Working on the Sith Sword, what to consider?

[Naaman]

I'm working on my own rules for the "Sith Sword," but the most important thing I'm trying to do with it is to make it a "rival" of the lightsaber without making it the same as a lightsaber. Note that my house rules for lightsaber combat are in effect, and I will include a quick version of them here for comparison (though I'd hope not to discuss the LSC too much unless we're talking about how it compares to the Sith Sword). I'm NOT necessarily concerned with the canon's portrayal of the Sith Sword, so in areas where I feel that it overlaps too much with the ligtsaber, I will make changes.

The overall concept is that the sword can be used as a conduit for the force, but in a different way than the lightsaber. Also, I thought it would be cool to make the Sword particularly special by allowing the wielder to enhance it's effectiveness with his alter skill. This represents him changing the shape/temperature/speed/density of the weapon once it enters flesh to cause more damage or pain, thereby encouraging evil as a means to victory. I also wanted to give the ability to make particularly memorable game moments by allowing the wielder to channel powers like force lighting or bolt of hatred etc through the weapon, creating cool visual effects that make even the lightsaber wielders say "ooh" and "ahh" as the GM describes the action. Note that the weapon is intended to be VERY, VERY rare.

Here it is:

Sith Sword

Skill: Sith Sword (maybe it will be a specialization of melee combat, but I don't think so).
Damage: varies (depending on the type of sword; short sword, broad sword, katana, claymore etc). Typically STR + 1D - 2D+2.

Difficulty: Difficult.

Special: Any non-Dark Side character receives a DSP the first time he causes damage with this weapon. The wielder adds a +1 bonus to damage for each die he has in alter. Accepting this bonus grants a non-Dark Side character an additional DSP. By expending a CP, this bonus can be increased to +2/die in alter. This represents the wielder channeling his evil force powers (such as injure kill or force lightning etc) through the sword to cause more damage. Expenditure of a CP in this way grants an additional DSP to a non-Darkside force user. Characters who have already fallen to the Dark Side do not receive DSPs in these circumstances.

The wilder adds a +1 bonus per die in control to attack rolls (not parry rolls) with the Sith Sword.

The wielder may roll sense to deflect blaster shots, but may not redirect them at a new target.

The Sith Sword may be used to parry lightsaber blades in the same way that a lightsaber can.


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As for my LSC rules, here's the quicky:

No longer a force power; all Jedi automatically get the benefits for using a lightsaber.

Roll lightsaber skill by it self to attack and parry in melee.

Add control to damage. Instead of adding any number of dice to damage, may apply a +1 bonus to lightsaber skill per die of control not used to modify damage.

Roll sense only when deflecting blaster bolts. Roll control to aim bolt at new target.

[garhkal]

I would probabily also add some sort of taint effect.. Such as

Any NON dark sider who picks up and tries to wield the sword must roll a willpower roll at a 20 difficulty or immediately get a DSP. Light sided jedi automatically get it. No roll required.
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[Esoomian]

I'd prefer a slow corruption type effect. Something like weilding the sword as a sword gives you a temporary DSP that you lose as soon as you drop the sword.

You can't lose your character from the temporary DSP but it still counts as a DSP making force rolls that much harder unless you accept the DSP bonus and then gain a real DSP and the DSP roll you make is at the higher DSP level.
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[Naaman]

Ah, yes, yes! I had intended to include a Dark Side element to actually using the weapon and forgot.

Let's edit!!! (Now see above under "Special" where the damage bonus is described).

[CRMcNeill]

I think the skill should be Melee Combat, not Sith Sword. The weapon is, after all, a sword, even if it is a sword that has special powers and abilities. Lightsaber is a special skill because of the nature of the weapon itself, in that the blade cuts anything it touches, yet is weightless, yet also has an oscillation effect that requires training to master. The same can't be said of a sword, even a Sith sword. Making the skill Melee Combat is also a good trade-off for the weapon being not quite as effective as a lightsaber.
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"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[Naaman]

[CRMcNeill]

[Fallon Kell]

[CRMcNeill]

[Guardian_A]

I dont know that Sith Swords need their own skill, after all, its going to be used in the same way as a traditional sword. Its actually the power that the sword represents that sets it apart.

As for the corruption element. I've done something similar with a powerful Sith artifact. I started with a Willpower save at 5, then added 1 to the total every time the character touched the item. Once the player failed a roll, I started raising the difficulty by 2 each time. Needless to say, he didnt really understand the seriousness of the situation until it started to snowball on him. At that point, he had to start making Willpower saves just to stay away from it.

[garhkal]

I could see changing it to

Non dark side jedi characters, gain the point immediately, but non dark side other characters gain it when they first cause damage with the weapon..
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[Naaman]

[garhkal]

Well sometimes sacrifices have to be made for disposing of great evil..
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[ZzaphodD]

[Naaman]