Draft:Scythe of slicing
| ) | |
| Base damage rating | 30 |
|---|---|
| Base hit bonus | +10 |
| Normal attack type | Cutting |
| Hands | 1 |
| Weight | 100 |
A scythe of slicing is a one-handed weapon appearing as a scythe. It starts at an unusually high +20 enchantment with a deep -10 curse. Despite the name, it uses ordinary physical damage and is distinct from the lethal Scythe of Death.[1]
Generation
Scythes of slicing occur in random treasure, pawn-shop stock and acquirement. They have item level 6 and base value 500 Au. Construction preserves both +20 enchantment and the -10 curse; positive enchantment is not evidence that one is safe to remove after equipping. Julie's does not stock them.[2]
Description
Its initial equipment contributions are +30 hit and 50 damage before character bonuses. Normal cuts add the usual Strength modifier, but the attack has no instant-kill effect and cannot bypass physical immunity. It needs only the weapon hand; the similar shape does not impose the Scythe of Death's two-hand requirement.[3]
The curse blocks ordinary removal once wielded. Self-targeted dispelling needs effective strength at least 9 to neutralize the initial -10 curse, retaining the +20 enchantment. A sufficiently strong blessing destroys the deeply cursed scythe instead of safely turning it into a blessed weapon.[4]
At +20, a normal enchantment attempt has a 95% chance to explode the scythe before improving it. The resulting manastorm is an additional danger to the player and nearby creatures. Its high initial enchantment is a reason to stop improving it, not a sign that it tolerates unlimited enhancement.[5]
Other uses
Unlike the Scythe of Death, a thrown scythe of slicing uses the normal hit path. It is not automatically fatal, and its enormous enchantment is not independently added when thrown as a spare: ordinary thrown damage comes from current character values and Strength. A cursed wielded copy cannot be discarded this way.[6]
Tunneling uses base damage 30, not the enchanted contribution of 50. Cutting can suffer a weapon-damage attempt on a mishap; the curse is not an absolute guarantee against damage.[7]
Strategy
The initial scythe contributes as much damage as a neutral +0 giant club, with 40 more hit points, 150 less weight and one fewer occupied hand. Its obstacle is the deep curse and the difficulty of changing equipment, rather than weak combat ratings.[8]
Identify it and arrange sufficiently strong dispelling before committing to it. It remains an ordinary physical weapon after that preparation, so carry an answer to physical immunity. Avoid attempts to improve its already exceptional +20 through normal enchantment.
References
- ↑ iinit.h in Omega 0.90.4, line 248; iinit.h in Omega 0.90.4, line 252; item.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 536–552; aux2.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 594–616.
- ↑ iinit.h in Omega 0.90.4, line 248; item.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 7–41; item.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 188–204; site1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 1022–1053; effect1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 713–728; site1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 164–187.
- ↑ aux1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 315–328; aux2.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 636–680; itemf2.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 359–365; item.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 536–552.
- ↑ inv.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 1354–1358; effect3.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 827–857; effect1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 154–198.
- ↑ effect1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 54–114.
- ↑ command3.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 223–311; itemf2.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 359–365.
- ↑ command3.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 865–933; aux1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 397–488.
- ↑ iinit.h in Omega 0.90.4, lines 248–250; item.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 536–552.