tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post329703437817996352..comments2024-03-27T20:09:00.283-04:00Comments on Tenkar's Tavern: Intelligent Swords in AD&D 1e - What's With the Ego Trip?Tenkarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05159289652051155824noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-50192580934094753982020-08-11T17:02:45.505-04:002020-08-11T17:02:45.505-04:00They work just fine in settings where intelligent ...They work just fine in settings where intelligent magic items are known to be exceptionally dangerous objects. It's not like characters *have* to use them. They're no worse than cursed items in that regard. Just make sure the players know that not every piece of magic kit they come across is guaranteed to be wholesome and good for the soul so they exercise proper caution.tlhonmeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03256644187305759072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-88402416003482657332012-12-08T10:11:11.817-05:002012-12-08T10:11:11.817-05:00I hate intelligent magical swords 99% of the time....I hate intelligent magical swords 99% of the time. They are cool with a genuine head's up that sometjing like "This is the sword blood drinker, the eater of kings wielded by krax the mighty in the last age" that was just wrested from the dead(er) hands of Lord Black. Sitting scattered in a treasure hoard,among the remains of a previously unkbown foe, or mostly unguarded chamber they simply rot.<br /><br />JDJarvishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691101939920824546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-83654339412377417802012-12-05T11:57:10.908-05:002012-12-05T11:57:10.908-05:00The magic sword rules are interesting in that they...The magic sword rules are interesting in that they are one of the few rules that can be directly traced from the original 100% Arneson versio, through OD&D to Gygax's AD&D rules. The original rules are in the First Fantasy Campaign, and when they were written, EGO was a normal stat that all characters had. At that time stats ranged from 1-12 and a ability check used a d12 (to roll under). In those rules, a character would make an ability check with EGO + BRAINS versus 2d12 to see of the he could avoid the influence of the sword. Even failure just resulted in the character being encouraged to take an action; it wasn't mind control.<br /><br />Of course, Gary took that idea and turned it into a rules nightmare. Yet another example of why I don't play AD&D. Hedgehobbithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17606283586332210195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-79536867589351136052012-12-05T08:18:29.076-05:002012-12-05T08:18:29.076-05:00I used an intelligent sword that was forged with d...I used an intelligent sword that was forged with dragon parts and was instrumental in a battle vs. dragons. It had been lost and found many times over hundreds of years and being intelligent, it had matured to the point that it wouldn't purposefully endanger it's wielder in day-to-day business. But, it was *very* serious about slaying dragons! And it had a bit of a sense of humour leading to a number of slap stick encounters. I was especially careful to watch the player's reactions and there *did* come a time when the sword made an exit from the game, to be lost in time once again.Daleus, Curmudgeon-at-Largehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06906009208822080442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-70855002820071538222012-12-05T01:10:47.590-05:002012-12-05T01:10:47.590-05:00Yeah, I think it can be a potential for an adventu...Yeah, I think it can be a potential for an adventure. I am reminded of one of the Kedrigern novels where a woodsman finds Panstygia, Blade of Darkness (also known as Louise) stuck in a tree. It set up the whole adventure.Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06440605975564288373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-15808181417837899732012-12-04T21:14:04.057-05:002012-12-04T21:14:04.057-05:00In my D&D game I had a cleric to the war god g...In my D&D game I had a cleric to the war god get an intelligent vampiric sword. It whispered into his mind constantly, and he went on a quest to get the "Dreaming Scabbard." When he sheathed it in that, it slept.<br /><br />Lots of fun. The rogue did not appreciate the slithering psychic whisper of the sword when it hissed "I will drink the dark one." Good times.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06463222600747737190noreply@blogger.com