SWORDS

(TABLE III.G.)

All magic swords receive their stated bonus both for purposes of hitting (as a bonus to the “to hit” die) and for damage (as +1, +2, +3, etc. addition to hit points of damage scored). The special features of listed swords are described below. Thereafter, considerations of unusual aspects of swords are listed, i.e. Intelligence, abilities, powers, purpose, alignment, languages, and ego. Finally, the effects of unusual swords are dealt with. Note that few swords will have any unusual aspects.

All +5 Holy Avenger swords are Lawful Good. All Swords of Sharpness are of Chaotic alignment. All Vorpal Weapons are Lawfully aligned.

Most swords (and all daggers) of magical nature shed light when drawn from their scabbard. The sole exceptions are the Flame Tongue, Frost Brand, Holy Avenger, Life Stealing, and Sharpness swords, and these will be dealt with individually.

Whenever a sword has some unknown quality—such as the wishes in a Luck Blade or a sword with unusual aspects, you should prepare a special 3 x 5 index card on it and keep the information handy whenever the possessor of the weapon is playing.

Polyhedron #32, Dispel Confusion, p.29: Q: Is the "plus" of a magical weapon directly proportional to its hardness and sharpness? If so, can a very finely wrought weapon of adamantite (non-drow manufacture) be equivalent to a +1 or +2 weapon? Also, can such a weapon (e.g. the weapon of a Qullan) affect creatures able to be hit only by magic weapons, or must the weapon actually be enchanted?A: The weapon bonus is not necessarily a function of physical qualities, but it can be (as with drow items). The DM may allow the limited manufacture of non-magical weapons which are treated as if enchanted due to excellent materials and/or craftsman-ship. Such weapons may affect creatures immune to normal weapons. Watch the item descriptions for key phrases such as "acts as a + 1 weapon".

Sword +1, +2 vs. Magic-using and Enchanted Creatures

This gives its +1 bonus always, +2 when employed against magic-users, monsters which can cast spells, conjured, created, gated, or summoned creatures. Note that the +2 would not operate against a creature magically empowered by some item to cast spells—such as a ring of spell storing.

Sword +1, +3 vs. Lycanthropes and Shape Changers

This gives its +3 against were- creatures, those able to assume the form of another creature (such as a vampire or a druid), or any creature under the influence of a polymorph or shape change spell.

Sword +1, +3 vs. Regenerating Creatures

This will give the +3 bonus to its wielder even when the regenerating creature does so because of a magical device—such as a ring of regeneration.

Sword +1, +4 vs. Reptiles

This gives the +4 against such creatures as dinosaurs, dragons, hydras, lizards, snakes, wyverns, etc.

Sword +1, Flame Tongue, +2 vs. Regenerating Creatures, +3 vs. Cold-using, Inflammable, or Avian creatures, +4 vs. Undead

This sheds light only when its possessor speaks a command word or phrase, and this flame illuminates the area as brightly as a torch. Note that the flame from this sword easily ignites oil, burns webs, or sets fire to paper, parchment, dry wood, etc. Cold-using creatures are those whose attack mode involves cold (ice toads, white dragons, winter wolves, yeti, etc.).

Sword +1, Luck Blade

This gives its possessor +1 on all saving throws and will have from 2-5 wishes (you must keep a secret note of the number and their use) determined by d4+1.

Sword +2, Giant Slayer

This has a +3 bonus versus any giant, ettin, ogre mage, or titan. Against any of the true giants (hill, stone, frost, fire, cloud, storm) the sword does double damage, i.e. 2-24+3 or 5-27.

Sword +2, Dragon Slayer

This has a +4 against any sort of true dragon and, against 1 sort, it will do triple damage i.e. 3-36+4 or 7-40. Note that an unusual sword with Intelligence and alignment will not be made to slay dragons of the same alignment. Determine dragon type-by random roll, excluding the singular ones (Bahamut and Tiamat):

Gold (LG)
Bronze (LG)
Silver (LG)
Blue (LE)
Green (LE)
Brass (CG)
Copper (CG)
Black (CE)
Red (CE)
White (CE)

Sword +2, Nine lives Stealer

This will always perform as a +2 weapon, but it also has the power to draw the life force from an opponent, and it can do so only a total of 9 times before the ability is lost. A natural 20 must be scored on the wielder’s “to hit” die roll for the sword to function. The opponent is entitled to a saving throw versus magic in such case, and if it is successful, the sword does not function, no charge is used, and normal damage is determined.

Sword +3, Frost Brand, +6 vs. Fire-using/dwelling Creatures

This bestows the +6 bonus in a self-explanatory manner. The weapon does not shed any light, except when the air temperature is below 0° F., but it does give special benefits against fire, for its wielder is protected as if he or she were wearing a ring of fire resistance and whenever it is thrust into fires it has a 50% chance of extinguishing them in a 10 ft. radius—including a wall of fire, but excluding a fireball, meteor swarm, or flame strike.

Sword +4, Defender

This gives its wielder the option of using all, some, or none of the +4 bonus in defense against any opponent using a hand held weapon such as a dagger, mace, spear (not hurled), sword, etc. For example, the wielder can, on the 1st round of battle, opt to use the sword as +2 and save the other 2 bonus factors to be added on to his or her armor class. This can be done each round.

Sword +5, Holy Avenger

This is a holy sword. In the hands of any character other than a paladin (q.v.), it will perform only as a +2 sword. In the hands of a paladin, however, it creates a magic resistance of 50% in a 5 ft. radius, dispels magic in a 5 ft. radius at the level of magic-use equal to the experience level of the paladin, and inflicts +10 hit points of bonus damage upon chaotic evil opponents.

Polyhedron #25, Dispel Confusion, p.28: ADQ: Does the +10 hit points damage that a Holy Avenger does versus chaotic evil include the +5 bonus of the sword?ADA: Yes.

Sword of Dancing

This sword is progressively and doubly dangerous. On the 1st round of melee, it is +1, on the 2nd, +2, on the 3rd, +3, and on the 4th, it is +4, but it then drops to +1 on the 5th round and again goes upwards. After 4 rounds of melee, its wielder can opt to allow it to “dance”. “Dancing” consists of loosing the sword on any round when its bonus is +1. The sword then fights at the same level of experience as its wielder, doing so for 4 rounds. Thereafter, it must again be grasped, as it returns to its wielder, i.e. it is loosed to “dance” for 4 rounds, going from +1 to +4, and must be again held by its wielder at a +1 stage and physically used for 4 successive rounds of melee combat. When “dancing”, the sword will leave its owner’s hand and may be up to 3” distant, and at the end of its 4th round of solo combat, it will move to its possessor’s hand automatically. Note that when “dancing”, the sword cannot be physically hit, although certain magic attacks such as a fireball, lightning bolt, or transmute metal to wood, could affect it. Finally, remember that the dancing sword fights alone at the same level (and class) of its possessor - if a 4th level fighter, the sword fights alone exactly the same; if a 7th level thief is the wielder, the sword will so fight when “dancing”. Thus relieved of his or her weapon for 4 melee rounds, the possessor may act in virtually any manner desired, as dictated by circumstances, and so long as he or she remains within 3” or less of the sword (otherwise it falls “lifeless” to the ground and is a +1 weapon when again grasped). The possessor can rest, discharge missiles, draw another weapon and engage in hand-to-hand combat, etc.

Sword of Wounding

This is a sword of only +1 bonus, but any hit it makes cannot be healed by regeneration, and the opponent so wounded loses 1 additional hit point per round for each wound inflicted by the sword on the round after such a wound is received. Thus, an opponent hit for 4 points of damage on the 1st melee round will automatically lose 1 additional hit point on the 2nd and each successive round of combat. Loss of 1 point stops only when the creature so wounded bandages its wound or after 10 melee rounds (1 turn). Damage from a sword of wounding can be healed only by normal means (rest and time) - never by potion, spell, or other magical means short of a wish. Note that successive wounds will damage in the same manner as the first.

Sword of Life Stealing

This is a +2 weapon which will eliminate 1 level of experience (or hit die) and its accompanying hit die and abilities when it strikes any opponent with a score of a natural 20 on the “to hit” die roll. This function is exactly the same as the life energy level draining ability of certain undead creatures. The sword wielder will gain as many hit points as an opponent loses to this function of the weapon, subject to the limit of his or her maximum number of hit points predetermined by rolling hit dice, i.e. only a character who has somehow suffered loss of hit points can benefit from the function.

Sword of Sharpness

This sword is a weapon which is treated as +3 or better for purposes of who or what can be hit by it, even though it gets only +1 bonus “to hit” and on damage inflicted. Its power is great, however, for on a very high “to hit” die roll as shown below it will sever an extremity - arm, leg, neck, tail, tentacle, whatever - determined by random dice roll:

A sword of sharpness will respond to its wielder’s desire with respect to the light it sheds—none, a 5 ft. circle of dim illumination, a 15 ft. light, or a 30 ft. radius glow equal to a light spell.

Polyhedron #2; Dispel Confusion, p.3: Q: Do Strength bonuses apply when using vorpal or sharpness swords? The DMG seems to suggest that they don't.A: NO, they do not, for purposes of determining the special effects of each. The magic which gives them their special powers cannot be affected by strength or magical bonuses, other than that contained in the sword itself. HOWEVER, if the roll is low enough NOT TO trigger the special function, then all other bonuses are added to determine "to hit" and damage.

Sword, Vorpal Weapon

This sword is similar, but superior to a sword of sharpness. A vorpal weapon is +3 “to hit” and for damage bonus. When a score on the “to hit” die as shown below is made, it will sever the neck/head of its opponent:

The DM will note that there are many creatures that cannot suffer decapitation due to lack or mutability of form. There are also certain creatures that may have heads but will not necessarily be killed by decapitation (among these are dopplegangers, elementals, and golems).

Sword +1, Cursed

This sword performs in all respects as a +1 weapon, but when its wielder is faced by an enemy the sword will weld itself to the characters hand and force him or her to fight until the enemy or the wielder is slain. Thereafter, the possessor can loose, but never rid himself or herself of the cursed sword. No matter what is done, it will appear in his or her hand whenever an opponent is faced. To be free of the weapon, the character must have a cleric exorcise it.

Sword -2, Cursed

This is a sword which gives off a magical aura and performs well against targets in practice, but when it is used against an opponent in combat, it lowers hit probability by -2 for its user, although only by careful observation can this lowering of probability be detected; all damage scored is likewise reduced by 2 hit points, but never below a 1 in any event. The sword will always force the character to employ it against enemies, teleporting to the character’s hand. It can be gotten rid of only by means of limited wish, wish, or alter reality.

Sword, Cursed Berserking

This sword performs by every test, save that of the heat of battle, as a +2 magic sword of some sort. However, in actual battle, its wielder will go berserk, attacking the nearest creature and continuing to fight until dead or until no living thing remains within 6” of him or her. The sword has a +2 bonus and otherwise acts as a +1 cursed sword. The possessor of a Cursed Beserking Sword can be rid of it only if it is exorcised or wished away.

Unusual Swords

The tables hereafter are used to determine if a sword is unusual; and if it is so, what intelligence, alignment, etc. it has.

Notes Regarding Swords Table I.

Semi-empathy: The possessor will receive some signal (a throb, tingle, etc.) and feel urges when its ability functions.
Speech: The sword will speak its alignment language plus 1 or more other tongues as indicated on a table hereafter.
Telepathy: The sword can use either communication mode at will, with language use as any speaking sword.

Sword Alignment

Any sword with Intelligence will have an alignment. Note that certain swords—Holy Avenger, Sharpness, Vorpal; (q.q.v.)—have alignment restrictions. All cursed swords are absolutely Neutral.

Note: Any character whose alignment does not correspond to that of the sword, except as noted by the asterisk above, will sustain hit points of damage equal to the number of ego points (see hereafter) of the sword each and every time the character touches any portion of the sword unless the sword is in the grasp or possession of a character whose alignment is compatible with the weapon.

If the same ability is rolled twice or more, range of the power is double or triple, etc.

All abilities function only when the sword is held, drawn, and the possessor is concentrating on the desired result. A sword can do only one function at a time, and thus can fight or detect but one thing at a time.

If the some power is rolled twice, the uses/day are doubled, etc.

Powers function only when the sword is held and drawn and the possessor is concentrating upon the desired effect. Most powers will require that the character stop and concentrate for a full round.

Special Purpose Swords

Purpose must suit the type and alignment of the sword in question. Killing is always restricted to evil when the sword is of good alignment. Swords dedicated to slaying monsters will always be either good and slay neutral or evil monsters or evil which will slay neutral or good monsters.

The power will operate only in pursuit of the special purpose.

See Non-Player Characters, Personae of Non-Player Characters, Language Determination for a listing of many of the possible tongues which can be spoken by a sword. You should select languages which will suit the type of sword and its abilities.

Sword Ego

Only after all aspects of a sword have been determined and recorded can the ego rating of a sword be found. Ego, along with Intelligence, will be a factor with regard to the dominance of sword over character, as detailed hereafter:

* Thus, a +1 sword is 1 ego point, but if it has another (higher) plus, these are also counted, i.e. a +1 Flame Tongue has a maximum plus of 4, so it is +1/+4 for 5 ego points. In addition, swords which have no extra pluses but extra powers (Holy Avenger, Sharpness, etc.) add double their + rating for ego.

** If double ability, double ego points.

*** Round upwards.

Swords versus Characters

When a sword possesses unusual characteristics, it has a personality which is rated by combining its Intelligence and ego scores.

The sword will, of course, be absolutely true to its alignment, and, if the character who possesses the sword is not, personality conflict will result, i.e. sword versus character.

Similarly, any sword with an ego of 19 or higher will always consider itself superior to any character, and a personality conflict will result if the possessor does not always agree with the sword’s dictums.

The personality strength of a character is:

INTELLIGENCE + CHARISMA + LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE

Note level is reduced by 1 for every group of hit points of damage taken equal to the character’s average number of points per hit die for total levels of experience (rangers, for example, getting 2 dice at 1st level).

Example. A fighter of 7th level has 53 hit points: 53 + 7 = 7.6 - [this means] for every 8 points of damage he or she takes, his or her personality strength will be lowered by 1.

Whenever personality conflict occurs, the sword will resist the character’s desires and demand concessions such as:

removal of associates, henchmen, hirelings, or creatures of alignment or personality distasteful to the sword
the character divesting himself or herself of all other magic weapons
obedience from the character so that the sword can lead the expedition for its purposes
immediate seeking out and slaying of creatures hateful to the sword
encrustation of gems on pommel, hilt, scabbard, baldric, or belt and a special container for its safekeeping likewise of precious substances
magical protections and devices to protect it from molestation when not in use
that the character pay it handsomely for a11 abilities and powers the sword is called upon ta exercise in behalf of its possessor
that the character always take it along on all occasions
that the character relinquish the sword in favor of a more suitable person due to alignment differences and/or conduct

At any time that the personality score of a sword exceeds the personality score of the character who possesses it, the sword will dominate its possessor, and it can force any or all of the above demands or actually cause any of the following actions:

force its possessor into combat
refuse to strike opponents
strike at its wielder or his or her associates
force its possessor to surrender to an opponent
cause itself to drop from the character’s grasp

Naturally, such actions are unlikely where the character-sword alignment and purposes are harmonious. However, the sword might well wish to have a lesser character possess it so as to easily command him or her, or, a higher level possessor so as to better accomplish its goals.

All magic swords with personalities will desire to play an important role in the success of activities, particularly combat. Likewise, they are rivals, even if of the exact same alignment, and they will be aware of the presence of any similar weapon within 60 ft., and try the best to lead a possessor into missing or destroying the rival, unless this is totally inimical to its nature, i.e. a Holy Avenger would certainly not allow destruction of any other lawful good sword and might encourage discovery of same - even at the risk of having to face grim odds to do so...

Swords of this nature will never be totally controlled or silenced by the characters who possess them, even though they may be heavily outweighed by personality force. They may be powerless to force their demands, but they will be in there plugging. Even a humble +1 sword of unusual nature can be a vocal martyr, denigrating its own abilities and asking that the character only give it the chance to shatter itself against some hated enemy, etc.

N.B. Most players will be unwilling to play swords with personalities as the personalities dictate. It is incumbent upon the DM to ensure that the role of the sword is played to the hilt, with the DM assuming the persona of the sword if necessary.