[Dancer+]

I don't like the idea of enchanted weapons particularly either, however I don't mind the idea of magic if it is done right. Writers play a fine balance.

[lewy]

Oh, no problem with magic. But it's no fun when things are too imba. A sword or similar that is too good to ever be beaten? Boring.
As long as it do not practically makes the wielder invincible, merely... More powerful, it's good. But some writers takes it too far.

An unbeatable wand? Excuse me!

Edit: Just for the records; Erikson, for one, is good at balancing those things!

[Illuyankas]

Yeah. Power needs a price. A heavy one. And I don't just mean a lead cheque.

[lewy]

It seems we agree, at last lol
I must admit, I do fancy those Otataral swords, though...
An upper hand only against magic. Thumbs up, once again, for SE!

[Lost Marine]

Yeah the all powerful hero removes all fun from a story, and an all powerful weapon is really just deux ex machina for the novelist.

[Optimus Prime]

I was always a fan of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and of course, Donatello's wicked cool staff.

[Zanth13]

Xander;256604 said:

I was always a fan of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and of course, Donatello's wicked cool staff.

Rapheal's Scy's(sp?) for the win!!!

[Dancer+]

The White Gold Ring. I haven't completed the story but I find the idea intriguing. How the ring can break the fabrics of reality/nature and destroy the arch of time. It's a unique weapon.

[Zanth13]

Dancer;256663 said:

The White Gold Ring. I haven't completed the story but I find the idea intriguing. How the ring can break the fabrics of reality/nature and destroy the arch of time. It's a unique weapon.

what is this white ring you speak of? and where does it come from??(book??)

[Dancer+]

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, I forgot to name the title.

Covenant is transported to "the Land" which is a world both alike and dislike to our own. His white gold wedding ring is a talisman of power in that place, it's an aspect of wild magic. Wild magic defies all laws and can shred apart reality but the people of the Land rely on the weapon to defeat the Despiser. Covenant doesn't believe this reality and thinks he's going mad, and that the world is trying to destroy his only hope of survival. He's a leper and he thinks he's dreaming of an escape which is a leper's worse nightmare, they have to live to survive not dream of escaping. Stephen Donaldson writes with much knowledge of Leperosy, it's a fresh perspective.

There are many mysteries to the White Gold Ring, and it's a lot more subtle than other "powerful" weapons.

[polishgenius]

On the overpowerful debate, it's not that magic weapons are bad in themselves, it's when they're overused or mishandled is the problem. I don't think many writers set out to invent a magic weapon just to overcome a hero's problem, they invent them because a magic weapon can be damn cool, and then overuse them. It's not even balance, (though Erikson's way of evening it out by having every man and his dog have a Giant Scary Sword of DOOM is cool), it's proper use.
Take the aforementioned the Scar. The Possible Sword isn't balanced in any way and makes Doul ludicrously hard within the context of the series, but it's use is timed to utter perfection.

[Darkwatch]

Fanatsy:
Rulke's Construct.

[Baby JAy]

A big shout out to the Lightsaber. But im going to go with coins. Small little metal discs. Brandon Sanderson is kinda a genius.

[acesn8s]

I just want to re-up my vote of Stormbringer. Especially in light of the current dialog on over-powered magic weapons.

While it fits the ultimate magical weapon description, hell it's a sentient, giant black sword covered in glowing red runes and drains the souls of those killed by it - imparting their strength and vitality to it's wielder.

The author pairs it to the sickly, albino, sorcerer-emperor of Melnibone - Elric. Before discovering Stormbringer, Elric required sorcery enhanced potions to sustain his strength. Once in possession of the runeblade he is able to function without the aid of his life-sustaining potions, but the cost is feeding the black hellblade. If not feed regularly, Stormbringer imparts a bloodlust upon Elric, and at times twists in his hands causing Elric to strike down friends as well as foes.

Now I have to dig out my Elric novels and read them again.

[polishgenius]

Rake would 'ave 'im.
Even though Dragnipur is clearly "inspired" by Stormbringer.

[Daemon_Monkey]

The Gom Jibar or whatever its called from Dune, i know its not technically a weapon but a box that just hurts people is kinda cool.
Also i gotta agree with whoever nominated carrotts sword. As TP commented, its uniqueness is that it is normal in every possible way.
ive got to disagree with whoever nominated the white gold. Simply because ive always felt thomas covenant was an ass whose character did not develop in any way for 2 and a half books. (ive not finished the second chronicles yet though so my opinion may change alittle at that point)

[Fist and Faith]

Stormbringer (or it's twin brother Mournblade).

Quite possibly the best fantasy sword ever, bar none (not to be kept around friends, loved ones, familly or pets though, as "acesn8s" points out, it may kill them and steal their soul).



Lightsabers are also pretty damn cool. :folken:

[Fist and Faith]

Dancer;256674 said:

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, I forgot to name the title.

Covenant is transported to "the Land" which is a world both alike and dislike to our own. His white gold wedding ring is a talisman of power in that place, it's an aspect of wild magic. Wild magic defies all laws and can shred apart reality but the people of the Land rely on the weapon to defeat the Despiser. Covenant doesn't believe this reality and thinks he's going mad, and that the world is trying to destroy his only hope of survival. He's a leper and he thinks he's dreaming of an escape which is a leper's worse nightmare, they have to live to survive not dream of escaping. Stephen Donaldson writes with much knowledge of Leperosy, it's a fresh perspective.

There are many mysteries to the White Gold Ring, and it's a lot more subtle than other "powerful" weapons.

Best fantasy series ever written IMHO.

The Haruchai/Bloodguard are also the finest, most highly skilled warriors created in fantasy, although I admit to a *slight* bias here.

[Seed]

The actual gom jabarr was the poisoned thimble thing the Bene Gesserit witch had on her index finger at Paul's neck, the box was just a Pain Box or something like that, that used pain by nerve induction IIRC.

Anyone mentioned Morganti weapons yet, from Brust? Yet another variation on the soul sucking thing.

Hmmm how does the orb of aldur/sword of riva combination from Eddings stack up? Can be used to crack worlds and slay gods if required.

[Tarr]

First off love the idea of the lazy gun but you are overlooking all of SE's other good weapons- Ruhald's-You can't die so your eventually gonna win(maybe not), Karsa's- unbreakable with a blood lust, Brood's hammer-it makes mountains for pitys sake, Traveller's, Icarium's-unbreakable without a bloodlust(whatever you're into), Ruin's swords, Gruntle's, Trull's (it's obviously got a lot of significance/power as both Clip and Ruin recognise it imediately).

You call's yourselves fans?

And you are forgetting that Humanoid's can be used as weapons e.g. the Terminator, Suicide bombers and Icarium (the Deathstar a planet destroying weapon Vs Icarium a world destroying weapon) etc...

*makes a break for fallout shelter*