Swords of Answering

[CapnZapp]

In the DMG (page 206) the Swords of Answering are listed in alphabetic order: Answerer, Back Talker, Concluder, Last Quip, Rebutter, Replier, Retorter, Scather, and Squelcher.

But the associated alignments are all over the place. Answerer is Chaotic Good. Squelcher is Neutral Evil.

In the 3.5 source (Dungeon #106, page 53) the swords follow the semi-standard alignment ordering. Answerer is Lawful Good. Back-talker is NG, Concluder CG and so on until Squelcher listed as Chaotic Evil.

What do you make of this? I cannot find any mention of this change anywhere on the intarwebz.

PS. In the original Unearthed Arcana supplement, which sword gets which alignment is not defined. Neither Temple of Elemental Evil nor The Throne of Bloodstone specifies an exact alignment. Except Fragarach itself, which is Lawful Good. DS.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[DEFCON 1]

In the DMG (page 206) the Swords of Answering are listed in alphabetic order: Answerer, Back Talker, Concluder, Last Quip, Rebutter, Replier, Retorter, Scather, and Squelcher.

But the associated alignments are all over the place. Answerer is Chaotic Good. Squelcher is Neutral Evil.

In the 3.5 source (Dungeon #106, page 53) the swords follow the semi-standard alignment ordering. Answerer is Lawful Good. Back-talker is NG, Concluder CG and so on until Squelcher listed as Chaotic Evil.

What do you make of this? I cannot find any mention of this change anywhere on the intarwebz.

PS. In the original Unearthed Arcana supplement, which sword gets which alignment is not defined. Neither Temple of Elemental Evil nor The Throne of Bloodstone specifies an exact alignment. Except Fragarach itself, which is Lawful Good. DS.

I would imagine they decided it made more sense for the alignment of the weapon to somewhat match the happiness/intensity of the word used for the name. Why a neutral good sword would be named 'Back-Talker' is beyond me.

Anyone with children knows that 'Back-Talker' should always be Chaotic Evil. Always.

 

[Maxperson]

Anyone with children knows that 'Back-Talker' should always be Chaotic Evil. Always.

I dispute this. My 5 year old uses logic and our words against us. Lawful Evil this one is.

 

[Maxperson]

In the DMG (page 206) the Swords of Answering are listed in alphabetic order: Answerer, Back Talker, Concluder, Last Quip, Rebutter, Replier, Retorter, Scather, and Squelcher.

But the associated alignments are all over the place. Answerer is Chaotic Good. Squelcher is Neutral Evil.

In the 3.5 source (Dungeon #106, page 53) the swords follow the semi-standard alignment ordering. Answerer is Lawful Good. Back-talker is NG, Concluder CG and so on until Squelcher listed as Chaotic Evil.

What do you make of this? I cannot find any mention of this change anywhere on the intarwebz.

PS. In the original Unearthed Arcana supplement, which sword gets which alignment is not defined. Neither Temple of Elemental Evil nor The Throne of Bloodstone specifies an exact alignment. Except Fragarach itself, which is Lawful Good. DS.

There may not have been a reason for the change. The person might have made a mistake and they just didn't bother to correct it. If you want consistency, just swap the alignment of Answerer and Retorter. Giving an answer sounds more orderly and lawful, and a retort more spontaneous and chaotic to me.

 

[WhosDaDungeonMaster]

These were always the names I used with the different alignments, since 1E:

LG: Answerer
LN: Concluder
LE: Back Talker
NG: Rebutter
TN: Replier
NE: Retorter
CG: Last Quip
CN: Scather
CE: Squelcher

Those were always the names that seemed best to me, but I've never seen a definitive listing.

 

[CapnZapp]

Those were always the names that seemed best to me, but I've never seen a definitive listing.

For 3.5, there is Dungeon #106. For 5E, there is the DMG.

 

[WhosDaDungeonMaster]

Never played 3.5 much and didn't have Dungeon at all. For 5E, haven't read it simply because my players just hit 5th level and there is no way they would have one of those swords.

Either way, those were my names since 1E and personally, I like them better.