Magic butterfly swords

[cdkc]

For purposes of magic enchantments do butterfly swords count as 2 weapons that are seperate or just 1 weapon. Ex: could you make the sword a +1 for 2000gold or would you have to pay seperatly for each part of the sword making it a +1 +1 for 4000

[Claxon]

That's a good question.

I think the description should be treated as fluff, and that you need to treat it as buying two separate weapons (for the purposes of magical enhancement).

I think the base price includes a pair, but magical enhancements would have to be done separetely.

So it's not a +1 +1 for 4000 gp because there is no such thing.

But you could have two +1 butterfly sword and it would cost you 4000 gp + masterwork cost + base cost.

You could also have one +1 butterfly sword and 1 unenchanted sword for 2000 gp + masterwork cost (for at least 1) + base cost

[CripDyke]

The "fluff" interpretation makes things difficult if you try to wield them together - which you may, in fact, do.

If they have different properties, then which do you apply? Do you double the damage because you get hit with 2 blades at once? Of course not. Moreover, would you really want to treat these as two separate items that just happen to be close together? Think about it: Does the flaming half melt the other half? It acts as one weapon when the blades are together, and two separate weapons when they aren't.

You can't have one masterwork and one not.

HOWEVER if you buy the combined weapon masterwork - saving you 1/2 over paying to make each a separate masterwork item on its own - then you only get the masterwork bonus when using it combined. Likewise for any effects trying to damage an item targeted at the butterfly sword/s.

The same would be true for any magical enhancements. It's either a double-cost property that affects the weapons when separated and does not cease when joined ....or it affects the weapon **only** when the weapon is joined.

Any enhancement on 1/2 that isn't on the other fails to function when the weapon is joined. [or, perhaps, enchanting them separately cannot even be done, and they must always share exactly the same enhancements or the magic just doesn't work].

That's way too much interpretation to say that it is in any sense RAW, but it's the only interpretation that would really jibe with the RAI.

[dragonhunterq]

UC wrote:

These short matching swords come in pairs, cleverly nested together to appear as a single blade. Both weapons can be drawn at the same time, and they can be separated as a free action and wielded in both hands to make wickedly effective chops and slashes. Their thin, broad blades extend just 1 foot in length. A butterfly sword has a hardwood grip covered with braided cord, and a metal D-shaped guard to protect the wielder's hand. The listed price is for a pair of butterfly swords. Masterwork butterfly swords cost 320 gp for the pair. If you add magical enhancement bonuses or properties to a butterfly sword, treat each sword in the pair as a separate weapon (for example, adding a +1 magical enhancement bonus to a pair of masterwork butterfly swords costs 4,000 gp).

You get a masterwork pair for 320gp, after that you need to enchant them separately.

Each blade would be masterwork in it's own right. An item is either masterwork or it's not, I can't see any support that they are only masterwork when combined.

I'm not convinced you can use them combined either, It's pretty clear that they are two separate weapons. 'Appearing as' a single blade doesn't make it a single blade.