I want to weave into my campaign ultimately a quest for a "holy avenger" type sword of somewhere between Hazirawn and Sword of Kas/Sword of Zariel. It would be an artifact weapon in effect. Maybe a lead on such legendary weapons such as Carsomyr or Purifier or Crusader or another home brewed similar sword with an apt name!
What are your thoughts and restrictions of such an item? Should the historical +5 bonus to attack and damage rolls be cut to +3 max. and another major beneficial property added? Obviously the artifact creation from DMG pp219-221 gives an overview of what is generally accepted, but would like to hear people's thoughts on the matter
I might suggest sticking with the framework provided as straying outside those suggested constraints might lead to some unintended results.
When you are considering adding an artifact to your game, it might be suggested that you be at a place where being overpowered doesn't matter to the game. Like very near the climax. My reasoning is that you are adding a potentially significant boost to your party, the majority of the combat encounters could be heavily impacted by the prescence of this item on the battlefield. (That's kinda the point, I know!) Handing this out too early might trivialize a majority of the challenge that you set up for the party.
All of that to say, if the party is already in Tier 3 or 4, the challenges that you are able to pose to them are almost trivialized anyway. Having a +5 Artifact might not matter. YMMV.
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“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain - Innocents Abroad
I would stick to the maximum +3 bonus to hit and damage since that is what 5e is designed around. The Holy Avenger in the DMG is actually pretty good giving an extra 2d10 damage vs fiends and undead while also giving an aura of magic resistance which would stack with the level 6 paladin aura making it quite a powerful combination.
So if you want to make an Artifact type holy sword - add sentience, ability to communicate and sense (true sight 120') and then some additional abilities that would make it better than or comparable to the Holy Avenger from the DMG. However, the sword should also have alignment and/or follow one of the paladin oaths and would only fully work for paladins whose goals are similarly oriented.
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I want to weave into my campaign ultimately a quest for a "holy avenger" type sword of somewhere between Hazirawn and Sword of Kas/Sword of Zariel. It would be an artifact weapon in effect. Maybe a lead on such legendary weapons such as Carsomyr or Purifier or Crusader or another home brewed similar sword with an apt name!
What are your thoughts and restrictions of such an item? Should the historical +5 bonus to attack and damage rolls be cut to +3 max. and another major beneficial property added? Obviously the artifact creation from DMG pp219-221 gives an overview of what is generally accepted, but would like to hear people's thoughts on the matter
I might suggest sticking with the framework provided as straying outside those suggested constraints might lead to some unintended results.
When you are considering adding an artifact to your game, it might be suggested that you be at a place where being overpowered doesn't matter to the game. Like very near the climax. My reasoning is that you are adding a potentially significant boost to your party, the majority of the combat encounters could be heavily impacted by the prescence of this item on the battlefield. (That's kinda the point, I know!) Handing this out too early might trivialize a majority of the challenge that you set up for the party.
All of that to say, if the party is already in Tier 3 or 4, the challenges that you are able to pose to them are almost trivialized anyway. Having a +5 Artifact might not matter. YMMV.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain - Innocents Abroad
I would stick to the maximum +3 bonus to hit and damage since that is what 5e is designed around. The Holy Avenger in the DMG is actually pretty good giving an extra 2d10 damage vs fiends and undead while also giving an aura of magic resistance which would stack with the level 6 paladin aura making it quite a powerful combination.
So if you want to make an Artifact type holy sword - add sentience, ability to communicate and sense (true sight 120') and then some additional abilities that would make it better than or comparable to the Holy Avenger from the DMG. However, the sword should also have alignment and/or follow one of the paladin oaths and would only fully work for paladins whose goals are similarly oriented.