Pathfinder 1E Deadliest energy or attack type in the rules

[slobster]

Of the five that are actually called 'energy' as a game term, I'd never go with sonic - far too few effects make use of sonic damage, and the damage usually isn't that impressive. Acid, on the other hand... even ignores hardness of objects, doesn't it?

I believe sonic is the one that ignores hardness; that's why it tends to be rarer and have a lower damage output.

Energy attacks deal half damage to most objects. Divide the damage by 2 before applying the object's hardness. Some energy types might be particularly effective against certain objects, subject to GM discretion. For example, fire might do full damage against parchment, cloth, and other objects that burn easily. Sonic might do full damage against glass and crystal objects.

Man my group had a long argument about this one, once.

 

[Summer-Knight925]

Sonic

few creatures are resistant to it, I don't think any are immune.

However, this is often over looked as it is not common to fine sonic spells.

 

[Empirate]

Sonic

few creatures are resistant to it, I don't think any are immune.

However, this is often over looked as it is not common to fine sonic spells.

...and even if you do find one, they're bound to be almost worthless in the damage compartment. And show me a monster with a sonic attack that's actually on par, damage-wise with ye good old Red Dragon and his fire breath.

Sonic damage only ever sounds good on paper.

 

[frankthedm]

And show me a monster with a sonic attack that's actually on par, damage-wise with ye good old Red Dragon and his fire breath.

Yrthak

60' range +12 Ranged touch for 8d6 every round at CR 9 hurts pretty good. At CR 9, Red would approximately be doing a 40' cone 5d10 Reflex DC 18 for 1/2 once every 1d4 rounds. [4d10 at CR8 and 6d10 at CR10]


Yrthak by MikeCorriero

I'd prefer the critter to be described as a giant screeching bat, but at least the pathfinder illo is way better than the 3.5 art.

 

[Empirate]

Funny, I kind of never noticed the Yrthak before... that indeed packs quite some punch! Single target only, and it's the beastie's main attack mode, but it still hurts quite a bit.

 

[frankthedm]

Funny, I kind of never noticed the Yrthak before...

The art in 3E made me blot it from memory for some time.

 

[Empirate]

<turns to MM p. 262>
<shudders>
<closes book>

So what were we talking about again?

 

[Ramaster]

Sonic damage only ever sounds good on paper.

Zing!

I all seriousness, Force Damage affects everything. All creatures (even incorporeal and ethereal) and other force effects, like wall of force and resilient sphere.

Magic missile is a first level spells that ends up dealing 5d4+5 unavoidable, un savevable damage. Only SR stops it.

 

[Matthias]

So far: force, sonics, negative energy, and a couple others seem to be ahead of the rest in terms of threat vs. defense.

I was thinking about what sorts of weapons a steam-age fantasy army would attempt to mass produce for its war mages (not "war mage" as in the D&D class, but as a sorcerer, cleric, or other spellcaster who is in active military service on the front lines).

As for appearance, I have in mind wands for low-level effects, staves or wondrous items for higher-level powers. There would be little in the way of customization; functionality and ease of use would take precedence over an individual war mage's need to have his gear password-locked or to be decorated just-so.

Ingenuity would also require that a war mage's weapon would be dual-purpose. An unexpected encounter with an antimagic field or spell resistant/spell immune opponent might leave a war mage defenseless against a superior close-combat threat. A wand or staff could be designed to function as a working crossbow, quarterstaff, or other mundane weapon for situations where mundane combat is thrust upon the war mage in a pinch.

Perhaps masterwork darkwood light crossbows could be designed specifically to house a wand (also designed to form part of the stock, so that its wielder maintains physical contact at all times). These probably take less time and money to manufacture than the wands themselves, so their peculiar design should not be a significant slowdown to production.

As for the spell effect, magic missile or enervation (SL 1 or 4) are some good ones to start with. Shout is also just low enough (SL 4). Any others?

 

[paradox42]

Awww. "You must spread some experience points around before giving it to Matthias again."

Cool idea, and well reasoned! You might also consider Sound Burst, since (even though that deals very little actual damage) it is Sonic and also Stuns the target if the save fails. Stun isn't an instakill but it's pretty devastating.