Javelin of Lightning


Rules Questions


I do not believe this is possible, but here goes...

Is there any way to enchant a Javelin of Lightning, +1, +2 etc

I would really like to dual wield two Javelins of Lightning, but be able to maintain this at higher levels. I dont really want just a normal javelin with shock or shocking burst.

Would be a Rogue build that can wade in and out of battle and chuck them for high damage. Anyone read Robert Jordan, the Aiel fight like this with short spears.

Also, I use Hero Lab to build characters to play in Fantasy Grounds II. Hero lab doesnt appear to allow this, but i can certanily make a custom weapon in FGII. However, in Herolab if i add a simple non magical Javelin it states it is not meant for melee and you suffer -4 in melee even if proficient in simple weapons, but if its is enchanted the melee attack bonus switches back to normal(strength), for anyone familiar, is that just a glitch or rules based?

Thanks


You might want to read the Javelin of Lighting entry again.

Javelin of Lightning wrote:
This javelin becomes a 5d6 lightning bolt when thrown (Reflex DC 14 half). It is consumed in the attack.

The javelin becomes a 5d6 and is consumed (destroyed) in the attack, and it only works when thrown. The reason it doesn't have the -4 is the system assumes you're going to throw it.

Mechanically, your best bet really is a javelin with the shock property, though making it a spear instead would be best.


Alternatively, you might want to try Bracers of Lighting from the 3.5 Magic Item Compendium

Magic Item Compendium wrote:

BRACERS OF LIGHTNING

Price (Item Level): 11,000 gp (13th)
Body Slot: Arms
Caster Level: 5th
Aura: Faint; (DC 17) evocation
Activation: Swift (mental)
Weight: 1 lb.
Each of these wide, faintly glowing bracers is made of four thin, rectangular quartz crystals joined by narrow silver bands.

A set of bracers of lightning allows you to charge your melee and ranged weapon attacks with electricity. When you activate the bracers, they visibly crackle with electricity for 1 round. During this time, your melee and ranged attacks gain the shock property (DMG 225). Even your melee touch attacks deal this extra electricity damage.

A druid can activate this item while in wild shape.

Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, call lightning, possession of a piece of the set. Cost to Create: 5,500 gp, 440 XP, 11 days.

Granted, the item has to be re-activated each round with a swift action, but all your attacks that round deal 1d6 shock. Use an Efficient Quiver full of Javelins, get yourself a method of flying, and call yourself Zeus.

Also from Magic Item Compendium:
CLOUDWALKER ANKLETS
Price (Item Level): 50,000 gp (18th)
Body Slot: Feet
Caster Level: 7th
Aura: Moderate; (DC 18) transmutation
Activation: —
Weight: —
Designed to go around the wearer’s ankles, each of these bands consists of two half-circles of carved quartz joined by a silver hinge and clasp.

Cloudwalker anklets allow you to move through the air as if affected by an air walk spell.

A druid benefi ts from wearing this item even while in wild shape.

Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, air walk, possession of a piece of the set. Cost to Create: 25,000 gp, 2,000 XP, 50 days.


As alluded to before, the javelins of lightning don't use an attack roll. Or, are you thinking of using them as regular javelins before using them up as magical lightning javelins? Pricing that seems ... tricky. (It's not quite as consumable as, say, an arrow, but it is consumed when the lightning is used...)


Distant Scholar wrote:
As alluded to before, the javelins of lightning don't use an attack roll. Or, are you thinking of using them as regular javelins before using them up as magical lightning javelins? Pricing that seems ... tricky. (It's not quite as consumable as, say, an arrow, but it is consumed when the lightning is used...)

Yeah, basically what I wanted was to be able to have a solid melee weapon, that I can enhance or replace as i advance in levels. like +1 javelin, +1 keen javelin etc etc, something for the rogue to use in melee, but to be able to throw it when i want to, for the 5d6 lightning damage.

Tels, excellent advice and options i might use instead, particularly Zeus. I guess the 5d6 damage sounds so much more appealing than the one shot 1d6 extra for a shock, or the critical only of shocking burst.
It seems like if ive got a javelin of lighting i should be able to make it better, i understand the consumable part of the ranged "becomes a lightning bolt" aspect, i wasnt expecting to hit for 5d6 extra damage for each hit in melee. But flavor wise it sounds like you could have a shock javelin that normally does the extra 1d6 damage, then when thrown turns into the lightning bolt and is consumed.

Another character does have an efficient quiver so maybe i'll stick with my dual wield +1 keen rapiers and just drop the off hand and pull a javelin of lightning when i need to.

Thanks for the advice, super helpful community.


Could you make a javelin that also functions as a wand?
Functionally, it'd be the same thing... Just have to recharge it every once in a while.

Seems something within the realm of the magic crafting rules.

Hrmm.. though you then run up against having to use Use Magic Device....

Hrmm.. ok, not as cut and dry as I thought.


Just make a javelin with a single-use use activated lightning bolt at CL 5 on it.

This costs 3x5x50gp or 750gp+50% for a secondary ability = 1,125GP to add to a +1 javelin. Standard action "use" (mimic throwing it) and it spits out a CL5 lightning bolt.

Alternately, you could do 9,000 for a once/day use activated CL5 lightning bolt.

You're better off doing this with a short spear, since you aren't actually throwing it, the shorter range increment doesn't really effect you.


Rasputinesque wrote:

I do not believe this is possible, but here goes...

Is there any way to enchant a Javelin of Lightning, +1, +2 etc

I would really like to dual wield two Javelins of Lightning, but be able to maintain this at higher levels. I dont really want just a normal javelin with shock or shocking burst.

Would be a Rogue build that can wade in and out of battle and chuck them for high damage. Anyone read Robert Jordan, the Aiel fight like this with short spears.

Also, I use Hero Lab to build characters to play in Fantasy Grounds II. Hero lab doesnt appear to allow this, but i can certanily make a custom weapon in FGII. However, in Herolab if i add a simple non magical Javelin it states it is not meant for melee and you suffer -4 in melee even if proficient in simple weapons, but if its is enchanted the melee attack bonus switches back to normal(strength), for anyone familiar, is that just a glitch or rules based?

Thanks

why don't you just fight with short spears, since that is more like whatthe Aiel do, they throw spears too, and i think your best bet is to enchant them with shock and thundering , and just call it lighting,

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