Questions on a few of our new items

[Ginger]

Is our heavy crossbow a "Heavy Crossbow of speed" or a custom-created heavy crossbow that fires at double the normal rate? I'm wondering because some of the wording in the description is odd, and that would mean it's also +1.

Also, how would potions of giant strength affect the Hammer of Thunderbolts? A potion of Storm Giant strength would, I think, provide a better bonus than certain girdle/gauntlets combinations.

[Wolfgar]

What if you naturally had an 18/00 strength or were enhanced via a Strength spell? Would you still need the gauntlets? Or just the girdle? What if you had 19 Strength? Would you need any extra magic? We could use a wish once you are above 18/90 strength to get to 19.

[Dell]

What if you're a Storm Giant - could you wield it normally then?

[Wolfgar]

There is something about how far Thor would throw it in the description. He has the same strength as a storm giant I think.

[Dead Greyhawk]

The description of a Hammer of Thunderbolts.

Hammer of Thunderbolts appears to be a regular hammer of largish size and extra weight. It will be too imbalanced, somehow, to wield properly in combat, unless the character has 18/01 or better strength and a height of over 6'. The hammer then functions as +3 and gains double damage dice on any hit.

If the wielder wears any girdle of giant strength and gauntlets of ogre power in addition, he or she may properly wield the weapon if the hammer's true name is known. When swung or hurled it gains a +5, double damage dice, all girdle and gauntlets bonuses, and strikes dead any "giant" upon which it scores a hit. When hurled and successfully hitting, a great noise as if a clap of thunder broke overhead will resound, stunning all creotures within 3” for 1 round. Throwing range is 1” + 1/2”/point of strength bonus for the gauntlets and girdle. (Thor would throw the hammer about double the above ranges . . . ). The hammer of thunderbolts is very difficult to hurl, so only 1 throw every other round can be mode, and after 5 throws within the space of any 2 turn period, the wielder must rest for 1 turn.

As an aside, I see no place in the description requiring two hands to use, and the last line under hammers,

Hammers can be hurled iust as hand axes are.

implies to me that they are one handed weapons. Cedrus and Mongo both wielded their hammers as one handed weapons.

otto said:

What if you naturally had an 18/00 strength or were enhanced via a Strength spell? Would you still need the gauntlets? Or just the girdle? What if you had 19 Strength? Would you need any extra magic? We could use a wish once you are above 18/90 strength to get to 19.

As I read the magic item description, you need three things to "unlock" the power of the hammer.
1. The magic item gauntlets of ogre power
2. The magic item girdle of giant strength
3. The true name of the weapon

If you needed just the girdle, it would not say that you need the gauntlets. From this, I'd say that the gauntlets are integral to the process, and the girdle is an add-on, since it can be of any strength.

arrowguy said:

Also, how would potions of giant strength affect the Hammer of Thunderbolts? A potion of Storm Giant strength would, I think, provide a better bonus than certain girdle/gauntlets combinations.

In the description of giant strength potions, it specifically states that the effects of the potions do not duplicate those of a girdle of giant strength. So, I would say that the potion of giant strength plus the gauntlets of ogre power plus the true name would be insufficient.

dell said:

What if you're a Storm Giant - could you wield it normally then?

I think you could wield it, but you wouldn't get the "unlocked" power of the weapon unless you also had gauntlets of ogre power and knew the weapon's true name. If a character achieved a natural 19 STR, I think they would only need the gauntlets of ogre power and the weapon's true name. Since this would require the use of a wish, one of the most powerful magics of the game, it seems a fair trade-off.

arrowguy said:

Is our heavy crossbow a "Heavy Crossbow of speed" or a custom-created heavy crossbow that fires at double the normal rate? I'm wondering because some of the wording in the description is odd, and that would mean it's also +1.

While the crossbow does radiate magic, it does not fire magical bolts nor do the bolts fired from it qualify as magical missiles. It would be best to think of the crossbow as a self-cocking crossbow that automatically prepares itself when a bolt is dropped on it.