Turning a SIAC into a non-SIAC - the story of Bobgar's longsword of fireballs


RPG Superstar™ General Discussion

Grand Lodge RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32 , Dedicated Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

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In the first part of my magic item design articles, I discuss how you can create a very basic specific magic weapon and why it isn't Superstar.

In the second part, I show how you can use the same concept to make an item that isn't a SIAC.

Magic Item Advice 1/3: longsword of fireballs
Magic Item Advice 2/3: fire-blossom blade

Coming up tomorrow - part 3!

Liberty's Edge Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8

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Very cool! I enjoyed following your work through last year's competition, and this short series is just the sort of reminder I needed this week, that even the worst of SiaC ideas can be the basis for something amazing.

Looking forward to tomorrow's installment!

Marathon Voter Season 8

This is my first year finding and participating in RPGSS, and your articles added some much needed insight. Thank you so much for posting them, and I also am looking forward to tomorrow's installment!

RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 16 , Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8 aka Cyrad

I agree with your expansion of SAK.

I didn't know you add the full price of the masterwork weapon to the cost. Thanks for pointing that out.

Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9

Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

For everyone missing adding the base item as masterwork cost to your item, I shouldn't worry too much, I will be looking at things this way...

If your item costs 70 grand, 1 grand isn't such a big deal or a major part of the construction. Add to this that you might have a calculated price higher than that and had to adjust it by gut instinct to a suitable pricing point - to me that is good pricing method.

BUT

If I see an item costing 50, just 50 say - master working then is a much greater proportion of the price. That might get noticed and pointed out in reviews much more than gut instinct adjustment of a calculated price intended to place the item at the right purchase point against similarly powered items.

RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 16 , Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8 aka Cyrad

Don't special abilities cost double because weapons are slotless items?

Grand Lodge RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32 , Dedicated Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

Garrick Williams wrote:
Don't special abilities cost double because weapons are slotless items?

This is not an official definition, but my understanding is that they cost double only if the item is truly slotless (i.e. you don't hold it in hand). Carrying an item in your hand does have an opportunity cost, whereas having an ioun stone orbit your head doesn't. It's not explained well in the CRB, but I think that is how magic weapon prices are calculated.

An example from the CRB, the flame tongue, costs 20,715 gp. It's a +1 flaming burst longsword, equivalent of a +3 weapon (18,000 gp), and the base item is a mwk (300 gp) longsword (15 gp). So, the special ability costs 2,400 gp. The weapon allows you to cast scorching ray 1/day. It uses the minimum CL (3) and it's a 2nd-level spell that you can cast once per day (1/5) --> 2 * 3 * 2,000 / 5 = 2,400.

Grand Lodge RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32 , Dedicated Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

Oh and thanks, Treyson! I'm glad to hear my entries kept you entertained last year, and that you found the advice articles useful. :) Good luck in the contest!

Anne, I'm glad you also found my articles useful! Besides them and the Template Fu PDF, I recommend reading Sean K Reynolds's wondrous item advice if you haven't done so yet. Though he originally wrote them for the wondrous item round, I think 95% of the advice is still valid though the item types changed this year. And of course, reading some of the previous Top 32 entries also helps you assess what the judges usually like or don't like. Good luck!

RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 , Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9 aka motteditor

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Agreed. I know SKR's not a judge anymore, but I think they should restore the stickiness of that thread.

Grand Lodge RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32 , Dedicated Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

Here's the third part: Magic Item Advice 3/3: aurora's edge?

(Yes, the question mark in the title belongs there ;-) )

RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 16 , Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8 aka Cyrad

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This is also a good example how to make your item avoid feeling like an SAK. Note that Mikko's sword actually does many things.

1) It gives the wielder a 20-foot pseudo-reach on melee attacks for one full-attack.

2) It increases the fire damage from the flaming property for one full-attack.

3) It teleports the wielder to a space within 20 feet.

However, since the flavor and mechanics all work harmoniously, it doesn't feel like a SAK. Mechanics #1 and #2 function as the same, logical action. Mechanic #3 comes as a logical consequence of the mechanics preceding it. The visuals tie all the mechanics together into a single effect reinforcing the sword's theme around the fire goddess.

Grand Lodge RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32 , Dedicated Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

Garrick Williams wrote:

This is also a good example how to make your item avoid feeling like an SAK. Note that Mikko's sword actually does many things.

1) It gives the wielder a 20-foot pseudo-reach on melee attacks for one full-attack.

2) It increases the fire damage from the flaming property for one full-attack.

3) It teleports the wielder to a space within 20 feet.

However, since the flavor and mechanics all work harmoniously, it doesn't feel like a SAK. Mechanics #1 and #2 function as the same, logical action. Mechanic #3 comes as a logical consequence of the mechanics preceding it. The visuals tie all the mechanics together into a single effect reinforcing the sword's theme around the fire goddess.

Thanks, man! And thanks for the excellent comments in the article's comments section. :)

Liberty's Edge Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Champion Voter Season 8

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Thanks, this was helpful.

Grand Lodge RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32 , Dedicated Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

You're welcome, best of luck in the contest!

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