In Dragon Magazine #335, they had an interesting spell in a section dealing with bardic magic. I wanted to get everyone's opinion on it. Does anyone think this spell might be overpowered? It may be that I'm seeing it from the point of view of my character, in whose hands it'll be quite potent. Well, I'd love to hear your impressions, thanks!
Tune of the Dancing Weapon: Transmutation; Brd2, Sor/Wiz 2; You imbue a single weapon with the dancing special ability for the duration of this spell. The affected weapon immediately begins attacking on its own. After 4 rounds, the weapon drops, as normal for the dancing ability.
Dancing Weapon: As a standard action, a dancing weapon can be loosed to attack on its own. It fights for 4 rounds using the base attack bonus of the one who loosed it and then drops. While dancing, it cannot make attacks of opportunity, and the person who activated it is not considered armed with the weapon. In all other respects, it is considered wielded or attended by the creature for all maneuvers and effects that target items. While dancing, it takes up the same space as the activating character and can attack adjacent foes (weapons with reach can attack opponents up to 10 feet away). The dancing weapon accompanies the person who activated it everywhere, whether she moves by physical or magical means. If the wielder who loosed it has an unoccupied hand, she can grasp it while it is attacking on its own as a free action; when so retrieved the weapon can’t dance (attack on its own) again for 4 rounds.
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I haven't used it in a game, but I don't think it is unbalanced. The important thing to realize is that it doesn't count as a person. Thus, I don't allow a dancing weapon to grant a flanking bonus to a person, nor do I allow it to gain sneak attack damage, etc.
It is not wielded by the "attendant", but it wields itself..
Anyway, I don't think it will be a problem.
But, try it in your game with your DMs permission, but if it seems overpowered, be willing to make adjustments.
My problem with it was that it is also available to Sor/Wiz! The two best spells in that article, Loresong and Tune of the Dancing Weapon, are BOTH available to Sor/Wiz without even a level difference. If 'song' or 'tune' are a part of the name, shouldn't it be a Bard only spell?
My problem with it was that it is also available to Sor/Wiz! The two best spells in that article, Loresong and Tune of the Dancing Weapon, are BOTH available to Sor/Wiz without even a level difference. If 'song' or 'tune' are a part of the name, shouldn't it be a Bard only spell?
Yeah, it sometimes seems that even when the Bard gets hooked up it ends up being a shallow victory because the Wiz/Sor are right there getting all the benefits too. Come on guys, let's really make people want to be a bard, sweeten the deal, you know?
Well, remember that a sorcerer or wizard has the worst Base Attack Bonus in the game - an attribute that is very important for a dancing weapon.
Based on the description Pablo posted, it doesn't appear that a dancing weapon get to add a dex or str mod to the attack. So now you're relying completely on the caster's BAB - which'll help make a bard outshine his arcane cousins in this instance.
Well, remember that a sorcerer or wizard has the worst Base Attack Bonus in the game - an attribute that is very important for a dancing weapon.
Based on the description Pablo posted, it doesn't appear that a dancing weapon get to add a dex or str mod to the attack. So now you're relying completely on the caster's BAB - which'll help make a bard outshine his arcane cousins in this instance.
Yes, that is a balancing factor, but the name just seems to exclude all other classes...or should.
Also, with Resonating Bolt, I was excited it was a Bard spell, but disappointed it was one level higher than the Sor/Wiz variant. After all, sound should be a Bard's domain.....
Can you tell I am biased toward Bards? ;P