Classic Swords

[Christopher R Taylor]

OK I want to start doing a series of Hero builds of classic weapons through history, specifically swords at first at least.  

 

Keep in mind that some of these have a tremendous amount of variation in source material through the ages, sometimes contradictory.  I'm going to dig through the info and try to present a functional version of each weapon based on what I prefer from the various versions.

 

For example, the first one -- Excalibur -- is pretty recent, but legends go back to the late Roman period and the name isn't settled until just a few hundred years ago.  Modern re-tellings of the story have quite a bit of variation as well with Bernard Cornwell stripping the magic out entirely, for example.

 

This is a pretty long topic, and if people want to throw their ideas out there, feel free.  There are some weapons i'll be building even if someone else does; just consider them alternates not my insistence that your version is wrong, somehow.

[Christopher R Taylor]

EXCALIBUR

This blade is not described exactly but we have a lot of information about it.  It is heavily decorated with gold and jewels, is a longsword with a double edge, and has an inscription on the blade on either side: TAKE ME UP and CAST ME DOWN.  Given the Christian origins of the myth under this name, it was almost certainly cruciform.

 

The blade comes with an enchanted scabbard which I will also include.  This is not the sword in the stone, which Arthur breaks eventually, but its replacement given him by the Lady of the Lake.  Where and how it was forged depends on your source material; some say it was Guinevere's father, most say its faerie-made or from another world.  Based on the stats and powers, I gotta go with "not made by some ordinary dude."

 

The base sword is a longsword, which is modified into these stats:

+2 OCV; 2d6 HKA; Strength Minimum: 10; Body --; PD: --;  ED --; Weight 1.15kg;  Size: Medium; Concealment Mod: -3

 

POWERS

13 pts "so breyght in his enemyes eyen that it gaf light lyke thirty torchys" Images vs sight +4 Perception; 0 END Cost (+½), Persistent (+¼) (Active Cost 38) No Range (-½), For Light Only (-½), OAF Unbreakable (-¾), Always On - can be covered and concealed with scabbard (-¼)

3 pts   "Awesome world-famous sword of Arthur" Positive Reputation 14-, world renown

10 pts "Commanding presence" Presence +15; (Active Cost 15), OAF Unbreakable (-¾)

13 pts "knocks down enemies" Damage up to 5d6KA does knockback (+¼) (Active Cost 19); Only for knockdown (-½), OAF Unbreakable (-¾)

15 pts "Ignores armor" HKA damage is AVAD (magical armor defends, can be blocked or parried); Does Body (+1) (Active Cost 45), OAF Unbreakable (-¾)

11 pts "Divides between truth and lies" Detect (Lies); Ranged, Sense, A Large Class of Things; (Active Cost 20), OAF Unbreakable (-¾)

53 pts "Divides between truth and lies" Dispel (Illusion) 20d6; 0 END Cost (+½), Variable Effect (any illusory power +½) (Active Cost 120); No Range (½), OAF Unbreakable (-¾)

32 pts "Rally Army" Aid (Presence +10, OCV +2, and DCV +2) 3d6 (standard effect 10 pts); Area effect 32m Radius  Accurate Selective (+1¾), Expanded Effect 3 powers at once (+1), Fades 5 points per 5 hours (+2) (Active Cost 103), No Range (½), OAF Unbreakable (-¾), Incantation (-¼), Gestures (-¼), Extra Time full phase (-½)

3 pts  "Accurate and sharp" OCV +1; (Active Cost 5) OAF Unbreakable (-¾)

7 pts  "Magical Weapon" HKA +1d6 (AVAD cost above) (Active Cost 15) OAF Unbreakable (-¾), Strength Minimum 10 (-¼)

Total Cost: 170 (including base longsword); Active Cost total 403

 

COMPLICATIONS

15 pts Distinctive Looks (World famous king's sword of power) Concealable, Strong Reaction

20 pts Watched by Lady of the Lake and Merlin (more powerful, NCI, famous figure, very common, mildly punish)

 

The damage seems low here, I agree, but with AVAD, Arthur's strength, and skill levels plus maneuvers such as a horse charge, it can easily top 4d6 which can cut a normal person in half.  Most opponents, Arthur killed with one blow, and almost anything he fought, he killed until his last battle (and except for the fight against Lancelot, but that was probably with the Sword in the Stone).  Excalibur was unbreakable, even with magic, so I've made it an indestructable focus.

 

Excalibur's AVAD is terrifying, since it shears through pretty much anything, but it can be blocked and parried safely, and that's how Arthur was defeated.  Arthur never managed to hit his enemy and since Morgan had stolen his scabbard, he was vulnerable to attack.  Arthur never fought the Green Knight so we don't know what Excalibur would have done against his impenetrable armor, but I'm speculating it would not cleave through it magically.  

 

Between Arthur's natural presence, the bonus from the sword, the positive reputation, and the "rally" ability, Excalibur is a huge bonus to any army held by its leader.  But it was not infallible; an army could lose with Excalibur present, but was very unlikely to.  I presumed Arthur had to speak and hold Excalibur high to rally the troops, so I gave it a few limitations to represent that.  Remember; the rally affects Arthur, too.

 

Excalibur's powers are kind of subtle but they make a pretty terrifying combination.

 

Excalibur's Scabbard has a lot of descriptions, but I've decided to go simple with it, and critical in a medieval field of battle:

7 pts  Does Not Bleed (15 pts); OAF Scabbard (-1)

 

[NuSoardGraphite]

I will join you soon. I love writing up magic items and there are a lot of swords of myth and legend that beg for a writeup.

[Wardsman]

 

For example, the first one -- Excalibur -- is pretty recent, but legends go back to the late Roman period and the name isn't settled until just a few hundred years ago.  Modern re-tellings of the story have quite a bit of variation as well with Bernard Cornwell stripping the magic out entirely, for example.

 

This is a pretty long topic, and if people want to throw their ideas out there, feel free.  There are some weapons i'll be building even if someone else does; just consider them alternates not my insistence that your version is wrong, somehow.

Which version? Arturus the saxon trying rebuild roman culture sword would be different the high medieval or renaissance fantasy that most people see Arthur as .

[Christopher R Taylor]

Arturus the saxon trying rebuild roman culture sword would be different the high medieval or renaissance fantasy that most people see Arthur as

 

The very old version is usually called Caledfwlch, Calesvol, or Caliburnus.  The use of Excalibur didn't show up until later French versions of the tale and Mallory standardized it.  So I'm treating this as the later more established medieval concept of Arthur.

[Christopher R Taylor]

STING

 

Sting is an elven-made blade of mithril which passed to the ringbearer hobbits in the end of the third age in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien.

It is leaf shaped and silvery, with runes down its length.  Not a large sword, it was good for hobbits, but for an elf it would have been a short sword or even a long dagger, probably used in the off-hand or by youths (elves were larger and stronger than humans in Middle Earth).  The script on the blade reads "Maegnas aen estar nin dagnir in yngyl im." or "Sting is my name; I am the spider's bane."

 

The base sword is a shortsword, which is modified into these stats by its mithril construction:

+1 OCV;  d6+1 HKA; Strength Minimum: 5; Body 3; PD: 9;  ED 8; Weight .65kg;  Size: Small; Concealment Mod: -1

 

Powers

5 pts  "Maeg or Sharp" Armor Piercing damage to HKA up to 3d6: (11 Active Points); OAF Sword (-1) 

5 pts  "Glows blue around goblins" Detect Goblin or Orc, Sense, Ranged, Detect a Class of Things: (10 Active Points); OAF Sword (-1)

5 pts  "Mithril" Power Defense 10 pts: (10 Active Points); For Sword Only (-1)

2 pts  "Elven Artifact" Perk (2 Active Points)

Total Cost: 26 (including base shortsword); Active Cost total 62 pts

 

COMPLICATIONS

15 pts Distinctive Looks (Mithril magical sword) Concealable, Reaction

 

Compared to a lot of the other swords posted here, Sting is relatively cheap and doesn't have a huge amount of power.  I gave it Power Defense to represent its magical properties and mithril being hard to break or harm.  The defenses and body of the weapon represent its mithril construction, and the sword is variously described as incredibly sharp such as when Bilbo shoves it casually into deep into a wooden beam at Rivendell.  I also gave it a perk to represent being an elven magical item, so that the GM can construct effects in the setting such as armor that is not as effective against elven artifacts (or even the defenses of a creature such as Shelob, and her webbing).  This is not a very impressive effect, but it would have long-term campaign significance, as it did in the Lord of the Rings.

 

 

[Netzilla]

I know Sting showed an inscription in the movie, but I don't recall it having one in the books.  Also, the inscription you give doesn't seem right as Bilbo was the one who named it Sting and its powers are better related to fighting orcs and goblins rather than spiders.  What's your source for the inscription?

[Christopher R Taylor]

No inscription is mentioned in the books, and in the Hobbit Movie you can see it has none.  the inscription was added later in the movie (supposedly Bilbo had the elves put it there in Rivendell), and while that's not 100% canon it does make sense.

[zslane]

OK I want to start doing a series of Hero builds of classic weapons through history, specifically swords at first at least.  

 

Throughout history? Whose history?

[Christopher R Taylor]

Well clearly magic swords didn't exist in our history, so I guess I mean 'the history of magic swords in literature and myth' and treating ones like Excalibur as if they are real historical artifacts.

[zslane]

Gotcha.

 

Stormbringer will be a fun build to see...

[Christopher R Taylor]

Saberhagen's "Book of Swords" series is a great fantasy, sort of an alternate Roman Mythos setting where Vulcan creates 12 swords of immense power so that they can be unleashed on mankind as amusement for the gods.  Almost all of the swords have horrendous drawbacks but are so useful and powerful they still are craved by humanity.  I'll do them interspersed with other blades as there are so many, but they really are the ultimate collection of swords which I modified and adapted for my fantasy campaign.

 

 All of the Swords are the same: a simple double-edged blade of a meter in length with a simple crossbar guard and black hilt.  Almost all of them have a symbol on the hilt indicating their type, and all are of exceptionally fine work and quality.  The material started as meteoric iron, but Vulcan almost certainly created some kind of magical alloy that is not of this earth and because of the patterns in the metal, probably folded many, many times in layers.  They never rust, dull, tarnish, or soil.

 

All of the blades are very sharp and nearly indestructible, with only two of the other Swords able to actually destroy them (Shieldbreaker and Woundhealer).  They are of such fine quality that even without their magical power, they are exceptionally fine weapons

 

Sword base: +1 OCV; 1½d6 HKA; Strength Minimum: 12; Body --; PD: --;  ED --; Weight 1.25kg;  Size: Medium; Concealment Mod: -3

 

Coinspinner

Who holds Coinspinner knows good odds

Whichever move he make.

But the Sword of Chance, to please the gods

Slips from him like a snake.

 

Also known as the Sword of Luck and the Sword of Chance, this blade has a pair of dice as its symbol.  It brings the wielder incredibly good luck, and causes incredible misfortune to any who attack them.  However, it is also capricious, and will leave its wielder to go to another without warning, usually at the worst possible moment: luck has two sides.  Even when sheathed, the sword gives inconceivably fine luck.  They win every game of chance, every situation goes best for them, even if something catastrophic happens, they survive with minimal injury by some impossible stroke of fortune.

 

Powers

34 pts  "Fortune" Luck 12d6; (60 Active Points); OAF Sword (Unbreakable) (-¾)

15 pts  "Impossible to Hit" Resistant Protection 10 PD, 10 ED (30 Active Points); Only while drawn (-¼), OAF Sword (Unbreakable) (-¾)

23 pts  "Lucky Break" Detect destination or object, very large class, ranged, 360º, +10 range modifier; (40 Active Points), OAF Sword (Unbreakable) (-¾)

35 pts  "Fortunate" Overall Levels +8; (96 Active Points), Limited Conscious Control (-1), OAF Sword (Unbreakable) (-¾)

  7 pts  "Abandon" Teleportation 10m; Megascale Range x4 (+2) (40 Active Points), No Conscious Control (-2), Only for Sword (-1), Only if Wielder's eyes not on the sword (-1), OAF Sword (Unbreakable) (-¾)

  4 pts  "Distraction" Mind Control 5d6 (distractions); (25 Active Points), No Conscious Control (-2), Only against wielder (-2), Only to caused distractions (-½), No Range (-½), OAF Sword (Unbreakable) (-¾)

48 pts  "Misfortune" Major Transformation 9d6 (grants target 4d6 unluck); Improved Results Group (same target but adds unluck) (+½), Area Effect radius 4m (+¼) (157 Active Points); Limited Target (only people directly attempting to cause wielder harm) (-½), No Range (½), Fades when no longer attacking bearer of Coinspinner (-½), OAF Sword (Unbreakable) (-¾)

Total Cost: 180 (including base longsword); Active Cost total 479

 

COMPLICATIONS

15 pts  Distinctive Looks (Sword of Power); Concealable, Reaction

15 pts  Hunted by other Sword Wielders; minor, non combat influence, frequently, as powerful)

15 pts  Sword is capricious and likes to leave owner in the lurch

15 pts  Physical Complication: Can be destroyed by Woundhealer and Shieldbreaker (Infrequently, Major)

 

Yes, that's an awful lot of luck, but that's the sword's main power.  Someone holding this thing just cannot ever have anything go wrong.  This level of luck will mean that spells that turn the wielder into a newt instead manage to hit a fly that buzzes by instead, a fall off a cliff manages to land on a pile of wool below, etc.  Literally no chance or ridiculous turn of fortune is too outrageous for Coinspinner to manage.

 

As the complications note, the sword seems to want to abandon people, particularly at the worst time, and will teleport its self often to the hands of the very worst person its former wielder could face.  Note that the sword is intelligent and will use its power to distract the wielder when it wishes to leave, trying to get the player to look away.  It can only teleport away if not directly viewed by the wielder.

 

People who want to control all of the blades want this one destroyed because it is uncontrollable and unpredictable.  At any time it is liable to bamf off and end up in an enemy's hands, ruining everything you are trying to do.

 

As you can see, the sword is able to find a location or object (the wielder is just so lucky they stumble upon whatever they seek) similar to the Wayfinder Sword.  Wayfinder is significantly more powerful in this aspect, however.  Almost all of the sword's powers are covered by the vast luck roll, but it has some side effects that I wanted to detail more significantly.  For example, the overall levels apply to any task undertaken, but the PC does not get to choose which, the sword does.  So if someone is trying to dodge a rolling boulder, while picking up a gold coin, as they are running on a rope, the Sword (GM) picks where those levels are broken down.  Between levels and luck, a character holding this blade will find life just always goes their way.

 

 

*Note: added Resistant Protection based on a suggestion by Massey

[Davies]

If it's Intelligent shouldn't it have AI characteristics? (INT, EGO, etc.)

[Christopher R Taylor]

I pondered that, then decided since the only intelligence it displays (other than directing things to be lucky, which is just a power) is when to port away.  The overall levels is just to simulate things working out in all situations, so I just went with no conscious control so that's just in the power of the GM and he role plays the whim of the sword.

[Old Man]

Yeah, I'd rather use a Trigger and/or an activation roll rather than futz around with AI for Coinspinner.

 

Meanwhile I found that Surbrook has a writeup for Stormbringer already.  It's missing some features that I would have included, like the rare interdimensional teleport and the bloodlust it ignites in its wielder, and I'd make the soul transfer into an NND, but otherwise it's a solid writeup.

[massey]

Shouldn't Coinspinner give some Combat Luck as well?  

[Christopher R Taylor]

GREEN DESTINY

This sword from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not very well detailed in terms of its powers.  It clearly is incredibly sharp and flexible, and it is described as being made of an alternate metal ("the handle is heavy. And the blade is no ordinary metal" -- this could just mean metallurgy unknown at the time like "damask" steel) and that it makes the wielder "invincible" in books about it.  The problem is, a great deal of its power may be simply psychological; that it is so intimidating because of the sword's reputation that it gives the wielder a great advantage.  There is a line in the movie "it comes alive only through skillful manipulation," but I suspect that just means someone who's really skilled can get more out of any blade, in the context.  I couldn't find anything in research or from watching the movie which suggested extra powers available to someone who is skilled beyond their base skill.

 

The Sword its self is a very ornate Jian, with a crossguard that looks like jade and a dark wooden haft.  Two yellow cloth tassels are attached to the pommel, and the blade its self is decorated with a line of green serpentine figures down its length on both sides.

 

Sword base: +1 OCV; 2d6 HKA; Strength Minimum: 10; Body --; PD: --;  ED --; Weight 1.20kg;  Size: Medium; Concealment Mod: -3

 

Powers

10 pts  "Sharp" Armor Piercing on up to 4d6 damage; (17 Active Points), OAF Sword (Unbreakable) (-¾)

  6 pts  "Famous and instills confidence" Presence +10; (10 Active Points), OAF Sword (Unbreakable) (-¾)

16 pts  "Destroys other weapons" RKA 2d6 vs PD; Armor Piercing (+¼), Area Effect Surface 1m (+¼), 0 END Cost (+½), Constant (+½) (67 Active Points), Only against other weapons (-1), Only when blocking or blocked, or directly attacking weapons (-1), No Range (-½), OAF Sword (Unbreakable) (-¾)

Total Cost: 45 (including base Jien); Active Cost total 132

 

COMPLICATIONS

15 pts  Distinctive Looks (Famous sword); Concealable, Reaction

15 pts  Hunted by other Martial Artists; major, non combat influence, frequently, less powerful)

 

The Green Destiny's primary power in the films is to obliterate other weapons and inanimate objects.  Its never used against armor, but given what it does to everything else, I gave it armor piercing.  Every single other weapon the sword faced, it shredded and hacked to pieces, almost without trying, so I gave it an odd damage shield construction so that blocking with the sword causes it to annihilate the other weapons unless it is something very special.  Because the damage shield is not always on or persistent, it has to be deliberately used (blocking/blocked/attacking weapon).  I gave the armor piercing a large range so that a martial artist can use their full skill and strength and get armor piercing without having to prorate their strength.

 

Green Destiny is less powerful than the other swords so far, but in its context its the only magical sword in existence, so it would be overpowering and would pretty well make the user invincible.  Tearing through everything it faces, a skilled martial artist could take on armies (as was shown in the movie).  Even against many other magical swords it would be pretty terrible since the damage shield alone would tend to destroy them.

 

[Christopher R Taylor]

I added armor to the sword based on Massey's suggestion of combat luck.  Coinspinner will protect the wielder from serious harm even when they aren't aware of it, when drawn, but it doesn't require attention or awareness of the attacks.  The gargantuan luck will provide a great deal of luck (that crossbowman's string breaks, that swordsman trips over a rock, etc) but its probably not enough on its own to completely protect the bearer of Coinspinner.

[TheDarkness]

One thing to keep in mind is that the green destiny sword is a dueling weapon, so it is quicker than a heavy sword, while simultaneously able to break any weapon given enough time.

 

Further, I would interpret the requiring skill to use to make the powers only accessible for those with a skill level above a certain value.

 

I may need to watch that movie again. I'm trying to remember, but I think there is an allusion to it being cursed.

 

Another thing to note is that, in the movie, the hero, Li Bai, asks another to hold onto the sword when he is, in effect, giving up the sword. This is because it is bad luck to give any sort of blade or knife as a gift, it representing a cutting of ties.

[Christopher R Taylor]

I remember them talking about it being cursed as well but I think maybe that's just a reference to war, death, and fighting and how awful it is.  I didn't ever see anyone doing anything with the sword besides shredding things that they weren't demonstrated to be able to do on their own with any other weapon; that is, they had immense skill and the sword was a useful tool.  But like I said, its very hard to figure out exactly what its powers were.

[Kesedrith]

Saberhagen's "Book of Swords" series is a great fantasy, sort of an alternate Roman Mythos setting where Vulcan creates 12 swords of immense power so that they can be unleashed on mankind as amusement for the gods.  Almost all of the swords have horrendous drawbacks but are so useful and powerful they still are craved by humanity.  I'll do them interspersed with other blades as there are so many, but they really are the ultimate collection of swords which I modified and adapted for my fantasy campaign.

 

 All of the Swords are the same: a simple double-edged blade of a meter in length with a simple crossbar guard and black hilt.  Almost all of them have a symbol on the hilt indicating their type, and all are of exceptionally fine work and quality.  The material started as meteoric iron, but Vulcan almost certainly created some kind of magical alloy that is not of this earth and because of the patterns in the metal, probably folded many, many times in layers.  They never rust, dull, tarnish, or soil.

 

All of the blades are very sharp and nearly indestructible, with only two of the other Swords able to actually destroy them (Shieldbreaker and Woundhealer).  They are of such fine quality that even without their magical power, they are exceptionally fine weapons

 

Sword base: +1 OCV; 1½d6 HKA; Strength Minimum: 12; Body --; PD: --;  ED --; Weight 1.25kg;  Size: Medium; Concealment Mod: -3

 

Coinspinner

Who holds Coinspinner knows good odds

Whichever move he make.

But the Sword of Chance, to please the gods

Slips from him like a snake.

 

Also known as the Sword of Luck and the Sword of Chance, this blade has a pair of dice as its symbol.  It brings the wielder incredibly good luck, and causes incredible misfortune to any who attack them.  However, it is also capricious, and will leave its wielder to go to another without warning, usually at the worst possible moment: luck has two sides.  Even when sheathed, the sword gives inconceivably fine luck.  They win every game of chance, every situation goes best for them, even if something catastrophic happens, they survive with minimal injury by some impossible stroke of fortune.

 

Powers

34 pts  "Fortune" Luck 12d6; (60 Active Points); OAF Sword (Unbreakable) (-¾)

15 pts  "Impossible to Hit" Resistant Protection 10 PD, 10 ED (30 Active Points); Only while drawn (-¼), OAF Sword (Unbreakable) (-¾)

23 pts  "Lucky Break" Detect destination or object, very large class, ranged, 360º, +10 range modifier; (40 Active Points), OAF Sword (Unbreakable) (-¾)

35 pts  "Fortunate" Overall Levels +8; (96 Active Points), Limited Conscious Control (-1), OAF Sword (Unbreakable) (-¾)

  7 pts  "Abandon" Teleportation 10m; Megascale Range x4 (+2) (40 Active Points), No Conscious Control (-2), Only for Sword (-1), Only if Wielder's eyes not on the sword (-1), OAF Sword (Unbreakable) (-¾)

  4 pts  "Distraction" Mind Control 5d6 (distractions); (25 Active Points), No Conscious Control (-2), Only against wielder (-2), Only to caused distractions (-½), No Range (-½), OAF Sword (Unbreakable) (-¾)

48 pts  "Misfortune" Major Transformation 9d6 (grants target 4d6 unluck); Improved Results Group (same target but adds unluck) (+½), Area Effect radius 4m (+¼) (157 Active Points); Limited Target (only people directly attempting to cause wielder harm) (-½), No Range (½), Fades when no longer attacking bearer of Coinspinner (-½), OAF Sword (Unbreakable) (-¾)

Total Cost: 180 (including base longsword); Active Cost total 479

 

COMPLICATIONS

15 pts  Distinctive Looks (Sword of Power); Concealable, Reaction

15 pts  Hunted by other Sword Wielders; minor, non combat influence, frequently, as powerful)

15 pts  Sword is capricious and likes to leave owner in the lurch

15 pts  Physical Complication: Can be destroyed by Woundhealer and Shieldbreaker (Infrequently, Major)

 

Yes, that's an awful lot of luck, but that's the sword's main power.  Someone holding this thing just cannot ever have anything go wrong.  This level of luck will mean that spells that turn the wielder into a newt instead manage to hit a fly that buzzes by instead, a fall off a cliff manages to land on a pile of wool below, etc.  Literally no chance or ridiculous turn of fortune is too outrageous for Coinspinner to manage.

 

As the complications note, the sword seems to want to abandon people, particularly at the worst time, and will teleport its self often to the hands of the very worst person its former wielder could face.  Note that the sword is intelligent and will use its power to distract the wielder when it wishes to leave, trying to get the player to look away.  It can only teleport away if not directly viewed by the wielder.

 

People who want to control all of the blades want this one destroyed because it is uncontrollable and unpredictable.  At any time it is liable to bamf off and end up in an enemy's hands, ruining everything you are trying to do.

 

As you can see, the sword is able to find a location or object (the wielder is just so lucky they stumble upon whatever they seek) similar to the Wayfinder Sword.  Wayfinder is significantly more powerful in this aspect, however.  Almost all of the sword's powers are covered by the vast luck roll, but it has some side effects that I wanted to detail more significantly.  For example, the overall levels apply to any task undertaken, but the PC does not get to choose which, the sword does.  So if someone is trying to dodge a rolling boulder, while picking up a gold coin, as they are running on a rope, the Sword (GM) picks where those levels are broken down.  Between levels and luck, a character holding this blade will find life just always goes their way.

 

 

*Note: added Resistant Protection based on a suggestion by Massey

Once upon a time, back at the start of 4th ed., I wrote up all twelve of these bad boys. I never put them into play after writing up Doomgiver, Farslayer, and Shieldbreaker though. All three wound up simply being too close to "I win" buttons. Sure Shieldbreaker can be bypassed if you attack unarmored and unarmed, but unless there's only one PC, how often is that going to happen? I mean, someone would have to be an absolute idiot to jump on the wielder of Shieldbreaker and ignore the four other heavily armed and armored friends they have there...unless you just decide to swarm them and try for a TPK or something.

[Christopher R Taylor]

Yeah all of the swords are broken in a big way.  Frankly, all of the weapons I'll be posting here are broken and would demolish a campaign unless very sparingly used.  They all have horrific drawbacks but still...

[Christopher R Taylor]

Coming soon:

 

[Burrito Boy]

Coming soon:

 

 

Can't wait!

[Christopher R Taylor]

Its been a while but here's another sword and probably the most infamous of all time, if not as well known as Excalibur.  Of all the swords I'm posting here, this is the one you least want to even consider putting into a campaign  It was weilded by Elric of Melibone, the last of their emperors and a tragic, epic figure.

 

Elric is basically an elf, but not like any elf ever in previous fantasy writing.  He's also a wreck, personally weak and sickly so much so he has to take magical herbs and potions just to get out of bed some days.  Albino and skinny, he relies on the family heirloom Stormbringer to survive. All the royal family of Melibone appears to have been given one of the black blades, they're all basically equivalent swords.  His cousin Yrkoon wields Mournblade, which is functionally identical to Stormbringer.  It may be just the males of the royal family get one, its never really explained.  At the end of Elric's world, he summons thousands of these blades which lay waste to... everything, destroying the entire world and finally stormbringer kills Elric and eats his soul.

 

 Elric survives with the huge blade which ordinarily he could barely lift because it eats the soul of whatever it kills and gives their life essence to the wielder to strengthen them.  While the sword is active, Elric literally is able to take on armies, it protects him and heals him and strengthens him... until it is finally sated on souls and stops eating them.

 

It takes a lot of souls to finally sate Stormbringer's hunger, hundreds if not thousands, so I didn't bother putting that into the build anywhere.  Its functionally outside the realm of any game setting, just a story element.  Since the exact effect of this soul-eating isn't ever clearly explained in the book, I had to guess based on the actions of the sword and Elric in the books.  Stormbringer is evil, possibly the most evil weapon ever written of.  It loves to attack, kill, and eat the souls of Elric's friends, loved ones, and family (although truth be told, his family  is pretty wicked).  Then it feeds Elric their souls to strengthen him, in the most horrible of betrayals.  Elric can almost never stop it from doing so, it twists in his hand and kills allies in the middle of a fight.  In the end, Elric is utterly alone.

 

Stormbringer is basically a demon, one of many Elric traffics with due to very ancient bargains and deals one shudders to think about how his ancestors sealed the pacts.  Although Stormbringer gets all the attention, Elric's Ring of Kings is every bit as powerful because of how he can call on all these very powerful demons and their favors because of the ring.  But Stormbringer he always has with him -- and in the end its revealed, because it is there to destroy his world and murder every single last living being.

 

Now, as swords go, Stormbringer is a bit odd as well. Its not really even a sword, this is just what the creature looks like in this dimension.  Its one of the first self-willed, self-aware, intelligent weapons in fiction, and is almost inconceivably powerful.  Stormbringer is built as a follower for Elric (inspired by Michael Surbrook's build) and has the most complete build for any of the swords here because of that.

 

STORMBRINGER

 

Stormbringer looks like an enormous black blade with magical runes down its length.  It is obviously very magical and valuable but also has a terrifying reputation as an implement of great evil and deadly power.  Official illustrations make the sword look about five feet in length or greater, usually a slim blade.  It moans horrifyingly in combat.  Because of the black blade's apperance, reputation, and presence, it should intimidate nearly anyone.

 

Val  Char  Cost  Roll  Notes

13   STR      3      12-   Lift 151.6kg; 2 ½d6

15   DEX     10     12-   OCV:  6   DCV:  6

 0    CON    -10     9-

10   INT       0      11-    PER Roll 11-

18   EGO    36     13-    

25   PRE     15     14-    PRE Attack: 5d6

 

 6   OCV      15

 6   DCV      15

 3   OMCV    0

 8   DMCV   45

 4   SPD      20              Phases:  3, 6, 9, 12

 

15  PD         9               Total:  15 PD (10 rPD)

17  ED         9               Total:  17 ED (12 rED)

 4   REC      0

20  END      0

10  BODY    0

 0   Run     -12

 0   Leap    -2

 0   Swim    -2 

Characteristics Cost: 121

 

Cost Powers

 60    Immortal Demonic Blade:  Takes No STUN

 15    Immortal Demonic Blade:  Does Not Bleed

 10    Immortal Demonic Blade:  No Hit Locations

 40    Immortal Demonic Blade:  Life Support  (Eating: Character does not eat; Immunity: All terrestrial diseases; Immunity: All terrestrial poisons; Longevity: Immortal; Safe in High Pressure; Safe in High Radiation; Safe in Intense Cold; Safe in Intense Heat; Safe in Low Pressure/Vacuum; Self-Contained Breathing; Sleeping: Character does not sleep)

 42    Soar:  Flight 24m, Usable as swimming (+¼), 0 END Cost (-½) (42 Active Points)

124   Runeblade:  Resistant Protection (10 PD/12 ED), Hardened (+¼) (124 Active Points)

 30    Demonic Will: Mental Defense 10

 

 56    Black Blade:  Killing Attack - Hand-To-Hand 2½d6 (3d6+1 w/STR), Armor Piercing (+¼), 0 END Cost (-½) (70 Active Points); Usable By Other (-¼), Recipient must remain close to Grantor

 22    Soul Drinker:  Drain BODY 3d6, 0 END Cost (-½) (45 Active Points); No Range (-½), Linked (Black Blade; -½)

 62    Soul Drinker:  Aid  Stats 2d6, Delayed Return Rate (points return at the rate of 5 per Minute; +1), Expanded Effect (Strength, Constitution, PD, ED, Speed, Recovery, Endurance, Body, and Stun) (+4), 0 END Cost (-½) (78 Active Points); Linked (Black Blade; -¼)

 28 Soul Drinker:  Healing BODY 2d6, Expanded Effect (Endurance, Body, and Stun simultaneously) (+1), 0 END Cost (-½) Decreased Re-use Duration 1 phase (+1 ¾) (42 Active Points); Linked (Black Blade; -½)

  5 Soul Drinker:  Resistant Protection (2 PD, 2 ED), Cumulative (24 points; +1) (12 Active Points); Linked (Black Blade; -½), Usable By Other (-½), Grantor can take back power at any time, Grantor can only grant the power to others, Recipient must remain close to Grantor, Power fades 2 PD/ED per turn (-¼)

 

Pts  Skills

 24 +3 with HTH Combat

 10  Defense Maneuver I-IV 

 

Powers and Skills Cost: 528

 

Total Cost: 649

 

Pts  Complications

 15   Distinctive Features:  Evil rune blade (Concealable; Always Noticed and Causes Major Reaction; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses)

 20   Negative Reputation:  Terrifying soul-devouring evil runeblade, Very Frequently (Extreme)

 30   Physical Complication:  No manipulatory ability (Very Frequently; Fully Impairing)

 15   Physical Complication:  Diminutive (Frequently; Slightly Impairing)

 20   Psychological Complication:  Bloodthirsty, Likes To Kill (Especially Those Elric Doesn't   Want To Die) (Very Common; Strong)

 20   Psychological Complication:  Intensely evil and corruptive (Common; Total)

 15   Psychological Complication:  Protective of Elric (Common; Strong)

 

Complications Points: 135

 

Stormbringer can fight well on its own, or be wielded by someone else.  Either way, its Soul Drinker effect goes off.  Elric is described as one of the best swordsmen in the world, so he uses Stormbringer quite well. Notice: Stormbringer doesn't have to give Soul Drinker bonuses to anyone else.  It can choose to not grant the points, but will because it loves to kill and it is protective of Elric.

 

Some of its powers, Stormbringer rarely uses or uses only in a limited sense.  For example, it can fly, but usually only does so to hover in the air and fight by its self while Elric is otherwise occupied. In theory, Stormbringer could possibly give its soul drinker aid to anyone it touches, but it only does so for its self and for Elric at any point in the books.  

 

Yes, the Soul Drinker power is grotesque and unbalanced, but Elric fights huge armies without armor and is almost totally unharmed while doing so.  Part of the Soul Drinker grants Resistant Protection, I built that as a custom power, because since Stormbringer does not get this effect, it shouldn't have to pay the automaton tripling penalty for price.  It grants 2 rPD and rED every hit with the soul drinker.  Technically you shouldn't put cumulative on Resistant Protection, but it was a useful way of representing a power that ramps up over time and fades away, since its illegal to grant new powers with Aid (hint hint, making it possible would make this kind of build much easier in terms of construction and rules).

 

Also note the bonuses from Soul Drinker greatly outweigh the damage it deals, since the concept is not a direct channeling of life force but eating the entire soul and adding its power, which is unknowable but clearly powerful.  The drain is just a representation of the trauma of having one's soul devoured, the bonuses are the effect of having that power given to someone else.  The soul drinker effect is not long-term, most of its bonuses fade fairly rapidly.  

 

TOTAL BONUS MAX: +12 STR, +12 CON, +6 PD, +6 ED, +1 SPD, +6 REC, +30 END, +12 BOD, +12 STN, +8 rPD, +8 rED

 

In theory, the black blade could be damaged, but it suffers absolutely no damage in any fights no matter how awful, so I chalk that up to its healing ability and high defenses.  Perhaps it is truly indestructible in combat.  I only gave the blade mental defense and mental stats in theory, its mind was never attacked in the book.  No one has any reason to assume its anything other than a very powerful magical blade as it never speaks until the final act of the story, and shows no signs of intelligence.

 

No sane GM would allow any player to possess this sword.