I was looking up some things in the equipment chapter (ToV Player’s Guide), and I noticed there’s no description of what a whetstone actually does. I’d assume it would sharpen a blade, but there aren’t any rules that I could find in the book. Is there any in-game benefit to using a whetstone?
#What does a Whetstone do?
dark ledge
fallow helm
No mechanical benefits, just a thematic/RP item.
Having enchanted ones that temporarily imbue a blade for extra attack and/or damage is a fun thing that RP-inclined players really like
polar mantle
I could imagine a whetstone being useful to repair damage to a weapon if the GM decides to track it. Otherwise maybe for crafting a weapon?
dim urchin
In Dungeons & Ruins there's a whetstone that can temporarily make a weapon +1, though there is a 1/20 chance that it stops being magical
fallow helm
Well there you have it.
KP had the same magic item idea that I did
I should really get to reading that book
polar mantle
I guess if you have a whetstone, 500 gp, the right crafting skills, and enough down time, you could enchant a normal whetstone and make an arcane whetstone?
tidal vapor
Whetstones in Tales of the Valiant (in foundry, anyway) are Warlock focus items...
scenic patrol
Surely that's an error in Foundry 🤔 I think it's an rp item (unless it's one of the few magic ones)
I do think a slashing weapon user should own one and "use it" during long rests but I don't believe there is a punishment or reward for doing so, unless you homebrew one in.
tidal vapor
You would expect that, yes.
grand badger
I agree with the conversation here - whetstones, like many pieces of adventuring gear (bedrolls, bells, chalk, paper, etc.) are more for verisimilitude and roleplay than in-game benefits.
That being said, GMs can definitely add some fun effects to these more mundane items. For example, I've always ruled in my games that whetstones can be used during a short or long rest to undo damage to a weapon caused by things like black puddings and rust monsters.