Clockwork Macuahuitl

[BloodAngel099]

Can anyone please tell me why this weapon is level 8 and 550gp? Comparing it to a Greatclub, the only difference is remove the trait Shove and add Forceful and Versatile. It does have the clockwork trait as well but from what I can see that doesn't do/give anything to the weapon other than flavor. Is flavor really worth that much in gold and levels?

[HumbleGamer]

In my opinion, it's because of its rarity and the fact it's a clockwork weapon rather than a simple steel one.

But can also be an oversight.

[Leon Aquilla]

It would've been nice if a baseline Macuahuitl had been added in the same splat. For now me and mine just improv a greatclub with slashing.

[breithauptclan]

BloodAngel099 wrote:

Is flavor really worth that much in gold and levels?

Basically, yes.

If you just want a weapon, use the Greatclub.

But a Clockwork Macuahuitl should be rather difficult and expensive to craft and will take quite a bit of money to buy even once you find one.

If you find one as loot while you are still level 1, you can still use it just fine. ... Well, other than the proficiency.

[Totally Not Gorbacz]

Forceful is a powerful trait, as is Versatile. It's a much better weapon than the greatclub.

[Ascalaphus]

It's an advanced weapon so the extra traits are priced in the hassle you have to go through to use it properly.

Yes, it's silly expensive, but not exempt to the rules for magic weapon purchase in general: the cost of the runes trumps that of the weapon. So in practice you're not paying anything else than you'd pay for a different weapon because you want the runes anyway.

So it's really more a "look how special" thing.

[BloodAngel099]

Thank you for the replies, I am mainly asking because I am about to start a steam punk campaign and have never played anything steam punk before. I am wanting to lean into the steam punk theme by crafting my own clockwork weapon that can change form between 2 or 3 different weapons.

My GM and I are going to get together this weekend to discuss it and hammer out the details but to be honest neither of us have much experience in creating custom items like this for a game, and I really want to make sure I can keep it balanced so I would like to get some feed back from others who do have experience in such matters.

How would you determine cost/item level? Like I have been using other similar items/rules from the game to guide me but this clockwork weapon really skews the numbers I have been figuring. A clockwork diving suit for example, which in my opinion would have to be far more complicated piece of machinery, is 2 levels less and requires less than half the gold of this weapon. Then there are the firearms that are combined with various types of melee weapons (effectively two weapons in one) that only cost around 10-13gp and are level 1.

What I have:
Clockwork Weapon
Price 80gp; Bulk 2; Hands 2; Group Varies
Proficiency: Martial Weapons

Change Form
Activate (1 action) Interact; With a moment of manipulation, you can shift this weapon into a different weapon with a similar form.

Effect The weapon takes the shape of a Greatsword or Meteor Hammer. The weapon’s runes and any precious material it’s made of apply to the weapon’s new shape. Any property runes that can’t apply to the new form are suppressed until the item takes a shape to which they can apply.

The weapon must be charged with a special cranking key crafted at the same time as the weapon once a day, usually during daily preparations.

[Perpdepog]

Have you taken a peek at weapons that have the Modular or Combination traits? Those give a pretty good indicator of what sort of power budget and cost to expect with a weapon that can switch forms.

For a class that can do that thing as part of their base chassis I'd recommend the Inventor and its weapon innovation, which I believe gives you several options for switching a weapon up as you use it. I think you can get close with an Inventor multiclass as well, though it's obviously more limited.

For other weapons that can give you an idea of how clockwork should work I'd also recommend checking out the Gearblade, though it's high level and from an AP. The first is important because an item's level should determine how strong its abilities are, and it being from an AP means it may not have had as many editing passes. The item is Invested even though weapons don't need to be, for an example.

[breithauptclan]

BloodAngel099 wrote:

Thank you for the replies, I am mainly asking because I am about to start a steam punk campaign and have never played anything steam punk before. I am wanting to lean into the steam punk theme by crafting my own clockwork weapon that can change form between 2 or 3 different weapons.

There is also the Shifting rune that would do something similar.

And a temporary version in Gnome Inventive Offensive that could be borrowed.

For more assistance in developing homebrewed items, feats, and abilities, you might ask for that in the homebrew forum too.

[BloodAngel099]

I had not looked at those traits, thank you for pointing them out!

The character this is for is a dual class (we have a small party) Barbarian/Inventor. I have built him like 3 times with the weapon innovation but to be honest I really don't like the breakthrough option it offers and the armor helps my athletics check which will be helpful for trip/disarm. I am also the group tank so the upgrades I can get with the armor will be helpful in keeping me alive.

I didn't notice the Gearblade either, thank you again for that!

[BloodAngel099]

@Breighauptclan Thank you for pointing out the gnome feat, I will also repost in the homebrew section since that is what this question has turned into. Thank you!

[HumbleGamer]

The Serrating Rune may also be pretty cool for a steampunk setting.

[BloodAngel099]

Yea, I saw that rune and though to myself I really can build a 40k space marines in this game.... lol

[Perpdepog]

HumbleGamer wrote:

The Serrating Rune may also be pretty cool for a steampunk setting.

I'm also a big fan of the Buzzsaw Axe, personally, both for steampunk and just because it's fun to huck buzzsaws at dragons.