Cold Iron Brilliant Energy Longsword?

[Deset Gled]

It's interesting to note that a Brilliant Energy weapon still weighs the same as a weapon made of metal, though. Since it still maintains some properties of a metal weapon, I can easily see the arguement that it could keep the rest as well.

Furthermore, BE is already overly expensive at a +4 bonus cost. If it also nullifies another bonus of the weapon, it's even worse. In my game, I would rule that it still counts as cold iron for that reason alone (though that's not a valid rules arguement).

 

[Piratecat]

There's no activation method for brilliant energy weapons (unlike, for example, flaming weapons), so you can't turn it on and off. Once it becomes a brilliant energy weapon, that's how it remains.

It must really be a pisser to put in its sheath.

 

[Mouseferatu]

[snarky]So a monk's hands aren't alive?[/snarky]

Okay, you're right, I missed that. It's sunder proof from other weapons.

Although, one could argue that, being energy, it cannot be broken at all. That's reading into the description more than is there, but I think I'd house-rule it that way IMC. That also helps offset the +4 cost.

But in the RAW, the energy replaces the blade, so there's no substance either to make out of cold iron, or to sunder with an inanimate weapon.

 

[Herpes Cineplex]

Ooh, this one looks messy.

For one thing, if a Brilliant Energy weapon is energy, why doesn't it do energy damage? Or does it do energy damage, even though the description doesn't explicitly say that it does? And if it DOES do energy damage, what kind of energy damage is it?

(I do like the mental image of a high-level fighter struggling vainly to figure out a way that he can sheath a brilliant energy sword, though. )


But as far as the original post goes: as a practical matter, I'm almost positive that because your GM has already said no, nothing you say will change that decision.

If you want to make one last argument, though, you might try asking what cost adjustment could be put on a weapon to make it act as though it were cold iron even when it's not actually made out of metal at all. (It'd likely be less than the metalline enchantment, and would be useful for characters who favored the quarterstaff, for example, so you could suggest that druids and the like might have found good reason to develop such a thing.)

That way you're both paying more for cold iron than you normally would, as well as giving a rationale for why this brilliant energy weapon can bypass DR as if it were cold iron (it's MAGICAL!).

--
it's a long shot, though
ryan

 

[Sejs]

It must really be a pisser to put in its sheath.

Nah, putting it there isn't so bad.. it's keeping it there that's the problem. Dang blade keeps slipping out the side of the sheath and right into your leg if you move wrong.

 

[rkanodia]

Furthermore, BE is already overly expensive at a +4 bonus cost. If it also nullifies another bonus of the weapon, it's even worse. In my game, I would rule that it still counts as cold iron for that reason alone (though that's not a valid rules arguement).

I don't think that's true anymore. IIRC, in 3.0 the Brilliant Energy modifier only ignored the base value of the armor and/or shield, allowing the wearer to keep the benefits of enhancement bonuses. In 3.5, the Brilliant Energy modifier ignores armor and shield bonuses, including their enhancement bonuses. So, if you're high enough level to have a +1 brilliant energy longsword, and you go up against a knight with +4 full plate and a +4 heavy shield, you're ignoring 18 points of armor class, giving you a net +14 to hit compared to the person with a +5 longsword. That is mad crazy attack bonus. You can power attack for 4, making up the damage difference, and still have a whopping +10 bonus to your attack roll. Brilliant Energy certainly won't be worth it against all foes, but then, what modifier is?

 

[Goblyns Hoard]

You could ask for a Brilliant Energy weapon that has the same effect as cold iron even though it isn't. By paying the costs for it as standard and acheiving the same effect it you're still within the rules guidelines. Could be explained as Ferric Energy (or something like that)

 

[Hypersmurf]

IIRC, in 3.0 the Brilliant Energy modifier only ignored the base value of the armor and/or shield, allowing the wearer to keep the benefits of enhancement bonuses.

You don't recall correctly. Brilliant Energy in 3E specifically ignored enhancement bonuses.

-Hyp.

 

[Kodam]

Hi!

I don't think Brilliant Energy actually is worth +4. Sure, it rocks against heavy armored humanoid enemies but its of no use at all to sunder or against constructs and undead. There are two major types of monsters that this weapon can't damage at all. It won't do anything / much against enemies and especially monsters who don't wear any kind of armor / only light armor and that's quite the majority. YMMV

Kodam

 

[green slime]

Power Attacking with a shimmering energy field?.... Brilliant Energy Blade of Defending?...

Some of these things don't bear thinking about too much.