unundindur
2012-03-26, 04:00 AM
The following is an attempt to create a more interesting Holy Avenger type weapon based on the rules for Legacy Weapons. I tried to make the weapon powerful enough that I would actually like to use it in a regular campaign, but not so powerful that you feel dumb without it. I hope for some critique, on all aspects of this weapon (balance, fluff, wording etc.).
I hope it's a good read :smallsmile:
LIGHTBRAND
Lightbrand is a perfectly balanced sword of near white metal. The blade is cool to the touch, and pulses with light as if alive. The hilt resembles two angelic wings made of gleaming platinum, set with numerous yellow and blue topazes, and elaborate golden patterns. Right at the center, between the wings and below the blade, an oval hole gives you a sense of imperfection, though the weapon is otherwise nothing but a perfect work of craftsmanship.
Nonlegacy Game Statistics:
+1 adamantine bastardsword; Cost 2,350 gp. Lightbrand automatically overcome the damage reduction of evil outsiders, and will not atune to regular weapon argument crystals from Magic Item Compendium.
Omen: Lightbrand continously shed bright light in a 20-foot radius, and otherwise count as a continous light spell with casterlevel 5 that cannot be turned off.
History
In ancient time, when heaven and hell was fighting to shape the world as we know it, the archangel Almaril was on the track of Xolbanasu, a great fiend of desceit. Although well prepared for fiendhunting, Almaril was defeated when the demon turned out to be a ghost. DC 15; The Fiend of Shadows
As the ultimate insult, Xolbanasu thought it amusing to leave the celestial Almaril’s soul alive to watch the onslaught of the realm he sought to protect. The fiend trapped Almaril within the angels sword called, and gave the blade to a lesser devil amids the infernal armies. For centuries Almaril was forces to witness and feel the death of it’s own kin, many caused by the very Lightbrand it had forged and enchanted so many aeons past. DC 18; Aeon’s guilt
All suffering is eventually soothed, and Almaril found it’s sleep at last when a demon hit the blade in an cataclysmic battle, causing the pommeljewel to leave the blade, along with the angel’s soul. What righteous rage this ancient force would bring if again restored the world have yet to see.DC 25; Grudges never heal
Legacy Rituals
Three rituals are required to unlock all the abilities of Lightbrand.
A blades reflections: You must take Lightbrand to a mountaintop and meditate there while the sun dawns. Cost: 2,000gp. Feat Granted: Least Legacy Lightbrand.
Shape the light: You must find and attach the missing pommel jewel Almaril to Lightbrand (see below). Cost: 13,500gp (excluding the value of Almaril). Feat Granted: Lesser Legacy Lightbrand.
Repell the darkness: You must travel to the Nine Hells or Baator and singelhandedly defeat a demon or devil with CR 15 or higher. Cost: 38,000gp. Feat Granted: Greater Legacy Lightbrand.
Dawn: You must hunt down and slay the great fiend Xolbanasu. Cost: 150,000gp. After completing this ritual, you must choose the Epic Legacy (Lightbrand) feat.
Wielder Requirements
Lightbrand is wielded primarily by paladins, but fighters and clerics in the service of light are also good candidates.
Lightbrand Wielder Requirements
Base attack bonus +4
Any good alignment
Speak Language (Celestial)
{table]
5th Ward of light, Sentience, -1 to all skills checks
6th -
7th Bond of faith, -2 Hit Points
8th +2 bastardsword, -2 Hit Points
9th Improved radiance, -2 Hit Points
10th -
11th +2 evil outsider bane bastardsword, Living legacy, Guided Intuition, Improved Ward of light, -2 Hit Points, -1 to all skill checks
12th -
13th +3 evil outside bane bastardsword, -2 Hit Points
14th Greater radiance, -2 Hit Points
15th +3 keen evil outsider bane bastardsword, -2 Hit Points
16th -
17th +4 keen evil outsider bane bastardsword, Greater ward of light, -2 Hit Points, -1 to all skill checks
18th -
19th +5 keen evil outsider bane bastardsword, -2 Hit Points
20th Zealous fury, -2 hit Points
21th +6 keen evil outsider bane bastardsword, -6 hit Points
22nd -
23rd -
24th Light’s grace 3/day, -3 Hit Points
25th -
[/table]
Legacy Item Abilities
All of the following are legacy item abilities of Lightbrand.
Ward of light (Su): At 5th level, you enjoy the constant effects of a protection from evil spell. Caster level 5th.
Sentience (Su): At 5th level Lightbrand becomes a sentient item. As an intelligent item, Lightbrand has Intelligence 10, Wisdom 13, and Charisma 13. The blade can communicate empathically, and can hear and see out to 60 feet. The sword has an Ego score of 12 + it’s enchancement bonus. In the event a personality conflict occurs, Lightbrand pushes you to search the world for evil to root out.
Bond of Faith (Su): Beginning at 7th, you cannot be disarmed of Lightbrand.
Improved radiance (Su): Starting at level 9, Lightbrand is the center of a constant bless spell with a radius of 20 feet. Caster level 5th.
Living Legacy (Su): At 11th level Lightbrand regains it’s full personality. The weapon now have a Wisdom and Charisma score of 16, can speak telepathically in Celestial, and it’s ego score increases by 2. At level 17 the egoscore increases by an additional 2, for a total of 16+ it’s enchancement bonus.
Guided Intuition (Su): Starting at 11th level, you are no longer flat-footed.
Improved ward of light (Su): From 11th level and on, the wielder of Lightbrand gains Spell Resistance 5+Character Level, or +2 to existing spell resistance, whichever is better.
Greater radiance (Su): Beginning at 14th level, your aura improves, and Lightbrand is the center of a continual consecrate spell with a radius of 20 feet. Caster level 10th.
Greater ward of light (Su): Starting at level 17, you are constantly warded from dark forces as if under the effect of a death ward spell. Caster level 15th.
Zealous fury (Su): At 20th level and higher, you can make a full attack with Lightbrand after a charge. You must declare you are using this ability before charging.
Light’s Grace (Sp): At 24th level and higher, you can call on the blade to cast a quickened stilled, silent miracle three times per day. CL 30
ALMARIL
Price (Item Level): 10.000 gp (12th)
Caster Level: 9th
Body Slot – (weapon crystal)
Aura: Moderate; (DC 19) transmutation
Activation: -
Weight: -
This large blue diamond is carved in a perfect oval shape, and within lightning seems to flicker as if it tries to escape.
If attached to any other weapon than Lightbrand, Almaril will not bestow any of it’s abilities on the recipent weapon. When attached to Lightbrand, the weapon deals an extra 1d6 points of damage to evil outsiders. Furthermore the weapon also functions as a ghost touch weapon (DMG 224). Finally, if the weapon scores a critical hit against an evil outsider, that creature can’t use any teleportation abilities or spells for 1 round. Any evil creature grasping Lightbrand while it bears Almaril gains one negative level, which remains as long as it holds the weapon and disappears when the weapon is no longer wielded. This negative level never results in actual level loss, but it cannot be overcome in any way (including restoration spells) while the weapon is wielded.
As a unique item, Almaril cannot be created, but if it could it would have the following aditional statistics:
Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armor, align weapon, good alignment.
Cost to Create: 2500 gp, 200XP, 5 days.
BEHIND THE SCENE ABILITY BREAKDOWN
{table]
5 +2 Weapon (1L)
6 Protection from evil (1L), -2 Hit Points
7 Cannot be disarmed (1L), -1 to all skills checks
8 Continous bless (1L) -2 Hit Points
9 -2 Hit Points
10 Medium intelligence (2L), -2 Hit Points
11 Cunning (1M)
12 -+3 Weapon (1M), -2 Hit Points
13 -1 to all skill checks
14 -2 Hit Points
15 +5 Weapon (3M)
16 Consecrate continous (1M), -2 Hit Points
17 Spell resistance 5+characterlevel or +2 SR. (1G)
18 +5 keen evil outsider bane Weapon (1G for +2), -2 Hit Points, -1 to all skill checks
19 Death Ward (1G), -2 Hit Points
20 Pounce (1G), -2 hit Points
21 +6 keen evil outsiderbane weapon
22 -3 Hit Points
23 -3 Hit Points
24 Quickened, still, silent miracle 3/day, CL 30
25 -3 Hit Points
[/table]
I have tossed the abilities around a bit to give it a smoother progression, and to keep the bonuses closer to the penalties. I have tried to avoid extreme frontloading, but I am aware that it is somewhat frontloaded.
I hope it's a good read :smallsmile:
LIGHTBRAND
Lightbrand is a perfectly balanced sword of near white metal. The blade is cool to the touch, and pulses with light as if alive. The hilt resembles two angelic wings made of gleaming platinum, set with numerous yellow and blue topazes, and elaborate golden patterns. Right at the center, between the wings and below the blade, an oval hole gives you a sense of imperfection, though the weapon is otherwise nothing but a perfect work of craftsmanship.
Nonlegacy Game Statistics:
+1 adamantine bastardsword; Cost 2,350 gp. Lightbrand automatically overcome the damage reduction of evil outsiders, and will not atune to regular weapon argument crystals from Magic Item Compendium.
Omen: Lightbrand continously shed bright light in a 20-foot radius, and otherwise count as a continous light spell with casterlevel 5 that cannot be turned off.
History
In ancient time, when heaven and hell was fighting to shape the world as we know it, the archangel Almaril was on the track of Xolbanasu, a great fiend of desceit. Although well prepared for fiendhunting, Almaril was defeated when the demon turned out to be a ghost. DC 15; The Fiend of Shadows
As the ultimate insult, Xolbanasu thought it amusing to leave the celestial Almaril’s soul alive to watch the onslaught of the realm he sought to protect. The fiend trapped Almaril within the angels sword called, and gave the blade to a lesser devil amids the infernal armies. For centuries Almaril was forces to witness and feel the death of it’s own kin, many caused by the very Lightbrand it had forged and enchanted so many aeons past. DC 18; Aeon’s guilt
All suffering is eventually soothed, and Almaril found it’s sleep at last when a demon hit the blade in an cataclysmic battle, causing the pommeljewel to leave the blade, along with the angel’s soul. What righteous rage this ancient force would bring if again restored the world have yet to see.DC 25; Grudges never heal
Legacy Rituals
Three rituals are required to unlock all the abilities of Lightbrand.
A blades reflections: You must take Lightbrand to a mountaintop and meditate there while the sun dawns. Cost: 2,000gp. Feat Granted: Least Legacy Lightbrand.
Shape the light: You must find and attach the missing pommel jewel Almaril to Lightbrand (see below). Cost: 13,500gp (excluding the value of Almaril). Feat Granted: Lesser Legacy Lightbrand.
Repell the darkness: You must travel to the Nine Hells or Baator and singelhandedly defeat a demon or devil with CR 15 or higher. Cost: 38,000gp. Feat Granted: Greater Legacy Lightbrand.
Dawn: You must hunt down and slay the great fiend Xolbanasu. Cost: 150,000gp. After completing this ritual, you must choose the Epic Legacy (Lightbrand) feat.
Wielder Requirements
Lightbrand is wielded primarily by paladins, but fighters and clerics in the service of light are also good candidates.
Lightbrand Wielder Requirements
Base attack bonus +4
Any good alignment
Speak Language (Celestial)
{table]
5th Ward of light, Sentience, -1 to all skills checks
6th -
7th Bond of faith, -2 Hit Points
8th +2 bastardsword, -2 Hit Points
9th Improved radiance, -2 Hit Points
10th -
11th +2 evil outsider bane bastardsword, Living legacy, Guided Intuition, Improved Ward of light, -2 Hit Points, -1 to all skill checks
12th -
13th +3 evil outside bane bastardsword, -2 Hit Points
14th Greater radiance, -2 Hit Points
15th +3 keen evil outsider bane bastardsword, -2 Hit Points
16th -
17th +4 keen evil outsider bane bastardsword, Greater ward of light, -2 Hit Points, -1 to all skill checks
18th -
19th +5 keen evil outsider bane bastardsword, -2 Hit Points
20th Zealous fury, -2 hit Points
21th +6 keen evil outsider bane bastardsword, -6 hit Points
22nd -
23rd -
24th Light’s grace 3/day, -3 Hit Points
25th -
[/table]
Legacy Item Abilities
All of the following are legacy item abilities of Lightbrand.
Ward of light (Su): At 5th level, you enjoy the constant effects of a protection from evil spell. Caster level 5th.
Sentience (Su): At 5th level Lightbrand becomes a sentient item. As an intelligent item, Lightbrand has Intelligence 10, Wisdom 13, and Charisma 13. The blade can communicate empathically, and can hear and see out to 60 feet. The sword has an Ego score of 12 + it’s enchancement bonus. In the event a personality conflict occurs, Lightbrand pushes you to search the world for evil to root out.
Bond of Faith (Su): Beginning at 7th, you cannot be disarmed of Lightbrand.
Improved radiance (Su): Starting at level 9, Lightbrand is the center of a constant bless spell with a radius of 20 feet. Caster level 5th.
Living Legacy (Su): At 11th level Lightbrand regains it’s full personality. The weapon now have a Wisdom and Charisma score of 16, can speak telepathically in Celestial, and it’s ego score increases by 2. At level 17 the egoscore increases by an additional 2, for a total of 16+ it’s enchancement bonus.
Guided Intuition (Su): Starting at 11th level, you are no longer flat-footed.
Improved ward of light (Su): From 11th level and on, the wielder of Lightbrand gains Spell Resistance 5+Character Level, or +2 to existing spell resistance, whichever is better.
Greater radiance (Su): Beginning at 14th level, your aura improves, and Lightbrand is the center of a continual consecrate spell with a radius of 20 feet. Caster level 10th.
Greater ward of light (Su): Starting at level 17, you are constantly warded from dark forces as if under the effect of a death ward spell. Caster level 15th.
Zealous fury (Su): At 20th level and higher, you can make a full attack with Lightbrand after a charge. You must declare you are using this ability before charging.
Light’s Grace (Sp): At 24th level and higher, you can call on the blade to cast a quickened stilled, silent miracle three times per day. CL 30
ALMARIL
Price (Item Level): 10.000 gp (12th)
Caster Level: 9th
Body Slot – (weapon crystal)
Aura: Moderate; (DC 19) transmutation
Activation: -
Weight: -
This large blue diamond is carved in a perfect oval shape, and within lightning seems to flicker as if it tries to escape.
If attached to any other weapon than Lightbrand, Almaril will not bestow any of it’s abilities on the recipent weapon. When attached to Lightbrand, the weapon deals an extra 1d6 points of damage to evil outsiders. Furthermore the weapon also functions as a ghost touch weapon (DMG 224). Finally, if the weapon scores a critical hit against an evil outsider, that creature can’t use any teleportation abilities or spells for 1 round. Any evil creature grasping Lightbrand while it bears Almaril gains one negative level, which remains as long as it holds the weapon and disappears when the weapon is no longer wielded. This negative level never results in actual level loss, but it cannot be overcome in any way (including restoration spells) while the weapon is wielded.
As a unique item, Almaril cannot be created, but if it could it would have the following aditional statistics:
Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armor, align weapon, good alignment.
Cost to Create: 2500 gp, 200XP, 5 days.
BEHIND THE SCENE ABILITY BREAKDOWN
{table]
5 +2 Weapon (1L)
6 Protection from evil (1L), -2 Hit Points
7 Cannot be disarmed (1L), -1 to all skills checks
8 Continous bless (1L) -2 Hit Points
9 -2 Hit Points
10 Medium intelligence (2L), -2 Hit Points
11 Cunning (1M)
12 -+3 Weapon (1M), -2 Hit Points
13 -1 to all skill checks
14 -2 Hit Points
15 +5 Weapon (3M)
16 Consecrate continous (1M), -2 Hit Points
17 Spell resistance 5+characterlevel or +2 SR. (1G)
18 +5 keen evil outsider bane Weapon (1G for +2), -2 Hit Points, -1 to all skill checks
19 Death Ward (1G), -2 Hit Points
20 Pounce (1G), -2 hit Points
21 +6 keen evil outsiderbane weapon
22 -3 Hit Points
23 -3 Hit Points
24 Quickened, still, silent miracle 3/day, CL 30
25 -3 Hit Points
[/table]
I have tossed the abilities around a bit to give it a smoother progression, and to keep the bonuses closer to the penalties. I have tried to avoid extreme frontloading, but I am aware that it is somewhat frontloaded.