Gorbash Kazdar
2006-08-21, 07:43 PM
Some more stuff from my files, again updated a bit.
DARKSTEEL
Similar in some ways to mithral, black iron is even rarer. Its appearance and characteristics are much as normal iron, but it as black as coal. It can be refined into a matte-black, steel-like alloy appropriately called darksteel, which is just as strong but a bit lighter than true steel. Darksteel is most often used for armors, though it is often used in other objects for stylistic reasons. Most darksteel armors are one category lighter than normal for purposes of movement and other limitations. Heavy armors are treated as medium, and medium armors are treated as light, but light armors are still treated as light. Spell failure chances for armors and shields made from darksteel are decreased by 5%, maximum Dexterity bonus is increased by 1, and armor check penalties are lessened by 2 (to a minimum of 0). They also grant an inherent +4 equipment bonus to Hide checks.
An item made from darksteel weighs three-quarters as much as the same item made from other metals. In the case of weapons, this lighter weight does not change a weapon's size category or the ease with which it can be wielded (whether it is light, one-handed, or two-handed). Items not primarily of metal are not meaningfully affected by being partially made of darksteel. (A longsword can be a darksteel weapon, while a scythe cannot be.)
Weapons or armors fashioned from darksteel are always masterwork items as well; the masterwork cost is included in the prices given below.
Darksteel has 25 hit points per inch of thickness and hardness 15.
DARKSTEEL ITEMS
{table]
Item Type
Cost Modifier
Light armor
+1,500
Medium armor
+5,000
Heavy armor
+11,000
Shield
+1,250
Other items
+750 gp/lb.
[/table]
SHADOWSTUFF
The blade of this weapon has been transformed into indistinct shadow, so dark it seems to devour light.
A shadowstuff weapon has its significant portion transformed into pure darkness, although this does not modify the item’s weight. It deadens light around it, granting a +2 bonus to Hide checks when drawn; if the weapon was originally made from darksteel, this bonus is +3.
A shadowstuff weapon ignores nonliving matter. Armor bonuses to AC (including any enhancement bonuses to that armor) do not count against it because the weapon passes through armor. (Dexterity, deflection, dodge, natural armor, and other such bonuses still apply.) A shadowstuff weapon cannot harm undead, constructs, and objects.
A shadowstuff weapon is most deadly in the hands of an assassin. Any character wielding a shadowstuff weapon who has a sneak attack or sudden strike ability gains the ability to make a death attack when attacking with the shadowstuff weapon. If the character studies her victim for 3 rounds and then makes a sneak attack with this weapon that would successfully deal damage, the target must instead make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + the wielder's Int modifier + the weapon's enhancement bonus) or die. If the target succeeds on the save, then resolve the sneak attack as normal. The wielder may use this ability a number of times per day equal to her Intelligence modifier; a use must be declared before the attack roll is made.
If the wielder already has a death attack ability (for example, she has taken the Assassin prestige class), then the Difficulty Class of her death attack increases by +1 when she uses a shadowstuff weapon to make a death attack. Additionally, the wielder may use the blade to reduce the number of rounds of study required to make a death attack. She can reduce the study time by an amount equal to her Intelligence modifier each day, to a minimum of one round of study. For example, an assassin with a modifier of +4 could choose to reduce the study time for two death attacks to one round each, or reduce one to one round and two others to two rounds each, or reduce four to two rounds each.
If a shadowstuff weapon is exposed to direct sunlight, its damage die is reduced by one step until it is removed from the sunlight and for one hour thereafter. While affected in this manner, the weapon no longer grants a death attack or improves an existing death attack. This property can only be applied to melee weapons, thrown weapons, and ammunition.
Strong transmutation; CL 16th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, gaseous form, darkness; Price +4 bonus.
DARKSTEEL
Similar in some ways to mithral, black iron is even rarer. Its appearance and characteristics are much as normal iron, but it as black as coal. It can be refined into a matte-black, steel-like alloy appropriately called darksteel, which is just as strong but a bit lighter than true steel. Darksteel is most often used for armors, though it is often used in other objects for stylistic reasons. Most darksteel armors are one category lighter than normal for purposes of movement and other limitations. Heavy armors are treated as medium, and medium armors are treated as light, but light armors are still treated as light. Spell failure chances for armors and shields made from darksteel are decreased by 5%, maximum Dexterity bonus is increased by 1, and armor check penalties are lessened by 2 (to a minimum of 0). They also grant an inherent +4 equipment bonus to Hide checks.
An item made from darksteel weighs three-quarters as much as the same item made from other metals. In the case of weapons, this lighter weight does not change a weapon's size category or the ease with which it can be wielded (whether it is light, one-handed, or two-handed). Items not primarily of metal are not meaningfully affected by being partially made of darksteel. (A longsword can be a darksteel weapon, while a scythe cannot be.)
Weapons or armors fashioned from darksteel are always masterwork items as well; the masterwork cost is included in the prices given below.
Darksteel has 25 hit points per inch of thickness and hardness 15.
DARKSTEEL ITEMS
{table]
Item Type
Cost Modifier
Light armor
+1,500
Medium armor
+5,000
Heavy armor
+11,000
Shield
+1,250
Other items
+750 gp/lb.
[/table]
SHADOWSTUFF
The blade of this weapon has been transformed into indistinct shadow, so dark it seems to devour light.
A shadowstuff weapon has its significant portion transformed into pure darkness, although this does not modify the item’s weight. It deadens light around it, granting a +2 bonus to Hide checks when drawn; if the weapon was originally made from darksteel, this bonus is +3.
A shadowstuff weapon ignores nonliving matter. Armor bonuses to AC (including any enhancement bonuses to that armor) do not count against it because the weapon passes through armor. (Dexterity, deflection, dodge, natural armor, and other such bonuses still apply.) A shadowstuff weapon cannot harm undead, constructs, and objects.
A shadowstuff weapon is most deadly in the hands of an assassin. Any character wielding a shadowstuff weapon who has a sneak attack or sudden strike ability gains the ability to make a death attack when attacking with the shadowstuff weapon. If the character studies her victim for 3 rounds and then makes a sneak attack with this weapon that would successfully deal damage, the target must instead make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + the wielder's Int modifier + the weapon's enhancement bonus) or die. If the target succeeds on the save, then resolve the sneak attack as normal. The wielder may use this ability a number of times per day equal to her Intelligence modifier; a use must be declared before the attack roll is made.
If the wielder already has a death attack ability (for example, she has taken the Assassin prestige class), then the Difficulty Class of her death attack increases by +1 when she uses a shadowstuff weapon to make a death attack. Additionally, the wielder may use the blade to reduce the number of rounds of study required to make a death attack. She can reduce the study time by an amount equal to her Intelligence modifier each day, to a minimum of one round of study. For example, an assassin with a modifier of +4 could choose to reduce the study time for two death attacks to one round each, or reduce one to one round and two others to two rounds each, or reduce four to two rounds each.
If a shadowstuff weapon is exposed to direct sunlight, its damage die is reduced by one step until it is removed from the sunlight and for one hour thereafter. While affected in this manner, the weapon no longer grants a death attack or improves an existing death attack. This property can only be applied to melee weapons, thrown weapons, and ammunition.
Strong transmutation; CL 16th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, gaseous form, darkness; Price +4 bonus.