So, I am going to give some rewards to the player characters in the game. One of them is a dual wielding Swashbuckler (with a homebrewed feat that allows Precise Strike with dual wielding) and I'm consideing giving him a Sun Blade and a Gloom Blade, because I think it's incredibly cool. They just hit 10th level.
Am I being too nice?
If it makes the game fun for you and fun for the player and for everyone else, I think you're doing a great job.
Are the other players casters?
If so, then no, you are not being too nice. Give the Swashbuckler the Sun Blade. Give the Swashbuckler everything
But in all seriousness, the cost of the weapons is roughly appropriate for the level. And they're a Swashbuckler getting into the high levels, it's not like they're going to completely steal the show because they now have a short sword with a bastard sword damage die.
The gloom blade would be adversely affected by the sun blade's special power, but, as long as you are being fair to the other players then there's really no such thing as "too nice". As long as the encounters still balance out after your generosity, you're good.
The Swashbuckler is the single party member with no spellcasting ability, but we have only one full caster (and he'll be joining the game today, so no reward for him, since he already starts with 10th level wealth). Other players are not getting rewards as impressive, gp-wise (it's more around 10~12k for them) but I think the Swashbuckler needs a little extra oomph and I also think the Sun Blade is overpriced.
The gloomblade is the real overpriced weapon. A +2 short sword costs 500 less gp. And sure the gloomblade gives blind-fight in deeper darkness, but it's a nonmagical 1d6 weapon whenever the sun blade does its thing.
Keep in mind the sunblade is a +4 weapon vs evil and slices through the undead like a knife through undead butter. There's a good chance your player will keep that sunblade for a looong, long time, but that he'll switch out the gloomblade pretty early on, maybe keeping it whenever he really needs access to blindfight.
I condone the gift swords, but you should also begin placing special items elsewhere for the other party members.
While most players would prefer to custom pick their magic items, there is something very special about getting a magic item that is above your level, an item you would never choose and costs more than you could spend. Due to an situation like this, my last barbarian's signature weapon became a fey bane rapier. It doesn't make much sense thematically, but I learned to identify the rapier with character's identity, and was put out when an NPC stole it in combat and escaped. These specially selected items can add elements to a character that otherwise would never have existed.
People liked it, I added a plot point about the sun blade (it's a gift from a dwarf blacksmith that wants the party to distribute his weapons with their airship). No one complained about the price. Looks like a fair win. :)
Thanks for all the advice.
In my experience the biggest problem with "rewarding" your players like this, is that they feel like you're trying to decide for them what their character should be.
In my experience the biggest problem with "rewarding" your players like this, is that they feel like you're trying to decide for them what their character should be.
That's true for some. For others they enjoy developing their character around the circumstances they encounter (including the magic items they happen across in their adventures). The important thing of course is identifying which type of players you have.
I don't think there's much of an issue with that here. Giving a guy who's character revolves around TWF'ing with short swords a strong, magical short sword is hardly going to wreck his character concept.
I don't think there's much of an issue with that here. Giving a guy who's character revolves around TWF'ing with short swords a strong, magical short sword is hardly going to wreck his character concept.
Probably enhanced it to a degree.
In my experience the biggest problem with "rewarding" your players like this, is that they feel like you're trying to decide for them what their character should be.Ya when they're suffering from sweet 16 syndrome.
I am not familiar with that one...
I'm going to guess you are unfamiliar with the show Sweet 16. It was a show featuring little treasures like this girl on a regular basis. It wasn't a joke. Kids like this really exist. This may cause your blood pressure to rise. You've been warned: LINK
Attitudes like that is what I think of when I hear some of the arguments made on this forum.
wow... just wow... never encountered attitudes that bad around here.
I don't think you'll ever encounter someone to that degree like those little monsters on that show. I'm just reminded of it with some of the Player complaining I see. You gave me a +3 sword? WTF that wasn't part of my optimization plan! I wanted a +3 scythe with shock burst!!
Ahhh...
Yeah that is not a problem in games in my area.Player: hmmm... the +3 sword is not optimal but it will work until I can commission the scythe I want. (I might even get a discount if I trade in the sword...) "hey guys, next town we stop in I need to see the weapon smith."
To the OP: I think what you did is fine but I think the light that the sun blade emits casually (not its big over the head sunlight thing) still counts as dim illumination and will downgrade his gloom blade. IT's very thematic but those swords don't seem to play together well.
It's a little off topic but you guys bring up an interesting point between campaigns where you buy all your gear and try to customize versus just finding whatever and rolling with it. I remember in 3e I found this mask, i think it was "mask of the skull" or something and all it did was once per day fly off your face and bite someone for really low damage but I kept it because my face/eyes slot was open and I thought it was cool and it changed how I played my character. He was a druid but suddenly I played him like an assassin/super-villain (despite being good I just mean he was creepy afterwards not evil). Now I've noticed people I play with sell anything that doesn't fit into their statistical concept. Like Matt's weapon example, my friends wouldn't cry baby but they would immediately sell that +3 if it wasn't a weapon they wanted instead of using it until they got something better. Just interesting change in the way things seem to be.