Hey guys, one of my players (a Skald) wants to make a unique magic weapon that's ... pretty wacky. Normally I play a bit more grounded and would shoot down this particular idea immediately, but it's a one-shot so why not let him have his fun for once. The thing is, I have no idea how to calculate the cost of that particular weapon. I'm pretty shaky with magic item creation in all honesty, and any and all help would be much appreciated!
Basically he wants a guitar/battleaxe combo, which also functions as a sort of 'magic electric guitar'. Yeah.
So what he asks is:
'Unique battleaxe that can also be used to use the perform skill with. It is enchanted with Ghost Sound (only amplifying whatever I play) which can be cast at will. Optional would be prestidigitation at will'
I told him it's probably going to be too expensive under the RAW (he's level 3), but we'll see. Thanks a lot in advance!
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Sjommieboy wrote: Hey guys, one of my players (a Skald) wants to make a unique magic weapon that's ... pretty wacky. Normally I play a bit more grounded and would shoot down this particular idea immediately, but it's a one-shot so why not let him have his fun for once. The thing is, I have no idea how to calculate the cost of that particular weapon. I'm pretty shaky with magic item creation in all honesty, and any and all help would be much appreciated!
Basically he wants a guitar/battleaxe combo, which also functions as a sort of 'magic electric guitar'. Yeah.
So what he asks is:
'Unique battleaxe that can also be used to use the perform skill with. It is enchanted with Ghost Sound (only amplifying whatever I play) which can be cast at will. Optional would be prestidigitation at will'
I told him it's probably going to be too expensive under the RAW (he's level 3), but we'll see. Thanks a lot in advance!
I can give you the full spiel (compare to existing items, GM is the final arbiter) but since you said "one-shot", I'll skip to the end. 900 for at-will 0th level spell. If they have a restriction feel free to cut the price. "Battleaxe that is also guitar" is worth nothing, as far as I'm concerned (very few things require specific performances, I can't think of any that you'd do in combat). Bardic performance is meant to leave your hands free (you'll notice it says "audible or visual", not "pick a Perform skill"). So, something like ~350 for the masterwork guitar/battleaxe (300 for weapon, 50 for instrument), somewhere between 300-900 for the amp, and 900 for prestidigitation (discounted like the amp if it's restricted to making the performance more awesome). They can also enchant it as a +1 weapon for the usual price (2,000). That should give you a nice, affordable, fluffy weapon which shouldn't really affect the game much.
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Reminds me of the the black power rangers ax saxophone cannon. if he asks for a cannon as well now i'm sorry but also not sorry.
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SINGING SWORD
Price 165,315 gp; Aura strong enchantment; CL 14th; Weight 4 lbs.
Alignment chaotic good; Senses 30 ft.
Intelligence 14; Wisdom 12; Charisma 18; Ego 17
Language speech (Common and four other languages)
This +2 keen dancing longsword is infused with the soul of a bard who chose to instill his consciousness into a weapon rather than to see his voice die. The sword constantly sings. The only way to silence it to a whisper is with a DC 15 Diplomacy or Intimidate check, and even this only quiets the sword for 10 minutes plus another 10 minutes for every 5 points by which the DC is exceeded. The sword speaks, though it typically communicates through song. A singing sword has the following powers.
Eight times per day, a singing sword can use bardic performance, but can only use the countersong, distraction, fascinate, inspire courage, or inspire competence abilities. The sword is treated as an 8th-level bard for the purposes of these abilities.
Three times per day, the singing sword can use the heroic finale spell.
Now, admittedly, you could just chop most of this out, or try to use the intelligent magic item tables to figure out how much they are pricing the singing aspect of the weapon. But you could make it a magic axe +1, with an "instrument" quality of guitar. Which would allow him to create a performance - stringed instrument, or use bard songs that are sonic, while weilding the axe. Say fights in a rhythm that allows him to make the music. Its not much of a bonus really, +2000 gp at most I would think. Maybe even less if its always LOUD, since that might warn/attract nearby foes, but that might be offset by an effect increase in the area that some of the songs would gain by the volume of the music. After all, he still has to perform the appropriate action to start a bardic song ... this is making me miss my bard in Everquest and his epic sword.
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Makes me think of the 'Arcanite Ripper' from World of Warcraft :-)
Having said that, I think Bob Bob Bob nailed it on pricing - though I would personally add the Fragile quality to it (which disappears for magical versions anyway) to have the string snap on a nat 1. Smashing things is a sure fire way to have the strings snap.
Another performance/weapon option could be a Harp thats a Bow!
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An Axe that is both a, you know, axe, but also an actual axe. Oh my, never seen *that* before. Since the actual game effects are "sweet f$*$-all", just let him have it for whatever change he's got in his pockets.
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Also, tell the player to try out the Brutal Legend video game.
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The legendary Axe of the Rock Gods.
This +2 great axe is also strung like a 6-string guitar and can be played with the Perform (strings) skill. When used by a character with Bardic Performance, the Axe of the Rock Gods continues playing for 3 rounds while being used as a weapon. These rounds still count against the Bard's performance rounds, and the Bard must play the instrument with two hands for one round to continue the Performance effect at the end of three rounds. In the hands of a character with at least 10 ranks in Perform (strings), the Axe also gains the shock property; and with at least 15 ranks it gains shocking burst.
The sound of this instrument is unique, being magically distorted to provide more volume and energy than is normally possible though a solid bodied guitar. Once per day, the performer can also turn it up to 11.
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Let him go with it, this is a home brew game, I say go with it. it does not have to be magic, make it combo lute, and axes, make him pay master work cost for both items, and take on 50% of cost of one of them. since your are combing two item into one. in magic items their rule for this is a 50% increase on the cost of one of the items. now if he want to enchant it to amp, he can use item magic creation rules to add ghost sound at x uses per day. ghost sound is a 0 level spell so it not exactly game breaking when if it is at will because it is 1st level casting with dc of 10. command word activated is 1,800 for at will for a level 0 spell. Seem fair based on what the spell does. Just make sure you let him know at will does not mean free action it just means unlimited uses per day. it is still going to be a standard action to activate.
note even combing the items into one item he will not be able to attack with the ax and preform with it at the same time. it take two hands to perform with most instruments. his hands will be occupied doing that so he will not be able to attack. This is why most bards picking singing as their preform to if they are going to be melee combat bards.
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Using the custom weapon creation rules from Weapon masters handbook and the custom magic item creation rules it would be:
Weapon:
simple (4 Max DP)
One handed (+2 Max DP)
Improved Critical Multiplier (3DP)
x3 Improved Damage (3DP)
tool (musical instrument) (0, +3x Price of guitar (15)
Cost of weapon: 21GP
Ghost sound 900GP (spell level (1/2) x CL(1) X 2000 x skill based(.9))
Total cost 921 GP for This weapon
Fistbeard McBeardfist wrote: An Axe that is both a, you know, axe, but also an actual axe. Oh my, never seen *that* before. Since the actual game effects are "sweet f+@*-all", just let him have it for whatever change he's got in his pockets. I disagree about it not having an effect in the game.
There is the aspect of bardic songs only affecting those that can hear/see them. And this instrument will be loud, if its four times louder then a normal gittern/lute. Which gives it greater area of effect.
And while I know that you don't have to technically make a performance roll to use a bard song, every DM I have ever been under required the bard to have the means to do the performance. Thus, if he is primarily a stringed instrument bard, this will let him keep a hand free for spell casting.... well, assuming he isn't two fisting his axe. And since its a free action to continue the performance, it certainly (again, not RAW) reasonable the bard has to keep the instrument at hand each round. Since almost no stringed instrument could be played one handed he would have to not have a weapon in either hand at some point in the round.
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I am surprised to say that I have a god that might be perfect for this character...
But yeah, Bob Bob Bob and Thunder_TBT had the most correct answer, though, really, I'd give it to him for free, myself, for a one-off fun game - that, though, is up to individual styles, and your preferences.
:)
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What? No Gene Simmons jokes?
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Bruunwald wrote: What? No Gene Simmons jokes? Every time, someone just has to axe this question, don't they?
It seems they either have an axe to grind, or just wants to K.I.S.S. up to a famous celebrity (or something).
But many here seem to be Missing Lynx on their quest understanding the man.
Demon well, but, you know, but just don't see the genuine Chaim that he can exude or Witz he can display in conversation.
You know?
It's comic, really.
...
I'll see myself out.
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