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This came up in a different thread but I thought it deserved it's own topic. I also created a thread some time back on character names.
This one is all about named weapons. Weapons (or armour) that you name because it means something to you and its built up a history
To start the ball rolling Ill go first
My Galtan Musket Master Samuel has a Musket called Bearington. It was named after a fellow characters pet Bear , Bearington who died in the end of Slave Pits of Absalom. So as an ode to her Companion, thats the strange name my +1 Corrosive Holy Musket got.
My Shadde-Quah barbarian, Bleeding Bear has a +2 Adamantine Earthbreaker. I haved named it Spiritanger (He is all about the Spirits and thematically when he rages, I say the spirits emanate from him are fallen monsters/ creatures he has fought in the past and killed)
Mt Bloatmage Rahotep, has quite a few items, but his most expensive possession is his Headband of Superior Intellect +6. Ive always envisioned it as a repository for knowledge from others... otherwise the skills it grants you makes no sense). Ive yet to name it.. if anyone has any suggestions Im open
I love naming my weapons! I know I've named my axe Lockpick before and I've heard similar stories about weapons having the same name... Guess what you use them for!
I like naming the prime items (usually weapons) for my characters. I like thinking that my +1 sword is not just a +1 sword. It is 'Smoothtongue' the weapon that slew the goblin chief 'Razzledill'.
Of course it depends on the character. Some characters will speak of their weapons often, others almost never.
My Taldan Scholar and Swordsman, the Viscount Ottavio, wields a +4 falcata of the finest quality named "Even'star". Don't ask him if you can borrow Even'star.
My Hellknight Signifer, Balah, wields a +1 Merciful cold iron scimitar (he's Qadiran originally) named "The Sharp Tongue of Law" and talks about it endlessly. Both Hellknight and weapon uphold the Law.
My Crusader or Iomedae, Valard, wields a +1 adamantine longsword named "Resolution", but his +1 mithril dagger, "Beacon", is almost as well known amongst his companions. Beacon typically has light cast on it and ends up at the bottom of a pit.
Named weapons and items can add character to an adventurer. It can be overdone, but overall I like the idea. It gives the character more ownership of their items, a closer connection to them and generally more fun in the game. It can help to define who that character is and what he stands for.
I'm not sure about naming a headband. I can't imagine the connection to it being like that to a weapon. But, or course, each to their own.
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I had this come up with a semi mechanical effect.
The players were *gasp* ambushed while sleeping.
Its normally one move action to grab a weapon, and one move action to stand up.
The gunslinger wanted to know if they could be sleeping with their gun in hand under their pillow.
I said sure... what did you name it?
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My fallen Paladin Nazz got a kickass Demon slaying Greatsword named "The Unforgiven"
My monster hunter worshipper of Gorum Fighter Jawn had his Greatsword (Which not only had the sawback modification but also had a locked gauntlet and chains connecting it to his arm, permenantly) "Ulysses"
My Barbarian Lyosha Neverhome from Irrisen has a Shaska named "Grandmother's Nail"
And my Aasimar Oracle of Life walked around with a large wooden shield with a Symbol of Healing Permeancied onto it. He called it his "Health Care Plan".
The gunslinger wanted to know if they could be sleeping with their gun in hand under their pillow.
I said sure... what did you name it?
Personally, if I had to call it anything I'd call it uncomfortable.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
I had this come up with a semi mechanical effect.
The players were *gasp* ambushed while sleeping.
Its normally one move action to grab a weapon, and one move action to stand up.
The gunslinger wanted to know if they could be sleeping with their gun in hand under their pillow.
I said sure... what did you name it?
Did he say "Vera"?
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Did he say "Vera"?I had this come up with a semi mechanical effect.
The players were *gasp* ambushed while sleeping.
Its normally one move action to grab a weapon, and one move action to stand up.
The gunslinger wanted to know if they could be sleeping with their gun in hand under their pillow.
I said sure... what did you name it?
Vera is mine!
And I'll fight any varmint who lays claim to my metal lady! She's a beauty, and we've been through a lot together.
So ya'll better get out of my sight before Vera an' I get our dander up. Shoo, I say!
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And a monk or a brawler could name their fists. "Let me introduce you to the twins, they're pretty famous , bet you never expected to be seeing stars in a backwater theatre like standpoint..."
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My Taldane shadow bloodline sorcerer, Weasel, wields a gold-plated cold iron and darkwood longspear named "Schmetterlingsschnauze." Literally "butterfly jaws," this is the Ulfen word for the toughness of the dandy.
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I once knew a fighter who named his greatsword "Nothing". Then he would run around in the game saying "Nothing can save you now!". It got old after a couple of months but I do have a lot of respect for people who take the time to name their weapons. It takes a good bit of creativity to come up with something unique and clever and I agree that it adds to a character's personality. I personally have been trying to come up with names for my fighter/rogue's pair of sawtooth sabres (one adamantine and one mithral)and I can't think of squat.
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Never actually had any of my characters name my weapons. But then i tend to play ax crazy blood knights most of the time, and they do not care what kind of implements of war they use to slaughter their foes. Or magic.
The only weapon that had a name (GM given) was my Magus' black blade. It was called Girhten. God knows why.
I've included a lot of named weapons in various campaigns, and some of my players have taken up the theme, naming their own.
The problematic thing, with the constant upgrading of gear, is the question, do you just assign the name to whatever you're currently wielding, or do you have a succession of different weapons with different names? Usually, it seems like we end up with only high-level items getting names -- once it seems like it's something that won't get replaced for a while. YMMV.
In the past named weapons often grew with the character in some way. Maybe a scroll what allowed the transmutation of an enchant from a found weapon to the current named weapon.
With Mythic adventures you can build a weapon that should grow with a character. Pretty cool stuff.
My favorate weapon as a player was Gilgist the Drowcleaver. (very tolkein like name)
Recently a player had a weapon named the "The Mother in Law". I can't recall what the exact enchant was but it gave a haunting dirge when swung and caused the shaken condition on a crit.
-M
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Last campaign for my tabletop group I played a rogue and named every weapon I came across. I always tried to name them based on how it was found. I remember having an assassin's dagger named Pudding (we looted it from a pudding's lair), a sunblade named Liberation (I was locked up and somehow 'acquired' it), a couple darts name Puss and Ooze (based on the guy who set the trap I believe), a Cold Iron Dagger named Shipwreck (found it shortly after a shipwreck), a +1 composite longbow named Dragon Slayer (I shot a dragon with it), a +1 keen rapier named Slipknot (Honestly I forget why I named this one), a +2 human bane dagger I secretly called Richterbane (for the human paladin in the group, when I eventually turned, which he knew I have but didn't know what I called it), Teo a +1 Keen Kukri (after some monster), and a bunch more I'd have to look up.
Eitherway I had a huge list I kept track of them all with.
My Adamantine +2 Thundering Falcata is now the Can-Opener
I don't know any player in my group of friends that has named a weapon as listed above. The only time that a naming occurred that I can think of was a non-D&D game and I had a character named Vast Deathmaster. He had a sword that could not cut through flesh. It was named Drizzle Summoner. (I shouldn't have to give any clues as to why) :)
I have a +4 Furious Courageous Adamantine Earthbreaker named "Freezemaw's Bane". Funnily enough it is a replacement to a similar weapon that was stolen by the eponymous Ancient White Dragon, that I got so I could go get the original back. Ended up selling the old one since the new one now had a high profile (-ish) heroic deed attached to it.