So I like to design things; creatures, spells, dungeons, pantheons, etc. But, one thing I have yet to touch are artifacts. Mostly because what makes an Artifact an Artifact is well... annoying. Technically, the only real requirement for an Artifact is it's inability to be broken; or at least very few ways to break it. Anyways, I've created an idea for an Artifact and I would like the community to rate it. If you like it; feel free to use it in your campaign.
Devoted of the Hunt (Minor Artifact)
The craftsmanship of this bow is incredible; the Yew wood is polished to a high gloss and delicate gold patterns adorn it. As the light catches the gold you notice the shapes of creatures appearing in the patterns which quickly vanish never to be see again.
This Yew Short bow is a Masterwork Composite 1 Short bow in the hands of everyone save for a person with the Favored Enemy ability. In the hands of such a person its true abilities come to life.
The bow gains the Distance ability and increases in strength as the user becomes better at hunting their chosen foe; +1 enhancement per +2 Favored Enemy bonus. At FEB (Favored Enemy Bonus) +4 the bow gains Adaptive, at FEB +6 it gains Seeking, at FEB +8 It gains Bane, and finally at FEB +10 it gains the ability to make an arrow of slaying vs it’s owners +10 Favored Enemy; once a day.
However, the bows devotion to killing its owner’s enemies is fanatical. Each time one of the owners favored enemies comes within one range increment (140ft) for the first time in a day; whether the owner can see it or not; the owner must make a Will save; DC = 10 + Favored Enemy Bonus + Weapons Enhancement bonus versus that foe. On a successful save the owner may act as normal. On a failed save the owner is filled with killing intent and must attack and kill any creature that falls under that Favored Enemy Category on sight for the rest of the day. This check must be made for EVERY favored enemy group that is encountered. Example: You run into one enemy that belongs to Favored Enemy group A you have to make a check the first time. Later in the day you run into an enemy that falls under Favored Enemy group B you have to make a check for that one as well since they are from separate groups. If running into an enemy that falls into more than one group, you make a check for each group that applies separately as if it were two separate creatures.
DCs are 13 (FE +2), 16 (FE +4), 19 (FE +6), 24 (FE +8), and 27 (FE +10)
Destruction: Owner must resist the urge to kill a max FEB enemy; +10; and administer first aid to that creature using the bow as part of the heal check. Minimum DC 35 to do this as the bow will resist being used in such a way. If the DC is missed by 5 or more the bow will vanish to find a more worthy Owner.
What makes artefact creation fun for me is how it fits into the setting I designed or borrowed from elsewhere.
The interesting questions for me are who created the artefact? And why did they create it? Then what happened to the artefact once it was created?
The stat block, for me, is the last and least interesting part of the design of an artefact. That being said I like the idea of your artefact tying its power to a favoured enemy bonus.
so, I would not classify this as a minor artifact, but a major one. Also, it is incredibly powerful, and it seems to be built for a ranger, which is fine, but a ranger will typically fail the Will save. I would almost consider this a cursed artifact, and not care to use it.
I say make it an intelligent weapon, with an ego etc, who's special purpose power is to slay favored enemies, and it tries to exert it's will on the wielder. this way as a character rises in levels he can gain control over the weapon, not the other way around.
I'm also not a fan of scaling items. but that's another discussion.
Technically, the only real requirement for an Artifact is it's inability to be broken; or at least very few ways to break it.
So, those plastic combs and IBM AT keyboards count as artifacts? I can see it.
so, I would not classify this as a minor artifact, but a major one. Also, it is incredibly powerful, and it seems to be built for a ranger, which is fine, but a ranger will typically fail the Will save. I would almost consider this a cursed artifact, and not care to use it.
I say make it an intelligent weapon, with an ego etc, who's special purpose power is to slay favored enemies, and it tries to exert it's will on the wielder. this way as a character rises in levels he can gain control over the weapon, not the other way around.
I'm also not a fan of scaling items. but that's another discussion.
Horses for courses I suppose. The things you say you don’t like are what make this item interesting for me (the scaling power/highly specific use/massive downside). These aspects make it seem like an artefact and not just another magic item.
So that's one yes and one no.
The reason for the drawback is my own personal feeling that Artifacts are
a little too powerful.
As far as being a Major Artifact; I disagree. While it gains abilities and becomes more powerful the higher your FE bonus is a Ranger will only ever reach the top tier ability if they focus on a single creature; the rest will only give it a +1 enhancement bonus. It's power also isn't as high as most Major Artifacts: Heart's Edge, and Heart's Bane for examples of class specific Artifacts.
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So that's one yes and one no.
The reason for the drawback is my own personal feeling that Artifacts are
a little too powerful.As far as being a Major Artifact; I disagree. While it gains abilities and becomes more powerful the higher your FE bonus is a Ranger will only ever reach the top tier ability if they focus on a single creature; the rest will only give it a +1 enhancement bonus. It's power also isn't as high as most Major Artifacts: Heart's Edge, and Heart's Bane for examples of class specific Artifacts.
They should be though if artifacts weren't a bit too powerful there'd be no reason to not be able to make them as players.