A Sundering point of View

[Darkness]

But sundering a weapon is never the best way to survive. There are myriad ways, and almost all begin with the phrase "we run". Get away, come up with a better plan, get more appropriate resources, hire mercenaries, buy a wand, something.

But what if you need to fight your enemies right now?

 

[Nappy MonkeyII]

Sundering/striking an object always struck me as pretty cool.

Soon figured out bows and +1 vorpal swords. I prefer a nice high enhancement myself over fancy doo-dads. Mindless sundering is a bit loopy though.

 

[Kyramus]

Re: Re: A Sundering point of View

Technically, no.

So you mean to tell me this big creature the size of a blue whale compared to a normal human will swipe at you and your magic sword and not break the sword?

If you are going to consider that it can't break the weapon, even if it breaks through hardness and hp, then dragons just got gimpified.

Tremendous power but can't break a +1 sword. (goes to see if there is a official rule about DR and creatures)

 

[hong]

Re: Re: Re: A Sundering point of View

So you mean to tell me this big creature the size of a blue whale compared to a normal human will swipe at you and your magic sword and not break the sword?

Yep. A creature with natural weapons can penetrate DR equal to its own. That's it. It doesn't get any of the other benefits of magic weaponry, such as a plus to hit and damage, or being able to sunder other magic weapons.

If you are going to consider that it can't break the weapon, even if it breaks through hardness and hp, then dragons just got gimpified.

... alternatively, you could also see it as magic weapons being elevated in status so they're more than mere trinkets.

 

[Wolfspider]

If you are going to consider that it can't break the weapon, even if it breaks through hardness and hp, then dragons just got gimpified.

*awakes from a deep slumber and peers around with one slitted eye*

What was that?

 

[Kyramus]

Hong, I knew about the DR vs DR creatures.

I wasn't saying that the dragon gets + to hit and damage, was just saying that they can also break these weapons. Though I'm still researching to see if there is anything to be a definitive, otherwise it'll just be in my campaign as a rule 0.

 

[mkletch]

Re: Re: Re: Re: A Sundering point of View

Yep. A creature with natural weapons can penetrate DR equal to its own. That's it. It doesn't get any of the other benefits of magic weaponry, such as a plus to hit and damage, or being able to sunder other magic weapons.

Never thought of it that way, but I have to agree with hong (news flash: snow starts to fall in hell ).

-Fletch!

 

[mkletch]

But what if you need to fight your enemies right now?

Then perhaps today is a good day to die.

Then hit the bad guy. Why do 40 points of damage to his adamantite mace when you could do 90 points to him, considering that the weapon has hardness and the enemy (usually) does not. As a DM, I've had players sunder weapons when the bad guy is described as near death (and actually has 1-3 hit points). That is just poor form by any measure.

As an aside, I wish golems had the hardness of their substance.

-Fletch!

 

[hong]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: A Sundering point of View

Never thought of it that way, but I have to agree with hong (news flash: snow starts to fall in hell ).

Oh, you'll find I'm quite agreeable when my evil twin isn't around.


Hong "you can tell when the O's are the wrong way round" Ooi

 

[Darkness]

Then perhaps today is a good day to die.

Isn't it always?

Then hit the bad guy. Why do 40 points of damage to his adamantite mace when you could do 90 points to him, considering that the weapon has hardness and the enemy (usually) does not.

Well, if he has damage reduction that your weapon can't penetrate (e.g., because that same enemy just sundered your best weapon ), the effect is about the same as having hardness. And many creatures have DR.
Also, what if his weapon is really nasty, or he's an expert with it (e.g., appropriate feats, levels in Weapon Master or whatever)? In that case, depriving him of his most powerful tool might be a sound tactic IMO.

As a DM, I've had players sunder weapons when the bad guy is described as near death (and actually has 1-3 hit points). That is just poor form by any measure.

Ouch!

As an aside, I wish golems had the hardness of their substance.

Kinda like animated objects? Interesting idea...