearance along with Bahumat, Tiamat, Vecna, Acerak, and probably some Greyhawk type Drow as well.

 

 

 

 

#2

rampant

Oct 08, 2014 20:02:36

Well seeing as how it's a plot sword and not a craftable we can go a little wild.

 

The + to hit and damage should vary based on certain factors, for example as long as the artifact is in control it gets +3, the max I think 5e uses. HOwever certain situations will make the sword more agreeable to hand out the bonus, for example when facing a known agent of Vecna (the sword has to know, and believe, not the PC). It would also grant the bonus when attacking an 'ally', or generally acting according to the sword's own compulsions. Outside these situatins the player would have to somehow convince the sword to hand out a bonus higher than +1, and you can loose that even if you and the sword really have a falling out.

 

This of course also means that getting the sword to use it's other powers could be a pain as well. 

 

 

#3

AaronOfBarbaria

Oct 08, 2014 20:06:54

I might actually suggest trying to find the older versions of the sword if you can... like back when it was a short sword (at least I think that is what it was first, I could be wrong) in order to see what is really the heart of the item, and what has been added over the years (as things always seem to have happen with D&D where over the years and versions they grow inexplicably more powerful).

#4

Zardnaar

Oct 08, 2014 20:08:04

rampant wrote:
#5

rampant

Oct 08, 2014 20:08:22

Actually the 3rd edition version was either a shortsword or a longsword rather than a  great sword.

 

Also it's not inexplicable, DnD lore is basically mythology, and like most mythology it gets bigger and more dramatized with each retelling.

#6

ankiyavon

Oct 08, 2014 20:36:41

+6 was one higher than the maximum in 2E.  It was always intended to be a greater plus than any normal weapon, being an artifact.

 

 

I mean, feel free to drop the plus if you want, but it is supposed to be plus a lot.

#7

Zardnaar

Oct 08, 2014 20:39:50

rampant wrote:
#8

Zardnaar

Oct 08, 2014 20:38:40

ankiyavon wrote:
#9

AtomicPope

Oct 09, 2014 4:41:18

+3 Great Sword
Legendary Weapon - character gains 1 Legendary Action per round (make a melee attack)
Sword of Sharpness - +3D6 of the same attack type (slashing or piercing) and triple critical damage
Defender - character can expend reaction to gain a +3 AC bonus until the start of next turn (like a weaker version of Shield)

 

Foresight is ridiculously powerful.  Maybe give it Haste, casts as a bonus action and recharges with a long rest.  Since Haste got nerfed this edition for casting, it's WAY more powerful for items.

This is closer to the abilities found on the end game items for Horde of the Dragon Queen 5e Module.  Obviously, this weapon is made for a Fighter, especially the Champion who has Improved Crit but a Barbarian would do quite well with it.  A +3 bonus is REALLY high for this edition.  Consider the prof. bonus functions like BaB or ThAC0 and making the Sword of Kas +3 is like making it a +10 weapon in previous editions.  The damage from the extra dice and the new Crit system that increases dice damage makes this a VERY deadly weapon.  One Crit will cause 15D6+3+Str Mod damage.  It's easy to imagine well placed attacks made by a high level Fighter Champion removing the hand and eye of a Lich.

#10

Dracones

Oct 09, 2014 12:51:42

Well, in 5e legendary swords are +2 with artifacts being +3. So +3/+4 would be the range you want, though I'd have it as +3 as I don't intend for my game to see much in the way of artifacts.

 

Legendaries are also typically +2d6 of a damage type and I've tossed out +2d8/+2d10 for damage vs something specific instead as options. So +4d6 vs all based on some type of damage would fit.

 

Past that you'd give the weapon charges with the ability to regen charges(legendary swords are usually 4 charges with 1d4 recharge) with spells it can cast. Level 1 spells are 1 charge, level 2 are 2 charges, etc. I'd probably say artifact swords are 6 charges and 1d6 recharge. If Kas is better than an artifact then I'd go at 8 charges with a 1d8 recharge. Though again I'd personally just keep it in the artifact range, but 8 charges is still within reason. I think staves get that level or more of charges with wands in the 6-7 charge range.

(Reply to #8)

AaronOfBarbaria

Zardnaar wrote:
#12

Zardnaar

Oct 09, 2014 20:29:40

AaronOfBarbaria wrote:
#13

AaronOfBarbaria

Oct 10, 2014 3:18:00

Alright, here's the Eldritch Wizardry version (with updates to make it AD&D 2e compatible, as that is what the Encyclopedia Magica did for all items), with the non-relevant fluff not pertaining to its physical description, XP value, and GP value omitted.

 

Sword of Kas wrote:
#14

seti

Oct 10, 2014 4:05:03

I dunno the whole story of the Sword of Kas.

 

but I do believe that anything past +3 would really mess up 5e's rules (what people call 'bounded accuracy' with reverance, and all that).

 

I recall that it was a short sword, unique, and took Vecna's hand. That's pretty damned bad-ass. But it was also wielded by a vampire (Kas).

 

I'm leaning (if I was DMing the idea of releasing this artifact into my world, of course) towards it being cursed, it being a +3 short sword before attunement, and it being hunted by Vecna and his minions. (a bad thing, lol.) Sure, it'd make a PC awesome. At a horrible price.

 

Personally, I'd make it almost as powerful as has been said in this thread. But, I'd also (in my campaign/at my table) incourage its distruction...Unless Vecna was a threat. Then, well, It should be used to put HIM down...Then distroyed.

 

IMO, there are things that should not be touched. An item like that is one of them.