tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699951736004887261.post7171449932342566635..comments2023-12-24T09:23:11.590+00:00Comments on A Sword for Hire: Magic Item Advice 3/3: aurora's edge?Mikko Kalliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14993661189723068135noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699951736004887261.post-75248787069351124652014-12-14T20:33:45.252+00:002014-12-14T20:33:45.252+00:00I like it! The effect is very cool and would perfe...I like it! The effect is very cool and would perfectly suit the fighting style and flavor of an experienced whirling dervish.Oznogon Gameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16478602007565442994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699951736004887261.post-36360544414703809482014-12-14T19:24:13.882+00:002014-12-14T19:24:13.882+00:00Yes, the wielder can take a move action after or b...Yes, the wielder can take a move action after or before the attacks.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16981006670842146633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699951736004887261.post-22084986154118354562014-12-14T19:06:20.506+00:002014-12-14T19:06:20.506+00:00Since it's a standard action to activate a com...Since it's a standard action to activate a command word and the full attack is made as part of that action, wouldn't that mean the wielder still has a move action afterward?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00692783456031032986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699951736004887261.post-85331567660327925232014-12-14T19:04:40.212+00:002014-12-14T19:04:40.212+00:00That's an excellent piece of advice! Presentin...That's an excellent piece of advice! Presenting it as an optional bonus is a great idea. :-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16981006670842146633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699951736004887261.post-67744508468526312732014-12-14T18:40:51.773+00:002014-12-14T18:40:51.773+00:00I agree, though I do believe drawbacks can work if...I agree, though I do believe drawbacks can work if done well. The easiest way is to make the drawback optional or present it differently so it doesn't look like a drawback. For example, the sword's text could say the wielder can use the ability twice per day, but can choose to do it a third time at the cost of deactivating the flaming property until the sword regains its daily uses next dawn. Despite the sword being exactly the same, the player will feel like it's an optional bonus rather than a drawback.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00692783456031032986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699951736004887261.post-63938526890824619012014-12-14T17:58:06.660+00:002014-12-14T17:58:06.660+00:00Yeah, it's still a bit rough around the edges-...Yeah, it's still a bit rough around the edges--if this was a contest entry or freelance assignment, this would probably be the first version I'd send out to my crew to review. As for the flame effect, generally speaking magic items (or spells, or feats) only do what they say they do. So, the only mechanical effects are the full attack, which deals more fire damage than it normally would, and the "move to a space of your choice" effect. I like your suggested change to the description.<br /><br />The flames meet in the square where the wielder wants to be after the full attack.<br /><br />Anyway, other than the things you mentioned here, how did you like the item?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16981006670842146633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699951736004887261.post-28146105813378076382014-12-14T17:42:02.666+00:002014-12-14T17:42:02.666+00:00Thanks for the comment! Agreed, the more I thought...Thanks for the comment! Agreed, the more I thought about it, the more convinced I got that there was no reason to change the name.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16981006670842146633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699951736004887261.post-26830055070873527192014-12-14T17:38:06.568+00:002014-12-14T17:38:06.568+00:00Good point! Drawbacks are usually a bad idea, and ...Good point! Drawbacks are usually a bad idea, and I think I made the right call that I left it out. Thanks for the comment!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16981006670842146633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699951736004887261.post-61310610083319531872014-12-14T17:13:42.867+00:002014-12-14T17:13:42.867+00:00In Paizo style, you make a full attack rather than...In Paizo style, you <b>make a full attack</b> rather than <b>make a full attack <i>action</i></b>.<br /><br /><i>Three times per day on command, the sword causes its wielder to burst in a fiery explosion that sends gouts of flame, each shaped like the wielder, out to a 20-foot radius. As part of the action, the wielder may make a full attack action with the sword, targeting creatures caught in the burst as though they were within her melee reach. Each attack must target a different creature. The fire damage dealt by the flaming ability is increased to 2d6 for the duration of the full attack.</i><br /><br />Does this shoot fire out across the entire 20-foot radius with each use? For instance, would this set a small room on fire? If there are allies or bystanders nearby, are they affected by the explosion? If so, how are they affected?<br /><br />If it doesn't cover the entire radius with fire, would it be better to say something like the explosion "sends gouts of flame toward targets up to 20 feet from the wielder"?<br /><br /><i>After the attacks are resolved, the flames produced by the explosion converge</i><br /><br />They presumably converge on the wielder. If the wielder is standing on something flammable or sharing a space with another creature, does the fire affect them?Oznogon Gameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16478602007565442994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699951736004887261.post-7176780410004451472014-12-14T17:08:41.933+00:002014-12-14T17:08:41.933+00:00I like Fire-Blossom Blade as the name. Aurora'...I like Fire-Blossom Blade as the name. Aurora's Edge is a nice name that would better fit a blade with a different flavor.JJ Jordannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699951736004887261.post-50050658796721913302014-12-14T16:48:02.125+00:002014-12-14T16:48:02.125+00:00I'm not fond of the drawback idea. I think som...I'm not fond of the drawback idea. I think something like that can work, but not in this instance.<br /><br />I once drafted a wondrous item that caused you to turn into a swarm when reduced to 0 or lower hitpoints once per day. I realized that on-dying items usually aren't Superstar because the item doesn't do anything until the rare chance you need it. So, I added a second ability you can activate once per day, which was the ability to summon a swarm to carry you a distance if I'm remembering correctly. However, I needed to tie the two effects together mechanically to avoid feeling like a SAK. The obvious solution is having both abilities use the same once-per-day usage, but that means a player would never use the active ability in fear of being unable to use the on-dying effect when they needed it. So, I came up with a compromise. The player can use the active ability once per day. After activating the on-dying effect, the PC's hair color changes for 24 hours. During this duration, they cannot use either ability. It's a drawback, but one that makes sense and does not punish the player for using the item for its intended purpose.<br /><br />I guess what to take away from this is that the drawback of disabling one ability when using another only works if the opportunity cost makes sense. With your item, it doesn't make sense to me because all it does is punish the player for using the item in a way it was intended.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00692783456031032986noreply@blogger.com