Epic DR help!

[rushlight]

In my game, there's a bit of a question on DR x/epic. Does this mean you need a weapon of +6 or more to beat the DR, or that you only need a character who's level is 21st or more?

Thanks!

 

[Nyarlathotep]

I'm no expert on Epic stuff, but I would rule that you would need a weapon with a +6 enhancement bonus.

 

[James McMurray]

Yes, per the MM and ELH you need a +6 ehancement weapon.

+6 itself is incredibly expensive, but you can get a liited version of it by having a +4 bane weapon for the appropriate creature type.

IIRC there is also an enhancement that increases the enhancement bonus for a weapon while its wielder is in a rage.

 

[Tatsukun]

Just for the record, a +5 Flaming weapon (total bonus of +6) doesn't work, right?

-Tatsu

 

[Nightfall]

No. Only a +4 bane weapon can be considered "epic" against that particular being.

 

[Alzrius]

Nightfall's right. The enhancement bonus on the weapon needs to be +6 or more, not just the total of enhancement bonus and the special properties effective (cost) bonus.

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

Actually I think all you need is an EPIC weapon, as per the ELH.

Any +6 Enhancement Bonus, or greater, weapon is an Epic Weapon.

Any Weapon whose total Modifiers & Enhancement Bonus exceed +10 is also an Epic Weapon (+5 Dancing, Vorpal, Scimitar for example).

Also possibly (I'm not sure on these);

A Weapon with a Special Ability from the Epic Weapon Handbook (Improved Dancing is a +8 mod in the ELH, thus a +1 Improved Dancing Scimitar is a +9 weapon. I'm not sure whether it's then considered an Epic Weapon or not).

A Magic Weapon created by an individual with Craft Epic Arms & Armor. I don't know if ANY weapon created by someone with that feat is then considered an Epic Item, or only +6+/+10+ weapons count.

Vraille Darkfang

 

[the Jester]

Actually, iirc in the MM's discussion of DR, it defines 'epic' in the context of DR to mean a +6 or higher enhancement bonus.

 

[CalrinAlshaw]

Correct, regardless of all the extra abilities a weapon has, if the enhancement bonus (You know, the + to hit and damage) is not +6 or higher, you cannot break through epic damage reduction.

Calrin Alshaw

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

Actually, iirc in the MM's discussion of DR, it defines 'epic' in the context of DR to mean a +6 or higher enhancement bonus.

I'll be, your're right. Not all EPIC weapons can overcome EPIC Damage Reduction. Don't that beat all? If an Epic weapon can't overcome Epic Damge Reduction, then either it's not an Epic Weapon or DR/Epic is misnamed.

What it should be then is DR/+6. Sorry, I know all 3.5 damage reductions got rid of the "plus" of the weapon. But, if it takes an "Epic" Level Character with the Craft "Epic" Arms & Armor feat to make an "Epic" weapon...Then I'm going to say it should overcome "Epic" Damage Reduction. If it takes only a +6 weapon (gotten through the Bane property), not an Epic Weapon, then it ain't Damage Reduction/Epic.

For example if my +4 (Bane-Magical Beast) Longsword can overcome the Epic DR of a Tarrasque, but my +5, Vorpal, Screaming, Flaming Burst, Keen, Shocking Burst Dagger can't. Which one is the Epic Weapon? The Dagger is, not the Longsword. Therefore the Tarrasque has DR/+6 NOT DR/Epic.

Oh, well, just something more to add to my House Rules.

This doesn't even address where Artifacts & Legendary Weapons fit into the Equation.

Thanks for the info.
Vraille Darkfang