Maximum Enhancement for a Bane weapon?

[Knightfall]

Okay, so my group is wondering if it is possible to have a NonEpic bane weapon with a standard enhancement of +5, which would make the bane enhancement +7. I don't know why, but we were thinking that a nonEpic bane weapon can only have a +3 standard enhancement, which would make the bane enhancement +5.

Which of these is right? Or does it depend on what the DM decides?

Cheers!

KF72

 

[UltimaGabe]

It depends on what the DM decides. All the rules say about a Bane weapon is that "its effective enhancement bonus is +2 higher against its designated foe". As for what this means, that's up to the DM. Most DMs allow it to even apply to a +5 weapon (honestly, I don't see a reason why not), causing it to gain a +7 enhancement bonus against its designated foe, but there's quite a bit of debate as to whether this means it can bypass Epic DR.

In short, it's up to the DM.

 

[Knightfall]

It depends on what the DM decides. All the rules say about a Bane weapon is that "its effective enhancement bonus is +2 higher against its designated foe". As for what this means, that's up to the DM. Most DMs allow it to even apply to a +5 weapon (honestly, I don't see a reason why not), causing it to gain a +7 enhancement bonus against its designated foe, but there's quite a bit of debate as to whether this means it can bypass Epic DR.

In short, it's up to the DM.

Hmm, that's what I figured. And since I'm the DM, I'm going to allow it, but it won't bypass Epic DR.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

There really isn't as much discussion about it as UltimaGabe implies.

DR X / Epic is overcome by a weapon with a +6 enhancement bonus or better.

A +4 dragon bane longsword has a +6 enhancement bonuse when used against dragons. Accordingly, it will overcome a dragon's DR X / Epic.

 

[UltimaGabe]

There really isn't as much discussion about it as UltimaGabe implies.

DR X / Epic is overcome by a weapon with a +6 enhancement bonus or better.

A +4 dragon bane longsword has a +6 enhancement bonuse when used against dragons. Accordingly, it will overcome a dragon's DR X / Epic.

.....as I said, there's debate.

 

[Dice4Hire]

Yes, I agree. It is possible for a bane weapon to go above +5 non-epic. But I would be leery treating it as +7 for breaking other magical items, or for DR purposes.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Yes, I agree. It is possible for a bane weapon to go above +5 non-epic. But I would be leery treating it as +7 for breaking other magical items, or for DR purposes.

Bear in mind that you don't require an equal-or-higher enhancement bonus in 3.5 to damage a magic weapon or shield. In addition, I haven't seen Magic Item Bane as one of the Bane options, so it's unlikely to be an issue... unless it's a Construct Bane weapon attacking an intelligent magic item.

For DR purposes, it effectively has a +7 enhancement bonus against its chosen foe, which means it effectively has a +6 or greater enhancement bonus against its chosen foe, which means it effectively bypasses DR X/Epic against its chosen foe.

-Hyp.

 

[Nail]

For DR purposes, it effectively has a +7 enhancement bonus against its chosen foe, which means it effectively has a +6 or greater enhancement bonus against its chosen foe, which means it effectively bypasses DR X/Epic against its chosen foe.

Follow-up question:

You have a +1 Dragon-bane longsword. Your 20th level cleric buddy casts Greater Magic weapon on your sword. Is your sword +7 (and thus Epic) vs. Dragons?

 

[Knightfall]

Bear in mind that you don't require an equal-or-higher enhancement bonus in 3.5 to damage a magic weapon or shield. In addition, I haven't seen Magic Item Bane as one of the Bane options, so it's unlikely to be an issue... unless it's a Construct Bane weapon attacking an intelligent magic item.

For DR purposes, it effectively has a +7 enhancement bonus against its chosen foe, which means it effectively has a +6 or greater enhancement bonus against its chosen foe, which means it effectively bypasses DR X/Epic against its chosen foe.

-Hyp.

I see the logic behind your thinking, but I'm not going to let a nonEpic weapon bypass Epic damage reduction. it just doesn't work for me.

I guess that's why UltimaGabe considers it a issue with some debate, not everyone seems to agree. Not even on this one thread.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Follow-up question:

You have a +1 Dragon-bane longsword. Your 20th level cleric buddy casts Greater Magic weapon on your sword. Is your sword +7 (and thus Epic) vs. Dragons?

Yep.

In that case, the sword either has a +1 Enhancement bonus (from being a magic sword) or a +5 Enhancement bonus (from the spell).

Whichever it ends up with is increased by +2 against dragons.

I guess that's why UltimaGabe considers it a issue with some debate, not everyone seems to agree. Not even on this one thread.

Well, the fact that someone might say that William Howard Taft is the current President of United States doesn't mean that there's any meaningful debate about who's currently in the Oval Office ... if you catch my drift.

And "Not everyone seems to agree" is basically limited to him. So ...