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View Full Version : D&D 3.x Other PEACH: Soul Brand soulmeld



LairdMaon
2020-05-19, 11:14 PM
Soul Brand

Descriptors: None
Classes: None
Chakra: All
Saving Throw: None

A 3-foot-long beam takes shape in your hand. This semisolid beam vaguely resembles a proper sword, though the specific type of sword depends on who is looking at it.
Anyone who uses this soulmeld becomes proficient in its use.
The Soul Brand deals 1d8 points of untyped damage, has a critical threat range of 20, and a multiplier of 2.
The blade is immaterial, and your Strength modifier does not apply to the damage.
Essentia: Every point of essentia you invest in your Soul Brand increases the hit and damage by 1.

Chakra Binds
The Soul Brand soulmeld can be bound to any single Chakra, barring special Chakras such as the Totem Chakra.
A bound Soul Brand may have a number of Traits based on the Chakra. These Traits are chosen from the Soul Brand Trait list and all are available from the outset. Traits are chosen each time the soulmeld is shaped.
The following lists cover how many Traits each Chakra may choose from and what Traits are available to choose from.

Trait Pool
Double Damage to Undead
Counts as Sword
Melee Touch Attacks
Scrambles Magic
Can attach Weapon Augment Crystals
Con to Hurt/Hit

Chakras
Crown= 1 trait
Hands/feet= 2 traits
Arms/brow/shoulders= 3 traits
Throat/waist= 4 traits
Heart= 5 traits
Soul= all traits


Double Damage To Undead
After all damage is tallied, double it when harming undead.

Counts As Sword
If you are proficient with any type of sword, you can wield the Soul Brand as if it were any type of sword and thus gain the benefits of any special sword skill you might have, such as Weapon Focus.

Melee Touch Attacks
Attacks with a Soul Brand are melee touch attacks.

Scrambles Magic
A successful Soul Brand strike temporarily scrambles magic. On the target's next turn after a hit from a Soul Brand, the creature must make a Concentration check to use any spell or spell-like ability. The DC is equal to 10 + damage dealt + Essentia invested + Constitution. (An opponent hit by a Soul Brand while casting a spell must make the usual Concentration check to avoid losing the spell in addition to the check on its next turn.)

Can Attach Weapon Augment Crystals
By grasping a Weapon Augment Crystal in a hand wielding the Soul Brand, one may gain the full benefit of that Crystal.

Con To Hurt/Hit
Add Constitution bonus to hit and damage rolls.

BelGareth
2020-10-07, 06:38 PM
So, first of all, great write up, it's thoroughly thought out and written.

So first off, this is mechanically, (soulmeld), almost identical to Incarnate Weapon. Which is fine, but as soon as you go into the chakra binds, it starts to diverge considerably, and makes this an almost auto take for anyone who can shape soulmelds, and especially bind them.

It is hands down more powerful, by several degrees than the majority of soulmelds and binds.

The issue you have here, is the crown chakra can be bound at 2nd level, granting the user touch attacks at first level. For some DM's that may not be an issue, but for most, that is a huge deal. Hell, even with feats, this is absurd.

My suggestion here, is to limit the traits, build a few more (4 to be exact) to match the missing chakra's, and here's the important part specify which chakra can do what, this limits abuse, and provides a clear power curve for the soulmelds bind abilities, which is easy to follow, and read, and part and parcel of the design philosophy of Magic of Incarnum.

I don't see Soul as having all of them as an issue.

/2c

LairdMaon
2020-10-07, 07:12 PM
So... Instead of a menu of traits to choose from, a set progression based on the chakra it's bound to?

I dig it. I like that a lot, really.

LairdMaon
2020-10-22, 10:12 PM
Soul Brand

Descriptors: None
Classes: None
Chakra: All
Saving Throw: None

A vaguely glowing weapon takes shape in your hand. This semisolid shape resembles a weapon or shield you are proficient with.

The Soul Brand takes the shape of a weapon or shield you are proficient with and can make full use of all feats that would apply to that weapon. Once the weapon is chosen and the soulmeld shaped, it cannot be changed until it is reshaped.

Your Soul Brand cannot be sundered or otherwise destroyed (except by effects that unshape soulmelds). It cannot be held by anyone aside from the person who shaped it.

The Soul Brand deals untyped damage using the same numbers as the weapon it is mimicking. It benefits from the returning enchantment when thrown.


Essentia: The Soul Brand gains an enhancement bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls equal to the number of points of essentia you invest in it.

Chakra Binds
The Soul Brand soulmeld can be bound to any Chakra, barring special Chakras such as the Totem Chakra.

Crown
After all damage is tallied, double it when harming undead. Soul Brand also gains the Ghost Touch property.

Feet
Add Constitution bonus to hit and damage rolls.

Hands
By grasping a Weapon Augment Crystal in a hand wielding the Soul Brand, one may gain the full benefit of that Crystal.
Arms
Attacks with a Soul Brand are melee touch attacks or ranged touch attacks, dependent on the nature of the weapon.

Brow
A successful Soul Brand strike temporarily scrambles magic. On the target's next turn after a hit from a Soul Brand, the creature must make a Concentration check to use any spell or spell-like ability. The DC is equal to 10+ Essentia+Constitution. (An opponent hit by a Soul Brand while casting a spell must make the usual Concentration check to avoid losing the spell in addition to the check on its next turn.)

Shoulders
You may create as many Soul Brands as you have limbs to wield them. You may also use them for ammunition for ranged attacks. Each Soul Brand created gains the full benefits of this soulmeld.
Throat
Add Constitution bonus to AC.

Waist
You can channel any touch-based damage dealing Supernatural effect you have and deliver it through your weapon. This does not provoke attacks of opportunity. If the attack is successful, the attack deals damage normally; then the effect of the Supernatural ability is resolved.
Heart
Each successful strike with the Soul Brand heals a number of hit points equal to your Constitution score plus invested essentia. Hit points beyond your maximum are lost.
Soul
All of the binds available to this Soulmeld are active.