Regarding Enhancement Bonuses on Weapons

[Infiniti2000]

Enhancement bonuses on weapons come from one of the following sources:

1. Natural enhancement (masterwork, what were you thinking?)
2. Magical enhancement (per crafting)
3. Magical enhancement (spell like magic weapon or greater magic weapon)

Another recent thread brought up the idea that the enhancement bonus from a (temporary, non-crafting) magical spell adds hardness and hit points to the weapon. But, is that really so?

The section on Magic Weapons says:

Hardness and Hit Points
Each +1 of enhancement bonus adds 2 to a weapon’s or shield’s hardness and +10 to its hit points.

It's pretty vague about which type of enhancement bonus it is referring to. It clearly at least refers to #2 because that is the section of the rules in which the quote is found. Since it is not found in the magic weapon spell description or in the section on masterwork weapons, it should not apply in those cases.

So, is my interpretation right? I can see either my interpretation being right or by allowing the masterwork enhancement to increase hardness and hit points. Note that I am operating under the assumption that the non-magical masterwork weapon does have an enhancement bonus (as noted in the magical weapon section and referred thusly in other places), not just that it grants an enhancement bonus when wielded.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Does a sword under the effects of a GMW spell cast by a 20th-level caster have an enhancement bonus?

How much?

What is the effect of having an enhancement bonus on on hardness and hitpoints?

 

[Infiniti2000]

What is the effect of having an enhancement bonus on on hardness and hitpoints?

That's my question. I'm looking for the answer for all three cases (or really, the two that are vague).

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

That's my question. I'm looking for the answer for all three cases (or really, the two that are vague).

My answer is that the rules don't stipulate any such distinction. Therefore, there's no distinction.

There is especially no distinction between the results of a GMW spell and a crafted weapon.

 

[Infiniti2000]

So then do you also grant extra hardness and hit points for the masterwork enhancement bonus? There's no distinction there either. It doesn't stipulate magical enhancement bonus.

But anyway, thanks for the response. You've confirmed that I haven't missed anything. So I think that my interpretation that the spells do not add hardness or hit points is just as valid as adding them. At least I think it would be more valid that way than to add hardness/hp for the spells but not masterwork.

 

[Hypersmurf]

It's pretty vague about which type of enhancement bonus it is referring to. It clearly at least refers to #2 because that is the section of the rules in which the quote is found. Since it is not found in the magic weapon spell description or in the section on masterwork weapons, it should not apply in those cases.

From the 'Breaking and Entering' section:

Magic Armor, Shields, and Weapons: Each +1 of enhancement bonus adds 2 to the hardness of armor, a weapon, or a shield and +10 to the item’s hit points.

It's not only found in the magic items section.

But even here, it falls under the subheading of 'Magic Weapons', so it could easily be argued that a nonmagical masterwork weapon does not benefit. A GMW'd weapon, however, is a magic weapon with an enhancement bonus, so the rule applies.

-Hyp.

 

[Hypersmurf]

You've confirmed that I haven't missed anything.

I disagree

-Hyp.

 

[Infiniti2000]

But even here, it falls under the subheading of 'Magic Weapons', so it could easily be argued that a nonmagical masterwork weapon does not benefit. A GMW'd weapon, however, is a magic weapon with an enhancement bonus, so the rule applies.

A non-magical item with a spell on it is not a magical item. A weapon with GMW is therefore not a magical weapon. It's a non-magical weapon with a spell on it. Not only is this important in this case but also for area effect dispel magic.

So, that clause of +2 hardness and +10 hitpoints, from either location, does not apply for GMW or MW.

 

[Hypersmurf]

A non-magical item with a spell on it is not a magical item. A weapon with GMW is therefore not a magical weapon. It's a non-magical weapon with a spell on it. Not only is this important in this case but also for area effect dispel magic.

There's a definition for magic weapons, found in the DMG under Damage Reduction:

Damage reduction may be overcome by special materials, by magic weapons (any weapon with a +1 or higher enhancement bonus, not counting the enhancement from masterwork quality), ...

A weapon with GMW is a weapon with a +1 or higher enhancement bonus, not counting the enhancement from masterwork quality; it is, therefore, a magic weapon.

Whether or not it's a magical item is irrelevant.

-Hyp.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

A non-magical item with a spell on it is not a magical item. A weapon with GMW is therefore not a magical weapon.

Defend this assertion.

EDIT: Hyp answered better than I did.