Protecting a +8 Sword from theft etc...

[Sigurd]

My character has a really powerful Holy Sword. Its +5 and guided so that it uses wisdom.

He is all about fighting the undead so if he can get the last two possible pluses he's likely to opt for Lifesurge to complete the weapon.

At this point I'd consider any sort of reasonable protection to keep this weapons from the hands of evil. What do people suggest would be possible for a high level cleric....

[Rathendar]

Glove of Storing

[GreyWolfLord]

Solution: Destroy the sword utterly.

Result: You no longer have to worry about it being stolen.

yes, this is a joking around post.

[LazarX]

Never letting it leave your side is probably the biggie.

If you can't protect it from theft, nothing can.

[I'm Hiding In Your Closet]

This is exactly what the secret chest spell is for, assuming someone in your party can cast it for you.

[Xexyz]

I'm Hiding In Your Closet wrote:

This is exactly what the secret chest spell is for, assuming someone in your party can cast it for you.

I would never use that spell for anything important, ever. Does anyone actually like that spell?

[Thanael]

Make it intelligent?

[Illeist]

I'm Hiding In Your Closet wrote:

This is exactly what the secret chest spell is for, assuming someone in your party can cast it for you.

The Ethereal plane really isn't a safe place for your valuables. In Kingmaker, there is an NPC who offers to pay you for your services with a secret chest she found floating around the Ethereal plane.

[Scavion]

A locked gauntlet. Never let it go.

[shroudb]

Discern location if you lose it

Glamered property to keep it hidden (swapping forms regularly to keep others from guessing which is now)

In all occasions, keep it under a magic aura spell, it will thwart detect magic. Nondetection can also help.

[Scott Wilhelm]

Thanael wrote:

Make it intelligent?

I'm not 100% sure about this, but if you did make it intelligent, would that make the sword sort of an NPC, and therefore a legit target for Scrying? Making a magic item intelligent would be a sort of automatic Lojack.

Also, Symbol of Scrying

[Doomed Hero]

Magic Aura spell, cast daily or made permanent. Now it doesn't seem magical at all. Unless it glows, or catches itself on fire or something, no one will know.

[randomwalker]

I guess the issue is not so much people grabbing it off you when you are carrying it around, but rather someone stealing it when you are sleeping, taking a bath etc. So:

Alarm spell. Ring of sustenance so you need less sleep. Sleeping with it under your pillow. Magic circles around your bed (but watch the time). Sleeping in a Magnificant Mansion (though that is far beyond 'reasonable' IMO).

[Xexyz]

Just out of curiosity, is there a specific reason your character is worried about someone wanting to steal his Precious? Is it just a general, "if I die I don't want evil to get their hands on it" or does your character have reason to believe thieves may specifically target your weapon for taking?

[Imbicatus]

Arcane Mark + Instant Summons, but it's beyond the reach of most martials.

Also, make an easy to find hidden compartment on the sword. Open the compartment, and find the message "I hired a spell caster to cast explosive runes here."

[Claxon]

If you make it an intelligent item and give it the ability to teleport or something small time thieves aren't going to be able to keep it from your side, assuming it shares your same alignment and purpose.

[Cuup]

Create Demiplane?

[Sigurd]

Xexyz wrote:

Just out of curiosity, is there a specific reason your character is worried about someone wanting to steal his Precious? Is it just a general, "if I die I don't want evil to get their hands on it" or does your character have reason to believe thieves may specifically target your weapon for taking?

The character's whole focus is outthinking and preparing opposition to undead. He expects intelligent undead to play dirty.

[Shiroi]

Knowing core/ all/ 3pp helps.
I feel like I'd wear a glove of storing and circle against evil while I slept. Cast alarm as well, and keep the glove of storing in your boot. Keep a duplicate glove on you at all times, this one with explosive runes written on the inside.

[Kayerloth]

Well several of the options listed above are difficult to impossible for a high level cleric without an equally high level and thoroughly trusted arcane caster helping (Sor/Wiz) unless you start dropping Miracles left and right.

For example no Arcane Mark/Instant Summons though I'm going to hazard that most GM's wouldn't be too resistant to developing a "Divine Mark" variant on Arcane Mark. Instant Summons (via Miracle) at least has a duration of 'permanent until discharged' ... and is only going to get discharged after someone steals it.

You can't readily Sequester it because that's a non-permanent arcane only spell, though the duration is measured in days making using a Miracle a potential solution for times of heightened threat of theft perhaps.

Gate and access to the Positive Energy plane might be a good solution for when you need to store it or otherwise aren't carrying it around. Can't think of any place I'd more like to avoid than the well defended lair of a high level cleric that's located on the Positive Energy plane if I were an undead foe. The rest of the time I would tend to agree with the other posters that you physically carrying it about it the best security if for no other reason than your saves are probably a durn sight better than its saves :p. A demiplane with traits as close as possible to the Positive Energy plane is probably a similarly good idea.

And yes giving it intelligence comes with all the pros and cons of making it effectively a creature ... an NPC construct creature, at least that's how I'd read it/rule it.

How high a 'high' level cleric are we talking about ... 12th or 19th or other?

[Xexyz]

Sigurd wrote:

Xexyz wrote:

Just out of curiosity, is there a specific reason your character is worried about someone wanting to steal his Precious? Is it just a general, "if I die I don't want evil to get their hands on it" or does your character have reason to believe thieves may specifically target your weapon for taking?

The character's whole focus is outthinking and preparing opposition to undead. He expects intelligent undead to play dirty.

The Called property is a +1 cost and allows you to teleport your weapon to your hand as long at it's within 100 ft. Dunno if that's enough distance, but it's something.

[Kayerloth]

Xexyz wrote:

Sigurd wrote:

Xexyz wrote:

Just out of curiosity, is there a specific reason your character is worried about someone wanting to steal his Precious? Is it just a general, "if I die I don't want evil to get their hands on it" or does your character have reason to believe thieves may specifically target your weapon for taking?

The character's whole focus is outthinking and preparing opposition to undead. He expects intelligent undead to play dirty.

The Called property is a +1 cost and allows you to teleport your weapon to your hand as long at it's within 100 ft. Dunno if that's enough distance, but it's something.

If I'm following his thoughts correctly he won't want to do this as he has the last +2 (for a total of +10) set aside for Lifesurge ... unless the campaign is headed for the realms where a +11 or better weapon is possible. Note that both Dimensional Anchor and Dimensional Lock would block Called from functioning (and would also block an Intelligent sword from using teleportation magic as well). I do like Called otherwise especially since you can Call it while it is in the possession of another creature (like its thief).

[baconwing]

work out some sort of variation of the spell arcane lock with your DM. and make sure you have access to the use of detect object, which is only a second level arcane spell.

generally though, people aren't worried about this unless you think the DM is planning on stealing it. so talk to your DM and find out what his thoughts on the matter are and gauge his response.

[Edymnion]

Weapons can be enchanted to only function for certain races or classes. Next time you get it upgraded, have them restrict it so it only works for Human (or whatever you are) Clerics of your god.

For you its a powerful weapon. For anybody else it's a plain masterwork sword.