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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Zaruthustran" data-source="post: 629916" data-attributes="member: 1457">I question this. SRD:I take that passage to mean that:1. A Shock weapon doesn't hurt the wielder of the weapon, when the weapon is wielded in a normal manner. For most weapons, that means the wielder isn't Shocked when holding the weapon with a hand or hands. For Armor Spikes (a worn weapon), that means the wielder isn't shocked when wearing the weapon. Same thing would apply to a Shield Spock that's been enchanted with Shock.2. A Shock weapon DOES hurt the wielder (or anyone else) who touches the weapon in a manner other than the manner in which the weapon is normally wielded.For an example, consider the Flaming enhancement. A Flaming weapon does not harm the wielder, but when held against an opponent (or grasped by an opponent) it would of course deal damage. It's not unreasonable to assume that the same applies to Shock, or Frost, or any other elemental enhancement. So, my takes on the original question:No rule covers this. It's up to the DM. Common sense would say yes, they'd take damage or at least have a chance of damage. But from a balance point of view, no, the grappler should only take Shock damage if the spikes score a hit. There are no rules for such a penalty. Consider if the enhancement was Flaming. Would grappling a Flaming dwarf deal damage? Yes--the dwarf is on fire! Same applies to a dwarf that is electrified. Only thing is, only the SPIKES are electrified. Grappling by, say, holding onto the beard, or grabbing around the wrists, or otherwise avoiding the spikes would avoid the shock damage. No rule accounts for this (thank goodness), so just make something up. I suggest -4 to grapple checks if you want to avoid the spikes. The purple worm in your example can't avoid the spikes, so it would automatically take shock damage. -z, flipping back and forth between logic and game balance. And desperately hoping D&D 3.5 decreases rules questions.</blockquote>

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