Discomancer |
Hey, all!
I'll be playing a Kensai/Card Caster Magus and am inventing a weapon that will allow me to take full advantage of the ranged spellstrike ability with thrown weapons as well as the bonuses for my selected weapon. Below are the stats for the weapon using the weapon creation options:
- Aerodynamic (1 WP)
- Expanded Range Increment (2 WP)
- Improved Crit Threat Range (7 WP)
- Lesser Damage (-1 WP)
- Weapon Feature [Deadly] (1 WP)
This all results in a 1d2 (M), 18-20/x2, 30 ft. thrown range, deadly, piercing (or slashing or bludgeoning) weapon. And I have no idea what it looks like or what to call it.
What would this thing look like to you? What would you call it? I need your help, fellow pathfinders! All suggestions are welcome. Also, if I made a mistake in my weapon-crafting, please let me know!
Pizza Lord |
That's a tough one, At first, if you think it's just a ranged weapon it sounds a lot like the Glaive from Krull, other than the d2 damage.
Obviously calling it a Glaive would be confusing though.
Being aerodynamic and having increased range makes me think they'd obviously look, well, aerodynamic like a disk or a dart and the improved crit range means it probably really sharp. So likely a disc, like a chakram, but with such low damage it it would probably be small, like a large coin or ring.
It's probably like a shuriken, easily palmed and concealed and meant to be flung out quickly. Maybe 'Knuckle discs' or 'Fling rings'... but then it's supposed to be a one-handed melee weapon, not even a light one, so that means the d2 damage has to be for some other reason, like it's made of leather or really light despite it's size.
So now you have to consider it a one-handed weapon. However, since one-handed weapons can be wielded with two hands for extra damage, you have to either state that this particular weapon cannot be used two-handed, or it needs a long enough handle or big enough size that someone using it two-handed doesn't look weird in peoples' brains.
So, you probably have a wooden handle/rod about a foot-and-a-half with a leather-wrapped ball on the end, but you also want it to be piercing (or slashing or bludgeoning) so it needs blades and spikes.) Why the improved crit threat range though... it would have to be from something that increases the potential damage, like a weight, maybe it's a weighted lead ball on the end... but if you want more damage... why the d2? It's just so teeny... Eventually it makes it seem like it's a weapon being min-maxed for some shady purpose.
Usually you would figure out what culture, race, or profession created the weapon and at least you could figure out something using the language or the implementation. If it was developed by people for the purpose of using spellstrike, then 'Strike-stick', or 'Booster-rod' since it's clearly made to double spell effects on a critical.
Discomancer |
Being aerodynamic and having increased range makes me think they'd obviously look, well, aerodynamic like a disk or a dart and the improved crit range means it probably really sharp. So likely a disc, like a chakram, but with such low damage it it would probably be small, like a large coin or ring.
This is what I was thinking to: something that clearly can fly through the air and is meant to do so. So the shape is slightly limited to something small.
It's probably like a shuriken, easily palmed and concealed and meant to be flung out quickly. Maybe 'Knuckle discs' or 'Fling rings'... but then it's supposed to be a one-handed melee weapon, not even a light one, so that means the d2 damage has to be for some other reason, like it's made of leather or really light despite it's size.
And you've nailed the problem I've been having. I'm thinking that I'd like it made of metal, so perhaps something very thin like a chakram (but more...deadly?)
However, since one-handed weapons can be wielded with two hands for extra damage [so you have to] state that this particular weapon cannot be used two-handed
I think this would help the design (even if it lowers the power).
Why the improved crit threat range though... it would have to be from something that increases the potential damage, like a weight, maybe it's a weighted lead ball on the end... but if you want more damage... why the d2? It's just so teeny... Eventually it makes it seem like it's a weapon being min-maxed for some shady purpose.
I am a bit guilty here: I plan to do the majority of my damage via Deadly Aim and Weapon Spec (This Thing) as all damage is doubled on a crit and combining it with a Blinkbelt and Quick Draw to get multiple attacks with the weapon each round. Also, the increased crit range gives my spells an easier chance to crit.
Usually you would figure out what culture, race, or profession created the weapon and at least you could figure out something using the language or the implementation. If it was developed by people for the purpose of using spellstrike, then 'Strike-stick', or 'Booster-rod' since it's clearly made to double...
Ohh...I like 'strike-stick'. Something that incorporates the ability I am looking to focus on might not be a bad idea.
Also, the weapon can be a slashing, piercing, or bludgeoning: I'm not horribly picky.
SmiloDan RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32 |
Discomancer |
Maybe a razor sharp insect wing? Ptera? Glasswing? Stinger? War-rose or war-thorn?
These are some pretty good ideas, but I think, after having taken yours and Pizza Lord's suggestions into account, I'd like to have the weapon be similar to a large, sharp-edged playing card (or harrow deck card) as I'm trying to go the 'Gambit' parody route.
With that in mind, what wonderfully punny names could be applied to such a weapon?
Claxon |
Stinger - This long incredibly sharp thin blade is perfectly balanced for throwing and has an aerodynamic design which allows for extra throwing distance. With it's long thin blade, it is especially useful when performing a coup-de-grace as it allows you to reach many vitals organ, easily piercing them.
Lemmy |
Cardblade sounds cool... Although your design reminds me of the chakram.
(Also, I didn't even know the WMH had rules for creating weapons... But they look like a worse version of My Custom Weapon Generation System.. And I think mine came first! XD)
GM_Beernorg |
Harrow Dart
Wasp Point
Harrow Tear Knife
Oh, and "Do not taunt super happy fun ball"
Imbicatus, I have had a GM actually create a specialized foe who literally had a terrifying rebounding angry super happy fun ball as a weapon, having amazing NON magical mithral full-plate saved my butt, as the thing was attracted to and dealt more damage to those with magical armor, good thing my Half-Orc Knight (3.5 class) used no magical items, thought magic doing his fighting for him was cowardly.
Onyx Tanuki |
It honestly sounds like a modified shuriken to me, though likely closer to a single-pointed one rather than the throwing star one normally would consider a shuriken. Possibly a dart, in the same sense as one used for a game of darts?
Alternately, one of these?
J4RH34D |
I have an idea. A silly idea. The weapon is a bit like an atlatl. But is made as a single part. It can be wielded two handed as a melee weapon to thrust with. BUT using it with a slinging motion causes a short waited barbed wire chain thing to break free from the end. That is the thrown part. Having to be careful not to swing too powerfully in melee is what lowers that damage. The ranged damage is low because it is literally a chain, but has a high criteria mod as if done well can be used to target vital areas like the neck or major arteries causing massive damage to the opponent. After it has been used you are left with a stick in hand that you could use as a club.
It's a garote on a stick.
Hope I made sense
Cellion |
The Flickspike
This 2-foot-long thin metal rod is topped with a detachable steel needle, which in turn is held in place by a taut mithril wire. The flickspike can be used as a nimble melee weapon by keeping the needle locked in place at the end of the rod. By releasing a catch at the base of the rod as a free action, the mithril wire is loosened, enabling the wielder to deftly flick the needle toward her enemies as a ranged throwing weapon. The flickspike's small size and darting movements make it difficult to track, while those same properties limit the breadth of harm that it can impose. Most users of the flickspike focus on delivering precise strikes to vulnerable locations, counting on the needle's razored, spiraling design to maximize harm.
Two potential limitations to this design:
- It has to have a max range based on the length of the wire
- It should really require the user to spend a full round or longer to convert back to melee form.
This was a tough challenge. Its hard to imagine a one-handed weapon that has terrible base damage, is sufficiently brutal to threaten on a large range, and can also be thrown...