been trying for a while to do this and seem to be stuck
here’s the goal:
I need a weapon (flavor is spear but doesn’t have to based on a spear)
1. versatile - 1 handed is 1d6, 2handed is 1d10
2. 10 ft reach 2 handed, 5ft reach 1 handed
3. Slashing not piecing damage
4. a bonus action (no charges) to switch between long/ short modes (doesn’t need to do anything but exist in the BA area as a reminder it requires a BA to switch it)
5. Thrown property (20/60 for both)
6. martial ideally, not finesse, although a finesse version would be amazing I’m sure for others to use
The tricky part is can each “mode” actually have these different stats or is it easier to just make two weapons and flavor them as one is the long and 1 is the short?
any advice is appreciated. If I figure out how, I’ll link my current attempts below.
5 & 6 can be accomplished by starting with a trident, and 3 just requires a simple Modifier: (Modifier: Replace Damage Type->Subtype: Slashing). However, 1, 2, & 4 are all impossible.
Anything 1d6 can I’ll always only ever be 1d8 when Versatile. Anything that does 1d10 Versatile damage must do 1d8 when wielded with one hand. That’s just how the Versatile property works. (Before you ask, no, it is not currently possible to alter a weapon’s base damage either.)
Weapons either have Reach or they don’t, there’s no “modes” possible.
And it is not currently possible to add Actions to magic items.
Is this homebrew to make and share for others or just for your own character to use, with DM's permission?
Because if the latter this can all be done by just making custom actions directly on the sheet to represent the different states.
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Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond. Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ thisFAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who's been thinking about this weapon enough to make it an item I've been working on it for 2 days on how I'm going to make it work the way it needs to
I've also been a big fan of Nuada's Spear, and came up with the following approach:
Nuada's Spear
Weapon (spear), rare
You have a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon.
This magic weapon appears as a finely crafted "spear" the approximate length of a short sword. If the weapon is dropped or left unattended for 3 rounds, it will revert to this form.
As a bonus action, the user can command the weapon to switch between the weapon's three different forms, gaining the damage and properties of that form.
While in Spear or Pike form, the Sarissa provides a number of Superiority Dice (1d8 for Spear, 1d10 for Pike) equal to the wielder's Proficiency Bonus. These Superiority Dice may be used to perform the Brace Maneuver, and you may regain any expended Superiority Dice when you finish a Short or Long Rest.
Brace
When a creature you can see moves into the reach you have with the melee weapon you’re wielding, you can use your reaction to expend one superiority die and make one attack against the creature, using that weapon. If the attack hits, add the superiority die to the weapon’s damage roll.
This attack is rolled at Advantage if the target is Large or larger.
Proficiency with a Spear allows you to add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll for any attack you make with it.
This weapon has the following mastery property. To use this property, you must have a feature that lets you use it.
Sap. If you hit a creature with this weapon, that creature has Disadvantage on its next attack roll before the start of your next turn.
Notes: Bonus: Magic, Damage, Combat, Thrown, Versatile, Sap
I then created a separate magic item for each of the 'forms'; Short Sword, Spear, and Pike, and added them to the character's sheet. You can customize those forms in the Inventory tab, and remove the weight of the item (if your campaign is tracking weight). That way they populate on DnD Beyond as weapon options. I personally like the Brace option, but clearly that's an optional feature.
If you decide that Attunement should be required for the item, just keep the three forms attunement free.
Hi all,
been trying for a while to do this and seem to be stuck
here’s the goal:
I need a weapon (flavor is spear but doesn’t have to based on a spear)
1. versatile - 1 handed is 1d6, 2handed is 1d10
2. 10 ft reach 2 handed, 5ft reach 1 handed
3. Slashing not piecing damage
4. a bonus action (no charges) to switch between long/ short modes (doesn’t need to do anything but exist in the BA area as a reminder it requires a BA to switch it)
5. Thrown property (20/60 for both)
6. martial ideally, not finesse, although a finesse version would be amazing I’m sure for others to use
The tricky part is can each “mode” actually have these different stats or is it easier to just make two weapons and flavor them as one is the long and 1 is the short?
any advice is appreciated. If I figure out how, I’ll link my current attempts below.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/magic-items/5270630-elven-spear-retracted
https://www.dndbeyond.com/magic-items/5268377-elven-spear-extended
5 & 6 can be accomplished by starting with a trident, and 3 just requires a simple Modifier: (Modifier: Replace Damage Type->Subtype: Slashing). However, 1, 2, & 4 are all impossible.
Anything 1d6 can I’ll always only ever be 1d8 when Versatile. Anything that does 1d10 Versatile damage must do 1d8 when wielded with one hand. That’s just how the Versatile property works. (Before you ask, no, it is not currently possible to alter a weapon’s base damage either.)
Weapons either have Reach or they don’t, there’s no “modes” possible.
And it is not currently possible to add Actions to magic items.
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Is this homebrew to make and share for others or just for your own character to use, with DM's permission?
Because if the latter this can all be done by just making custom actions directly on the sheet to represent the different states.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who's been thinking about this weapon enough to make it an item I've been working on it for 2 days on how I'm going to make it work the way it needs to
I've also been a big fan of Nuada's Spear, and came up with the following approach:
Nuada's Spear
You have a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon.
This magic weapon appears as a finely crafted "spear" the approximate length of a short sword. If the weapon is dropped or left unattended for 3 rounds, it will revert to this form.
As a bonus action, the user can command the weapon to switch between the weapon's three different forms, gaining the damage and properties of that form.
While in Spear or Pike form, the Sarissa provides a number of Superiority Dice (1d8 for Spear, 1d10 for Pike) equal to the wielder's Proficiency Bonus. These Superiority Dice may be used to perform the Brace Maneuver, and you may regain any expended Superiority Dice when you finish a Short or Long Rest.
Brace
When a creature you can see moves into the reach you have with the melee weapon you’re wielding, you can use your reaction to expend one superiority die and make one attack against the creature, using that weapon. If the attack hits, add the superiority die to the weapon’s damage roll.
This attack is rolled at Advantage if the target is Large or larger.
Proficiency with a Spear allows you to add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll for any attack you make with it.
This weapon has the following mastery property. To use this property, you must have a feature that lets you use it.
Sap. If you hit a creature with this weapon, that creature has Disadvantage on its next attack roll before the start of your next turn.