I am building a greatsword for an upcoming conversion character, a nasty ass villain.
But I'm struggling with how to build the sword. Basically, upon killing an enemy with the weapon, their body would distingerate and turn to ash, as per the spell.
But without the insane damage of the spell how would I go about creating this weapon?
Any help would be much appreciated
Shatter might be a reasonable start as an equivalent, though you'd need to raise it a level to affect a larger target.
So because its a spell trigger when i certain effect is reached the cost would only be Spell Lvl x CL x 750gp.
So i want to make it a +3 greatsword.
So that would be 1x9x750 gp correct?
No. Spell trigger items refer to wands in the table you're referencing. Use activated (*2000 gp) is the one you'd need to use.
Also it depends what spell you're basing it on. If it's Shatter +1 spell level then it's 3*5*2000=30 000 gp, which seems too high for the effect. I'd look at that then try it with just the shatter spell at the normal level (fudging the max object weight with the excuse that it's a limited form of the spell), which would be 2*3*2000 = 12 000 gp, which seems plausible if the vilain can afford the +3 greatsword to put it on (18 350 gp).
Well im looking at the mace of smiting, its uses the disintegrate spell in its creation. But when i do the continous effect its cost is far to high for what is listed in the book
18,000 gp +3
3,000 adamantium
312 gp for the mw heavy mace.
So where does the remaining cost come in?
I tried spell lvl (6) x cl (11) x 2000 but that gices me 132,000
If i use spell trigger then i get 49,500 which only puts me 4500 gp off.
Any thoughts?
Are you the GM, or are you a player?I am building a greatsword for an upcoming conversion character, a nasty ass villain....
Any help would be much appreciated
Really hoping he is a player. If you're a GM I hope this isn't a random encounter.
Well im looking at the mace of smiting, its uses the disintegrate spell in its creation. But when i do the continous effect its cost is far to high for what is listed in the book
18,000 gp +3
3,000 adamantium
312 gp for the mw heavy mace.So where does the remaining cost come in?
I tried spell lvl (6) x cl (11) x 2000 but that gices me 132,000
If i use spell trigger then i get 49,500 which only puts me 4500 gp off.
Any thoughts?
Spell trigger, 50 charges, definitely isn't the right type of item. It's a wand as I said. They must have fudged the cost some other way; as Alayern said some magic items take a fair amount of leeway with the guidelines. If you're the GM then you can basically pick the price which seems reasonable to you, but these offer some guidance
Really hoping he is a player. If you're a GM I hope this isn't a random encounter.Are you the GM, or are you a player?I am building a greatsword for an upcoming conversion character, a nasty ass villain....
Any help would be much appreciated
The OP says it's for a "nasty ass villain," so I'm presuming that he is both the GM and that it's not a random encounter, otherwise it wouldn't be apparent that he's a "nasty ass villain."
That being said, designing custom items, especially with no baseline, is more of an art than a strict math problem. Certain effects that aren't really powerful can be way overpriced (such as a Ring of Regeneration). Similarly, effects that are extremely powerful, or even overpowered, can be conversely underpriced (Ring of Constant Shield/True Strike).
So, let's look at what you want the sword to do:
Basically, upon killing an enemy with the weapon, their body would distingerate and turn to ash, as per the spell.
The effect doesn't necessarily have to follow or reference the spell whatsoever, except in the case of spellcasting requirements for crafting it. You could also look into spell components that are lesser but similar in effect (such as the Decompose Corpse spell) as a baseline.
So, going with the Constant Decompose Corpse spell with an enhanced effect (CL 1 * 1 * 2,000 = 2,000 gold), you'll get the effect you want with a slain enemy while having a cheap requirement, flavoring it as an enemy decaying so fast that nothing but ashes remains.
Here's an example:
Price 23,050 gp; Aura Moderate Necromancy; CL 9th; Weight 8 lbs
DESCRIPTION
This +3 Adamantine greatsword emanates a pale green aura of powerful decreptitude and degenerative atrophy, affecting those on the brink of death. When a living enemy is slain by this weapon, their corpse decays almost instantly, turning into ash. An enemy so slain cannot be resurrected except by a Reincarnation, Resurrection, True Resurrection, Miracle, or Wish spell, or divine intervention. This effect does not work on unliving creatures (such as constructs and undead).
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
Cost 11,525 gp
Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Decompose Corpse
That being said, designing custom items, especially with no baseline, is more of an art than a strict math problem. Certain effects that aren't really powerful can be way overpriced (such as a Ring of Regeneration). Similarly, effects that are extremely powerful, or even overpowered, can be conversely underpriced (Ring of Constant Shield/True Strike).
So, let's look at what you want the sword to do:
Basically, upon killing an enemy with the weapon, their body would distingerate and turn to ash, as per the spell.The effect doesn't necessarily have to follow or reference the spell whatsoever, except in the case of spellcasting requirements for crafting it. You could also look into spell components that are lesser but similar in effect (such as the Decompose Corpse spell) as a baseline.
So, going with the Constant Decompose Corpse spell with an enhanced effect (CL 1 * 1 * 2,000 = 2,000 gold), you'll get the effect you want with a slain enemy while having a cheap requirement, flavoring it as an enemy decaying so fast that nothing but ashes remains.
Here's an example:
Price 23,050 gp; Aura Moderate Necromancy; CL 9th; Weight 8 lbs
DESCRIPTION
This +3 Adamantine greatsword emanates a pale green aura of powerful decreptitude and degenerative atrophy, affecting those on the brink of death. When a living enemy is slain by this weapon, their corpse decays almost instantly, turning into ash. An enemy so slain cannot be resurrected except by a Reincarnation, Resurrection, True Resurrection, Miracle, or Wish spell, or divine intervention. This effect does not work on unliving creatures (such as constructs and undead).
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
Cost 11,525 gp
Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Decompose Corpse
This is elegantly done!! Very well balanced and definitely generates the right effect. People say item creation is easy but balanced item creation definitely is not.
You should discuss a compendium with Paizo.
That being said, designing custom items, especially with no baseline, is more of an art than a strict math problem. Certain effects that aren't really powerful can be way overpriced (such as a Ring of Regeneration). Similarly, effects that are extremely powerful, or even overpowered, can be conversely underpriced (Ring of Constant Shield/True Strike).
So, let's look at what you want the sword to do:
Basically, upon killing an enemy with the weapon, their body would distingerate and turn to ash, as per the spell.The effect doesn't necessarily have to follow or reference the spell whatsoever, except in the case of spellcasting requirements for crafting it. You could also look into spell components that are lesser but similar in effect (such as the Decompose Corpse spell) as a baseline.
So, going with the Constant Decompose Corpse spell with an enhanced effect (CL 1 * 1 * 2,000 = 2,000 gold), you'll get the effect you want with a slain enemy while having a cheap requirement, flavoring it as an enemy decaying so fast that nothing but ashes remains.
Here's an example:
Price 23,050 gp; Aura Moderate Necromancy; CL 9th; Weight 8 lbs
DESCRIPTION
This +3 Adamantine greatsword emanates a pale green aura of powerful decreptitude and degenerative atrophy, affecting those on the brink of death. When a living enemy is slain by this weapon, their corpse decays almost instantly, turning into ash. An enemy so slain cannot be resurrected except by a Reincarnation, Resurrection, True Resurrection, Miracle, or Wish spell, or divine intervention. This effect does not work on unliving creatures (such as constructs and undead).
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
Cost 11,525 gp
Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Decompose Corpse
This my friend isnexactly what i was looking to build. My thanks for helping me!
And thanks for all the advice everyone
To clarify, the Sword of Senescence is a custom item, not something that I published with Paizo or anything like that.
I simply followed their format, came up with some personal design ideas from the crafting guidelines, and the item basically wrote itself.