3 questions

[kreynolds]

I would have to say that given this input, it would depend on how brilliant energy reacts with someting like a wall of force.

It would think it should pass through it (the "significant portion" would, anyway), as it is a force effect, and the AC bonus granted by an armor enhancement bonus is also a force effect, which is ignored by brilliant energy weapons.

 

[drnuncheon]

and the AC bonus granted by an armor enhancement bonus is also a force effect, which is ignored by brilliant energy weapons.

It is? I always thought it was due to the armor being stronger - magically reinforced to be more resilient and resistant to damage.

If what you say is true, then incorporeal creatures should be affected by an armor's enhancement bonus, but according to the SRD, they are not: "The physical attacks of incorporeal creatures ignore material armor, even magic armor, unless it is made of force or has the ghost touch ability."

By contrast, bracers of armor specifically mention an "invisible but tangible field of force", and do affect incorporeal creatures.

J

 

[Kae'Yoss]

?

AFAIK bracers of armor work exactly like armor - give an armor bonus, and are disregarded by touch attacks.

 

[AGGEMAM]

AFAIK bracers of armor work exactly like armor - give an armor bonus, and are disregarded by touch attacks.

Me too.

But IIRC the Sage disagrees in the FAQ.

 

[Hypersmurf]

AFAIK bracers of armor work exactly like armor - give an armor bonus, and are disregarded by touch attacks.

I would assume that yes, touch attacks ignore them, but incorporeal touch attacks do not.

-Hyp.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Then, since undead are immune to crits, do they receive the extra damage from a * burst weapon?

I'm tempted to rule yes (the player rolled a crit, and the * burst went off) -- but critical hit damage in the form of the weapon's extra dice does not occur. How does the * burst weapon know what it hit?

 

[Koshea]

Bracers of Armor vs. Incoporeal Touch Attacks

Ruling by the sage in this months dragon Magazine Sage has said even though it's not listed in the item description Bracers of Armor work the same way as the Mage Armor spell needed to create them.

From the SRD
Since mage armor is made of force, incorporeal creatures can’t bypass it the way they do normal armor

So touch attacks ignore them but incorporeal touch attacks must deal with them.

Briliant Energy vs. Armor of Fortification

From the SRD
A brilliant energy weapon has its significant portion transformed into light, although this does not modify the item’s weight. It gives off light as a torch (20-foot radius). A brilliant energy weapon ignores nonliving matter. Armor and enhancement AC bonuses do not count against it. (Dexterity, deflection, dodge, natural armor, and other such bonuses still apply.)

And again From the SRD
Fortification
When a critical hit or sneak attack is scored on the wearer, there is a chance that the critical hit or sneak attack is negated and damage is instead rolled normally:

Regardless of logic the only benefit Briliant Energy provides is to bypass armor and enhancement AC bonus'. All other benefits of the armor are applied. For example if you Crit someone with a Shield of Fortification I assume you didn't go THROUGH the shield to hit them, you just found a better spot but the fortification effect is still active for that person as well.

By the way Bracers of armor are still an armor enhancement so briliant energy weapons do bypass them since they are not incorporeal. There is Ghost Touch weapons for that.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Then, since undead are immune to crits, do they receive the extra damage from a * burst weapon?

Or the Mace of Smiting, whose special power activates "when it deals a critical hit to a construct"

-Hyp.