I'm trying to figure out a way to incorporate a "lightsaber" in my campaign. My DM said if I can figure out how to make it, then I can have one. So, I thought of maybe using Glyph of Warding on a crystal to store some kind of light spell, and then attach that crystal to a hilt with a magnifying glass. Thus, when activated, it creates a sort of laser or heat ray effect. Similar to how you would fry ants with a magnifying glass on a sunny day. However, when I pitched the idea it came to my attention that it seemed like I created a flashlight or bug zapper instead of a lightsaber. So, I'm totally open to suggestions.
Update: Thank you all for your suggestions. I really appreciate it. At least now, I have something to suggest to my DM.
It really depends what style of campaign you're playing. If it is medieval fantasy, then the idea is somewhat absurd, but if it is futuristic sci-fi, it should be fairly easy. Could you give more detail?
Using player-facing options, there’s not really anything short of crafting an existing magic item like a Flametongue Sword or Sunblade and calling it a “lightsaber”. Spells and features aren’t designed for open-ended crafting of anything nearly this complex or powerful.
There is a possible "secret" option if you wan tot lean into a jedi/sith aesthetic instead of just having a light saber, that option would be Monk Way of the Astral Self from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, the level three ability called Arms of the Astral Self lets you manifest spectral arms but does say you can determine the arms appearance so why not flavour it as a beam of energy coming out of your shoulder down your arm and out of a club or quarterstaff for a lightsaber? It takes a bit of "poetic license" but requires no other work from you, or more importantly, the DM.
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Sunblade is pretty much it, otherwise what I used for my badguy was 4d10+STR force damage, but that was intentionally disgusting so... https://mobdro.bio/
We're very flexible with the world building. Although, it's technically a medieval setting we have indoor plumbing in our base. I use the term "lightsaber" very loosely, I'm looking for a weapon that can use light to cut through things.
Within the scope of printed features, we’ve already covered the two main options. Beyond that it’s not a matter of “worldbuilding” so much as “homebrewing”. There is objectively no RAW framework in class features or other player facing options to create an object that will function as a lightsaber beyond using the magic item crafting rules for one of the above examples or another printed item with comparable abilities. If you need to find a set of effects you can chain together yourself, then you’re pretty much just out of luck. Adding something like this to the game requires active consent from the DM to bring something outside the scope of RAW in, not something players can independently assemble and implement.
I'm trying to figure out a way to incorporate a "lightsaber" in my campaign. My DM said if I can figure out how to make it, then I can have one. So, I thought of maybe using Glyph of Warding on a crystal to store some kind of light spell, and then attach that crystal to a hilt with a magnifying glass. Thus, when activated, it creates a sort of laser or heat ray effect. Similar to how you would fry ants with a magnifying glass on a sunny day. However, when I pitched the idea it came to my attention that it seemed like I created a flashlight or bug zapper instead of a lightsaber. So, I'm totally open to suggestions.
Update: Thank you all for your suggestions. I really appreciate it. At least now, I have something to suggest to my DM.
Already done. Both in TSR's Basic D&D's City of the Gods and TSR's Star Wars game. I'm always tickled how so many people ask about things like this, 98% what they think has already been done or contemplated (such as in Dragon magazine). 👍
Just ask the DM if you can have a longsword or Rapier that deals fire instead of physical and take at least one level into eldritch knight fighter or Pact of the blade warlock. Then ask if you can give a debuff to these options where, instead of summoning the whole weapon from a void, you must possess the hilt of the sword and can then summon just the blade part with the feature. Since fire damage is resisted about as often as physical, there's really no balancing needed. Plus it feels obvious to me that plasma would be burning things, so it fits the character. Then, if you take warlock, ask if you can flavor Edlritch Blast with Agonizing Blast to be you throwing your lightsaber at the enemies. Since the weapon deals less damage, you are offering debuffs for flavor. Now ask if you can make Vampiric Touch do lightning instead of necrotic to become the Emporer's electric life drain attack. Since lightning is resisted more often than necrotic, once again you are taking a debuff for flavor. Finally, take the farstep spell and Steel Wind Strike spell and ask to flavor farstep to be force jumps that function identical to the faster spell with the appropriate limitations of it being a jump(so you can't just go through grates like you could with far step), and ask if Steel Wind Strike can do fire instead of lightning. Again, you are asking for debuffs in exchange for being a total embodiment of a jedi. I also offered my player that wanted to be a sith lord to change Lightning Lure so that it no longer offers damage/attacks, still has the pull mechanic, and costs a bonus action instead. Same range, same DC, same saving throw, totally different vibe. I also let my sith lord player take Enervation where, instead of Tendrils that deal like 2d8 or 2d6 or however much necrotic per turn, it deals 1d6 force per turn and restrains the target. It's now Force Choke. Some simply reflavors PERFECTLY embody a Jedi or Sith while remaining in the realms of the mechanics of D&D and actually debuff the character in exchange for these flavors. But the debuffs aren't even like debilitating, either. Happy travels :)
Also, take Mage Armor from Warlock and ask the DM to describe near misses as you using your lightsaber to block/deflect incoming Missile attacks with no effect on any other creatures. Or, take some monk levels until you get Missile Deflection and then, instead of grabbing and throwing back the attackers missile, you still expend all appropriate actions, but instead deflect said Missile with your lightsaber. Then also consider taking the Defensive Duelist Feat so you can attempt to block attacks with your Saber.
A renamed flame-tongue weapon like a Flametounge longsword is the closest i can think. There is also just homebrew where you switch a weapon's damage type to either fire or radiant.
If you are asking how to do it in DDB, then that is a different question that i can not answer.
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He/Him. Loooooooooong time Player. The Dark days of the THAC0 system are behind us.
"Hope is a fire that burns in us all If only an ember, awaiting your call To rise up in triumph should we all unite The spark for change is yours to ignite." Kalandra - The State of the World
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I'm trying to figure out a way to incorporate a "lightsaber" in my campaign. My DM said if I can figure out how to make it, then I can have one. So, I thought of maybe using Glyph of Warding on a crystal to store some kind of light spell, and then attach that crystal to a hilt with a magnifying glass. Thus, when activated, it creates a sort of laser or heat ray effect. Similar to how you would fry ants with a magnifying glass on a sunny day. However, when I pitched the idea it came to my attention that it seemed like I created a flashlight or bug zapper instead of a lightsaber. So, I'm totally open to suggestions.
Update: Thank you all for your suggestions. I really appreciate it. At least now, I have something to suggest to my DM.
Luxus_Starlyte
It really depends what style of campaign you're playing. If it is medieval fantasy, then the idea is somewhat absurd, but if it is futuristic sci-fi, it should be fairly easy. Could you give more detail?
Well, there is already a magic item called a Sun Blade that's basically a lightsaber...
pronouns: he/she/they
I think the "tool tip not found" mentioned above was the Sunblade, link here for the item details:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/magic-items/4774-sun-blade?srsltid=AfmBOoo73HZJ_BYoi_ctwnn0JM-2M8wXqVtdNYcatppLSl3M6w0-c63Y
EDIT; you could also use Flame Blade or Shadow Blade spells and have them emanate out of a wand for a similar effect.
Using player-facing options, there’s not really anything short of crafting an existing magic item like a Flametongue Sword or Sunblade and calling it a “lightsaber”. Spells and features aren’t designed for open-ended crafting of anything nearly this complex or powerful.
Correct. It certainly would've worked better if I'd actually used the magicItems tag instead of the spells tag. Not enough caffeine this morning...
pronouns: he/she/they
There is a possible "secret" option if you wan tot lean into a jedi/sith aesthetic instead of just having a light saber, that option would be Monk Way of the Astral Self from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, the level three ability called Arms of the Astral Self lets you manifest spectral arms but does say you can determine the arms appearance so why not flavour it as a beam of energy coming out of your shoulder down your arm and out of a club or quarterstaff for a lightsaber? It takes a bit of "poetic license" but requires no other work from you, or more importantly, the DM.
Sunblade is pretty much it, otherwise what I used for my badguy was 4d10+STR force damage, but that was intentionally disgusting so... https://mobdro.bio/
Was going to say long sword with flaming attacks and ignores armor, but I like this better.
We're very flexible with the world building. Although, it's technically a medieval setting we have indoor plumbing in our base. I use the term "lightsaber" very loosely, I'm looking for a weapon that can use light to cut through things.
Luxus_Starlyte
Within the scope of printed features, we’ve already covered the two main options. Beyond that it’s not a matter of “worldbuilding” so much as “homebrewing”. There is objectively no RAW framework in class features or other player facing options to create an object that will function as a lightsaber beyond using the magic item crafting rules for one of the above examples or another printed item with comparable abilities. If you need to find a set of effects you can chain together yourself, then you’re pretty much just out of luck. Adding something like this to the game requires active consent from the DM to bring something outside the scope of RAW in, not something players can independently assemble and implement.
Already done. Both in TSR's Basic D&D's City of the Gods and TSR's Star Wars game. I'm always tickled how so many people ask about things like this, 98% what they think has already been done or contemplated (such as in Dragon magazine). 👍
Just ask the DM if you can have a longsword or Rapier that deals fire instead of physical and take at least one level into eldritch knight fighter or Pact of the blade warlock. Then ask if you can give a debuff to these options where, instead of summoning the whole weapon from a void, you must possess the hilt of the sword and can then summon just the blade part with the feature. Since fire damage is resisted about as often as physical, there's really no balancing needed. Plus it feels obvious to me that plasma would be burning things, so it fits the character. Then, if you take warlock, ask if you can flavor Edlritch Blast with Agonizing Blast to be you throwing your lightsaber at the enemies. Since the weapon deals less damage, you are offering debuffs for flavor. Now ask if you can make Vampiric Touch do lightning instead of necrotic to become the Emporer's electric life drain attack. Since lightning is resisted more often than necrotic, once again you are taking a debuff for flavor. Finally, take the farstep spell and Steel Wind Strike spell and ask to flavor farstep to be force jumps that function identical to the faster spell with the appropriate limitations of it being a jump(so you can't just go through grates like you could with far step), and ask if Steel Wind Strike can do fire instead of lightning. Again, you are asking for debuffs in exchange for being a total embodiment of a jedi. I also offered my player that wanted to be a sith lord to change Lightning Lure so that it no longer offers damage/attacks, still has the pull mechanic, and costs a bonus action instead. Same range, same DC, same saving throw, totally different vibe. I also let my sith lord player take Enervation where, instead of Tendrils that deal like 2d8 or 2d6 or however much necrotic per turn, it deals 1d6 force per turn and restrains the target. It's now Force Choke. Some simply reflavors PERFECTLY embody a Jedi or Sith while remaining in the realms of the mechanics of D&D and actually debuff the character in exchange for these flavors. But the debuffs aren't even like debilitating, either. Happy travels :)
Also, take Mage Armor from Warlock and ask the DM to describe near misses as you using your lightsaber to block/deflect incoming Missile attacks with no effect on any other creatures. Or, take some monk levels until you get Missile Deflection and then, instead of grabbing and throwing back the attackers missile, you still expend all appropriate actions, but instead deflect said Missile with your lightsaber. Then also consider taking the Defensive Duelist Feat so you can attempt to block attacks with your Saber.
A swift breeze in the night? Or a thief leaving your pockets much more light? Am I a shadow or a blight? Perhaps I'm a different form of might.
A renamed flame-tongue weapon like a Flametounge longsword is the closest i can think. There is also just homebrew where you switch a weapon's damage type to either fire or radiant.
If you are asking how to do it in DDB, then that is a different question that i can not answer.
He/Him. Loooooooooong time Player.
The Dark days of the THAC0 system are behind us.
"Hope is a fire that burns in us all If only an ember, awaiting your call
To rise up in triumph should we all unite
The spark for change is yours to ignite."
Kalandra - The State of the World