Adamantine vs. Incorporeality

[3d6]

 

[Hypersmurf]

The SRD is, by definition, the D&D core rulebooks without flavor text...that is, the D&D rules and only the D&D rules.

No, it's not.

The SRD is, by definition, "a comprehensive toolbox consisting of rules, races, classes, feats, skills, various systems, spells, magic items, and monsters compatible with the d20 System version of Dungeons & Dragons and various other roleplaying games from Wizards of the Coast."

It's not the D&D rules - it's something vaguely similar to the D&D rules.

Where the SRD differs from the D&D Core Rulebooks, the rulebooks win for the purpose of determining the rules of D&D.

-Hyp.

 

[3d6]

Preach it, brother!

 

[Cloudgatherer]

I'm of the "adamantine bypasses DR" camp.

Touch attacks ignore armor. That happens to include "natural" armor.

An enhancement bonus is needed to bypass DR. Adamantine has a "natural" enhancement bonus. It's still an enhancement bonus, just like natural armor is still an armor bonus, so that works too.

Now here's something that just struck me as odd...

When you put a magical enhancement bonus on an adamantine weapon, it "overlaps" with the adamantine bonus, hence the bonuses must be similar (same bonuses don't stack). Another argument for allowing adamantine to bypass DR.

If adamantine is truly a different bonus from magical enhancement, then perhaps it should stack. An adamantine weapon with a +2 magical enhancement could provide +4/+4 to attack/damage, but only be a +2 weapon for purposes of DR.

Anyway, just some random thoughts...

 

[Hypersmurf]

Touch attacks ignore armor. That happens to include "natural" armor.

Touch attacks ignore armor bonuses and natural armor bonuses.

That doesn't mean that natural armor bonuses are included in the umbrella term "armor bonuses".

When you put a magical enhancement bonus on an adamantine weapon, it "overlaps" with the adamantine bonus, hence the bonuses must be similar (same bonuses don't stack).

Like the way a masterwork bonus to attack doesn't stack with an enhancement bonus to attack?

Does that mean that a masterwork weapon should bypass DR x/+1?

-Hyp.

 

[DMauricio]

I'm of the "adamantine bypasses DR" camp.

Touch attacks ignore armor. That happens to include "natural" armor.

An enhancement bonus is needed to bypass DR. Adamantine has a "natural" enhancement bonus. It's still an enhancement bonus, just like natural armor is still an armor bonus, so that works too.

...

By that same caveat, you could not stack natural armour bonuses with an armour bonus. (which isn't the case)

IMO adamantine should not allow you to hit incorporeal creatures. (the weapon needs to be magical)
However, I would probably allow it to bypass DR of +2 or less (but not silver)
Then again, that's only in my own campaign. (where adamantine is extremely rare - rarer than +1 magical weapons)
I'd also not allow magical bonuses to stack with adamantine.
(just like I wouldn't allow masterwork bonuses to stack with adamantine or magical enhancement bonuses)

Not to mention that this whole thread will be a moot point if using 3.5 (where I'm sure they'll define adamantine/magical/silver)


HTH

Dom

 

[LokiDR]

Pg. 16, Monster Manual II, second paragraph, left hand column

Nonmagical enhancement bonuses (such as those from masterwork or adamantine weapons) do not enable a weapon to overcome damage reduction.

This seems to be the designers origninal intent, as DR is meant to be bypassed by magic. The lack of the word "magical" in one passage is not conclusive.

 

[kreynolds]

End of discussion.

Uh-uh. Adamantine doesn't bypass DR. Ha!

 

[Cloudgatherer]

Does that mean that a masterwork weapon should bypass DR x/+1?

Is the bonus provided by masterwork an enhancement bonus? (Nope.)

 

[kreynolds]

Is the bonus provided by masterwork an enhancement bonus?

Yup. Know why? 'Cause it doesn't stack with an enhancement bonus. Must be one of those new fandangled masterwork enhancement bonuses. You know...those bonuses that work just like enhancement bonus, but aren't in fact enhancement bonuses, but even though they aren't they still don't stack with enhancement bonuses?