Unknown or Unusual Qualities

Intelligent Weapons: One of the rare and more significant properties of a magical weapon is the chance that it is intelligent. The feature is most common among swords, but there are occasional instances of other weapons possessing intelligence. The chance of intelligence varies according to the type of weapon.

Swords have a 25% chance of some form of intelligence. Other melee weapons (axes, spears, polearms, etc.) have a 5% chance of intelligence, provided they do not already possess special powers. Missile weapons (including bows, crossbows, arrows, and bolts) never possess intelligence. Single-use items and those items that do not have a bonus to hit (such as a magical net) never possess intelligence.

If you determine that a weapon is intelligent, it will have one or more special powers. It may also have a special purpose or limitations on its use. This information is found under "Intelligent Weapons."

Unknown Qualities: Whenever a weapon has some unknown quality—such as the wishes in a luck blade—the DM should prepare a special 3-inch by 5-inch index card on it and keep the information handy whenever the possessor of the weapon is playing.

Magical arrows: When a magical arrow misses its target, there is a 50% chance it will break or otherwise be rendered useless. A magical arrow that hits is destroyed.

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