Fist of Stone (CompArc)

[Felix]

Fist of Stone

You transform one of your hands into a mighty fist of living stone, gaining a +6 enhancement bonus to Strength for purposes of attacks, grapple checks, or breaking or crushing items.

Assume a character wielding a longsword and has Str 10, and a BAB of +1.

NORMAL: Attack: +1; Damage: 1d8

Cast Fist of Stone

Attack: +4; Damage: 1d8

-or-

Attack: +4; Damage: 1d8+3

The text only says, "attacks", but I've never seen a Str enhancement that affects attacks not also affect damage; hence the question.

 

[shilsen]

Damage 1d8. The spell is quite explicit about applying only to attacks.

 

[jasin]

Isn't the damage roll a part of an attack, just like the attack roll?

Or would you say that the spell only gives a +3 bonus for the purposes of "attacks" but not attack rolls, because it doesn't explicitly mention them, just like it doesn't explicitly mention damage rolls?

 

[Bagpuss]

I've always applied it to damage, that's how it use to work in 2nd Ed as well. It doesn't apply to carry capacity, or strength checks (like for lifting) mainly.

 

[Iku Rex]

The text is somewhat ambiguous, but the intent seems clear.

1d8+3.

You have +6 Str for purposes of attacks, graple checks and breaking or crushing items. You are attacking with the longsword. Thus you have +6 Str, and thus +3 damage. Look at the slam damage example in the spell - your "new Strength bonus" is included.

 

[KarinsDad]

Damage 1d8. The spell is quite explicit about applying only to attacks.

Yes, it is explicit.

It doesn't state "to hit for attacks". It state attacks.

Any attacks (even special ones). Weapons, Unarmed Strike, Trip, etc.

It is an enhancement bonus to Strength for these purposes. +6 Strength does +3 damage on attacks.

In addition, you gain the ability to make one natural slam attack, dealing 1d6 points of damage + your new strength bonus

If they had meant no additional damage bonus, this would state "your original strength bonus". Also, this sentence reinforces that the caster has a "new strength bonus", not his original.


The enhancement bonus doesn't apply to Strength for encumbrance, carrying capacity, etc.

 

[boolean]

FWIW, the Spell Compendium version has slightly different wording:
"enhancement bonus to Strength for the purpose of attack rolls, grapple checks..."

This seems to clarify that, when using a weapon, the enhancement bonus only applies to attack rolls and not damage.

It also mentions that you use your new strength score to determine damage dealt with the slam attack given by the spell.