I am mostly asking about balance. What would you categorize the below item as? Our group currently has it as a minor artifact, but I keep wondering if that is a good fit for it or not.
Phaeklyr (a drow term simultaneously meaning both “shadow” and “silence”) is a unique adamantine rapier whose power far exceeds most mortal weapons. It was created eons ago by one of the most powerful drow artificers ever known to have lived. It is a minor artifact that functions as a +5 keen speed vorpal wounding rapier that also acts as a rod of alertness. When activated as a rod of alertness would be (that is, when it is stuck into the ground as a standard action) it glows green, lighting up the surrounding area as a light spell. As a minor artifact, it cannot be destroyed by traditional means. However, Phaeklyr rusts away to nothing if it is ever used by an elf to behead a drow matron mother. It has an effective caster level of 20.
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Looks like an artifact to me. The power level is way off the charts for a normal item, but what makes it an artifact rather than merely "epic" is that it has an alternative ability and, more importantly, a specific means of destruction (disintegrating when used to behead a matron mother).
The rod of alertness power seems like a pretty tacky add-on, though, particularly when contrasted with the unbelievably potent power of the weapon itself. It's like a nuclear bomb that also doubles as a nightlight. If the weapon's name means "shadow" and "silence," why the hell does it shed light? If it was made by/for drow (who have the best darkvision of any humanoid in the game), why does any drow item shed light? It just strikes me as being very incongruous.
it's hard to see how you would decapitate someone with a rapier.
Stab them really hard in the forehead and make sure the rest of the body doesn't come with (I recommend cement shoes)?
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How is a rapier a vorpal weapon? Vorpal is for slashing weapons only - it's hard to see how you would decapitate someone with a rapier.
Based on the artwork in the 3.x PHB, I've always kind of ignored the fact that rapiers are piercing weapons. The artwork most definitely LOOKS like a slashing weapon. But yes, strictly speaking, the vorpal enhancement is not valid for this weapon.
How is a rapier a vorpal weapon? Vorpal is for slashing weapons only - it's hard to see how you would decapitate someone with a rapier.Based on the artwork in the 3.x PHB, I've always kind of ignored the fact that rapiers are piercing weapons. The artwork most definitely LOOKS like a slashing weapon. But yes, strictly speaking, the vorpal enhancement is not valid for this weapon.
Just say this one does slashing as well.
Since, y'know, rapiers in real life actually do have a cutting edge most of the time.
Huh, missed that part.
The weapon belongs to the GMPC. *shakes head* Our party handed over some valuable intel to the drow (like on the order of being worth several kingdoms kind of valuable). The GM said we could ask for just about anything from the Matron Mother of the first house in return.
I asked for the Matron Mother's eldest daughter and heir to be exiled and gifted to me as a slave to do with what I will (she stole from me in the past and I wanted her to lose EVERYTHING in return) while our party druid asked for two +5 tomes (Strength and Intelligence) and our resident janni eldritch knight asked for a ring of three wishes.
Our GM's GMPC then asked for a magic weapon to be made for him. He then metagamed the description to get exactly the weapon he wanted. I guess he didn't realize vorpal didn't go on rapiers at the time. I'll be sure to mention that to him.
Last I checked, not including the immunity to destruction aspect, his weapon is worth just over 5 million gold and could only have been created by a 48th-level spellcaster (per the 3.5 epic rules anyways).
...and he tells us he doesn't play favorites... *shakes head*
Did I mention his GMPC is 18th-level while the rest of us are only 16?
He didn't even bother telling use that we could have asked for minor artifacts before asking for one for himself.
Though I'm not the GM, I am the resident rules lawyer in the group, so the GM had me stat out the item based on the description he gave me (which was little more than an out-of-game description on the order of "+5 keen speed vorpal wounding rapier that glows when danger is near").
Maybe I can talk him into changing it up a little bit to better fit the name (which he chose using some Drow words out of the underdark book).
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The weapon belongs to the GMPC...
Oh god...
Our GM's GMPC then asked for a magic weapon to be made for him. He then metagamed the description to get exactly the weapon he wanted.
I would seriously not put up with something like that. If the GM wants to show off how cool he is, there's a place called MySpace that's designed for it. PCs should never be second-fiddle in a tabletop RPG. Ever.
Last I checked, not including the immunity to destruction aspect, his weapon is worth just over 5 million gold and could only have been created by a 48th-level spellcaster (per the 3.5 epic rules anyways).
Yeah. That's just ridiculous. If I were you guys, I'd kill the GMPC in his sleep and take the weapon, then sell it and buy, like... the entire planet or something.
He didn't even bother telling use that we could have asked for minor artifacts before asking for one for himself.
You guys must be enjoying his games, so I guess it's not for me to tell you how you should or should not play but man... it really sounds like this GM is just screwing you left and right.
Wow.
I sure wouldn't waste my time with that GM, much less do his paperwork for him.
Were I you, I would give up the charade and just GM a game. And have more dignity than your predecessor, don't run a GMPC.
The weapon belongs to the GMPC...Oh god...
Our GM's GMPC then asked for a magic weapon to be made for him. He then metagamed the description to get exactly the weapon he wanted.I would seriously not put up with something like that. If the GM wants to show off how cool he is, there's a place called MySpace that's designed for it. PCs should never be second-fiddle in a tabletop RPG. Ever.
Last I checked, not including the immunity to destruction aspect, his weapon is worth just over 5 million gold and could only have been created by a 48th-level spellcaster (per the 3.5 epic rules anyways).Yeah. That's just ridiculous. If I were you guys, I'd kill the GMPC in his sleep and take the weapon, then sell it and buy, like... the entire planet or something.
He didn't even bother telling use that we could have asked for minor artifacts before asking for one for himself.You guys must be enjoying his games, so I guess it's not for me to tell you how you should or should not play but man... it really sounds like this GM is just screwing you left and right.
Though there are many problems with the GMPC being generally more powerful than the rest of us, the game remains surprisingly fun. What's more, the GMPC usually just sits in the background and rarely interferes with the characters and their actions/goals. The campaign is also primarily intrigue-based, so being a powerful combat monster doesn't mean nearly as much as in a typical game.
Though there is clear favoritism, I think, he makes a point of not stealing our spotlight. Even though I hate the very idea of a GMPC being in the party, it could be much worse than it is (as I said, we ARE having fun, oddly enough).
This super weapon--as well as the prolific number of artifacts that have already made an appearance in the campaign (I myself have a sphere of annihilation)--are the only things that have really given me much concern.
This item is obviously a major artifact :
It is an unique item, has a specific means of destruction, it bends the rules (piercing vorpal weapon) and it is way powerful.
On the other side.. this game seems so full of bs that one can hardly be bothered to look at the rules or whatever is appropriate, as long as you are having fun I guess ^^
This item is obviously a major artifact :
It is an unique item, has a specific means of destruction, it bends the rules (piercing vorpal weapon) and it is way powerful.
On the other side.. this game seems so full of bs that one can hardly be bothered to look at the rules or whatever is appropriate, as long as you are having fun I guess ^^
I'm going to try and talk him down to a +10 total weapon (that is +5, with +5 worth of abilities) along with the rod of alertness effect. That, to me, would be roughly on par with a powerful intelligent item that any ol' character could make given time and money.
I don't see why its indestructibility automatically qualifies it as a major artifact. All artifacts in Pathfinder are all but indestructible, even the minor ones.
On the bright side, Vorpal is a hilariously pathetic ability, speed isn't very useful on a rapier (that's for two handers, yo), and wounding is alright, so he more or less made a +5 weapon with a lot of not that great enchantments. The Rod of Alertness add on is just kinda sad and flaccid (HUR HUR RAPIER JOKE)
Honestly, you just got two hot drow babes. Granted the Janni could wish himself some hot slaves too, but in the case he doesn't, I think you clearly got the better deal here. Plus you got revenge to boot!
On the bright side, Vorpal is a hilariously pathetic ability, speed isn't very useful on a rapier (that's for two handers, yo), and wounding is alright, so he more or less made a +5 weapon with a lot of not that great enchantments. The Rod of Alertness add on is just kinda sad and flaccid (HUR HUR RAPIER JOKE)
Honestly, you just got two hot drow babes. Granted the Janni could wish himself some hot slaves too, but in the case he doesn't, I think you clearly got the better deal here. Plus you got revenge to boot!
The rod of alertness add on was my idea. *makes a sad teary-eyed face*
He wanted something to warn him of danger in addition to the other effects. I had just finished reading about the rod of alertness an hour before and thought "how awesome is that!?"
Also, keep in mind that we rarely see combat. This is an intrigue game and we are all spies. If there is combat to be had, somebody screwed up somewhere. In such a game, the effects of a rod of alertness can be far more valuable than, say, an offensive artifact (offensive artifacts only bring us unwanted attention and trouble).
What do you guys think of this rewrite to make it more like a MINOR artifact in theme with its name? Right now, the only things that make it "artifact" level is the fact that it has a +11 total modifier and that its base price goes over 200,000gp (which, by the way, doesn't seem to even be a rule in Pathfinder anyways as existing Pathfinder items go over that price and still aren't considered epic, much less artifact level). Its themed abilities have also been changed around to better match its name.
Phaeklyr (a drow term simultaneously meaning both “shadow” and “silence”) is a unique adamantine rapier whose power far exceeds most mortal weapons. It was created eons ago by one of the most powerful drow artificers ever known to have lived. It is a minor artifact that functions as a +5 keen speed wounding rapier that also acts as a rod of alertness. When activated as a rod of alertness would be (that is, when it is put to the ground as a standard action) it emits a field of darkness, darkening the surrounding area as if a darkness spell had been cast upon the weapon. As a minor artifact, it cannot be destroyed by traditional means. However, Phaeklyr rusts away to nothing if it is ever used to slay a drow matron mother. It has a caster level of 20.
GMPC can work, but they the GM has to tread very carefully.
The best GM PC I every ran was a cleric who was customized to be the party's healbot(since no one else wanted the role). During a later part of the story line, the GMPC began transforming into a ghale(the result of a wish recieved by each party member). This was mostly an excuse to experiment with the savage species rules.
This lead to a intermittantly frail (very low health with immunities and damage reduction)character that the party was dependant on. They had to protect her, and she kept them alive. It worked out really well.
The best part was when a hill giant smashed her in the face with a 3x crit. It should have killed her, and since she had transformed into a full outsider, raise dead was not possible. She barely lived(due to the effects of one of the other player's wish), but the look on everyone's face told me that I was doing a good job.
If the players are all wishing your GMPC would die, you are doing it wrong. If the players are all sad when your GMPC nearly dies, then you are doing something right.
In all of our subsequent campaigns, calling out the name of that GMPC has become the standard way of saying "I need healing".
3rd revision. Does it keep to the theme better without going over the power of a MINOR artifact?
Phaeklyr (a drow term simultaneously meaning both “shadow” and “silence”) is a unique adamantine rapier whose power far exceeds most mortal weapons. It was created eons ago by one of the most powerful drow artificers ever known to have lived. It is a minor artifact that functions as a +5 keen speed wounding rapier that also acts as a rod of alertness. When activated as a rod of alertness would be (that is, when it is put to the ground as a standard action) it also emits a field of muted darkness, darkening and quieting the surrounding area as if a darkness and a silence spell had been cast upon the weapon (these effects last just as long as the prayer effect does). As a minor artifact, it cannot be destroyed by traditional means. However, Phaeklyr rusts away to nothing if it is ever used to slay a drow matron mother. It has a caster level of 20.
The only time I ever ran a GMPC was when they got her as a reward River Tam style (a girl in a treasure chest) after a long quest that involved finding a treasure map, three magic keys, an invisible island, and overcoming a really challenging encounter trap--then they had to find the cure for her magic curse-slumber. She was an aasimar healer (altered to be a spontaneous caster warmage-style, but with the healer spell list, of course). Usually, I tried to get one of the experienced players to run her as a 2nd PC so I could concentrate on the actual NPCs. Before she came along, the bard and druid had to share healing duty amongst 8 PCs.
What is the "theme" of the weapon? Who crafted it, and what was their intent and purpose? What is the history of the weapon?
The theme is secondary to the weapon properties itself (since the GM just wanted some cool abilities). If it weren't for me (assistant GM now I guess) there wouldn't even be a write up, much less concerns for balance. As far as I can tell, it's theme has something to do with darkness, silence, and sheer killing potency.
It seems to me that a "shadow/silence" weapon, particularly one that makes you more "alert", is meant to be carried by an Assassin (job, not class ... in this case a Fighter, ideally 20+ level with BAB 20 and full iterative attacks ... read on). If you're carrying something this powerful, why would you ever stick it in the ground?
The GMPC is a doppelgangar rogue 6/assassin 10. The weapon is (out of game) designed for him. In game, we don't know who it was originally designed for.
Why do people keep bringing up the sticking in the ground part? The GM complained about that too. Sticking one's sword into the ground does NOT mean you need to also relinquish your powerful artifact. It is simply a flavor description for why you are spending a standard action (think of a holy knight posting his sword and kneeling to pray--only in this case, it is a servant devoted to Lolth).
Why are the Drow making darkness weapons, anyway? Isn't that a bit redundant?
Because surface people can't see in the dark perhaps whereas drow wielders of this weapon can. Sure they have their spell-like abilities, but those run out.
Why the bit about "destroyed by killing a matron"? A weapon this powerful seems purpose-built specifically to assassinate matron-mothers, so why allow it to rust away after your first kill and leave you without your best weapon now that you have to escape the scene of the crime and face their hordes of enraged followers?
It was given a method of destruction because, to my knowledge, every artifact within the rules is invulnerable, but for one extremely difficult method of destroying it.
This weapon was never designed to slay matron mothers. It was made to serve Lolth and her drow (and is a big part of why it can't be used against a Matron Mother). I don't even know how you came to the conclusion that it is "optimized for slaying matron mothers" as drow can see through darkness and I can think of much better weapons for the task.
Without context, this is just a silly piece of GM-jerk-off. Whenever you're creating anything artifact level, you need to answer the first three questions before you define the item's powers ... not after. Otherwise, it's all just random "well this feels good."
I wholeheartedly agree.