Publisher’s Choice Stock Art © Rick Hershey / Fat Goblin GamesHappy Tuesday, Everyone!
Since I have been posting magic items on Tuesdays, I figured I would include this one that actually got me past the 1st round of Paizo’s RPG Superstar contest in 2015, where I made it to the Top 16. That contest inspired me to take tabletop RPG design more seriously and start Rusted Iron Games that same year.
The basic idea of this item is an “icicle sword” that can change size as it grows or melts. The original contest version was called Ice Fang and was published as part of the Down the Blighted Path adventure module from Paizo. During the contest, I used feedback from the original item thread on the Paizo forums to create an updated version called Winter’s Edge. The biggest difference, besides the name, is that the original required a critical hit to trigger the shatter effect.
Winter’s Edge
Aura moderate evocation; CL 9th
Slot none; Price 45,510 gp; Weight 2 lbs.
Description
This +2 frost short sword has a blade of sparkling blue ice. Anyone wielding a winter’s edge is protected from cold weather as if affected by endure elements. As a swift action, the wielder can cause the icy blade to grow to the size of a longsword or melt down to the size of a dagger. As a swift action, the blade can also be reformed into a short sword. A winter’s edge always functions exactly like a dagger, shortsword, or longsword depending on the current size of its blade.
Once per day, the wielder can choose to have the blade of a winter’s edge shatter and send razor-sharp shards of ice flying in a 15-foot cone that must include the target of the original attack. Roll the damage for the attack normally, including extra damage for a critical hit if the attack was a critical hit, and apply to the original target. All other creatures in the cone take cold and piercing damage equal to the attack damage. A DC 16 Reflex save reduces the damage by half. After using this ability, the wielder must spend a move action to regrow the blade of the winter’s edge, at any size, before it can be used to attack.
If a winter’s edge takes damage or gains the broken condition, the wielder may spend a move action to regrow the icy blade. This removes all damage and the broken condition.
Construction
Requirements Craft Magic Arms and Armor, endure elements, ice storm, shrink item; Cost 22,910 gp
Section 15
Pathfinder Module: Down the Blighted Path © 2016, Paizo Inc.; Author: Monica Marlowe
Rusted Iron Games Patreon, Winter’s Edge © 2026, Rusted Iron Games; Author: Wren Brown