Defending - Melee Weapon Special Ability

[frankthedm]

Also, the bane ability on a +4 weapon would likely not make it epic versus its designated foe, even though "its effective enhancement bonus is +2 better than its normal enhancement bonus". Nor should the bane ability increase it's hp and hardness vs. the foe.

Actually the +4 bane weapon does overcome DR/Epic. Just about the only way to get through the DR on the Tarrasque without a plot-weapon.

As for the Hardness and HP, I can see a dragonbane sword resisting a blow from a dragon's talon a bit better. Though only the 4 hardness is going to matter since after the attack is over, the swords HP goes back to normal with whatever damage got through the increased hardness still on it, quite possibly destroying the blade.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Also, the bane ability on a +4 weapon would likely not make it epic versus its designated foe, even though "its effective enhancement bonus is +2 better than its normal enhancement bonus".

It doesn't make it epic.

But it makes it effectively epic in the sense that applies to damage reduction - that is, possessing an enhancement bonus of +6 or higher. Effectively, it has that enhancement bonus versus that creature, so effectively, it bypasses DR X/Epic.

-Hyp.

 

[mvincent]

it effectively epic in the sense that applies to damage reduction

Ok. That sounds reasonable.

As for the other point: I imagine you view a +6 defending weapon as not qualifying as epic if any of the bonus is used for defending?

Mind you, that certainly seems like a possible (valid) interpretation to me, but so does the other interpretation. And the latter just seems more within the writer's intent to me... possibly because (not sure if this was brought up yet) there are many other things which bypass DR/magic that don't have an actual +1 (likethe natural weapons of creatures with DR/magic, a blessed weapon, etc.).

 

[Hypersmurf]

As for the other point: I imagine you view a +6 defending weapon as not qualifying as epic if any of the bonus is used for defending?

Yeah, I mentioned it upthread somewhere... for bypassing DR X/Epic, the requirement is a +6 or better enhancement bonus.

... there are many other things which bypass DR/magic that don't have an actual +1 (likethe natural weapons of creatures with DR/magic, a blessed weapon, etc.).

And they all say so. A +1 weapon beats DR X/Magic because it has a +1 enhancement bonus. If you take that enhancement bonus away, it no longer beats DR X/Magic by virtue of having a +1 enhancement bonus; it would need something specific like the Bless Weapon spell in order to do so.

-Hyp.