Force spells vs constructs & objects

[Grayhawk]

I hope these are easy:

Can you use a force spell - like Magic Missile - to harm an object?

Can you use a force spell - like Magic Missile - to harm an animated object?

If so, do you apply DR or not?

And where do I find the rules for this?

In the PHB p.165 there are rules for how energy attacks affect objects. Do these rules apply to constructs and animated objects as well?

 

[shilsen]

I hope these are easy:

Can you use a force spell - like Magic Missile - to harm an object?

Can you use a force spell - like Magic Missile - to harm an animated object?

If so, do you apply DR or not?

And where do I find the rules for this?

In the PHB p.165 there are rules for how energy attacks affect objects. Do these rules apply to constructs and animated objects as well?

Unless the spell specifically mentions "(object)" under saving throws, it cannot be cast on objects. In the case of Magic Missile, you cannot cast it on objects. See PHB pg.177 for the details.

As for animated objects, I would say that they count as creatures for spell target purposes. Hardness does apply to spells cast on them.

DR does not apply vs. spell damage.

 

[3d6]

1) It depends on the force effect. A force effect that said it could hurt objects, like the psion power concussion blast can. A force effect that said that it cannot damage objects, like magic missle, cannot.

2) Yes, of course.

3) DR never applies against spells.

4) Constructs and animated objects are creatures, not objects. Use the rules for creatures.

 

[AGGEMAM]

Magic Missile ... Inanimate objects are not damaged by the spell.

DAMAGE REDUCTION ... Spells, spell-like abilities, and energy attacks (even nonmagical fire) ignore damage reduction.

There!

 

[Grayhawk]

Thanks for your replies.

DR does not apply vs. spell damage.

Oops, I knew that - what I meant to ask about was hardness.

According to PHB p.165 you apply hardness to damage dealt by electricity, fire and cold dammage (after dividing by either 2 or 4), but not to damage from acid or sonic.

Do you apply hardness to damage from a force effect?

As for animated objects, I would say that they count as creatures for spell target purposes. Hardness does apply to spells cast on them.

Animated Objects from the MM1 retains their natural hardness.

Does this mean that you should also divide energy damage (from electricity, fire and cold) dealt to animated objects?

Magic Missile ... Inanimate objects are not damaged by the spell.

I guess I should have read up on the spell description for Magic Missile before posting, but I was looking around for a quote that covered force effects in general.

So, let me try and get this straight:

If you fire a MM at a wooden table, nothing happens. (Actually, you really can't, as you have to target 'creatures'.)

As soon as the table is animated, you can target and damage it with MMs?

 

[AGGEMAM]

So, let me try and get this straight:

If you fire a MM at a wooden table, nothing happens. (Actually, you really can't, as you have to target 'creatures'.)

As soon as the table is animated, you can target and damage it with MMs?

Correct!

And hardness always applies unless there is some logical reason why it shouldn't.

 

[James McMurray]

The FAQ has a fairly good subject on the interaction between hardness, spell effects, and how they apply to animated objects.

 

[shilsen]

According to PHB p.165 you apply hardness to damage dealt by electricity, fire and cold dammage (after dividing by either 2 or 4), but not to damage from acid or sonic.

Do you apply hardness to damage from a force effect?

Yes, you apply hardness to all five energy effects. The section on pg.165 is focused on mentioning where objects take less damage from some types of energy effects, and clarifying whether you apply hardness before or after dividing. Since there is no dividing with acid/sonic aspects, it simply does not mention the issue for them. It does not explicitly say that you do not apply hardness for acid/sonic effects, because you do. Just a section that is less clear than should be.

 

[James McMurray]

Acid and sonic attacks ignore hardness.

Many may disagree with this anwer, but if you're looking for something official, there it is.

 

[Shadowdweller]

The FAQ also mentions that force effects (when they can target objects) ignore hardness as well.