How to destroy an artifact?

[fba827]

So, for the campaign I'm DMing, an artifact has come to the center of the current story arc. The players discuss the possibility of destroying the artifact.

While I do have something in mind (I won't say what because some of my players read these boards). I thought I'd fish out there to hear stories from other players and DMs.

When coming across an artifact that could be (or has to be) destroyed, what methods have you used (or at least planned) for its destruction? Or did it usually revolve around the the LotR concept of tossing the artifact back in to the fires that created it?


Of course, if my players are reading this, I'll just give you a hint that chances are the necklace artifact will kill you long before you get to kill it

 

[malraux]

I'm not sure which 3.5 book it is in (DMG 2 IIRC) but there's a full page art piece of a party with the wand of Orcus throwing it into the mouth of the tarrasque.

 

[Angrydad]

I'm not sure which 3.5 book it is in (DMG 2 IIRC) but there's a full page art piece of a party with the wand of Orcus throwing it into the mouth of the tarrasque.

LOL. Freakin' sweet. I'd recommend something equally as spectacular or difficult to accomplish. Perhaps they must take it to Asmodeus on the 9th level of Hell and have him cast some epic spell, or maybe he just needs to grind his teeth on it. Something a little absurd and something a little awesome= memorable moment.

 

[Hunter In Darkness]

A few I have used over the years.
Kissed by the daughter of a barren woman
Drowned in the heart of a star
Smashed at midnight on the eve of years by a twice blessed deadman
Washed in the blood of a sinless man
buried in heart of the world the without use of spells or mans hand
broken by the hands of a dawf with a 1000 children
eated by a dragon that can not die
Cast into the endless sea by a man who knows it not
bathed it the glow of sunlight on the darkest night of the year
Broken for the love of a man who has killed all he has loved


that's the ones I recall

 

[malraux]

A few I have used over the years.
Kissed by the daughter of a barren woman
Drowned in the heart of a star
Smashed at midnight on the eve of years by a twice blessed deadman
Washed in the blood of a sinless man
buried in the without use of spells or mans hand
broken by the hands of a dawf with a 1000 children
eated by a dragon that can not die
Cast into the endless sea by a man who knows it not
bathed it the glow of sunlight on the darkest night of the year
Broken for the love of a man who has killed all he has loved


that's the ones I recall

Umm, does destroying an artifact come up all that often?

 

[grodog]

The 1e DMG suggests a number of different (and mythic-propertioned) ways to destroy artifacts and relics. I co-wrote a pair of articles with Erik Mona on Greyhawk artifacts in Dragon 294 and 299, and there's some extra material available from the articles that weren't published. See "Artifacts of Oerth Article: B-Sides and Errata" since the sidebar details provide some good advice on introducing artifacts into campaigns, including destroying them.

The Necromancer Games Book of Artifacts also has some info on methods to destroy them, IIRC??

 

[Mouseferatu]

The Necromancer Games Book of Artifacts also has some info on methods to destroy them, IIRC??

Indeed it does. Every artifact in the book has at least one, and usually two or three, suggestions.

 

[Hunter In Darkness]

Umm, does destroying an artifact come up all that often?

In 16 years yeah a few

 

[Khuxan]

buried in the without use of spells or mans hand

I'm really interested to find out where the artifact had to be buried.

 

[Hunter In Darkness]

I'm really interested to find out where the artifact had to be buried.

eh heart of a mountain, sorry fixed that