Detection properties of Magical Swords

[makofan]

Some of my players have acquired swords that have detection ability, and I am not sure how to play them. I am assuming these powers only work if the sword is drawn - are they automatic, or do they need concentration? What have you done as a DM?

Detect Sloping Passages
Locate Secret Doors
Detect Traps
Detect Evil
Detect Gold
See Invisible
Detect Metal
Detect Gems
Detect Magic

[Deleted]

It makes sense that the sword would have to be drawn and in hand to use its abilities. That shouldn't be a problem most of the time as it's probably the character's primary weapon. However, it also makes sense that if an intelligent sword senses something and is sheathed that it might communicate a warning to the "owner" if they are a "worthy" person. Most of the time in our games it usually only comes up if the player who owns it says, "Hey do I see any traps in this room? My sword can detect traps."

[talysman]

The footnote for magic swords that have no means of communication (Intelligence 1 to 6) suggests that magic swords endow their owners with the detection ability, rather than detecting things and passing the information along. "Although the sword cannot communicate it will endow its user with the powers it has, but these will have to be discovered by the user."

However, I'd probably run swords that can speak or use telepathy as doing the detecting themselves and telling the owner, whether the sword is sheathed or not.

[makofan]

Okay, so the sword is actively searching for detect evil, the character is not, and then the sword alerts the user? That would make some sense

[idrahil]

Hmm, I more imagined it like the sword can't talk but communicated other ways, sort of like Indigo Montoya using his father's sword to find Wesley.

[talysman]

Some of them *can* talk, though. They might as well just say "Hey! I sense there's a mighty good meal to your left!"

[librarylass]

Jul 10, 2013 21:38:34 GMT -6 idrahil said:

Hmm, I more imagined it like the sword can't talk but communicated other ways, sort of like Indigo Montoya using his father's sword to find Wesley.

See, this is sort of how I understood it too. Or, well, partway between that and Sting glowing in the presence of Orcs.

[Vile Traveller]

However they communicate, I prefer to stipulate that they must be drawn and held to use these abilities.

[Porphyre]

In The Shadow people , of margaret St Clair, the protagonist has a swaord that, in D&D terms could be considered as "Detect Sloping Passages + Locate Secret Doors" by vibrating in his hand like a water-divining rod.

As M. St Clair is one of the authors cited in the Appendix N, I supposed this was the inspiration of the detection powers of swords.

[aldarron]

Jul 14, 2013 5:26:13 GMT -6 Porphyre said:

....

As M. St Clair is one of the authors cited in the Appendix N, I supposed this was the inspiration of the detection powers of swords.

St Clair could have supplied the inspiration, possibly, but the swords of Arneson's pre D&D Blackmoor campaign had detection abilities (invisibility, magic, evil), so appendix N wouldn't apply. The sentient, special magic swords of D&D are a direct carryover from Blackmoor where such swords were a chief prize.

[austinjimm]

In most cases, sword must be held. Usually concentration is necessary as well. For some abilities (like locate secret doors, see invisible), I limit to 2 or 3 uses per day.

[capheind]

(IMO) Swords which cannot otherwise communicate should do so by indication, either the possessor will feel a pull in the right direction, or some or all of it will glow/blink/whatever. Detect evil swords should grow brightly enough to attract whatever evil its detecting, thus becoming a sort of self fulfilling prophesy.

[tec97]

Jul 15, 2013 16:11:54 GMT -6 austinjimm said:

In most cases, sword must be held. Usually concentration is necessary as well. For some abilities (like locate secret doors, see invisible), I limit to 2 or 3 uses per day.

+1 to the first two, however I have no limits to the number of times per day. For a sword that isn't particularly intelligent, I assumed some type of vibration or mild current to the hand of the wielder that became stronger as the sword pointed at and got closer to what it was detecting. For an intelligent sword, telepathic or verbal communication as appropriate, but still only when drawn and concentrated upon.

[busman]

Stormbringer certainly didn't require any concentration. In fact, Elric spent a lot of time concentrating on ignoring it.

[Porphyre]

Ditto with Excalibur Junior (for those who remember the CyOA books "Grailquest").
An intelligent sword with a very surly attitude, always making sarcastic comments and speaking his minds in the most inconvenient times.