How do vorpal weapons look different from non-vorpal ones (if at all)?

[Yqatuba]

For some reason I always imagined the cutting edge of the weapon would be so sharp it's shiny, like on a cartoon.

[Kasoh]

Well, I don't know how they look different, but Vorpal weapons go 'snicker-snack' when you swing them instead of whatever generic sword whooshes you might normally expect.

[VoodistMonk]

They may not look any different, but they feel different... the Jabbawock has a fear of Vorpal weapons, but cannot identify them by sight. The Jabbawock does instantly know if a weapon is Vorpal once it takes damage from that weapon, though.

[Waterhammer]

They just look, you know, vorpal.

I suppose you could detect a vorpal sword wielder by their distinctive galumphing gate.

[Lathiira]

Notches on the scabbard for heads removed?

[zza ni]

idk about how it look, i would assume any scabbard able to hold it without getting cut is super durable.

but if you ask how it sound when it cuts off a head, eye witnesses claimed it sounded like "snicker-snack!".
Although said eye witness might have been under some influence at the time as they claim the deed was some by a fellow who then went 'galumphing'.

[Senko]

zza ni wrote:

idk about how it look, i would assume any scabbard able to hold it without getting cut is super durable.

but if you ask how it sound when it cuts off a head, eye witnesses claimed it sounded like "snicker-snack!".
Although said eye witness might have been under some influence at the time as they claim the deed was some by a fellow who then went 'galumphing'.

Is a vorpal blade any sharper than a normal magic weapon or is it just neck seeking? I mean its not like it lops off an arm if it hits it just heads. So a normal scabbard would probably work.

[zza ni]

Well regarding it's sharpness.

The S.C.O.D (Shamans, Clerics, Oracles & Druids) Association has issued a warning for Vorpal weapons, saying that about 5% cases of child-play with said item has ended in some kind of decapitation.

While less severe then the 75% cases of misplaced portable-hole in bag-o-holding, it's still tend to be messier. (the other tend to be self cleaning of sort)

[Senko]

I'm reminded of this educational comic of a Terry Pratchett book.

[KingGramJohnson]

Oh, I think you'll know a vorpal weapon when you see it because adventurers like to brag about their stuff.

"You see this sword? Vorpal. Want me to prove it?"

[Mark Hoover 330]

Upon drawing a vorpal sword from its sheath, there is a brief but imperceptible flash of magical energy. Arcane scholars over the years have recorded and analyzed this effect, relating it to the casting of an Arcane Mark spell. The phenomena is known as Beverly Hills Neck, whereupon releasing this energy all creatures in a 78 mile radius receive a dotted line around anything that serves a portion of neck just below the creature's head and outlining the most convenient decapitation point. This effect ends once the sword is sheathed once more.

Or

Under the leather hilt wrap of a typical vorpal blade is a diagram showing the stick figure of some kind of humanoid, a plus sign, a rendition of the weapon the reader is holding, an arrow, another drawing of the stick figure with the arrow pointing to the "neck" area of the figure, and the words "hit here, stoopid" in common.

Or

Upon taking possession of the weapon, any wielder hears a constant refrain of a female voice inside their head, the voice of Helena Bonham-Carter in fact, repeating over and over "Off... WITH THEIR HEADS!"

See also: Creed Bratton Story, Headsman's Axe, and Christopher Walken/The Hessian

[Mudfoot]

Maybe there's an illustrated instruction leaflet with it. "Hold by hilt A. Insert blade B into body C. Cut along dotted line D."

Or slightly more credibly, it probably has runes engraved on it that are all about chopping off heads.

You might have a sword that became Vorpal through being wielded by a legendary executioner, though it would probably be something big like a falchion or greatsword.

[Java Man]

The first time the hilt is touched the owner hears a disembodied voice whisper "there can be only one."