Living weapon as an ally?

[Raekai]

I'm attempting to make a living scythe for one of my characters. For the hell of it, I'll give a little background. His name is Zauberei. His signature power is the spell he researched called "Hands of Darkness" which he can use to pull the souls out of the target's body.

To the point, I want to make a living scythe for him that's an ally. I would like it to somehow be required to be fed souls. I also want it to be able to "dance" or at least willfully return to Zauberei if it were to be stolen or whatnot. I've been thinking on this idea for a while, but I really cannot decide on how to go about it. I'd appreciate any help or insight.

[Walrus]

Thaumathology has an entry about making magic items as allies.

[Raekai]

Originally Posted by Walrus

Thaumathology has an entry about making magic items as allies.

Really? I must have missed that. I can check it when I get back home, but is amount able to give me the gist of it here? I'd appreciate it. :)

And is there what I want to do? I'd really like him to have to keep the scythe content by feeding it souls.

[PseudoFenton]

Originally Posted by Raekai

give me the gist of it here?

The basics are to do with it not having limbs or other normal organic features, so you'll want some sort of list like this:
No Legs (Portable), No Manipulators, No Sense of Smell/Taste, Doesn’t Breathe, Doesn’t Eat or Drink, Doesn’t Sleep, Immunity to Metabolic Hazards, Injury Tolerance (No Blood, Eyes, Head, Neck, or Vitals; Unliving) [47], Social Stigma (Valuable Property), Dead Broke.

Cannot Speak is common, but some magic items do speak, if it can only speak to the wielder then take a limited form of Telesend and Mindlink etc.

360° Vision also makes sense often (unless the item has a 'face'), some form of Unhealing or Maintenance often makes sense also. Vulnerabilities befitting to its construction if there are any special ones, DR too if its made of metal/hard materials.

Then have the character pick up extra special abilities which are limited with "granted by familiar". You could also just build the special abilities using the Gadget rules, although doing it this way means its less likely to be sentient and with its own personalities and agenda. If it is an ally, don't forget that frequency of appearance should be Constantly, and that even if it is the item should disagree with its "owner" from time to time - if it doesn't it also has minion/unwilling as appropriate.

[Raekai]

What about enchantments? How do I go about pricing puissance or accuracy or staff, etc.? I'm assuming it would mention that, but I'm just making sure.

[PseudoFenton]

Originally Posted by Raekai

What about enchantments? How do I go about pricing puissance or accuracy or staff, etc.? I'm assuming it would mention that, but I'm just making sure.

It's covered, you basically just rebuild the weapons stats as an Innate Attack with a few specific enhancements and limitations so that the "character" (item) can be wielded and uses the users ST etc. You wouldn't actually give it any enchantments, your aim is to build everything as an advantage as you're not buying an item, your befriending(or dominating) a character who just so happens to be an item.

[Dustin]

Also, be aware that Allies who are essentially "weapon pods" for the PC can be ferociously unbalancing. Ally makes a lot of points available for cheap, and if the "independent" nature of the Ally is undercut by Minion, Slave Mentality, etc, it can be hard for other PCs to keep up with the arms race (if that matters).

[Raekai]

Originally Posted by PseudoFenton

It's covered, you basically just rebuild the weapons stats as an Innate Attack with a few specific enhancements and limitations so that the "character" (item) can be wielded and uses the users ST etc. You wouldn't actually give it any enchantments, your aim is to build everything as an advantage as you're not buying an item, your befriending(or dominating) a character who just so happens to be an item.

How would "Staff" be transferred over into an advantage form?

Originally Posted by Dustin

Also, be aware that Allies who are essentially "weapon pods" for the PC can be ferociously unbalancing. Ally makes a lot of points available for cheap, and if the "independent" nature of the Ally is undercut by Minion, Slave Mentality, etc, it can be hard for other PCs to keep up with the arms race (if that matters).

No, no. Doesn't really matter much. It's just a scythe with a mind of its own that wants to be fed souls and has a modified Staff enchantment so that its cuts can deliver touch spells.

[Refplace]

Originally Posted by Raekai

No, no. Doesn't really matter much. It's just a scythe with a mind of its own that wants to be fed souls and has a modified Staff enchantment so that its cuts can deliver touch spells.

That would be stretching or in this case more likely extra arm with the long and usable by other enhancements.

[PseudoFenton]

Originally Posted by Dustin

Also, be aware that Allies who are essentially "weapon pods" for the PC can be ferociously unbalancing. Ally makes a lot of points available for cheap, and if the "independent" nature of the Ally is undercut by Minion, Slave Mentality, etc, it can be hard for other PCs to keep up with the arms race (if that matters).

This is true, although limiting "weapon" allies to a small percentage of points (even as low as 5-10%) does help relieve this issue somewhat. Especially when you add up all of the disadvantages that an item has compared to a person, I dare say leaving it at 0% might be the fairest way to ensure it doesn't run a muck.

Originally Posted by Raekai

How would "Staff" be transferred over into an advantage form?
...
It's just a scythe with a mind of its own that wants to be fed souls and has a modified Staff enchantment so that its cuts can deliver touch spells.

Stubborn with Dependency (Soul) and/or Addiction (Soul) to make sure it causes interesting situations for the wielder are a must then.

As for the "staff", I'm not sure, Refplace suggestion of Extra Arm (granted by familiar, only for touch spells) is a logical way of doing it though.