Legendary weapons usually do one of the following: >change size or shape >bypass armor and physical limitations >create something (water, salt, blood, sound) >change the emotions of a wielder (courage, bloodlust, fury, loss of feelings entirely) or anyone in the presence of the weapon (terror, inspiration, lust) >bestow secret knowledge upon the owner
For a halberd, I'd have it be able to enlarge itself on command, and have everyone who looks upon it know who the wielder is even if they've never heard of them before.
This is what I'd do for my game >Halbird >Axe blade shaped like a dove in flight >You can pole vault 100 paces across using the haft >Blade can detach from the haft and fly into enemies to cut them before coming back >You can understand birds and speak their language and songs perfectly when you hold it >By turning the blade so it gleams in the sun and thinking of a message and a recipient you can conjure a pigeon made of sunlight to fly across the world and phase directly into that person's head, transferring a mental message of seven words or less >If any grains are spilt on the ground the halbird will go into a frenzy and chop every single one until it's satisfied >Slapping an enemy with the flat of the blade will cover them in birdshit
Another idea - lollyberd >Looks like a lollypop haft with a candy blade or a candy cane textured polearm >Anyone cut by it immediately becomes morbidly obese and loses all of their teeth which greatly reduces their mobility and persuasion >Allows you user to psionically sense large sources of carbohydrates such as grain fields >If used to cut a square in the ground it will conjure a temporary gingerbread house according to those boundaries >Can be stirred in bodies of water to turn them into molasses or honey at the user's will, but this takes a while >Raises chance of encountering insect monsters
Halberds were used by local law enforcement, so holding it you could make your voice much more powerful (to shout orders and make announcements) or make the wielder more perceptive.
“The halberd is first mentioned (as hallenbarte) in a work by 13th-century German poet Konrad von Würzburg.[6] John of Winterthur described it as a new weapon used by the Swiss at the Battle of Morgarten of 1315.[6] The halberd was inexpensive to produce and very versatile in battle.”
“A Swiss peasant used a halberd to kill Charles the Bold,[8] the Duke of Burgundy, at the Battle of Nancy, decisively ending the Burgundian Wars.”
Actually, halberds ended up becoming cerimonial weapons used by guards. The weapon was so successful that even knights were familiar with it. Of course, the knights ended up shortening the weapon into the poleaxe but conceptually the weapons are very similar.
Give us some more context. Who wielded the halberd, who made it magical. What kind of magic are you looking for? Why is it legendary? What kind of vibe are you going for with magic?
>Gives the wielder a resistance/advantage against being shoved or moved. >Grants extra five foot of reach. >By striking it against the ground, you can cast prestidigitation, and give yourself advantage on intimidation checks. >Grants AC bonus. >Rolls with advantage/deals double damage to creatures or people of a Chaotic alignment. >On a successful hit can either throw, trip or push an enemy ten foot in the wielders chosen direction.
Those halberds of the city watch come in two styles:
Civitas >a mild magical affect colors / dyes anyone / thing struck with a bright orange hue for 72 hours >those caught by the axehead's beard face an attempt at a grapple by the weapon as tenticles spring forth and try to wrap around the struck object.
incendit >when calling out the activation word, the haft can create and direct a stream of water 1.5" in diameter conducting 125 gallons per minute. This stream can initiate a bull-rush attempt on a medium or smaller creature at strength DC 13. >the axe-face is ensorcelled to provide a bonus in sundering unattended / unwielded objects.
>Arrestor
Expend one charge on hit to inflict Paralysis. Paralysis persist so long as Halbert is in contact. DC 30 Will save to be slowed for 1 turn. 12 charges which recover every day at sunrise.
Once per decade, it can summon an army of spectral soldiers in ancient equipment to fight for the holder for 72 hours via a magical property of its haft. The local empire owes its earliest conquests to the haft, but its impact greatly diminished as technological and magical progress made the soldiers summoned by it obsolete. Now the haft is part of one of emperor’s halberds, stored in his vast armory of artifacts, only brought out on ceremonial occasions.
>technological and magical progress made the soldiers summoned by it obsolete
That's bullshit, weapons that were deadly 1000 years ago are just as deadly today. Especially when ghostly hands wielding them never tire.
>Modern army bolstered by untiring ghostly ancient warriors
The bizarre tactics that you might be able to pull off with that are probably pretty interesting for sure. And stuff like Kevlar is awful against things like arrows.
Aside from the obvious armor-mashing, weight-altering properties suggested by others, the Halberd's magical qualities should resonate with its cultural/historical image. And since it's so commonly associated with sergeants, elite soldiers and bodyguards - especially the Swiss Guard - a Magical Halberd might allow the wielder to parry attacks against allies normally too far away to protect, even moving them across the battlefield to do so.
Arthur Machen was a hell of an author, honestly underrated.
>Better than any other halberds >Only one man can wield it and pull it out of a tree where it came from >The one holding it is the legetimate king of spain or something
Boom! Legendary halberd!
>Being able to extend and retract at will. >Doing extra damage against mounts/mounted foes. >Allows the user to trip/pull down foes at much larger size that should be possible for the users strength.
By bathing the halberd in moonlight (remember to bathe both side of the blade during the same night) the whole weapon turn weightless and it can also stand on its own if you place it down
This works at full power for a day, then gradually it start to get its weight back.
Make it sing in a throaty baritone and drag it’s user headlong into combat, granting heavy bonuses to hit but making stealth or retreat nearly impossible.
Can break through any armor or shield.
They really could irl. It's basically an axe with magnified force due to the long pole.
>Can break through any armor or shield.
Can break through any magic barrier.
It has the power to turn into a cooler weapon
Like a shotgun
Now you're a RWBY character.
Kinda already a thing. Technically, it's a glaive/plasma rifle, but it's not far off.
Gunberd gang represent.
Legendary weapons usually do one of the following:
>change size or shape
>bypass armor and physical limitations
>create something (water, salt, blood, sound)
>change the emotions of a wielder (courage, bloodlust, fury, loss of feelings entirely) or anyone in the presence of the weapon (terror, inspiration, lust)
>bestow secret knowledge upon the owner
For a halberd, I'd have it be able to enlarge itself on command, and have everyone who looks upon it know who the wielder is even if they've never heard of them before.
This is what I'd do for my game
>Halbird
>Axe blade shaped like a dove in flight
>You can pole vault 100 paces across using the haft
>Blade can detach from the haft and fly into enemies to cut them before coming back
>You can understand birds and speak their language and songs perfectly when you hold it
>By turning the blade so it gleams in the sun and thinking of a message and a recipient you can conjure a pigeon made of sunlight to fly across the world and phase directly into that person's head, transferring a mental message of seven words or less
>If any grains are spilt on the ground the halbird will go into a frenzy and chop every single one until it's satisfied
>Slapping an enemy with the flat of the blade will cover them in birdshit
Another idea - lollyberd
>Looks like a lollypop haft with a candy blade or a candy cane textured polearm
>Anyone cut by it immediately becomes morbidly obese and loses all of their teeth which greatly reduces their mobility and persuasion
>Allows you user to psionically sense large sources of carbohydrates such as grain fields
>If used to cut a square in the ground it will conjure a temporary gingerbread house according to those boundaries
>Can be stirred in bodies of water to turn them into molasses or honey at the user's will, but this takes a while
>Raises chance of encountering insect monsters
*stares*
This is neat and I will try to remember to steal some of it.
Gets lighter or heavier on the whim of the user.
Halberds were used by local law enforcement, so holding it you could make your voice much more powerful (to shout orders and make announcements) or make the wielder more perceptive.
Can cut through any armor.
Inexpensive peasant weapon that would have no business being magic.
Halberds were expensive weapons used almost exclusively by professionals.
You're thinking of spears.
“The halberd is first mentioned (as hallenbarte) in a work by 13th-century German poet Konrad von Würzburg.[6] John of Winterthur described it as a new weapon used by the Swiss at the Battle of Morgarten of 1315.[6] The halberd was inexpensive to produce and very versatile in battle.”
“A Swiss peasant used a halberd to kill Charles the Bold,[8] the Duke of Burgundy, at the Battle of Nancy, decisively ending the Burgundian Wars.”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halberd
moron
Magical spear that can duplicate itself into non-magical spears.
That's cool if you can throw it to create a rain of spears
Actually, halberds ended up becoming cerimonial weapons used by guards. The weapon was so successful that even knights were familiar with it. Of course, the knights ended up shortening the weapon into the poleaxe but conceptually the weapons are very similar.
Still a peasant weapon.
Give us some more context. Who wielded the halberd, who made it magical. What kind of magic are you looking for? Why is it legendary? What kind of vibe are you going for with magic?
>Gives the wielder a resistance/advantage against being shoved or moved.
>Grants extra five foot of reach.
>By striking it against the ground, you can cast prestidigitation, and give yourself advantage on intimidation checks.
>Grants AC bonus.
>Rolls with advantage/deals double damage to creatures or people of a Chaotic alignment.
>On a successful hit can either throw, trip or push an enemy ten foot in the wielders chosen direction.
Stretchy pole
Those halberds of the city watch come in two styles:
Civitas
>a mild magical affect colors / dyes anyone / thing struck with a bright orange hue for 72 hours
>those caught by the axehead's beard face an attempt at a grapple by the weapon as tenticles spring forth and try to wrap around the struck object.
incendit
>when calling out the activation word, the haft can create and direct a stream of water 1.5" in diameter conducting 125 gallons per minute. This stream can initiate a bull-rush attempt on a medium or smaller creature at strength DC 13.
>the axe-face is ensorcelled to provide a bonus in sundering unattended / unwielded objects.
+10 to hit, 3d7+10 damage, advantage against Devils and Dragons
The hook curves around the target by imperceptible but deadly amounts, because it is living metal.
It performs well when very well maintained, the Halberd kami appreciates a good oiling.
Make it like a legendary gate guardian with a lot of x/day spells
Stuff like Arcane Lock, Wall of Force, etc.
>Arrestor
Expend one charge on hit to inflict Paralysis. Paralysis persist so long as Halbert is in contact. DC 30 Will save to be slowed for 1 turn. 12 charges which recover every day at sunrise.
It cannot be sidestepped or otherwise dodged (though it can be blocked), every strike will always make contact.
Once per decade, it can summon an army of spectral soldiers in ancient equipment to fight for the holder for 72 hours via a magical property of its haft. The local empire owes its earliest conquests to the haft, but its impact greatly diminished as technological and magical progress made the soldiers summoned by it obsolete. Now the haft is part of one of emperor’s halberds, stored in his vast armory of artifacts, only brought out on ceremonial occasions.
>They didn't updated the halberd's army with their magic development
what are they stupid?
>technological and magical progress made the soldiers summoned by it obsolete
That's bullshit, weapons that were deadly 1000 years ago are just as deadly today. Especially when ghostly hands wielding them never tire.
>Modern army bolstered by untiring ghostly ancient warriors
The bizarre tactics that you might be able to pull off with that are probably pretty interesting for sure. And stuff like Kevlar is awful against things like arrows.
Aside from the obvious armor-mashing, weight-altering properties suggested by others, the Halberd's magical qualities should resonate with its cultural/historical image. And since it's so commonly associated with sergeants, elite soldiers and bodyguards - especially the Swiss Guard - a Magical Halberd might allow the wielder to parry attacks against allies normally too far away to protect, even moving them across the battlefield to do so.
Arthur Machen was a hell of an author, honestly underrated.
Expanding on this, if the system in question is 5e then whoever wields the weapon getting the Sentinel feat would fit for this concept.
Steel has anti-spectral properties that bronze doesn’t. Even hedge mages can dispel multiple spectral apparitions now.
>Better than any other halberds
>Only one man can wield it and pull it out of a tree where it came from
>The one holding it is the legetimate king of spain or something
Boom! Legendary halberd!
If you have two of them you can conjure a Full Bard with a thick accent.
>Being able to extend and retract at will.
>Doing extra damage against mounts/mounted foes.
>Allows the user to trip/pull down foes at much larger size that should be possible for the users strength.
Extendo handle and being real bendy without breaking.
cursed item. causes you and your whole band to contract dysentary. 1d6 chance of death.
When thrown, it returns to the throwers hand.
it can tell people you can trust from those who think swords are cooler
Wicked Trip: Anyone tripped or dismounted by this weapon takes an additional 1d6 of damage.
Halberds we're used by firefighters. Big, ol' fire axe. So extra damage against structures and fire types.
might as well give it 1/Day cast of Create Water
>yellow and black
the staufer's color scheme
By bathing the halberd in moonlight (remember to bathe both side of the blade during the same night) the whole weapon turn weightless and it can also stand on its own if you place it down
This works at full power for a day, then gradually it start to get its weight back.
>the whole weapon turn weightless
Hitting someone with a weightless object will do no harm... which kinda sucks for a weapon.
I think it's only for the one wielding it.
Or maybe it's just for transportation idk what was the moon goddess thinking
Make it sing in a throaty baritone and drag it’s user headlong into combat, granting heavy bonuses to hit but making stealth or retreat nearly impossible.