Post by tetramorph on Jul 22, 2016 13:17:12 GMT -5
Okay, so started to realize that I was finding myself just rerolling when folks found a "cursed sword."
I just hate, as ref, playing the: "Oopsy-daisy! I dooped you real good, didn't I?" - thing.
I've been reading Poul Anderson's The Broken Sword. Now that is a cursed sword! And it doesn't work against its wielder, it helps him -- at first -- but insures his doom in the end.
Now that is more like it. A magic item that is so powerful you want to use it -- but dangerous and sure to get you in the end. Now that is awesome and I would have no problem handing those out by the dozen.
But it needs to be rules lite enough that I can remember the rules off the top of my head (or nearly).
So here is what I've got so far.
Now that is my kind of cursed sword!
Please let me know what you think -- as a player, as a ref, and any suggestions to simplify even further.
I just hate, as ref, playing the: "Oopsy-daisy! I dooped you real good, didn't I?" - thing.
I've been reading Poul Anderson's The Broken Sword. Now that is a cursed sword! And it doesn't work against its wielder, it helps him -- at first -- but insures his doom in the end.
Now that is more like it. A magic item that is so powerful you want to use it -- but dangerous and sure to get you in the end. Now that is awesome and I would have no problem handing those out by the dozen.
But it needs to be rules lite enough that I can remember the rules off the top of my head (or nearly).
So here is what I've got so far.
Cursed Swords
Alignment: Chaos (but only interested in Lawful employ)
+3 attack and damage.
Max Ego and Int: Extraordinary ability: Wierd Bane: Once a day the winner of the ego-struggle may declare a target and every strike against that target will be successful and deal full damage. If the character wins the ego-struggle, the character declares the target. If the sword wins the ego-struggle, it will use this ability on a 7+ on 2d6. The referee determines the most likely target for the sword's animus.
Every time unsheathed: ego-struggle.
If Character fails: cursed sword will not stop fighting until a.) every opponent is dead -- whether they have surrendered, fled, etc., b.) its wielder is dead, c.) it has transferred alliance to a more powerful lawful fighter.
If sword fails, at the conclusion of combat the cursed sword will turn on its wielder. Character makes 4d6 CON check "save against adversity." If successful character takes damage equivalent to that dealt out by the sword during combat. Character may save for half damage. If character fails the save against adversity the character is slain by the sword. "Raise dead" is not possible until the sword has abandoned the wielder for a greater master or has been given away (see below).
All attempts to destroy the sword fail unless cast into a flaming pit in Hell. All attempts to give the sword away fail unless: a.) the sword desires the new master (more powerful lawful fighting man) or b.) the sword is returned to its (demonic, mad wizard, etc.) creator. Summoning its creator will have its own price, of course!
Alignment: Chaos (but only interested in Lawful employ)
+3 attack and damage.
Max Ego and Int: Extraordinary ability: Wierd Bane: Once a day the winner of the ego-struggle may declare a target and every strike against that target will be successful and deal full damage. If the character wins the ego-struggle, the character declares the target. If the sword wins the ego-struggle, it will use this ability on a 7+ on 2d6. The referee determines the most likely target for the sword's animus.
Every time unsheathed: ego-struggle.
If Character fails: cursed sword will not stop fighting until a.) every opponent is dead -- whether they have surrendered, fled, etc., b.) its wielder is dead, c.) it has transferred alliance to a more powerful lawful fighter.
If sword fails, at the conclusion of combat the cursed sword will turn on its wielder. Character makes 4d6 CON check "save against adversity." If successful character takes damage equivalent to that dealt out by the sword during combat. Character may save for half damage. If character fails the save against adversity the character is slain by the sword. "Raise dead" is not possible until the sword has abandoned the wielder for a greater master or has been given away (see below).
All attempts to destroy the sword fail unless cast into a flaming pit in Hell. All attempts to give the sword away fail unless: a.) the sword desires the new master (more powerful lawful fighting man) or b.) the sword is returned to its (demonic, mad wizard, etc.) creator. Summoning its creator will have its own price, of course!
Now that is my kind of cursed sword!
Please let me know what you think -- as a player, as a ref, and any suggestions to simplify even further.
