Adamantine: Crystalline or Amorphous?
- Thread starter Tetsubo
- Start date
http://www.answers.com/adamantine&r=67
ad·a·man·tine (ăd'ə-măn'tēn', -tīn', -tĭn) pronunciation
adj.
1. Made of or resembling adamant.
2. Having the hardness or luster of a diamond.
3. Unyielding; inflexible: “If there is one dominant trait that emerges from this account, it is adamantine willpower” (Eugene Linden).
ad·a·man·tine (ăd'ə-măn'tēn', -tīn', -tĭn) pronunciation
adj.
1. Made of or resembling adamant.
2. Having the hardness or luster of a diamond.
3. Unyielding; inflexible: “If there is one dominant trait that emerges from this account, it is adamantine willpower” (Eugene Linden).
Why is it relevant?
Ex:
"Is an animated (via Animate Objects) adamantine statue subject to damage from the Shatter spell as a crystalline creature?"
IMO, no.
In the context of D&D metals are not crystalline. Any statue crafted of glass, porcelain or mineral crystals then animated would be subject to damage from a Shatter spell though.
Ex:
"Is an animated (via Animate Objects) adamantine statue subject to damage from the Shatter spell as a crystalline creature?"
IMO, no.
In the context of D&D metals are not crystalline. Any statue crafted of glass, porcelain or mineral crystals then animated would be subject to damage from a Shatter spell though.
Sejs
First Post
Memory serving, the overwhelming majority of metals are crystaline in nature rather than amorphic.
I'd have to say it's crystaline.
Edit/Additional: Aha, there's the relevant quote.
"Crystalline structures occur in all classes of materials, with all types of chemical bonds. Almost all metal exists in a polycrystalline state; amorphous or single-crystal metals must be produced synthetically, often with great difficulty."
I'd have to say it's crystaline.
Edit/Additional: Aha, there's the relevant quote.
"Crystalline structures occur in all classes of materials, with all types of chemical bonds. Almost all metal exists in a polycrystalline state; amorphous or single-crystal metals must be produced synthetically, often with great difficulty."
Last edited:
Right. Chemically speaking, nearly all metals are crystalline in nature.
The amount to which this is relevant depends on how quickly the metal cooled from Liquid to Solid to Room Temperature. This is what tempering steel is all about; by controlling the cooling rate you can choose the balance between hard steels (that hold an edge well but will shatter when struck hard) and softer steel (which is springier and tends to deform before breaking but won't hold an edge well).
So chemically speaking, adamantine is probably crystalline in nature (well, as much as other metals anyway).
However, as far as D&D rules are concerned, I would still say that no, adamantine is not crystalline.
The amount to which this is relevant depends on how quickly the metal cooled from Liquid to Solid to Room Temperature. This is what tempering steel is all about; by controlling the cooling rate you can choose the balance between hard steels (that hold an edge well but will shatter when struck hard) and softer steel (which is springier and tends to deform before breaking but won't hold an edge well).
So chemically speaking, adamantine is probably crystalline in nature (well, as much as other metals anyway).
However, as far as D&D rules are concerned, I would still say that no, adamantine is not crystalline.
frankthedm
First Post
I always pictured Adamant & derived materials as weapons grade diamond, so definitly crystaline as far as RealWorldish physics are concered.
Not crystaline as far as shatter is concerned.
As far as amorphous adamant is concered...
Not crystaline as far as shatter is concerned.
As far as amorphous adamant is concered...
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Patryn of Elvenshae
First Post
Patryn of Elvenshae casts Hurtmore!
[bwaddle-bwaddle-bwaddle]
Metal Slime is unaffected!
[bwaddle-bwaddle-bwaddle]
Metal Slime is unaffected!
The closest thing I've seen to adamantine is nickel-iron from meteorites (it is mentioned in the DMG that adamantine is found in meteors). That stuff is hard, heat-resistant, and visibly crystalline in structure.
However, I think the other posters have it right...RW physics aside, for purposes of the game, crystalline applies to things like glasses, ceramics, etc.
However, I think the other posters have it right...RW physics aside, for purposes of the game, crystalline applies to things like glasses, ceramics, etc.
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