Damaging nets to break entanglement

[mostholy2]

The description of the next says that an entangled victim can break the net by doing 5 points of damage to the net. Is there a limitation as to what kind of weapons they are restricted to when attempting to damage the net while entangled? I entanglement that comes with being caught in a net will not allow a 2-hand weapon or even a regular non-light weapon to be used to break out. Also I don't see that bludgeoning weapons would do much to break a net either.

Could someone clarify if there are official rules (or house rules that they use) to determine what can and cannot be used to break the entanglement of a net?

A related question would be can an ally break a net? If so, is there a chance that he accidentally hits the victim?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

I could've sword that you had to do the damage using a light slashing or piercing weapon (or a natural weapon of those damage types).

However, that's not in the SRD. Huh.

An ally could break the net - and I would rule that there's no chance for him to hit his entangled friend, just as there's no chance to hit a grappling friend with a melee attack.

EDIT: Amusing typo left alone.

 

[MatthewJHanson]

The only RAW stipulation I can find is under smashing and object.

Generally, you can smash an object only with a bludgeoning or slashing weapon.

Though I think smashing a rope with a bludgeoning weapon is silly, so I'd houserule you need a slashing weapon.

 

[Steve Jung]

There is this under Smashing an Object: Hit Points: Ineffective Weapons--

The DM may determine that certain weapons just can't effectively deal damage to certain objects. For example, you may have a hard time chopping down a door by shooting arrows at it or cutting a rope with a club.

So basically it's a DM's decision.