Gravsteel (3.5e Equipment)

= Gravsteel =

In the multiverse, gravity does not always follow the laws of normal physics. Some planes have gravity based on a single direction, curved space, or even a character's perception of down. While these gravitational laws are consistent in their own planes, some places become warped by magic or planar trauma. In the places where gravity goes askew, the ground is twisted and under pressure it is transformed into a gravity-warping metal known as gravsteel. Summary::While normal magnets use electromagnetics to push or pull materials, gravsteel uses gravitational energy to affect other objects. Gravsteel is a dark steel gray metal with high sheen, and which seems to slightly darken and warp the light around it. It's heavier than it appears and seems to keep an unusual "slippery" inertia about it.

Any weapon primarily composed of metal can be made as a gravsteel weapon. Gravsteel weapons weigh twice as much as normal and increase the damage by one size category, but make the weapon into an exotic weapon requiring Exotic Weapon Proficiency. Its gravity-altering effect briefly transfers to those it strikes; creatures struck by a gravsteel weapon are weighted down by gravity and are treated as if in heavy gravity for 1 round. As a result, Balance, Climb, Jump, Ride, Swim, and Tumble checks incur a -2 circumstance penalty, as do all attack rolls. All item weights are effectively doubled, which might affect a character’s speed. Weapon ranges are halved. A character’s Strength and Dexterity scores are not affected. Characters who fall in heavy gravity take 1d10 points of damage for each 10 feet fallen, to a maximum of 20d10 points of damage. If you make a confirmed critical hit against them, they have their speed halved for 1 round and the heavy gravity effect lasts for 1 minute.

Armor made of gravsteel also has its weight doubled, the armor check penalty is doubled, the maximum dex is reduced by 1 (minimum +0), and the arcane spell failure increases by 10%. In return users gain the user can avoid falling, choosing to ignore gravity and float in the air where they lost footing, as if levitating. They never take fall damage, and can stick to any surface as if they were in a plane with subjective gravity. In this way, they can "fly" by falling towards surfaces like the ceiling or the wall. Changing your direction of gravity is a move action than can only be used once per round which projects you 150 ft in a straight line. The cost is the same regardless of the armor or shield type. Finally, users take no penalties from gravitational effects such as light or heavy gravity, such as the penalty to attack rolls while in heavy gravity.

Gravsteel has a particular attraction to itself. Although it is only as strong as steel (hardness 10, 10 hp per inch), it can automatically be repaired if sundered by placing the broken portions next to each other for 1 round. Any enhancements it had previously are restored and the magic is not lost.

Certain futuristic societies use gravsteel as the floor for their star ships. By laying 1 inch of gravsteel on the floor, it provides 1 G of artificial gravity, which is useful in deep space. When folded into floor tiles in this way it creates a constant gravitational pull in one direction. You can cover a 10 ft. square of floor tiles with a pound of material.