wizard arcane bonded and special materials


Rules Questions


If I want to have my bonded item to be a quarterstaff with one silver end. (I'm picturing a silver tip on a regular wooden shaft)

Is this doable, and how does one get there?

The quarterstaff, being a double weapon, would require both ends to be masterwork... does the basic level 1 arcane bond cover that, or is just one end of it masterwork?

Making one end alchemical silver of course is not possible at level 1 as the arcane bond description states no special materials at level 1.

But that seems to imply that special materials would be possible later.... how does one go about that?

Can one have a quarterstaff where one end is wood, and the other metal?

Could I just get the masterwork quarterstaff (for free) via the class feature, and then pay the extra 90 gp to have one end silvered?


CRB p78 wrote:
Wizards who select a bonded object begin play with one at no cost. Objects that are the subject of an arcane bond must fall into one of the following categories: amulet, ring, staff, wand, or weapon. These objects are always masterwork quality. Weapons acquired at 1st level are not made of any special material. If the object is an amulet or ring, it must be worn to have effect, while staves, wands, and weapons must be held in one hand. If a wizard attempts to cast a spell without his bonded object worn or in hand, he must make a concentration check or lose the spell. The DC for this check is equal to 20 + the spell’s level. If the object is a ring or amulet, it occupies the ring or neck slot accordingly.

So, it is masterwork (both ends) and no special materials.

From there your GM can rule in one of two ways:
1) You may pay the 90gp to have one end silvered.
2) You must purchase a new weapon and make that your arcane bond if you wish it to have special materials but that is not the free weapon you get at level 1.

The stricter interpretation is #2.


If you want an arcane bond made of special materials, you can simply buy or craft one, then perform the ritual to make it your new arcane bond. You'll have to save up 200 gp for the ritual in addition to the cost of your new bonded item.

In the case of a quarterstaff, though, it cannot strictly be made of silver:

Silver, Alchemical wrote:

A complex process involving metallurgy and alchemy can bond silver to a weapon made of steel so that it bypasses the damage reduction of creatures such as lycanthropes.

On a successful attack with a silvered slashing or piercing weapon, the wielder takes a –1 penalty on the damage roll (with a minimum of 1 point of damage). The alchemical silvering process can't be applied to nonmetal items, and it doesn't work on rare metals such as adamantine, cold iron, and mithral.

Quarterstaff wrote:
A quarterstaff is a simple piece of wood, about 5 feet in length.


Doh, good point blahpers. I was thinking more about the bonded object side and not 'can it be made of silver'. LOL


Nicely spotted blaphers!
Personally speaking, as a GM I am very relaxed about any style that the players want to add to their items, especially their bonded item.
If they want a specific power out of it, such as a silvered longsword, I'd require them to pay for it. (I would definitely allow them to upgrade it, even for changing the materials... How you ask? MAGIC!)

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