Sundering (I'm want to make sure I understand)

[3d6]

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

Yup.

 

[Nail]

Huh!

 

[Jack of Shadows]

It's easy to overlook 3.0 rules when discussing 3.5 rules.

I read it straight out of the 3.5 DMG. Very first paragraph on page 222 under Hardness and Hit Points. I was overzealous in including shields however as they do not seem to have the same benefit.

Jack

 

[Jack of Shadows]

Quote:
Originally Posted by DMG Errata
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 the
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.

Yup.

Eh?

Now it doesn't make sense in the terms of the Shatterspike magic weapon. Would have made much more sense to ADD the first line to the description of shields.

Jack

 

[SteveC]

Might I make a suggestion?
Any time sundering comes up in a campaign, I think it's a good idea to discuss the implications with your players. As a GM it is FAR easier to break a weapon than the character underneath it, (especially with the errata to the sundering rules, which to my mind were a very bad idea). So yes, sundering is a GREAT option. In my opinion, it is also not a very FUN option. Characters become attached to the weapons they use, especially if they have a history and story behind them. As a GM, the question becomes is it fun to break weapons?

Now if a player came to me and wanted to start sundering weapons, I'd ask the same question: will that make the game more fun for you? Sundering is a very effective trick for characters to take out high level fighters or clerics (sunder the holy symbol!) but using it consistently becomes annoying very fast (IMHO).

So give that a thought before you proceed.

--Steve

 

[Hypersmurf]

Now it doesn't make sense in the terms of the Shatterspike magic weapon. Would have made much more sense to ADD the first line to the description of shields.

Shatterspike's ability is not incorrect, it's just redundant. It's a cut'n'paste holdover from when it was published in Sword and Fist, I'm guessing, in 3E.

As long as you can beat the hardness, you can eventually break a +5 greatsword with a rusty handaxe. But it'll take a while.

-Hyp.

 

[Thaniel]

I've always thought there should be a rule for reverse sundering. Like if your weapon has lower hardness than the target object AND you fail to overcome hardness with your damage roll, the damage is instead applied to your own weapon (not sure whether your own weapons hardness should apply at this point or not).

 

[Question]

Most players ive found are leary of missing out on loot.

 

[Snowy]

yeah this thread is pretty much highlighting my concerns, will it make the game less fun.

I think I need to think - I want to encourage good tactics and fully intend to have their bows shattered at some point which will drop the damage out put of the party immensely (I also plan to have the bards tree tent support ropes cut but thats another matter). Removing sunder removes some tactical options which I don't like it also makes running hydras harder and I do like Hydras and pyro hydras and cryo hydras and templated mad abomination hydras.

If people have more comments please post - input is always gratefully received.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

yeah this thread is pretty much highlighting my concerns, will it make the game less fun.

I think I need to think - I want to encourage good tactics and fully intend to have their bows shattered at some point which will drop the damage out put of the party immensely (I also plan to have the bards tree tent support ropes cut but thats another matter). Removing sunder removes some tactical options which I don't like it also makes running hydras harder and I do like Hydras and pyro hydras and cryo hydras and templated mad abomination hydras.

If people have more comments please post - input is always gratefully received.

I think there aren't so many problems with it. Many enemies (monsters) don't have weapons to sunder (or disarm). NPCs with weapons will suffer a bit, but remember - every point of damage going into a weapon is a point of damage the NPC didn't have to suffer, and possibly a extra round he survives. This can be very important when fighting multiple enemies - the sunder-victim eats up time, while the rest can hurt the party...

Don't overuse it as the DM (just like any other tactic), but don't ignore it either. Sometimes it can also be fun to have two "dedicated sunderers" fighting it out...