Nightingale

)   Nightingale
Base item	katana
Damage vs. small	1d10 +3 +(1d5 * 6) (10% chance)
Damage vs. large	1d12 +3 +(1d5 * 6) (10% chance)
To-hit bonus	+2
Bonus versus	(any)
Weapon skill	long sword
Size	one-handed
Affiliation	chaotic (Ninja)
When carried	(none)
When wielded	(none)
When invoked	toggles invisibility
Base price	2000 zm
Weight	40
Material	iron

Nightingale is an artifact weapon that appears in SlashTHEM. It is chaotic-aligned, and its base item is a katana. It deals a flat extra 3 damage against all monsters, with a 10% chance of dealing an extra 1d5 * 6 damage (which is slightly different than just 6d5) every attack. While the average damage of +6d5 vs +1d5 * 6 is the same (18), the damage output distribution is conceptually different as you will only get values of 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30. A successful proc of the extra damage is indicated by the message "The night blade howls as it slices through <monster>".

Generation

Nightingale is given to Ninjas as their first sacrifice gift.

Strategy

Although the potential for damage is high due to its damage proc, the 10% chance makes its output generally pretty spiky. That being said, the average damage is still on par with that of other artifact weapons like Excalibur, so with the additional to-hit bonus and invisibility toggle it can be quite the powerful early- or mid-game weapon.

Average damage calculation

The average damage calculations in the following table do not include bonuses from weapon skills, strength, or from using a blessed weapon against undead or demons.

Bonus Damage Proc
$\frac{6+12+18+24+30}{5}*10%=\bold{1.8}$

Weapon	Small monsters	Large monsters
+0 Nightingale	$\frac{1+10}{2}+3+1.8=\bold{10.3}$	$\frac{1+12}{2}+3+1.8=\bold{11.3}$
+7 Nightingale	$\frac{1+10}{2}+3+1.8+7=\bold{17.3}$	$\frac{1+12}{2}+3+1.8+7=\bold{18.3}$