Sunder & Weapon Special Abilities

[Dax Doomslayer]

Hi All,
I was just curious as to what people thought about this. Does a weapon's special ability (i.e. bane; flaming; defending etc.) add to a weapon/shield/items hardness & hit points and is it used in the calculation determining if the weapon may damage a particular item via the sunder rule? It looks like it doesn't as per p. 222 of the DMG from what I can as it specifically says 'enhancement bonus' but I figured I'd ask the question. Thanks!

 

[Sithobi1]

There's no longer a rule that an weapon can only be damaged by another weapon with an equal or higher enhancement bonus, but otherwise, you're correct. Only enhancement bonus increases hardness/hp.

 

[Dax Doomslayer]

Thanks Sithobi1 - that's what I thought. However as to there not being a rule about the weapon only being damaged by another of an equal or greater enhancement bonus, it actually is stated on p. 222 of the DMG. It states: 'An attacker cannot damage a magic weapon that has an ehancement bonuse unless his own weapon has at least as high an enhancement bonus as the weapon or shield struck'. Was this errated somewhere or something? I appreciate the input. Thanks!

 

[Sithobi1]

Yeah, if you're looking at the 3.5 version, it's a mistaken reprint.

 

[RigaMortus2]

Tada

Hardness and Hit Points
Dungeon Master’s Guide, page 222
Problem: The first paragraph is not consistent information for shields on page 217.
Solution: Delete the first sentence after and change the next sentence to read as follows: Each +1 of enhancement bonus adds 2 to a weapon’s shield’s hardness and +10 to its hit points.

 

[Christian]

Thanks Sithobi1 - that's what I thought. However as to there not being a rule about the weapon only being damaged by another of an equal or greater enhancement bonus, it actually is stated on p. 222 of the DMG. It states: 'An attacker cannot damage a magic weapon that has an ehancement bonuse unless his own weapon has at least as high an enhancement bonus as the weapon or shield struck'. Was this errated somewhere or something? I appreciate the input. Thanks!

Yes, this is at the top of page 2 of the DMG errata document.

 

[Dax Doomslayer]

Thanks folks - I appreciate it. Although I wonder why WOTC decided to change this. Logically speaking (kind of funny talking logic about make believe but what the hey) I would think that a non-magical weapon should not be able to sunder a magical weapon. Granted it would be tougher to do so due to the increased hardness and hit points of the item but it is possible - especially if you have giants and such doing power attacks on weapons. Can anyone think of a reason for this just out of curiousity? Thanks again for pointing me to the errata!

 

[Twowolves]

Granted it would be tougher to do so due to the increased hardness and hit points of the item but it is possible - especially if you have giants and such doing power attacks on weapons. Can anyone think of a reason for this just out of curiousity? Thanks again for pointing me to the errata!

I think you answered your own question there.....