Thaumic Conduit
You may wield this weapon in place of the somatic component of a spell that uses a touch attack or a ranged touch attack. Additionally, when casting a damaging spell in this way, you may add the weapon's enhancement bonus to attack and damage rolls and special properties to the spell.
Properties that only apply to melee weapons only apply on melee touch attacks, and similarly properties that only apply to ranged weapons only apply to ranged touch attacks. Properties that affect the weapon itself, such as dancing or throwing, do not benefit spells.
I am sleepy so I can't think of good wording, but the additional damage and effects would apply in the same manner as sneak attack, i.e. only once per spell, same damage type (except for elemental damage properties, which would add different damage on top of the spell's normal), etc, etc. Zzzz...
As the sorcerer drew his sword it erupted in a burning light. His opponent laughed. What good could a weak-wristed spellcaster make of a magic weapon? He stopped laughing when he saw the fire in the sorcerer's hand join with that of the blade and launch toward him, brighter than either fire alone...
As you may note, no cost is given. How would you price it? A plus of some kind? A flat cost?
Before anyone screams about broken and starts tearing their clothes and wearing sackcloth, have a think about how much this would cost to get much use out of it, and how much blasting sucks already (I'm not considering those crossblooded shenanigans as valid characters because they are stupid, if legal).
It might actually be broken (this is just a spontaneous idea and not something I've pored over carefully), but do have a think first before jumping to conclusions. Rational analysis is appreciated.
I know some of you will jump to conclusions, regardless of what I say.
Oh well, at least I tried.
It's pretty powerful. I'd say +3 at minimum.
Power aside, do you think it's a cool idea, visually and mechanically? I can imagine blaster players now, sifting through weapon properties for interesting effects to add to their touch/ray spells. I can imagine their excitement already.
A magic weapon is a significant investment of gold, and if you're only using it for spells that's quite a bit out of your pocket for a bonus that might not be all too flash compared with what else you could spend it on.
Is that 15th level sorcerer that spent 200,000 gp on a magic weapon going to unhinge existence with ray spells that do +5 to hit and damage, and maybe an extra 2d6 in various forms?
I am too tired to go through the properties. I bet there are some problematic ones for this concept. I dunno off the top of my head.
You should probably clarify - I assume you mean "wave my sword in the air instead of wiggling my fingers", not "make an attack while casting the spell".
It should be fine as a +2 property, and a slight stealth buff to blasters at +1.
That's the one. You wave the weapon as a somatic component (if there is one; otherwise, I guess it adds a somatic component?). No attacking to combine weapon damage and spell. If you want to do that, play a magus or something.
You should probably clarify - I assume you mean "wave my sword in the air instead of wiggling my fingers", not "make an attack while casting the spell".
It should be fine as a +2 property, and a slight stealth buff to blasters at +1.
I think he means touch with melee weapons and fire spells with ranged weapons.
Nope. Think of the weapon as a focus for the spell. You're not attacking with it.
Nope. Think of the weapon as a focus for the spell. You're not attacking with it.
Ahh. that's a bit different. I was thinking of it more as a conduit.
Not sure how I feel about it otherwise, but I'm interested in others thoughts.
Naturally, a wizard not concerned with making actual attacks with it might likely desire a thaumic conduit gauntlet.
Fear the gauntlet of arcane might! A device of dreadful potency! Put all four elemental damage types on it as different-coloured gems or lenses. :D
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Fist of Suns
This intricate +1 thaumic conduit gauntlet features five mechanical lenses that glow with different colours, each representing a kind of elemental energy, including positive. Each of its lenses emits a different energy and operate simultaneously, as the following properties:
Purple: electricity (shock)
Blue: cold (frost)
Green: acid (corrosive)
White: positive energy (sacred, from the MiC)
Red: fire (flaming)
While the properties are active, it sheds light as a torch, although this light is multicoloured.
(total weapon cost: masterwork gauntlet, +6 enhancement equivalent plus whatever thaumic conduit is decided to be worth)
Now I'm going to go get several d6 in each of the colours. :3
cool picture, wouldnt gauntlets get in the way of casting? If the magic enhancement effects save dc's I would say it's at least a +2 enhancement. If its just physical damage and to touch with rays? One would be fine.
No effect on save DCs. And gauntlets do not impede casting.
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I have to admit, the first thing I thought of when imagining this was "When your hearts are full, you can shoot your sword!" ;)
Fist of Suns
This intricate +1 thaumic conduit gauntlet features five mechanical lenses that glow with different colours, each representing a kind of elemental energy, including positive. Each of its lenses emits a different energy and operate simultaneously, as the following properties:Purple: electricity (shock)
Blue: cold (frost)
Green: acid (corrosive)
White: positive energy (sacred, from the MiC)
Red: fire (flaming)While the properties are active, it sheds light as a torch, although this light is multicoloured.
(total weapon cost: masterwork gauntlet, +6 enhancement equivalent plus whatever thaumic conduit is decided to be worth)
Now I'm going to go get several d6 in each of the colours. :3
Okay, I'm really likeing the visuals coming out of this...
Not only does this put some fighting game character aesthetics in one's head, but it's totally the sort of thing you'd expecct on Doctor Doom, The Mandarin, etc. Awesome. :)
Let's go through the list of properties and see how they work. Valid properties are in bold, invalid in italics.
Enhancement
Always the first on the weapon, the enhancement bonus simply grants a bonus to attack and damage rolls. Simple and effective.
Agile
This replaces the strength modifier in favour of dexterity. Since spells do not use strength, this has no effect.
Allying
This works, but not in a way that benefits the spell. Spells cast while using allying miss out on the same enhancement bonus that weapon attacks would.
Anarchic/Axiomatic/Holy/Unholy
Increased damage, of the same type as the spell's (or negative energy if the spell does ability damage or negative levels). Nothing complicated here.
Bane
Increased enhancement bonus and damage against certain creatures. Easy enough.
Brilliant Energy
This would apply to melee touch spells only, and would provide very little benefit since most spells ignore armour anyway.
Conductive
This could be interesting. It would allow a spell like or supernatural ability to be a rider on the spell cast through the thaumic conduit.
Corrosive/Flaming/Frost/Shock
Extra dice of specific energy types added to the spell. No problem.
Corrosive Burst/Flaming Burst/Icy Burst/Shocking Burst
As above, but extra on a crit. Note that they use the spell's critical multiplier, not the weapon's.
Cruel (Hobgoblin)
This adds some nasty effects against already impaired enemies, and would work with spells just as well as normal attacks.
Cunning
This works fine but who would want it?
Dancing
This affects the physical weapon itself and doesn't work on a spell.
Deadly (Hobgoblin)
Spells tend to be lethal damage anyway, right? I guess you could make a merciful spell do lethal damage with this.
Defending
Yes, but not beneficially, in the same manner as Allying.
Disruption
Adds a low-DC rider effect on your spells. No problem.
Distance
Spells do not have range increments.
Dueling
I think this would work, if you use a spell that allows you to make disarms or feints.
Dueling (Field Guide)
As Dueling.
Furious
Applies in those rare moments when a raging character can cast spells.
Fury-Born (Orc)
When you strike with your thaumic conduit, your spells get angry, too!
Ghost Touch
This would allow spells to do full damage against incorporeal targets instead of half.
Greyflame
Add divine damage to your spells.
Guardian
See Allying and Defending.
Huntsman
This adds damage to spells against your prey.
Igniting (Ifrit)
Your spells cause enemies to catch on fire. That's cool.
Jurist
None of this affects spells.
Keen
This would work, but could be considered dangerous. While a caster can take Improved Critical (touch attack) or Improved Critical (ray), the keen property allows access to these far more easily than normal.
Ki Focus
Qinggong monk uses STUNNING SCORCHING RAY FIST! :D
Menacing
I guess you can flank with touch spells.
Merciful
Some extra damage in exchange for making it nonlethal. This doesn't make merciful metamagic entirely redundant, since this applies only to touch and ray spells.
Mighty Cleaving
Nope. Spells can't cleave.
Returning
Spells can't return.
Runeforged
I'd have to look through these and it seems most would work.
Seeking
This works fine on ranged touch spells.
Speed
Spells do not get extra attacks from haste.
Spell Storing
Technically, this would work. You hit with a spell through thaumic conduit, activating spell storing and allowing you to cast the stored spell. The stored spell would again use the thaumic conduit (if it's a touch or ray), but since you can't store more than one spell it wouldn't trigger twice.
Thundering
A dramatic addition to spells. This works fine. Note that it uses the spell's critical multiplier, not that of the weapon.
Throwing
You can't throw spells.
Transformative
Spells don't change shape into other weapons.
Vicious
A lot more damage, but be careful. The feedback would trigger on each attack you make, so a vicious contagious ray might leave you hurting.
Vorpal
Spells do not do slashing damage. Unless you do find a spell that does, as a melee attack, and then vorpal does work.
Wounding
Your spells split the flesh. Ouch.
Some thoughts:
I think it should be a flat cost. My thinking is, you only get a limited number of spells per day and some of them, even in a blaster build, will not be rays. If you need to pay 8k for +1 to hit/damage, that seems like a poor trade. You can get 2 L2 pearls of power for that price, and cast more scorching rays. I think 2k-4k should be about right.
Also, at a lower cost, it becomes a useful low-level item for blasters, since they gain less benefit from +stat items.
Though, I have to admit that this could make cantrips much scarier.
I think the name should be only one word, to match all the other properties. Something like "Thaumic", "Arcane", or "Channelling."
I like the Fist of Suns. I want to build a character around that.
Asking locally, suggested flat cost is 6000 gp.
That makes the Fist of Suns cost 78,302 gp.
Throw 1+1d3+5d6 rays of frost all day!
Yeah! :D
Also, to shorten the name, just 'Thaumic' would be fine. I wanted a name that is not specific to arcane or divine casting.
Fist of Suns Ect
I support this item of it is a nod to MtG.
This scales with level, so it shouldn't be a flat cost. It's also a somewhat major boon, so I would knock it around +2. Maybe +1 and 4000 gp if I was in a good mood.
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Not only does this put some fighting game character aesthetics in one's head, but it's totally the sort of thing you'd expecct on Doctor Doom, The Mandarin, etc. Awesome. :)
Or Thanos. Just sayin'.
Just ramp up the power and call it the Infinity Guantlet already. :P
Which actually brings up another cool idea. The guantlet doesn't have any other magical properties other than being a "thaumic conduit"...But you can place gemstones with other enchantments/weapon properties into it to give it those properties.
The cost would be based on how many gemstone slots it held, and the character using it could customize it based on whatever gemstones he happened to come across.
The issue with pricing it as an enhancement bonus equivalent is that it's a 'lose-lose' situation. You add thaumic, which increases the cost of the weapon and further enhancements. If it's too high, you end up paying for something like a +3 weapon and all you get is a +1 to hit and damage with touch spells, and a +1 weapon. The scaling cost is already accounted for by the increasing cost of more properties on the weapon.
You could just make a separate item then. I recall you don't like 3pp, but your idea is pretty close to this product by Super Genius Games. Check your Downloads for a copy.
That looks kind of like 4e's implements at a glance.
Also: I don't like 3pp (there are some personal issues between me and Owen) and I don't like Paizo, but I like Pathfinder and can't exactly play a game without some books.
Thanks for the copy of the book and OH GOD WHAT THE HELL IS THAT. I just looked at the first page. D:
That Fist of Suns made me think of the Gauntlet of Supremacy from Nodwick for some reason... nice concept. I need to go back and read it again to double check some stuff. BUT a 3PP put out a 3.5 supplement that had a property that allowed you to use a weapon as a Focus/Somatic component and augmented the spell's energy type if the weapon had an active energy effect. E.G. a +1 Shocking Dagger changing burning hands from fire damage to electricity damage. (Force Lightning anyone?) It was a sliding scale cost based on whether it was a light, 1H, or 2H weapon.
Light: 1000GP; 1-Handed: 2500GP; 2-Handed: 5000GP
This allowed for a Wizard/Sorcerer to augment their spells energy type and allowed them to cast spells with positive & negative energy using weapons. If added to a bow you could use a magic arrow to augment the spell explained as when the arrow is nocked it is considered a part of the bow.
This weapon property made me immediately think of a wizard's staff, which really should be able to help focus and enhance combat spells cast through it. It would make the staff into an actual weapon, not just a glorified wand.
I dislike most staffs in 3.5/Pathfinder. I usually have a staff boost spells relation to it's school of magic. Sort of a hybrid rod and staff. Though I usually build my own staffs.
This weapon property made me immediately think of a wizard's staff, which really should be able to help focus and enhance combat spells cast through it. It would make the staff into an actual weapon, not just a glorified wand.
A wizard with a staff as an arcane bond would be able to magic it up as both a thaumic weapon and a magic staff at the same time, without needing either crafting feat!