Create EPIC custom weapons for your D&D players

One fun way one of my characters received their ancestral weapon. He didn't have any noble lineage or anything like that, but he befriended a old swordmaster. As he mentored my character they formed a strong bond, and as he later died he handed that sword over to my character. We had the rule that ancestral weapons could only reach their full potential when passed down the family, and my character and the old swordmaster weren't blood related at all. Yet the swords powers activated for my character, and at first my character thought it was because they were secretly related. But after alot of investigation into the bloodlines it turned out they weren't related, and the old swordmaster had come to consider my character as a son. It was a strong moment, as the sword didn't discriminate between blood relatives and found family. It showed that the family you find is equally valid to the one you were born into.

We had a character die in game and the DM imbued some of his essence in the long sword he use to wield. Now once a day it cast spirit guardians in the form of our deceased friend. Now the sword has a story to it and its ours....:)

"So Ginny, how many different swords do you have?" "Yes."

Puns usually aren't my cup of tea but I really saber the flavour of this video

I bow to you, queen of the puns. Thanks for the reminder about this! I bought this a while ago when I was a pc, but it kinda got buried in the 100 other things I've bought from them. Would be excellent to incorporate for my druid player's staff and paladin player's greatsword.

This would be a great addition to the Ancestral Guardian Barbarian! Imagine inheriting a weapon passed down the family line doing different feats and resetting with each new wielder. This is giving me such Fables 3 vibes and I'm here for it!

Sword of Gryffindor is a perfect example of a non bloodline ancestral weapon. Also, the way it disappears and appears is a very convenient dm/author tool.

I thought of this idea a year ago, though it wasn't nearly as developed as this. Basically, instead of having the players find a +1 sword, the players should have their starting equipment (likely an heirloom) get upgraded in a moment of heroism or as a quest reward. Maybe a sword becomes a dragon slayer when it's drenched in dragon's blood, or a paladin's sword becomes a holy avenger when he finally defeats an evil overlord and the archbishop blesses his blade. Or the spirit of an ally could possess it, or an angel could touch it, or a fire giant could reforge it, or any other number of awesome ways. I've found that at least 50% of the fun of a magic item is the story behind it, so I highly recommend a system like this.

Of all the examples you gave, the Skywalker lightsaber is the closest to fitting both thematically and mechanically. Lightsaber crystals are alive and they grow and change through their bond with the wielder and can even influence them, and some have even gained interesting abilities as a result of certain events

We're back! And we're back with a great topic to boot. I love weapons that are a greater part of a character's identity. There is a reason why looters are so popular, people love their loot. There is a very real sentimental value to the weapons you use in a game and if a game's mechanics reflect that, you can carry that sentimentality to your own game. Player investment is a major part of what makes a game great and having another avenue for that investment (I.E. an Ancentral Weapon) can make your game all the better.

I could adapt some of these to be things other than weapons. Like a ring with Deathward, or a circlet with Will of Ancestors.

For those familiar with the Moonblade in the DMG, it's basically the Moonblade but waaay more versatile. It's good!

One member of my group in DnD had an ancient very powerful knife. The hook: The knife got stolen when she got banned from her thieves guild. Moreover a Big Bad Guy used it against our group while we were travelling. This was definetely a very thrilling part of the story which showed the power of the dagger - although she never got her hands on it because our group had to split up for different reasons.

Really great way to make the mechanics of the moon blade match the lore.

Yay!! I’m like a kid at Christmas when there’s a DM-focused vid from Ginny Di!!

Your storytelling is always immaculate, I struggle to believe that you play every character in your videos sometimes. Great work :D

Ah yes, the moonblade that DMs actually know how to incorporate

Some well hammered-out ideas 👌

I love the Ancestral Weapons book. A friend introduced it to me and is such a great way to give people items that are both narratively significant and mechanically significant.

"Whatever, I'm hilarious!" is the energy I hope to take with me throughout life.