Greater magic weapon (stacking)

[Mystery Man]

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/magicWeapon.htm

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/magicWeaponGreater.htm

Does greater magic weapon stack with a magic bonus on say, a +2 longsword?

 

[Lord Pendragon]

No. The spells provide enhancement bonuses. The +2 of the +2 longsword is an enhancement bonus. Like bonuses don't stack, they overlap.

 

[Mystery Man]

Makes perfect sense to me, thanks!

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

Say you have a +1 Flaming Frost Holy Longsword, though.

The additional +x/+x overlap the +1/+1 of the sword even though it's a +5 weapon.

Which is why you got robbed if you bought a +2 Longsword over a +1 (Cool Effect) Longsword.

--fje

 

[Jack Simth]

Say you have a +1 Flaming Frost Holy Longsword, though.

The additional +x/+x overlap the +1/+1 of the sword even though it's a +5 weapon.

Which is why you got robbed if you bought a +2 Longsword over a +1 (Cool Effect) Longsword.

--fje

That depends on how many of your opponents play around with Dispel Magic; a +2 Longsword is back up and running automatically 1d4 rounds after a successful Dispel, with no cost in recources, while a +1 (effect) longsword with Greater Magic Weapon is down to masterwork on a successful Dispel for 1d4 rounds, then just the +1 (effect) longsword until GMW is recast.... which is kinda unlikely, for a meleer in the middle of combat.....

Pluses and minuses for every approach.

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

But with the passing of DR / +X with 3.5, what's the difference?

Your +2 Longsword suppressed is the same as a +1 Flaming longsword.

The GMW works out better for the guy with effects on his sword, in the long run, because it's ADDING "effective plusses" beyond what you can get with a +X weapon. The guy with the +2 longsword gets no benefit from an 8th level casting of GMW, while the +1 Flaming guy gets, essentially, a +3 weapon out of the deal.

--fje

 

[Lord Pendragon]

The GMW works out better for the guy with effects on his sword, in the long run, because it's ADDING "effective plusses" beyond what you can get with a +X weapon. The guy with the +2 longsword gets no benefit from an 8th level casting of GMW, while the +1 Flaming guy gets, essentially, a +3 weapon out of the deal.

This is true, but you're failing to recognize that the +3 weapon in your example has an additional cost: one 3rd-level spell slot every day. The guy with the +2 longsword doesn't have to depend on a spellcaster's generosity every day to boost his attack bonus.

That's not to say that a higher + is always better. IMO it depends greatly on how easily the PC can hit his opponents. If he's a fighter with a high strength, he may not need any additional bonuses to hit, and be better served by getting holy, for instance, than another +2 enhancement bonus. Instead of only +2 to damage, he gets +2d6 vs. evil opponents, which IME turns out to be most of them. The rogue, on the other hand, may find +'s much more useful, as he has to contend with that medium BAB.