I'm sure many people have heard of the quoted term in the title before, usually meaning a swing of the weapon creates an energy wave that generally goes for an extended distance at a specific target (or set of targets).
I plan to create a campaign that will encompass my character obtaining an Intelligent weapon capable of such a power. Sure, the creation of the campaign itself is a problem, but one that I will deal with when the time comes.
The issue I would run into the most is the ability statistics.
Here's a 'rough draft' of what I have for it currently.
Here's a few questions I should ask:
1. Is the effect properly emulated based on a general description?
2. Does the effect's power weigh in line compared to other weapons?
3. Would the range need to be adjusted from its current amount?
4. Can the property be quantified as a Base Price Bonus, or does it need to be a Specific Weapon property?
5. Other questions I forgot to mention that should be brought up?
Feedback is appreciated!
Burning hans is a cone effect. I'm thinking more along the lines of a ray or line spell.
Don't look at base price bonuses, they don't apply here. Instead look at the Estimating Gold Piece Value table in the Magic Item Creation section of the core rulebook. Decide what spell this effect would most closely be (such as burning hands), and decide how many uses per day it has. If it has unlimited uses per day but only during certain conditions (the wielder having full hp, for example) then try to imagine how many combat rounds in a given day this character will have no damage.
3 uses per day for a caster level 5th burning hands would come otu to about 5,400gp
Thanks for feedback.
I'll highlight and explain the important parts of the description, since there seems to be confusion of what it does as it's written currently:
As an attack action, the wielder strikes toward an opponent, causing a magical shockwave from a distance up to a 30 foot long, 5 foot wide line with a swing of the weapon, rolling a D20 plus regular modifiers as a ranged touch attack roll, intercepting the first target and dealing regular melee damage. The Attack and Damage rolls are calculated as a regular, melee attack, but the damage type is treated as Force damage instead. This attack can critical as though the wielder was using this weapon in melee combat, but can be stopped or rendered harmless through spell resistance. The wielder uses its character level plus the weapon's enhancement bonus as its modifier for its spell penetration roll. The attack penetrates through the first target to all targets within the line, but is halved after each creature, rounded down. For example, the first creature takes 30 points of damage, then the next creature takes 15 points of damage, and the final creature takes 7 points of damage, etc. All damage dealt cannot be less than 1. . This can only be activated on your turn, not during attacks of opportunity, and can be used once/day for every 4 character levels acquired.
First bolded part notes that the action needed to perform this is an Attack Action, a specific type of Standard Action. The second bolded part lists the radius and area of effect of the ability; it says it's a 30 foot long line that is 5 foot wide.
The italicized parts note that the attack functions at a range and hits tough AC, but the modifiers used to calculate the result is treated as if it were a standard melee attack, and that due to the magical properties of the ability, all damage dealt in this manner changes the damage type to Force Damage.
Following the next bolded part, it says that when using the ability, it must overcome spell resistance, and goes on to list what modifiers the wielder uses to overcome the SR DC.
Afterward, it lists that the attack affects all creatures within the area of effect, and that for each creature it affects after the first, the damage result is halved from the previous, rounded down, and cites an example of how it would function.
Color-adjusted section also states exceptions for feats that can be used with it due to the action type it is noted to be, such as Vital Strike, Devastating Strike, etc.
Final bolded part lists other exceptions for action it can be done with (such as only during the wielder's turn, can't be used as an attack of opportunity, and that it has a limited amount of usage/day that scales with the wielder's level).
I am tempted to remove the usage/day factor, since not only because that it is an Artifact item, but also the item it's modeled after does not have such a limit to begin with, though I feel that it may be too powerful if I do so.
At the same time, the reason I developed it was to eliminate the whole "Must carry a bow to combat" concept, which, isn't a bad concept, but also one that is overused.
And for the record, although it does not explicitly list it, the item property is currently priced in the total cost of the item, and is listed as a 50,000 cost (approximately 1/4 or 1/5 of the Magic Item property's cost).
Any other questions or concerns?