Damage reduction and spell-created weapons

[Templetroll]

Is it written anywhere if Thunderlance or Decastave are affected by the damage reduction of creatures or,if they get past Spell Resistance, they just do the damage listed?

I thought it acted like a spell, and did the damage as listed if it got past the SR. My DM felt it would have a + listed if it had the ability to bypass DR.

 

[Pax]

Both the spells you name do not create actual weapons; they create energy effects, which function LIKE weapons. And in both cases, they act as [force] effects too, meaning incorporeality is no defense.

Thus, Thunderlance and Decastave are both actually better at damaging a high-level Barbarian/Survivor ... as Energy-based damage, they even bypass DR X/-.

Then again, unlike a "real" weapon, there's no such thing as a (for example) +5 Thunderlance of Speed ...

As for your DM: ask him when was the last time he saw a non-spellcasting fighter wielding a Thunderlance. Or, ask him what "+" a Magic Missile has.

And at least in the case of decastaff ... ask him when the last time was, that a touch attack with a quarterstaff did 1d6[force] damage?

 

[Voadam]

thunderlance is a force effect and subject to SR, it is not subject to DR.

Spells like Mord's sword and thunderlance are spells that create force effects that require attack rolls and do force damage but they are not actually physical weapons and so are not subject to DR. As a corollary you can not cast magic weapon on the force effects.

Even if it was an actual weapon that did 0 damage plus an amount of force damage, the force damage would bypass DR.

 

[Templetroll]

Thanks, guys! I thought there was something wrong but missed the details you've provided. I'm starting to love [Force] effects!

 

[AuraSeer]

As for your DM: ask him when was the last time he saw a non-spellcasting fighter wielding a Thunderlance.

That's why every party needs an Ioun Stone Of Spell Storing. You gotta love a fighter with thunderlance, shield and expeditious retreat.

 

[melkoriii]

Same thing with Spiritual Weapon.

It is a spell, not a weapon and so damages like a spell.

DR does not affect it as well as things like Incorporial or cover/concealment.