Magic of Incarnum...thoughts?

[Vocenoctum]

Question for those who have memorized the book.

Quite often, abilities give Enhancement Bonuses to attacks and damage. I've not seen it specifically called out that they count as Magic for DR. The MM says DR: Magic works except for "magical enhancement bonuses". D&D is generally exact in their word usage.

So, if it has an enhancement bonus, is it considered a Magical Weapon?

 

[Dalamar]

Depends. A masterwork weapon grants an enhancement bonus on attacks, but still doesn't count as magic for the purposes of DR.

Personally, if the ability gives a bonus to both attack and damage (such as some of the Totemist melds which give natural weapons), I'd treat it as a magic weapon when at least one point of essentia was invested.
But if it only gives an enhancement bonus to attacks or damage, it wouldn't count as magic in my book.

Edit - Though I might be inclined to make it so that if it gives an enhancement bonus to damage (only or with the bonus to attacks), it counts as magic, seeing as how it is magically more damaging. Really, I'd have to see how it works in actual play to make a final decision.

 

[Vocenoctum]

Depends. A masterwork weapon grants an enhancement bonus on attacks, but still doesn't count as magic for the purposes of DR.

Personally, if the ability gives a bonus to both attack and damage (such as some of the Totemist melds which give natural weapons), I'd treat it as a magic weapon when at least one point of essentia was invested.
But if it only gives an enhancement bonus to attacks or damage, it wouldn't count as magic in my book.

Edit - Though I might be inclined to make it so that if it gives an enhancement bonus to damage (only or with the bonus to attacks), it counts as magic, seeing as how it is magically more damaging. Really, I'd have to see how it works in actual play to make a final decision.

Well, the main thing is that you could have such a weapon at first level. Incarnate Weapon forms a weapon (longsword, battleaxe, warhammer, depending on alignment) with essentia investment giving you +1 to attack and damage per point.

But, if it DOESN'T count as a "magic weapon", then there's no way for their special attacks to attain that designation, that I noticed. It seems silly to use your special ability at low levels, only to abandon it for the Cool Longsword when given the chance.