Once in the history of Cheliax there was a ruthless queen who was very fond of public executions by her own hands, and eventually developed it into a sport where she used this scythe in personal gladiator-ship matches as a form of exhibition of these executions. Fortunately for some she became too arrogant, as she stopped having rigged matches, and lost one of said matches, ending her reign. This was not before designing her own personal scythe and its style of use.
The general shape is about the same as a normal scythe except with a second smaller matching blade on the other side of the handle. The blades are purposefully made to look intimidating with long serration hooks running along edges.
Two-Handed Exotic Weapons
Cost: 250 gold
Dmg (S): 1D6 Dmg (M): 2D4 Critical: 19-20/x3 Weight: 13 lbs.
Type: P and S Special: Trip, Performance (See Text)
When performing a coup de grace, the queen scythe adds an additional +2 to the fort save DC to keep from dying. Successful critical hits and coup de grace used to finish off a victim can cause decapitation (If the wielder wants).
I like the idea a lot. Great flavor, and history behind it, that I would like to include in a story sometime.
Mechanically however, I don't really like it. You've basically introduced the two-handed falcata with trip and perfomance.
Scythes are great for their high crit modifier, not range. IMO, you should build upon that instead.
The +2 to coup de grace save is a bit insignificant, so would suggest a bonus to massive damage DC instead, supporting the whole deadly critical / decapacitation portion.
I like the idea a lot. Great flavor, and history behind it, that I would like to include in a story sometime.
Mechanically however, I don't really like it. You've basically introduced the two-handed falcata with trip and perfomance.
Scythes are great for their high crit modifier, not range. IMO, you should build upon that instead.
The +2 to coup de grace save is a bit insignificant, so would suggest a bonus to massive damage DC instead, supporting the whole deadly critical / decapacitation portion.
The queen wanted her scythe as deadly as possible thus the change in design changed the critical range. I would have LOVED to get away with a 19-20/x4 critical range and modifier, but that just shouldn't happen.
There is a SLIGHTLY higher level of power to the falcata for being on handed, as it allows versatility. I don't know of any powers, feats, effects that discriminate between using a weapon in two hands and a two handed weapon.
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Two-Handed Exotic Weapons
Cost: 250 gold
Dmg (S): 1D6 Dmg (M): 2D4 Critical: 19-20/x3 Weight: 13 lbs.
Type: P and S
Special: Trip, Performance, Deadly (See Text)
Successful critical hits and coup de grace used to finish off a victim can cause decapitation (If the wielder wants).
Uh, decapitation is typically an instant kill, so that ability is super incredibly OP. I mean, compare it to this weapon quality.
Uh, decapitation is typically an instant kill, so that ability is super incredibly OP. I mean, compare it to this weapon quality.
I am pretty sure the ability is intended to work as flavor when you kill someone, hence the "used to finish off a victim"-part.
Most Coup De Graces are decapitation or similar...
The fluff is really nice, but judging from that, it doesn't sound like it's a completely new exotic weapon type, but a particular scythe enchantment combo. Keen Vorpal +1, or something like that.
Maybe an Artifact or Special Magical Item?
Ah, I retract my previous objection. I misread it and didn't see the "used to finish off a victim" bit. It is not incredibly overpowered.
The fluff is really nice, but judging from that, it doesn't sound like it's a completely new exotic weapon type, but a particular scythe enchantment combo. Keen Vorpal +1, or something like that.
Pretty much this. You get 19-20/x4 critical range and modifier with the enchantments. Add to that, using the base scythe with the enhancements above, one can't snag a 17-20 range, which seems to be the goal of this weapon. Coup de gras with a x4 modifier is, in and of itself, a potent "kill shot", excluding strength and any other modifiers.
I don't see a problem with it. Perform and deadly aren't the most amazing qualities and the decapitation is just flavor for the killing blows you make with it. Its a 2 handed weapon with .5 extra average damage over the falcata. Exotic weapons need to be nice and flavorful to be worth the feat anyway.
Uh, decapitation is typically an instant kill, so that ability is super incredibly OP. I mean, compare it to this weapon quality.I am pretty sure the ability is intended to work as flavor when you kill someone, hence the "used to finish off a victim"-part.
This would be correct. No it does not grant vorpal it is just when you finish off the victim, as in droping them to negative constitution, or 0 for undead and constructs, while doing a coup de grace or critical as the swing that takes their life, it can be made to cut off heads. It is mostly flavor.
So... you're implying axes, scythes, swords, halberds, etc. can't be used to cut off heads when they execute people?
So... you're implying axes, scythes, swords, halberds, etc. can't be used to cut off heads when they execute people?
I think he's saying this particular weapon is extra good at it.
The deadly quality only applies on CDG, not on a confirmed critical hit. If you kill something in one sweep of the blade, declaring it a decapitation is fine.
Most importantly, remain aware of the golden rule of d20: anything the players get, so do their foes. ;)
The deadly quality only applies on CDG, not on a confirmed critical hit. If you kill something in one sweep of the blade, declaring it a decapitation is fine.
Most importantly, remain aware of the golden rule of d20: anything the players get, so do their foes. ;)
Yep. :D
So... you're implying axes, scythes, swords, halberds, etc. can't be used to cut off heads when they execute people?I think he's saying this particular weapon is extra good at it.
Yes, however in some games this might be vital, as variant rules require decapitation for defeat of some undead, however that is a minor benefit. There is also fighting hydras.
Hydras' description calls out specifically the game mechanics used to lop off their noggins (Sunder maneuvers). A weapon descriptor is not going to get around those kinds of requirements.
Hydras' description calls out specifically the game mechanics used to lop off their noggins (Sunder maneuvers). A weapon descriptor is not going to get around those kinds of requirements.
Yeah, I noticed that after I wrote that, was a bit too off the cuff of a comment about a wondering thought.
How would I get this submitted for official publication. I have a slight tweak to the esthetics to get the point across. I think I was a little too subtle.
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Once in the history of Cheliax there was a ruthless queen who was very fond of public executions by her own hands, and eventually developed it into a sport where she used this scythe in personal gladiator matches as a form of exhibition of these executions. Fortunately for some she became too arrogant; she stopped having rigged matches, and lost one of said matches, ending her reign. This was not before designing her own personal scythe and its style of use.
The general shape is similar to that of a farmers scythe except made much more elegant and intimidating in construction. It has a second matching blade on the other side of the handle; giving a general broken heart-like silhouette to the weapon. The blades are purposefully made to look intimidating with long serration hooks running along edges.
Queen Scythe
Two-Handed Exotic Weapon
Cost: 250 gold
Dmg (S): 1D6 Dmg (M): 2D4 Critical: 19-20/x3 Weight: 13 lbs.
Type: P and S
Special: Trip, Performance, Deadly (See Text)
Successfully finishing off a victim with this weapon causes decapitation (If the wielder wants, or is able to). This weapon also grants a +2 bonus to sunder attempts on heads, such as when fighting hydras.
I do not care for the decapitation part. A sword would be better used for that.
Now using a Scythe to chop off people legs ( feet ), would be a better use for a Scythe. As that is more in line with what people in the old world used a Scythe for ( old world lawn mower ).
Hitting someone neck with a Scythe would be harder, than using a sword.
........
Queen Scythe, sound like it should be a magic item to me as well.
I do not care for the decapitation part. A sword would be better used for that.
Now using a Scythe to chop off people legs ( feet ), would be a better use for a Scythe. As that is more in line with what people in the old world used a Scythe for ( old world lawn mower ).
Hitting someone neck with a Scythe would be harder, than using a sword.
........Queen Scythe, sound like it should be a magic item to me as well.
Did you read the most recent description? I am making a literary reference here, you know from 1865 (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland). Figured if we are going to start referencing stuff from 1928 (Cthulhu), this wouldn't be such an issue.
I think a magic item would be over-kill. This slight touch is fine so long as the power-level isn't too much. Plus a lot of people have miss-read the first version due to not properly reading it entire, just hitting the high-lights, thinking I am trying to give it a free Vorpal effect, which I am CLEARLY not.
Ineptus, the thing that you are apparently not grasping about the replies/feedback is that you are unnecessarily modifying the already potent deadly weapon quality without any real need to do so. The sunder bonus is a nice rouch.
Assuming that you are referring to the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland , I don't believe that the weapon in question would be classified in game terms as a scythe. I would have to peruse the book to be more accurate than that.
Ineptus, the thing that you are apparently not grasping about the replies/feedback is that you are unnecessarily modifying the already potent deadly weapon quality without any real need to do so. The sunder bonus is a nice rouch.
Assuming that you are referring to the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland , I don't believe that the weapon in question would be classified in game terms as a scythe. I would have to peruse the book to be more accurate than that.
Okay
So it's basically a lesser scythe with a greater crit range and S/P. Performance and deadly are weak enhancements and used mostly as the flavor of the weapon they belong to initially. Trip is a little hard to grasp on how a scythe actually functions. It could trip, but would cut the legs doing so. Other weapons with the trip ability generally have a blunted hook designed to snag clothing or armor as well as a leg.
So it's basically a lesser scythe with a greater crit range and S/P. Performance and deadly are weak enhancements and used mostly as the flavor of the weapon they belong to initially. Trip is a little hard to grasp on how a scythe actually functions. It could trip, but would cut the legs doing so. Other weapons with the trip ability generally have a blunted hook designed to snag clothing or armor as well as a leg.
Original scythe has trip, didn't see a reason to not keep it.