Sorry about the provocative subject line - doubtlessly you all see the
AD&D +1 Sword mechanism as a horrible game construct.
Nevertheless it puzzles me that you find very little evidence that such
an item could exit in Glorantha. Looking at this issue from a Gloranthan
(rather than Runequest) point of view:
- First of all, why not have a non-magical +5 (RQ terms) sword, maybe
also doing an extra point of damage. These bonuses could just be due to
fine workmanship.
- Swords with a Bladesharp 1 matrix are common (relatively speaking).
What about something with a permanent BladeSharp 1 on it. Can Spirit
Magic ever be permanent, or do you have to bind a spirit into your sword
and get it to constantly cast Bladesharps for you?
- Armouring enchantments are fine (so you can have a +1 shield).
Couldn't toughened weapons do more damage as well. And why not have
enchantments to lighten weapons but keep them just as tough - that ought
to be worth a bonus on the skill to use the thing.
- What about "holy" weapons of one sort or another - something with a
permanent godly blessing which is extra effective against some
adversary.
- Finally, what could Sorcery do by way of item creation (beyond
enchantment)?
This isn't limitted to swords, indeed weapons, at all. Why not have
cloaks to aid hiding, boots to aid stealth, even mundane things like
combs which magically remove tangles.
Fine workmanship ought to allow some bonus. Enchantments which make a
permanent physical change in an object also, I think, could be enhanced
beyond the documented ones (e.g. lightness, sharpness, slipperiness,
chameleon-ness, ...).
After that the ultimate question is whether magical items and creatures
in Glorantha have to follow prescribed rules. The main one that I'm sort
of guessing at is that magic comes out of life - only living things
(including spirits) can do magic. Is that true, and are there others?
Or can any strange enchanted magical artifact exist quite legitimately
in Glorantha.
Richard
- --
Richard Develyn Tel: (UK)-1732-743591
Principal Architect / Development Manager Fax: (UK)-1732-743597
Network People International http://www.nwpeople.com