What happens if I throw a minor artifact into a sphere of annihilation? Is is destroyed? Or is it immune since it is an artifact?
Is there any difference between a major and minor artifact in this regard?
Minor artifacts are magic items no one remembers how to make anymore. Throwing one into ye olde sphere should do the job of destroying the item nicely; spheres of annihilation are minor artifacts in their own right.
Major artifacts are unique powerful items no one can create anymore. They are plot devices and the GM's excuse to break any number of rules. Each only has one specific way to be destroyed, and it usually isn't a sphere of annihilation.
Minor artifacts are magic items no one remembers how to make anymore. Throwing one into ye olde sphere should do the job of destroying the item nicely; spheres of annihilation are minor artifacts in their own right.
Major artifacts are unique powerful items no one can create anymore. They are plot devices and the GM's excuse to break any number of rules. Each only has one specific way to be destroyed, and it usually isn't a sphere of annihilation.
While I completely agree on the major artifacts answer, I see the results with minor artifacts working a bit differently. Sure, sometimes the sphere will destroy the minor artifact, but all things considered, the sphere is just the same level of power, so I see no reason why it couldn't fail against some minor artifacts and succeed against others, while a third possibility is that both are destroyed in some cases.
This might be handled on a case-by-case basis, actually.
Minor artifacts are magic items no one remembers how to make anymore. Throwing one into ye olde sphere should do the job of destroying the item nicely; spheres of annihilation are minor artifacts in their own right.
Major artifacts are unique powerful items no one can create anymore. They are plot devices and the GM's excuse to break any number of rules. Each only has one specific way to be destroyed, and it usually isn't a sphere of annihilation.
While I completely agree on the major artifacts answer, I see the results with minor artifacts working a bit differently. Sure, sometimes the sphere will destroy the minor artifact, but all things considered, the sphere is just the same level of power, so I see no reason why it couldn't fail against some minor artifacts and succeed against others, while a third possibility is that both are destroyed in some cases.
This might be handled on a case-by-case basis, actually.
I would have no problem with this personally, though I find making a rule apply equally to everything works best in the long run. I'd actually favor mechanically both items being destroyed, but in terms of my internal common sense I can't see some items destroying a sphere of annihilation.
What happens if I throw a minor artifact into a sphere of annihilation? Is is destroyed? Or is it immune since it is an artifact?
Is there any difference between a major and minor artifact in this regard?
In the age of worms AP (3.5)
I like my Spheres of Annihilation to be properly annihilating. I've ruled that it supersedes all else.
"Does the SoA destroy this?"
"Is it a thing?"
"Well, ye-"
"There you go."
I think I'd give the Sphere a % chance to destroy the minor artifact, and also a % chance to be destroyed itself in the process.
For instance, say that there is a 30% chance that the sphere destorys the item, a 30% chance that nothing happens, and a 40% chance that both items are desotryed.
I don't know something like matter meets anti-matter, although I'm no physicist.
Assuming you ruled that the SoA did NOT destroy the artifact, how would you describe it? Would you say the artifact simply bounces off the sphere? Does it fall right through it as though the sphere wasn't there? Is there a powerful conflagration of energies and they are both blown away from each other? Is the artifact sucked in, but then spit back out moments later?
Assuming you ruled that the SoA did NOT destroy the artifact, how would you describe it? Would you say the artifact simply bounces off the sphere? Does it fall right through it as though the sphere wasn't there? Is there a powerful conflagration of energies and they are both blown away from each other? Is the artifact sucked in, but then spit back out moments later?
At the last picosecond right as the artifact was about to make contact with the sphere, one of the powerful extraplanar creatures associated with the artifact's creation snatches the artifact away. The artifact vanishes and everyone thinks it was destroyed...
I would just say that there is a 1/3 chance that the sphere is destroyed, 1/3 chance that the artifact is destroyed and 1/3 chance that the both are destroyed.
Of course if the artifact is destroyed I might give it the same probability of gaining the attention of a higher power (as per disjunction).
From Mages Disjunction
Note: Destroying artifacts is a dangerous business, and it is 95% likely to attract the attention of some powerful being who has an interest in or connection with the device.
I spoilered a post.
What happens if I throw a minor artifact into a sphere of annihilation? Is is destroyed? Or is it immune since it is an artifact?
Is there any difference between a major and minor artifact in this regard?
Going from memory here, and this was a long time ago, but I believe that was one of the methods listed as a possible way to destroy an artifact in the 1st edition AD&D Dungeon Master's Guide. But it was always assumed that every artifact would have its own single way to destroy it, and the list was there for the DM to choose one for whatever artifact he put in the game. It never said that it was the definitive way to destroy any artifact.
Assuming you ruled that the SoA did NOT destroy the artifact, how would you describe it? Would you say the artifact simply bounces off the sphere? Does it fall right through it as though the sphere wasn't there? Is there a powerful conflagration of energies and they are both blown away from each other? Is the artifact sucked in, but then spit back out moments later?
I would envision a SoA as a magical interpretation of a black hole in modern terms, and if an item survives, it gets placed into another plane, or alternate universe, or it can be spit back out.
Another solution, based on the planar, or atlernate universe interpretation, is the artifact not being detroyed, creates a temporary link from other plane, etc. to the prime material, and some nasty steps out and chaos ensues.
It just depends on what you want, and it is open to interpretation.
It just depends on what you want, and it is open to interpretation.
Exactly. Theres no hard and fast rule to apply, and its a good place for a DM to make use of story/plot/character development.