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A Simple System to UPGRADE Your D&D Weapons!

Bob World Builder

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D&D weapons need UPGRADES like the video game RPGs that were inspired by D&D! Here's an easy homebrew weapon upgrade system for Dungeons & Dragons 5e! ⏬ More below! ⏬

✨ WEAPON CUSTOMIZATION: 3 House Rules to CUSTOMIZE Your D&D Weapons
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20 Comments

@BobWorldBuilder Creator 4 years ago (edited) Pinned

✨ WEAPON CUSTOMIZATION: https://youtu.be/TPdNTnczU7k
📜 dScryb: https://dscryb.com/?aff=267
💥 Save 10% on dScryb with promo code: BOB

@ryanroyce 4 years ago

I'd probably still give the Ruined weapon 1+STR or DEX, since even a piece of junk should do as much damage as a plain unarmed strike.

@zimmejoc 4 years ago

I can see the ruined property giving the battle a more cinematic flair to combat! Relatively low level characters could face off against far more low powered monsters since the monsters have ruined weapons and would be doing 1 or 2 points of damage max. The 2nd level barbarian surrounded by 6 skeletons with ruined weapons with more waiting in the wings? This went from deadly to difficult and if described well, could make for an epic cinematic battle.

@wyattandsarah 4 years ago (edited)

I think The Lord of the Rings gives some interesting insight.
1. A ruined weapon can still do critical damage. See destroying Sauron with the broken sword Narsil. Broken swords probably only work if they are magical and a critical strike.
2. Magical weapons can be broken but only by other magical weapons or magical beings. Again see LOTRs Narsil/Anduril. It seems unnecessary for magical weapons to be degraded by any non-magical means.
As far as repairs go:
Weapons that are damaged can be reforged or repaired by a very skilled blacksmith (not farm/village blacksmith). Magical weapons can only be reforged by someone as skilled/magical as the original maker.

@nuclearpopsiclestand9245 4 years ago

Maybe require a special kind of smith to repair or upgrade magical weapons. Perhaps a “RuneSmith”?

@O4C209 4 years ago

Love this.

I think I'll use a simpler version of this first. A Superior weapon has advantage on damage rolls, and an Inferior weapon has disadvantage on damage rolls.

@ceno10101 4 years ago

so a ruined "scorpion on a stick" would just be a stick.

@kd7jhd 4 years ago

Thank you for sharing your Weapon Quality System from Patreon. I'm not currently a financial supporter, but I certainly plan to do so when I can because your resources and the suggestions you make are very useful.

@MaxRavenclaw 4 years ago

0:20 To me it's the exact opposite. Randomly generated loot is boring. "Oh, wow, a Rare Magic Poisoned Black Sword of Cunning +2. Great. I'll use it for one or two fights until I get a +3 rare weapon." Meanwhile, if the weapons are unique in a game, every new weapon is a novelty, instead of just a collection of stats. I'll take fewer but better designed weapons over RNG loot any day.

@ChristnThms 4 years ago

I think three tiers (damaged, standard, improved) are about as complete as I'd go on weapons. The "advantage/disadvantage" on damage is simple and fast.
The downgrading to avoid criticals is more complicated, as it is both a consumable resource and changing rolls.

On armor, I think that adding damage thresholds makes more sense. It makes sense that better armor mitigates minor hits better, but a smash from a thrown Boulder is going to hurt no matter what.

@pouncerlion4022 4 years ago

While it wouldn't affect the weapon's resulting quality, I would go with needing at least a reliable quality weapon for making a magical weapon. The would reflect the classic need for a "masterwork" weapon from older editons.

@TheClericCorner 4 years ago (edited)

I like the 'roll 2 take the lowest/highest' mechanic. I've been doing that for certain effects to hit die when the party takes short tests

@Josh_Green44 4 years ago

I found the "same scimitar" on every goblin a bit underwhelming, too, so I've varied the weapons by shape or style, while keeping the damage potential on par for the enemy creature's weapon stats. I like your idea of faulty or junk weapons, scavenged by lower level enemies. Adds a layer of realism to the encounters.

@Felixpotato 4 years ago

This is exactly what I was needing last night when a player asked if can he improve his sword.

@peteonretreat2023 4 years ago

Good stuff. I’d only allow reliable property weapons to take 1 critical hit simply because I don’t want to have to track a weapon’s hp.

@loveinthedark-s4n 4 years ago (edited)

Weapon quality already existed. In 2nd edition you had Poor (which gave a -1 penalty to hit and to damage and on a 1-5 on a 1d20 attack roll, they broke), Standard, Fine (+1 to hit or +1 to damage) and Exceptional (+1 to hit AND damage).

Those rules are taken from the Complete Fighter's Handbook.

@jacobyspurnger8488 4 years ago

Common and uncommon weapons would be easy, they mostly do what normal weapons do with added flair. Even rare +2 and very rare +3 are simple add-ons. You might even be able to upgrade to +1,+2 and +3 with any weapon with this system.

@HouseDM 4 years ago

For me it was the Baldur's Gate series but I feel you Bob! It can be tricky adding a house rule that strictly weakens the PC's but I think this can definitely enrich your game. Thanks for sharing!

@MatthewBosk 4 years ago

0:05 Yes!! Champions of Norrath!! Played this with my friend and my dad SOOO much as a kid. Part of what got me into D&D also :D

@twilightgardenspresentatio6384 4 years ago (edited)

I’m definitely sharing this with my too old to watch tv on YouTube buddies. This is good.
Strong, fast, simple and very rewarding.

I love mundane, low level play and this makes every looting a treasure hunt.

And being able to choose to mitigate critical damage is just fire.