Destroying items

[AddizAbeba]

Where can I find the rules on destroying magic items?

Or, more specifically, can a normal fire destroy a magical armor?

My party has knocked down a troll (which is wearing a chain+1), and has build a nice funeral pire to permanently kill it. Will the armor survive?

How are saves for magic items done?
I saw rules for destroying weapons and shields, but armor?
I tried to find it in both DMG and PH, read all chapters on magic, but I must have missed it somewhere...

regards,
Addiz Abeba,
Adventuring Thief.

 

[Stalker0]

I'd go with one of two different interpretations.

1) Just as a magic weapon cannot be destroyed by any weapon less than its own enhancement bonus, no nonmagical anything could destroy it, even fire.

2) Give the magic item its increased hardness and hp from its enhancement, and then apply the elemental damage rules to normal items (I think fire is half damage against items).

Obviously, using 1 the armor is invulnerable to the fire. Option two will destroy the armor eventually.

 

[S'mon]

I'd go with one of two different interpretations.

1) Just as a magic weapon cannot be destroyed by any weapon less than its own enhancement bonus, no nonmagical anything could destroy it, even fire.

2) Give the magic item its increased hardness and hp from its enhancement, and then apply the elemental damage rules to normal items (I think fire is half damage against items).

Obviously, using 1 the armor is invulnerable to the fire. Option two will destroy the armor eventually.

I would use some common sense - a funeral pyre isn't likely to destroy the steel links of a chain shirt, especially a magical one. Soft metals like gold might melt though, destroying magic rings and suchlike. I definitely wouldn't apply an 'it takes magic to destroy any magic item' approach, this will quickly lead to absurdities - eg the wizard can then use his wand of fireballs to brace against a 50-ton ceiling-crushing trap.

 

[green slime]

I would use some common sense - a funeral pyre isn't likely to destroy the steel links of a chain shirt, especially a magical one. Soft metals like gold might melt though, destroying magic rings and suchlike. I definitely wouldn't apply an 'it takes magic to destroy any magic item' approach, this will quickly lead to absurdities - eg the wizard can then use his wand of fireballs to brace against a 50-ton ceiling-crushing trap.

Yes, but once you give armours hardness and hit points, you then have players trying to sunder armours... Which has been skillfully avoided in two editions.