DM's. To sunder or not to sunder?

[Ridley's Cohort]

Firstly according to the DMG its 700 gp. Secondly that is only a +2 enchantment. For me to waste my time casting it (let alone carrying it) it will need to be much more powerful, minimum +3, more like +4.

Now we are talking 900gp (+3) and 1,200 gp (+4) respectively.

A little bit more expensive... after I start spending that repeatedly, I would just rather have just purchased a back up weapon...

For a wizard 3x9x25=675 gp for +3.

For a cleric 4x9x25=900 gp for +3.

Spend it repeatedly? What are you talking about? If you are losing weapons to Sunder I can guarantee that buying scrolls of GMW will save buckets of money in the long term. Is getting a 8000 or 18000 gp backup weapon (that you seem to think will get broken) cheaper than a few thousand gp scrolls?

 

[Lord Ben]

It depends on if you looted the backup weapon or if you want to buy one. If you loot it you're better off with keeping it. If you're buying then a scroll might be best.

 

[Hejdun]

Err...

Well, according to MY DMG, all your sundering tactics won't work. Read the section on Damage Reduction again. Pages 73-74.

For purposes of harming another creature with damage reduction, a creature's natural weapons count as weapons of the type that can ignore its own innate damage reduction. The amound of damage reduction is ireelevant. For example, a large air elemental (damage reduction 10/+1) deals full damage to a werewolf, as if the elemental's attacks were with a +1 weapon.

Emphasis mine.

 

[Lord Ben]

I believe there has been comments regarding this. Creatures with DR can sunder, etc. What it cannot do is count as +1 weapons, etc for attack/damage.

 

[Ravellion]

Sundering is usually a poor tactical choice against a savvy party. The more powerful opponents that are actually good at it are usually one of a kind. So the Big Boss Monster spends his action destroying a weapon. Now the party loses one or two actions readying the replacement. So what? That is a net gain to the party of 2 or 3 actions. Advantage: PCs.

Does that creature with DR 10/+2 know whether he is up against a +2 or a +3 weapon? There is really no way to tell until you try.

You also have to be very fair or there can be bad repurcussions. Nothing creates bad karma for the DM faster than seeing pet monsters get to metagame against the PCs, e.g. running past a GMWed mace to sunder a more valuable bow.

If you sunder many weapons, don't complain if PCs start relying of GMWed +1 energy energy weapons. You are the one encouraging them to powergame, so suck it up.

Excellently worded, and I fully agree. I haven't used sunder once. Then, I also like to drop "legendary" weapons when the PC's achieve a certain level.

Malicious Dm "Well, that was the staff of Magius and the sword of Huma, now I will destroy Rabbitslayer thank-you-very-much!"

(I've Just finished reading Dragons of a Vanished Moon. What a bummer BTW.)

Rav

 

[Lord Ben]

(I've Just finished reading Dragons of a Vanished Moon. What a bummer BTW.)

Rav

Is that the 3rd book in the war of souls? With Gerard, etc? I read #2 months ago and I'm looking forward to it, I wasn't aware it was out yet.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

My most common sunder is against archers. If a character is being annoying and wont switch to melee weapons but instead keeps taking a 5' step back and shooting again almost any monster will finally take a swipe at the bow and destroy it. Especially if the character makes it obvious he or she is a better missle than melee fighter.