Vorpal, Variant (3.5e Equipment)

Vorpal: The vorpal property can only be applied to slashing weapons, and all vorpal weapons possess the keen weapon property. Further, whenever the wielder rolls a natural 20 for an attack roll, the special properties of a vorpal weapon are triggered. A second attack roll is immediately made with the same bonuses as the one that the natural 20 was rolled for. If the second roll would be insufficient to hit the target's AC, the attack is resolved as a normal critical hit. Critical damage applies even against creatures who are normally not subject to critical hits in this case. If the second roll would be sufficient to hit the target's AC, the target instead loses it's head (or just a head if it has more than one). This special effect is not a critical hit and not subject to the same strict limitations, nor is it stopped by any form of the fortification armor special property.

Some creatures, such as many aberrations and all oozes, have no heads. Others, such as golems and undead creatures other than vampires, are not affected by the loss of their heads. Most other creatures, however, die when their heads are cut off. If a creature can not survive without the loss of the head such a strike removes, it is immediately reduced to -10 hit points. This generally kills a creature, but regenerating creatures may be able to recover from such a wound if not otherwise dealt with and given sufficient time (the head is regenerated by the body in these cases, as if it were a lost limb).

Special: The vorpal property may be added to a weapon that already possess the keen property for only an additional cost of +3.

Strong necromancy and transmutation; CL 16th; Craft Magical Arms and Armor, circle of death, keen edge; Price Cost::+4 bonus.