what is "vorpal"?

[Vedran]

Originally posted by Angelousss: there are are 3 in the game, an ax and 2 swords. one doesn't allow any saving throw making it espcially nasty.

Item Spoiler:
\
\
\
\
\
\
\
\
\
And these are?
Upgraded Ravager(halberd), Axe of Unyielding and Vorpal sword.
What am I missing?

[Terl]

The Vorpal sword of the AD&D realm is designed to sever the head of the stricken on a natural roll of 18-20. This presented a problem in killing creatures whose heads are out of reach like dragons and giants, multi-headed creatures like hydras, regenerators like trolls, and all-head creatures like beholders. Anyone wearing a collar of stiffness would be immune to this head-lopping effect.
The vorpal in this game doesn't seem to make these distinctions. Also, on critical fumbles, there was a chance of the weilder killing his/her/itself. I think this too is missing.

[peipei_lin]

Originally posted by Grammar: It means it auto-kills them. Vorpal weapons typically have a % chance for it and typically allow a save vs death at a certain penalty. Planetars have a vorpal weapon, too, I believe. I believe Bosses are immune to Vorpal, however.

Bosses immune to vorpal? NOT QUITE...

I cannot recall clearly (didn't touch BGII for a long time), but I did use silver sword to kill many boss-like NPC's in the game. (please excuse any my spelling errors below...:|)

For example, the Cambion in astral plane.
IIRC Suneer (boss?) was killed out-straight by my vorpal too.
If my memory didn't play a trick on me, I can say that in one time I used my vorpal (Keldorn using it) to strike him down immediately and send him ( and me...) to hell.

Are these bugs? I would never want to know...HAHA!
---------------------
Just like few ppl on the forum mentioned, I tried something stupid I thought it TRULY stupid.

When facing black dragon, I immediately let my Aerie cast finger of Death, you know what? The big baddie died...JUST LIKE THAT, crumbling down like a big rope along with that nasty looking white soul-figure. I was like LAUGH MY FREAK'N ARSE OFF SO HARD...

[is this a kind of vorpal or what?! ROFL]

[Kaltia]

No, Boss as in
SPOILER
+

+

+

+

+

+
Bodhi, irenicus, Amellyssan, possibly Demogorgon.