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The hooded figure steps forward, their face obscured in shadow. In their hand, nothing but a short stick. And then they activate it, and their face is bathed in pure radiance, and you realise that the party is going to be royally screwed - not in the fight, but in choosing who gets the freaking light-sabre afterwards.1
What is a Sun Blade?
A sun blade is a magical item from D&D 5e which appears as the hilt of a longsword. Once attuned, the wielder can use a bonus action to create a blade of pure radiance, which functions as a +2 longsword with Finesse (you can use Dexterity instead of Strength for attacks and damage rolls), and which deals radiant damage instead of slashing. So yeah, it’s a lightsabre.
The Sun Blade is a Rare magical item, and being a multi-use one (no charges or limits here!) it’s pretty solid in terms of it’s functionality, though the requirement to use a bonus action to unsheath it means that in the hands of a less cautious player, they might find themselves caught with their trousers down for the first round. Here’s some pros and cons from the point of view of the Dungeon Master:
Pros
Fire and forget. The player has all the agency with this - all you need to remember is when it’s lit. Minimal bookkeeping needed!
Adds complications to overcome - this weapon makes sneaking a bit difficult, what with the bright glow of the blade. This can lead to decision making, which is good!
Players will likely love it. It’s a lightsabre, and it most definitely makes “Vwooong” noises when swung.
It’s versatile and finesse, so basically anyone can use it if they can use a sword!
Cons:
It’s powerful, and in a game with undead heavily involved, it gets even moreso - take care not to make one of your characters into the main character!
It’s not the most interesting item in the world. It’s thematically cool, and it kicks arse2 (undead arse doubly so), but it is also more or less just a +2 weapon that glows. Take care not to neglect a player in a Monty Haul game by thinking that this solid combat option is interesting enough to keep them feeling included - give them some uncommon fun items too!
Versatility
The Sun Blade is a lamentable item when it comes to versatility. Indeed, it lacks one of the key features of a Lightsabre - namely, the ability to cut through things. I have a Monk in my current campaign who wields one, and it wasn’t long before this issue came up. “Can I melt the hinges of the door with my Sun Blade?” he asks, and darned if I’m going to tell him that the freakin’ lightsabre I gave him (him being a star wars nut who cosplays as a Jedi and is 3D printing a lightsabre to add to his lightsabre collection right now) doesn’t do any lightsabreing. So, naturally, I say that it can - with applied effort.
Personal Modifications
I love the Sun Blade, and I think it’s very cool, thematic, and makes the players feel warm and fuzzy inside (though significantly less-so than the monsters being eviscerated). However, there are a couple of minor additions I would put on the statblock to keep the thing very cool, but also under control.
Concentrated Energy
When the Sunblade is applied to an object for 1 minute, it can subject a 1” diameter area of the object to intense heat. If the object is flammable, this area catches fire. If the object is metal, this area will start to melt. Magical objects simply get hot, as though by the Heat Metal spell, until the Sun Blade is removed.
This gives the Sun Blade a bit of utility - slowly cutting through double-thickness blast doors, for example - without making it a quick way to cut through anything!
Introducing the Sun Blade to your game
Bringing a magic item into a game can be as simple as finding one in a chest. However, when it comes to magical weapons, nothing quite shows off the potential of the weapon than having them facing off against someone who wields one.
With a Sunblade, you can make an encounter a little more challenging by giving it to any medium humanoid whos’ fighting the party. How much of an effect this has will be up to your choice - it’ll have less effect for a Cultist, and more for a Gladiator.
Consider this fight something of a sales pitch for the Sun Blade. The light aspect of the weapon makes stealth-combat less of an option, and thus possibly the best approach for this is the dramatic reveal - start with a room more than 60ft. across, and as the party enter from one end, at the other, a bright streak of light flares into brilliant luminescence as their opponent activates their sunblade. Cue the music (which, if you’re following orders, you’re already listening to) and begin the battle.
Another option would be the equivalent of a sword-cane. The party may be confronting a noble in their home, confident that they are well within their capabilities to take down one ageing woman, and then she cracks the top off of her cane and suddenly bathes the room in an ethereal grey3 light, and beckons the party to step up.
Another excellent use of the light aspect of the Sun Blade would be to have the party being pursued by a powerful enemy who wields one. When they think they have gotten away, having that blade light up in the night ahead of them will definitely pay off!
How would you use a Sun Blade in your game? Comment below and let everyone4 know!
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For the Americans outraged by my use of the word "Sabre” instead of “Saber” , I do not apologise, and I ask what colour your lightsabre is. Does it cut through armour?
For the Americans outraged by my use of the word “Arse” instead of “Ass”, I remind you that “Ass” refers to a donkey, or to a foolish or stupid person, both of which I must confess I would put money on the Sun Blade coming out on top against, but my point still stands. What do you call two donkeys who kill people? An Assassin. Ok, I’m done, get back to reading.
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