Skip to main content

Oil of Sharpness

Oil Of Sharpness
  • Category: Potion
  • Rarity: Very Rare

One vial of this oil can coat one Melee weapon or twenty pieces of ammunition, but only ammunition and Melee weapons that are nonmagical and deal Slashing or Piercing damage are affected. Applying the oil takes 1 minute, after which the oil magically seeps into whatever it coats, turning the coated weapon into a +3 Weapon or the coated ammunition into +3 Ammunition.

This clear, gelatinous oil sparkles with tiny, ultrathin silver shards.

Tactical Applications​

Combat Strategy: Applied to weapons to provide +3 enhancement bonus for one hour, dramatically improving attack accuracy and damage. Essential for temporary weapon enhancement when magical weapons aren't available.

Class Synergies:

  • Any Weapon User: Universal utility for enhancing weapon effectiveness and combat performance
  • Non-Magical Weapon Builds: Perfect for characters using mundane weapons requiring temporary enhancement
  • Tactical Strikers: Essential for characters needing reliable accuracy bonuses for crucial encounters
  • Backup Enhancement: Excellent for characters wanting emergency weapon improvement capabilities

Build Considerations: Single-use item requiring strategic timing. Most valuable when applied before important encounters or when facing heavily armored enemies.

Acquisition Methods​

Crafting Requirements: Requires weapon enhancement magic, sharpening enchantments, and blade-perfecting oils. Creation cost 8,000-15,000 gp and takes 10 weeks.

Common Sources:

  • Weapon enhancement specialists and blade masters
  • Treasure hoards of legendary weapon smiths and enhancement experts
  • Commission from enchanters specializing in weapon improvement magic
  • Found in the collections of weapon collectors and combat specialists
  • Rewards from grateful military organizations and weapon crafting guilds

Alternative Acquisition: Sometimes discovered in abandoned armories or obtained from weapon enhancement creature encounters.

Value & Trade​

Estimated Value: 12,000-20,000 gp, with higher demand among weapon users and combat specialists.

Trade Considerations: Popular among fighters, weapon masters, and anyone requiring temporary weapon enhancement for crucial encounters.

Character Integration​

Roleplay Elements: Suggests experience with weapon crafting, combat expertise, or professional roles requiring weapon enhancement knowledge.

Character Concepts:

  • Weapon master with enhancement magic and blade improvement expertise
  • Combat specialist requiring reliable weapon enhancement for crucial battles
  • Character with extensive weapon crafting and improvement experience
  • Military professional needing temporary weapon upgrades for specific missions

Adventure Hooks​

The Crucial Battle: Combat encounters where weapon enhancement determines success against heavily armored enemies.

The Weapon Upgrade: Scenarios where temporary enhancement enables victory against superior equipment.

The Enhancement Mission: Adventures requiring weapon improvement for specific tactical advantages.

The Combat Preparation: Pre-battle scenarios where weapon enhancement provides crucial advantages.

Variants & Customization​

Greater Oil of Sharpness (Very Rare): Enhanced weapon bonus and longer duration with additional combat benefits.

Oil of Weapon Mastery (Rare): Includes weapon expertise bonuses and enhanced combat capabilities.

Master Craftsman's Oil (Rare): Optimized for specific weapon types with specialized enhancement effects.

Specialized Variants:

  • Blade Oil: Enhanced for sword and knife weapons with cutting improvements
  • Impact Oil: Optimized for bludgeoning weapons with crushing enhancements
  • Precision Oil: Focused on accuracy improvements with targeting bonuses

Lore & History​

Origins: Created by ancient weapon masters who needed reliable methods for enhancing blade effectiveness in crucial battles.

Historical Significance: This oil enabled crucial military victories through strategic weapon enhancement and combat preparation.

Cultural Impact: Represents the mastery of weapon enhancement and the pursuit of combat perfection through magical improvement.

Magical Craft: Demonstrates understanding of weapon magic and the complex processes required for temporary enhancement effects.

Balancing Notes​

Introduction Timing: Appropriate for levels 6-12 when weapon enhancement becomes important and combat accuracy is valuable.

Campaign Impact: Provides meaningful weapon improvement balanced by single-use limitation and strategic timing requirements.

Enhancement Duration: One-hour limitation requires tactical planning and encounter timing for maximum effectiveness.

Encounter Design​

Recommended Challenges:

  • Combat encounters with heavily armored enemies where accuracy bonuses provide advantages
  • Important battles where weapon enhancement determines success or failure
  • Military operations requiring enhanced weapon effectiveness for specific missions
  • Tactical scenarios where temporary improvements enable victory against superior equipment

Tactical Adjustments: Enhanced weapon accuracy should be factored into encounter balance and enemy AC calculations.

Enhancement Items: Other oils and items that provide temporary weapon improvements and combat bonuses.

Weapon Equipment:

  • Items that improve weapon effectiveness and combat performance
  • Equipment for weapon crafting and enhancement magic
  • Tools for professional weapon smithing and combat preparation

Complementary Equipment: Items that enhance weapon combat or provide additional accuracy bonuses.

Roleplay Opportunities​

Weapon Mastery: Characters develop expertise in weapon enhancement and combat preparation techniques.

Combat Preparation: Weapon enhancement capabilities create opportunities for tactical planning and battle preparation.

Crafting Expertise: Enhancement knowledge enables consulting work for weapon improvement and combat optimization.