Magic Swords for Swords & Wizardry

Paul Gorman
http://quicklyquietlycarefully.blogspot.com
For Sword & Wizardry Appreciation Day 2013

http://devilghost.com
Magic Swords for Swords & Wizardry Paul Gorman 2013 Special thanks to Edward Kickham III Swords & Wizardry, S&W, and Mythmere Games are trademarks of Matthew J. Finch. This publication is not aliated with Matthew J. Finch, Mythmere Games, or Frog God Games.

Putting the Unique back in Unique Magic Swords

Magic swords played a principal role in the Original Game. Among all magic items found in gleaming treasure hoards, magic swords accounted for a full twenty percent. The signicance of magic swords in the white box version of the Original Game was even greater because only ghting-men could use them. The ability to wield such powerful and prevalent magic items made ghting-men as interesting to play as magic-users and clerics. Swords & Wizardry lists twenty dierent Unique Magic Swords. Results from multiple tables of Original Games peculiar subsystem combined to generate a much larger and stranger variety of magic swords. Use the tables below instead of those in Swords & Wizardry to generate magic swords for your game. Give any treasure roll indicating a magic melee weapon a 3 in 6 chance of being a unique magic sword. In Dave Arnesons early games, some magic swords were usable only by magic-users. Gary Gygax replaced them with magic Staves (e.g.the Sta of Wizardry and the Sta of Power). You could use these tables to generate staves for magic-users.

Cursed Swords
Any magic sword found has a 1 in 10 chance of being cursed. Cursed swords are -d3 to hit, and always nd their way into their possessors hand until rendered inert by a Remove Curse spell. Cursed swords have no alignment, intelligence, or helpful powers. In addition to the to-hit penalty, 3 in 6 cursed swords bestow one of these: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. -3 penalty on reaction rolls Never surprise enemies -1 penalty to saving throws Move as if carrying double actual encumbrance Gold turns to lead when wielder touches it For traps with a chance to trigger or not (e.g.pit traps spring on 2 in 6), the wielder always triggers the trap Natural healing rate halved -2 penalty to magical healing Wielder suers -10% penalty to XP earned Wielder must rest twice as frequently or twice as long All wielder ability scores reduced by three points (restored by Remove Curse) Chance of whole party getting lost during wilderness travel doubles

Magic Sword Alignment

Magic swords strongly align with either Law, Chaos, or Neutrality. d8 15 67 8 Sword Alignment Lawful Neutral Chaotic 3

Characters who pick up a sword of the opposite alignment suer 2d6 damage. NPCs, henchmen, or monsters forced, tricked, or cajoled into picking up such a sword suer half damage. As an optional rule, instead of dealing damage, a magic sword simply refuses to use any powers beyond its basic to-hit bonus for a wielder of the wrong alignment. The wielder may never know he possesses a powerful and unique magic item!

Sword Intelligence, Commutative Ability, Powers, and Ego

Int (2d6) 24 56 78 9 10 11 12 Communication None Empathic Telepathic with wielder As above and speaks 1 language out loud As above and speaks 3 languages out loud As above and reads magic as per the spell As above and telepathic with anyone within 30" +To-Hit +1 +1 +1* +1* +2** +2** +3 Motivation None Renown only Roll for Motivation Roll for Motivation Roll for Motivation Roll for Motivation Roll d10+10 on Sword Motivation table Powers None None 1 minor 1 minor 2 minor 2 minor, 1 major 2 minor, 2 major Ego 0 1d3 1d6 1d6 2d6 2d6 2d6

* +2 versus special foe, if any ** +3 versus special foe, if any

Sword Motivation
All magic swords crave renown. Some have an additional motivation: the slaying of a special type of foe. d20 19 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Sword Motivation Renown only Kill evil types (devils, demons, elementals, etc.) Kill swimmer types (nixies, sea monsters, dragons turtles, etc.) Kill yer types (rocs, maticores, balrogs, etc.) Kill undead types (zombies, ghouls, spectres, etc.) Kill lycanthropes (werewolves, werebears, etc.) Kill dragon types (dragons, basilisks, hydras, etc.) Kill giant types (goblins, trolls, giants, etc.) Kill ghting-men Kill clerics Kill magic-users Kill any of opposite alignment

When a magic sword confronts its special foe, apply its bonus to both to-hit and damage rolls. 4

In the Original Game, and elf armed with a magic sword added +1 to damage rolls against any enemy. Elves are just cool like that.

Forged By
d20 1 210 11 12 1315 16 1718 19 20 Forged By Ancient aliens Mad wizard Demon Godling Dwarfs Elves Technomancers of a lost continent Visitors from the future An extra-dimensional entity of pure energy/thought

Minor Powers
112 Detect within 30: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1314 Gems or jewelry Gold Undead Invisibility Shifting rooms or passages Traps Secret doors Opposite alignment

Damage dealt counts as cold damage against enemies sensitive to cold damage Damage dealt counts as re damage against enemies sensitive to re damage Damage dealt counts as lightning damage against enemies sensitive to lighting damage Emits Light on command, as per magic-user spell Never accidentally dropped (during surprise, for example) 4 in 6 chance to chop down a missile in mid ight Wielder immune to Charm and Hold spells Breaks opposing (non-magical) weapons on a to-hit roll of 1820 Place sword on the ground for 1 turn, and it will point in the direction of the nearest: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Party member Stairway Dungeon exit Secret door Treasure Potable water Town, village, or city 5

1516

Blade Made Of
d20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1020 Blade Made Of Obsidian Iron Bronze Ceramic Flint Gold Glass Wood Energy Steel 1718

1920 2122 2324 2526 2728

Grip Made Of
d8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Grip Made Of Bone Emerald Copper Bronze Ruby Wood Horn Stone

2940

4142 4344

4546 4748

4950 5152 5354 5556 5758 5960 6162 6364

6566 6768 6970 7172

The lair (treasure) of the wandering monster it most recently killed It oats unharmed in any liquid When drawn, lightning strikes the blade (descending from the heavens or the ceiling) with a deafening ZWAK! This causes a morale check in creatures of 2HD or less, but also triggers a wandering monster check. Casts a glow under which wielder can Reads Languages as per the spell Every time the sword kills an opponent, a random opponent (including those who are already dead ) will start muttering uncontrollably about how much the magic sword terries them ("That Maxkillibur is *so* terrible and awesome! Maxkilliburs going to kill all of you. Theres no help for it. Oh, Maxkillibur. The spatter! The gore!"). An enemy spellcaster so targeted cant cast while muttering. This incessant verbal cowering may trigger a morale check. A successful hit severs the targets shadow The sword knows whats around the next corner (clairvoyance 30) Can project brief auditory illusions up to 60 Control one animal at a time Wielder takes half damage from rebased attacks Wielder takes half damage from lighting-based attacks Wielder takes half damage from coldbased attacks Sword exists invisibly in a pocket dimension until called forth by its apparently unarmed wielder Wielder need never rest Wielder movement rate doubled during combat Sword can be set against a charge to deal damage like a pike Any ESP attempt directed at the wielder detects only the thoughts of the sword

7374 7576

Silence 10 radius whenever drawn from scabbard Once per week, sword can reveal whether a rumor known to the wielder is true or false Cure Light Wounds once per day Sword warns against cursed magic items (for items already identied as magical by Detect Magic or similar means) Never get lost in the wilderness Reveal ninja types hidden within 60 Tip of blade glows hot enough to brand esh or ignite ammable liquids Wielder immune from level/energy drain Sword swims like an eel, and can pull its wielder through the water at the wielders normal land-based movement rate De-active robot-types for d6 turns (Save allowed) Anity for dwarven wielder (dwarfs get extra +1 to hit) Anity for elven wielder (elves get extra +1 to hit) The breath of a lie never condenses on this swords blade (i.e.a lie detector)

7780 8182

8384 8586 8788 8990 9192

9394 9596 9798 99-00

Major Powers
12 34 56 79 1015 1619 2022 Continuous Protection from Evil for wielder, as per magic-user spell Dispel Magic up to 3 times per day as a 6th level magic-user Continuous Detect Magic within 30 +3 bonus on reaction checks to the wielder Wielder gains Strength once per day, as per magic-user spell Renders wielder invisible once per day, as per magic-user spell Causes Fear once per day, as per magic-user spell

2325

2629

3033 3438 3941 4245

4649 5053

5458

5962

6365

6669

7072

7377

Dragging the point of the sword in earth leaves a trail of mud (with slightly lesser eect than Transmute Rock to Mud ). The trail remains muddy, reducing travel of anyone following wielder to 10% of normal, for d6 days. Up to 3 time per day, dragging the point of the sword across the ground leaves a wall of re up to 60 long (as per Wall of Fire) that lasts as long as the sword is unsheathed, up to 6 turns Makes wielder immune to paralysis and petrication On a damage roll of 1, opponent is bisected (to death, typically) Turns undead up to 3 times per day as a 6th level cleric Grants a Wish at the cost of the wielders permanent loss of one Strength point Teleport wielder once per day, as per the spell Sword unfolds in to a (1d6)HD monster (stickman or mantis) that ghts on its own [for some period of time... check dancing sword]. Any living thing cut apart by this blade (beheading, limb lopped o, trunk bisected, etc.) can be stuck back together, unharmed. Any living thing cut apart by this blade (beheading, limb lopped o, trunk bisected, etc.) will grow into an autohomocidal clone/doppelganger of the original in d6 days. Sword pits its ego against any other magic sword it encounters, causing the other magic sword to attack its wielder if successful Reincarnates as per the magic-user spell, but requires the sacrice of one of the creatures listed on Reincarnation by Magic-Users table On a successful hit, target is Slowed (move and attack a half usual rate) for d6 rounds Sword bats out of the air any (nonmagical) missiles aimed at the wielder

7881

Shoots dragon breath once per day, for damage equal to half the sum of the swords Intelligence + Ego (Saving Throw allowed) Flying swordsman. Wielder can "y" (leap) up to 20, over the heads of up to two ranks of enemies. Those enemies cant attack the leaping wielder, unless armed with missile weapons or long polearms. Hit opponents must Save or be envenomed for an additional d6 damage. Confuses wandering monsters of 3 HD or fewer for 1d6 minutes, with the eect re-rolled every minute (see Confusion table for the Magic-User spell of the same name) Tracing a circle in sand with the swords tip open a portal to another world A successful hit has a 12 in 6 chance of permanently withering part of the targets body (eects revered by Remove Curse). Roll for body part and eect: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Shrunken head reduces Intelligence by d6 points Withered left leg halves movement rate Withered right leg halves movement rate Withered left arm cant carry anything or use a shield Withered right arm cant carry anything or swing a weapon Wasted torso reduces Constitution by d6 points

8286

8790 9193

9496 9700

True Names (Optional)

There are no non-unique magic swords. However, any power beyond the basic +1/+2/+3 bonus requires knowledge of the swords true name. 7

d6 12 3

The Swords True Name Is Inscribed or inlaid on sword blade in known language Inscribed or inlaid on sword blade in forgotten or enciphered language (requires Read Languages or consultation with sage) Lost to mortal men (requires successful Contact Higher Plane or Wish) Revealed under special condition (e.g.under light of full moon, when bathed in blood of righteous, sensible to the touch of a maiden, etc.), which may be indicated by the decorative motif on the sword or only discovered by accident/experimentation Revealed after completion of a Quest laid upon the wielder by the sword itself

Wielder attempts to discard, sell, or give away the magic sword Fight against another magic sword A more desirable wielder is at hand, as is a means of disposing of the current wielder

Ego Burnishing
After a major victory, treasure haul, or from time to time at the discretion of the Referee, a magic sword demands one of the following: 1. 2. Commission of jeweled scabbard worth 10% of wielders XP in gold Composition and public performance (in front of a sizable audience) of ballad glorifying sword Strop made from the hide of extremely rare and dangerous beast A trapped storage place A magically protected storage place To always be introduced as a member of the party A magical tune-up (of no appreciable value in terms of game mechanics) by a Magic-User of 6th level or higher, costing d6 1,000 gp To be extensively polished by d6 doxies of the highest caliber, at double their nightly rate

3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Ego Checks
First, sum the swords Ego and Intelligence. Next, sum the wielders Strength and Intelligence. Reduce this number by the ratio of the wielders current hit points to their total hit points. For example, a ghter with a Strength of 16, and Intelligence of 8, and 10 current hit points our of a maximum of 20 hit points, ends up with 12 ( (16 + 8) 10/20 ). Finally, the higher total prevails on a roll of 15 in 6, and imposes its will on the other.

8.

Ego Check Triggers

The Referee decides when a sword chooses to assert itself by overriding the will of its wielder. Some of these actions may trigger an ego check: 8 Wielder uses another magical melee weapon Wielder acquires another magic melee weapon Wielder runs away from a ght

Failure to suitably sooth the swords ego enrages it, giving the sword a +2 advantage during its next Ego check (which will be triggered at the next inopportune moment). Chronically unhappy swords may seek to change owners (to a more powerful character more suitable to the swords magnicence, or to a weaker-willed and more easily controllable character) by leading the wielder into danger.

Rumors
Your players should hear rumors about other magic swordsboth those lost swords they might seek as treasure, and the exploits of actively wielded swords. For example:

1.

Maxkillibur has been found in the Depths of Disagreeableness after ve centuries. Maxkillibur tasted the esh of the dragon Fearsome Fred. Maxkillibur can behead a man at 60. The magic sword Shizona is oering its share of the Gublun Mines treasure in exchange for the present whereabout of the Treacherous Wizard Scrollshanks. Lately, Shizonas wielder has been heedless of danger, even reckless. On the 5th level of Crawling Canyon, the Merry Bravoes adventuring company were cut down to a man, including the wielder of Shizona. The fate of this storied blade is unknown.

2. 3. 4.

the wielder must willfully trigger the swords powers, but in other cases the sword automatically uses its powers at an appropriate moment.

Handling Ego
Swords are ckle, and want renown above all else. If the sword is not happy (i.e.not getting its share of treasure), a more controllable or high prole potential wielder is present, and grave peril is at hand, then a sword should make an attempt to kill o the player character. The Original Game has the Referee should take control of a character that loses an ego test. That may not be fun for the player. Keep the take-over brief, just long enough to change or make one decision. If you think the player would dig acting against his own characters interests as a megalomaniacal magic item, let the player run the sword. If neither of these ideas work for you, and you cant think of a more fun way to handle ego take-overs, just drop it. Have the sword brag and make demands, but dont totally remove player agency.

5. 6.

Discovering Sword Powers

How much do players initially know about the sword? Some powers might be discoverable through experimentation, but the sword may only reveal its powers little by little, as the situation and its mood dictate. In some cases,

Legal Appendix
Publishing Your Own Materials for Swords & Wizardry
If you want to publish your own Swords & Wizardry adventures or other gaming resources, you can! First of all, if you are interested in submitting your materials to Frog God Games for consideration, contact Bill Webb at bill@talesofthefroggod.com. If they are accepted, your work will get published as part of the Swords & Wizardry product line! If you want to be your own, independent publisher of Swords & Wizardry resources, and you comply with the terms of the Swords & Wizardry Compatibility-Statement License, you can even use the Swords & Wizardry trademarks (S&W and Swords & Wizardry) to indicate that your resources are compatible. As long as you follow the requirements, you can state that your resource is compatible with the rules of Swords & Wizardry or, compatible with the Swords & Wizardry rules or, compatible with the Swords & Wizardry game. Here are those requirements:

The Swords & Wizardry Compatibility-Statement License

1. You must state on the rst page where you mention S&W that Swords & Wizardry, S&W, and Mythmere Games are trademarks of Matthew J. Finch, and that you are not aliated with Matthew J. Finch, Mythmere Games, or Frog God Games 2. You must, when referring to the armor class of any creature or character, include both the descending AC and the Ascending System AC, with the Ascending System AC in brackets. 3. If you are using the license to commit legal fraud, you forfeit the right to continue using the license:specically,if you are claiming compatibility with the rules of S&W, the claim must not constitute legal fraud, or fraud in the inducement, under the laws of the State of Texas. Note that this requirement is almost impossible to violate unintentionallyit is largely intended to keep the author out of trouble, not to restrict legitimate statements of compatibility. 4. You must comply with the terms of the OGL if the terms apply. 5. Your cover must include the words House Rules or Variant Rules near the title if the document is a full, free-standing game that includes modications. Feel free to contact Frog God Games if you wish to use a dierent form of disclaimer. 6. Selling a full version of this game with your house rules incorporated into it is perfectly permissible, but you may not sell an eectively unchanged copy of the rules for money. 7. If your document is a private house rules document for your gaming group, not being sold for prot or distributed for general use, you may scan and use artwork (including the cover) from the printed version, provided that the cover contains the words House Rules, near the title, and that the artists are appropriately credited. 8. Your rights under this CSL cannot be revoked, and are perpetual, unless you breach the terms of the license, in which case your rights terminate. 9. If you comply with the above, you may state that your resource is compatible with the rules of Swords & Wizardry or, compatible with the Swords & Wizardry rules or, compatible with the Swords & Wizardry game." If you have questions about the license, feel free to contact us.

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Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of the Open Game License (OGL). This entire work is designated as Open Game Content under the OGL, with the exception of the trademarks Swords & Wizardry, S&W, Mythmere Games, FGG, Frog God Games, and with the exception of all artwork. These trademarks, artwork, and the Trade Dress of this work (font, layout, style of artwork, etc.) are reserved as Product Identity. Open Game License OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc ("Wizards"). All Rights Reserved. 1. Denitions: (a) Contributors means the copyright and/or trademark owners who have contributed Open Game Content; (b)"Derivative Material means copyrighted material including derivative works and translations (including into other computer languages), potation, modication, correction, addition, extension, upgrade, improvement, compilation, abridgment or other form in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted; (c) Distribute means to reproduce, license, rent, lease, sell, broadcast, publicly display, transmit or otherwise distribute; (d)"Open Game Content means the game mechanic and includes the methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional content clearly identied as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this License, including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specically excludes Product Identity. (e) Product Identity means product and product line names, logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; creatures characters; stories, storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts, themes and graphic, photographic and other visual or audio representations; names and descriptions of characters, spells, enchantments, personalities, teams, personas, likenesses and special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures, equipment, magical or supernatural abilities or eects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; and any other trademark or registered trademark clearly identied as Product identity by the owner of the Product Identity, and which specically excludes the Open Game Content; (f) Trademark means the logos, names, mark, sign, motto, designs that are used by a Contributor to identify itself or its products or the associated products contributed to the Open Game License by the Contributor (g) Use", Used or Using means to use, Distribute, copy, edit, format, modify, translate and otherwise create Derivative Material of Open Game Content. (h) You or Your means the licensee in terms of this agreement. 2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License. You must ax such a notice to any Open Game Content that you Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this License except as described by the License itself. No other terms or conditions may be applied to any Open Game Content distributed using this License. 3. Oer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content You indicate Your acceptance of the terms of this License. 4. Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License, the Contributors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license with the exact terms of this License to Use, the Open Game Content. 5. Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original material as Open Game Content, You represent that Your Contributions are Your original creation and/ or You have sucient rights to grant the rights conveyed by this License. 6. Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE portion of this License to include the exact text of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any Open Game Content You are copying, modifying or distributing, and You must add the title, the copyright date, and the copyright holders name to the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any original Open Game Content you Distribute. 7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, including as an indication as to compatibility, except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of each element of that Product Identity. You agree not to indicate compatibility or co-adaptability with any Trademark or Registered Trademark in conjunction with a work containing Open Game Content except as expressly licensed in another, independent

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