Warden Swords and non-Wizards

[Rigil Kent]

So, any thoughts about what happens if someone other than the Warden it is made for picks up his or her sword?

[Taran]

it works like a normal sword.  A very nice, high quality sword.

[Locnil]

It's also made of silver, so it can satisfy some Catches. Also, you can use it to fake being a Warden, which is apparently a pretty good tactic with just the cloak. So long as you don't mess it up like Butters, you're golden.

[Cadd]

I've always assumed the reference to silverv in their description is in looks rather than actual material...

[Sanctaphrax]

If you're willing to use a custom Power or two, you can model the Warden Sword as an Item of Power like so:

(click to show/hide)

WARDEN SWORD [-1]
Description: The Wardens of the White Council are famed for their magical, super-sharp, spell-cutting silver swords. This is one of those swords. It was created by Luccio, the leader of the Wardens, specifically for a single Warden.
Musts: You must be a Warden of the White Council, with an Aspect reflecting that.
Note: Warden Swords are canonically Enchanted Items. This is an alternate interpretation.
Skills Affected: Weapons.
Effects:
[-0] Specific Wielder. A Warden Sword is only magical in the hands of the Warden it was made for.
[-1] It Is What It Is. It's a supernaturally sharp sword. Weapon 5 for the rightful bearer, weapon 3 for other people.
[-0] Unbreakable. As an Item of Power, this item cannot be broken except with a magical ritual that opposes its nature.
[+2] One-Time Discount. A full-sized sword is tricky to conceal at best.
[-2] Might Over Magic. A Warden Sword can cut magical spells the way a laser cuts butter.

Works just fine for someone with no spellcasting, if you change around a few details.

[PirateJack]

Why is the Might Over Magic costing [-2] when it's effectively a counterspell? Given that you can get that plus magical attacks/manoeuvres/blocks for the cost of Channelling, I'd say that it's a bit overpriced.

[Sanctaphrax]

It's not just a counterspell.

(click to show/hide)

MIGHT OVER MAGIC [-2]
Description: You can shatter magical effects through physical force.
Skills Affected: Might, Fists, Weapons.
Effects:
Disruptive Strikes. You destroy ongoing spells by hitting them. Doing so requires you to roll your Might skill plus the weapon rating of your melee attacks (including Strength bonuses) against a difficulty equal to the spell's strength or complexity. If you succeed, the spell ends.
Parry Magic. You may use your Might skill plus half of any stress bonus you have from Strength Powers in place of your Athletics skill to defend against magical attacks and maneuvers.
Anti-Magic Attacks. You may use Fists in place of Might with this Power, but you receive no benefit from weapons while doing so unless you can wield them with Fists. You may also use Weapons in place of Might with this Power, but only if you are armed with a weapon suitable for use with Weapons.
Skill Over Magic [-0]. When you use your Might (or Fists, or Weapons) skill to defend against a magical attack with multiple targets, you may allow any number of other characters targeted by the same effect to use your defence roll in place of their own. However, you do not benefit from Strength or weapon ratings when using this Power.
Living Counterspell [-1]. When you use your Might (or Fists, or Weapons) skill to defend against a magical attack with multiple targets, you may allow any number of other characters targeted by the same effect to use your defence roll in place of their own.
Superior Might Over Magic [-2]. Add four to your Might (or Fists, or Weapons) skill when using it with this Power.

[PirateJack]

Ahhhh. Thought it was just creative way of describing the RAW counterspell abilities of the Warden's Sword.

[Belial666]

There is also another way to do it;

WARDEN SWORD [requires 4 enchanted item slots]
Description: A really sharp silver sword. Also, it's enchanted.
Musts: You must be a Warden of the White Council, made a Warden before "Dead Beat"
Effects:
[+0] Specific Wielder. A Warden Sword is only magical in the hands of the Warden it was made for.
[+0] It Is What It Is. It's a really sharp sword. Weapon 3, counts as silver.
[+0] Made by Luccio: made with Luccio's original crafting power and frequency, it retains its potency in the hands of others but can only be repaired or crafted by her.
[-0.5] Disrupt Magic: a power 8, frequency 3 counterspell per enchanted item slot, 2 total slots (total 6 uses)
[-0.5] Supernatural Sharpness: a weapon 8, frequency 3 attack per enchanted item slot, 2 slots (total 6 uses)

[Sanctaphrax]

I wouldn't allow that. Adopting other peoples' items with your own slots is sketchy rules-wise, and besides what we know of Luccio's abilities indicates that she's not that good at Crafting.

[Belial666]

The Wardens' sword can end a zombie-animation spell outright so it must have at least the same level of power. Zombie animation is canonically 6-10 shifts - I took the average. If you're using a different power level for the animation, then adjust the power of that Dispel accordingly. Also, to get Power 9 crafting (8 base plus 1 for lending the item out) you need Lore of Superb (+5), Thaumaturgy and a single refinement, for a total of -4 refresh. That way you'd have crafting Power of 5 +2 specialization +2 focus = 9. Crafting frequency would be +1 (total 2) for no extra cost, so you'd need half a refinement more to get total frequency up to 3.


In 180+ years of using magic, Luccio could very easily have spent the refresh/skill for it. Hell, Harry's crafting is approaching that level even; he made a portable Ward that could stand up to a Senior Council member for a prolonged time and would destroy a city block or so if dispelled without a password.

[Sanctaphrax]

The Wardens' sword can end a zombie-animation spell outright so it must have at least the same level of power.

Not necessarily. Maybe that was just fancy narration for an attack that took out the zombie.

In 180+ years of using magic, Luccio could very easily have spent the refresh/skill for it.

Maybe she could have. But the books say she didn't.

Hell, Harry's crafting is approaching that level even; he made a portable Ward that could stand up to a Senior Council member for a prolonged time and would destroy a city block or so if dispelled without a password.

Probably not an enchanted item or potion. More likely the result of a proper ritual. Otherwise not really possible within the rules.

[Belial666]

Actually, it is possible as a potion. Potions can be boosted with invokes, extra slots and specializations, and unlike enchanted items, they don't have a maximum power limit equal to twice your Lore. So two "potions" with Power 20, one a Ward and the other a Landmine should be enough to reflect Harry's portable "shield".

[Sanctaphrax]

Eh. You can't cast a ward and then add a landmine with a second spell. He'd have to spend a really unreasonable number of Fate Points to make that happen.

[Belial666]

Why not? There's no limitation on the number of wards one can put on a building. Even the Paranetters who are minor talents have learned how to build up a defense of multiple small Wards - and more powerful wizards have multiple Ward types with multiple different trigger conditions even. Harry is a good example of that. Essentially, the Landmine puts a single shift of power into an alarm Ward and the remaining shifts into the Landmine itself.