Hello all,
I haven't posted on here for quite a time, so apologies if this is in the wrong forum.
I'm intending to run an Age of Worms campaign for my group starting in september.
In the past I've had difficulty getting them to become attached to their characters, we have started character development now so that they are properly fleshed out when the campaign begins.
One of my players wants to play a character with a legacy weapon bastard sword.
The plan is that he begins the campaign with the sword, which he found in a ditch when he was attacked by bandits. Having defeated the bandits with the sword, he went back to look at where the sword came from, finding a skeletal corpse in the remains of a rusted but nevertheless grim looking suit of armour.
Initially, as the campaign starts at level 1, the sword has no apparent special properties beyond making the possessor feel a sense of competence and security when he wields it.
Part of the character concept is that the PC believes that the sword is trying to help him live forever. (this need not actually be the case)
I'd like the sword to be at once a blessing and a curse, beneficial but burdensome.
I'd also like to link it into the campaign background, so that it gives an additional sense of destiny to the character and campaign.
I've toyed with linking it to the Wind dukes of Aqaa, to the armies of the queen of chaos, mishka the wolf spider or to the druidic order of the storm.
Sorry for rambling,
Any help would be appreciated!
Maybe make it intelligent (something that awakens over time, perhaps), forcing ego checks at opportune moments. Intelligent weapons can be a blessing and a curse.
I made up a holy bastard sword that gradually awakens to greater powers as part of the package of gifts Manzorian gives the PCs. It's powerful, and doesn't exactly work like a legacy weapon per se, but you could tweak it and/or reverse engineer it, if you wanted to. It's posted on an archived thread about Tenser's (Manzorian's) gifts, but if you can't find it, I'm happy to e-mail it to you. Just e-mail me at abatai@yahoo.com and put something in the subject line that will catch my attention so I don't think it's spam.
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I made the +1 shortsword in the Whispering Cairn a legacy weapon tied to the taint rules in Heroes of Horror.
I kept hinting at its powers over and over, but the players never showed any interest in exploring its potential. It has since been stolen by Balabar Smenk (who is now become a recurring villain), who will be utilizing it to its full potential.
Do you have the Weapons of Legacy book? There may be one in there that you can use.
Of your choices, I like the linking it to the Druids since you say you want it to be good but with consequences. I can picture the Druids trying to maintain order and balance.
thanks everyone this is great.
I like the idea of it being an intelligent item, although i'll probably make it only empathic communication.
I also like the idea of it being the weapon of the first king of the rift... links it to the order of the storm without being too specific to them...
I'm also toying with the idea of making the sword of Aaqa and the lightning sword into legacy weapons... thoughts?
[edit]: I, I, I - gone all egocentric, sorry!
Don't let him start the game with it in hand - instead, have it hidden inside the tomb of Zosiel. Make sure Alustan tells them that Wind Duke nobles were often buried with powerful magic weapons/armor etc. But when he finally finds it - it's broken in half! Then, have him take the pieces and mourn its destruction (during the battle with the Queen of Chaos, demons, etc.) - this is the first required ritual - and it results in the blade exhibiting its first power: mending (if it's ever sundered, it can be repaired, but requires a full turn of concentration/meditation).
As the PC gains levels, the blade should gain elemental themed powers (wind, lighting, etc.) - the PC should also get "flashes" of visions/memories from the days of the Wind Dukes. Eventually, reveal that part of Zosiel's consciousness remains preserved in the sword. You could, optionally, have its ego become a threat (tries to dominate PC - especially if he's non-lawful).
With the Queen gone, the biggest chaotic threat to the world at large is the return of Kyuss, so the sword is determined to defeat him. Ultimately, it unleashes it's greatest power (during fight with Kyuss) - this results in a) death of kyuss, b) the breaking of the sword, and c) the death of the PC wielding it. Wind Dukes appear from nowhere and carry him off for an honorary burial.
Don't let him start the game with it in hand - instead, have it hidden inside the tomb of Zosiel. Make sure Alustan tells them that Wind Duke nobles were often buried with powerful magic weapons/armor etc. But when he finally finds it - it's broken in half! Then, have him take the pieces and mourn its destruction (during the battle with the Queen of Chaos, demons, etc.) - this is the first required ritual - and it results in the blade exhibiting its first power: mending (if it's ever sundered, it can be repaired, but requires a full turn of concentration/meditation).
As the PC gains levels, the blade should gain elemental themed powers (wind, lighting, etc.) - the PC should also get "flashes" of visions/memories from the days of the Wind Dukes. Eventually, reveal that part of Zosiel's consciousness remains preserved in the sword. You could, optionally, have its ego become a threat (tries to dominate PC - especially if he's non-lawful).
With the Queen gone, the biggest chaotic threat to the world at large is the return of Kyuss, so the sword is determined to defeat him. Ultimately, it unleashes it's greatest power (during fight with Kyuss) - this results in a) death of kyuss, b) the breaking of the sword, and c) the death of the PC wielding it. Wind Dukes appear from nowhere and carry him off for an honorary burial.
I quite like this idea too. Sadly the sword is the characters driving force, so he kinda has to start with it, its rooted deeply in the character concept. At that point though they only benefit he gains from it is the increased sense of confidence when holding it. i figured i'd make that simply part of the omen (along with a whispered war song in Vaati, i think)
We're using Weapons of Legacy in my AoW campaign. I've tweaked the concept a bit, and instead of penalties to abilities, hit points, to hit & damage, etc. I have an xp cost associated with each level. The overall xp cost is as if the character crafted it, and by 20th level they cost in xp as much as a 250,000 gp item.
Check out the 'White Plume Mountain' adventure which is on the Wizards of the Coast web site under 'downloads'. They have write ups for 4 weapons.
I created a new Weapon of Legacy which was found in the lair of the Faceless One. An elvish long sword which has only the least legacy established. AS the characters accomplish more the PC will intiate new founding legacies for the lesser and greater legacy.
The weapon was created by wizards from the Queens College of Magic in Celene as a gift for a clan of Wild Elves in the Welk Wood. THe elves were beset by a tribe of chameleon-like evil fey. The swords least legacy powers involved protection and revealing invisible creatures.
Now the character has adventured below White Plume Mountain seeking another weapon of legacy for a powerful entity. He completed the mission and was given a boon by Keraptis (who is chaotic-cruel, not entirely evil in play)at the end, a wish spell which brought his friends back to life and founded the lesser legacy granting the sword more protection powers, defnding abiltity and healing powers.
We'll see where he is for the founding of the greater legacy, possibly in the spire of long shadows.
White Plume Mountain is right there near the Rift Canyon, harkening back to Dragotha's origins. Maybe a side trek could be made to recover more legacy weapons or gain the greater legacy powers?