Suishen for a Bladebound Magus

[Cy1971]

We are just starting out and I have a player that is playing a bladebound magus. He took the trait where he is related to Ameiko Kaijitsu and thinks it would be very cool to have his black blade show up at 3rd level and it be some sort of ancestral heirloom type weapon.

Of course as soon as Suishen shows up he will want that.
In kinda mulling over how I should work that in.

I haven't read too far into the adventure path yet (don't get a lot of prep time so I try to focus on reading what I will need for the next session)

I kinda don't want him to have a heirloom sword and then introduce another one. Yet if I just say no its its own katana, not related to the Kaijitsu family, he will be bummed.

I just trying to come up with some cool concepts where he can use his blade bound weapon till they come to Suishen. Or should I even bother?

[Talonhawke]

I would say do a good proper write up on a second weapon maybe one Ameiko has been holding on to till she feels he is ready for the responsibility for the families honor.

[Ice Titan]

Honestly, someone else will use Suishen. Suishen is one of the most powerful magical items in the history of APs, and unlike the rest, is found in the late 2nd adventure instead of late 5th. I've seen a lot of campaigns where the casters carry him even-- daylight, constant endure elements, see invis and air walk are absolutely amazing, and it only becomes better when he's got invis purge, flaming burst, protection from energy (cold)....

So just let someone else have him and let the bladebound have his magic sword.

[Old Drake]

There's two choices really:
The first choice would be Tsutamu's sword Whispering Shrike. The weapon of a defender of the Kaijitsu family now passing on to the new defender of the family.
The second is the personalized treasure at the end of the first adventure. An adamantine weapon would be a bit above budget, but would allow him to enhance the weapon as he wishes.

I would not allow Suishen to become the black blade... one is a class feature the other an artifact.

[Doram ob'Han]

I second Whispering Shrike. That's a great idea, and really drives home the "protector" role, rather than the "heir" role that Suishen might imply. He might even hear Tsutamu's voice, urging him to keep Ameiko safe. (Whether or not that's over the top depends on the player.)

[Irnk, Dead-Eye's Prodigal]

There is another option. Go ahead & make Suishen the Black Blade, as a Black Blade. With Black Blade stats on top of Katana, nothing else.

[Asurasan]

Honestly, I think taking Suishen away from the party could make things harder for your party I think. Suishen's magic weapon properties are nice, but his buffs are the biggest boon to the party. Access to an early form of flight and see invis for the late book 2 encounters will help your party immensely with some rather difficult encounters. Also, Suishen in my game is as much a character as any other NPC's in the caravan. My players ask him for advice quite a bit.

Also, one thing to note, Tsutamu is missing his Katana in the actual AP, but this could also work well if you wanted to keep whispering shrike around and have Tsutamu's missing Katana actually be the black blade.