Swinging an axe against a wall of stone

[trentonjoe]

IF a PC tries to break through a wall of stone with a weapon are there rules for doing damage to the weapon?

For example, a wall of stone conjured by a 9th level mage has 30 hit points and a hardness of 8. A Pc could break through this with an axe (or sword or mace) with a dozen or so swings if he/she has a decent enough strength and roll well. Would such actions damage their weapon?

Does it matter if it is a bludgeoning, or slashing weapon?

Thanks in advance.

 

[smetzger]

For example, a wall of stone conjured by a 9th level mage has 30 hit points and a hardness of 8. A Pc could break through this with an axe (or sword or mace) with a dozen or so swings if he/she has a decent enough strength and roll well. Would such actions damage their weapon?

No damage to their weapon by the rules. But then they would have only made a small hole in the wall.

Does it matter if it is a bludgeoning, or slashing weapon?

Nope

 

[kreynolds]

Re: Re: Swinging an axe against a wall of stone

No damage to their weapon by the rules. But then they would have only made a small hole in the wall.

According to the Stronghold Builder's Guidebook, and the DMG (page 107), they would have made a 10 foot by 10 foot hole in the wall. That's not very small.

 

[kreynolds]

Does it matter if it is a bludgeoning, or slashing weapon?

More than likely. See page 135 of the PH, Ineffective Weapons.

 

[shilsen]

According to the Stronghold Builder's Guidebook, and the DMG (page 107), they would have made a 10 foot by 10 foot hole in the wall. That's not very small.

True, but that's for normal walls (well, the DMG is - I don't have the other). This question was in reference to the spell Wall of Stone, where the hp is given per 5 ft by 5 ft section. So it would be a lot smaller than the 10 x 10 hole, albeit large enough for a medium sized creature to get through.

 

[trentonjoe]

albeit

First of all, I just love that word. I applaud you in your mastery of the English language. However, I digest.

Back to topic, to sum up all three of the esteemed posters, swinging an axe against a stone wall will do no damage to the axe whatsoever.

Hmmmm.

 

[hammymchamham]

However, I digest.

Do you mean digress? I'm glad your digester tract is healthy though.

 

[kreynolds]

True, but that's for normal walls (well, the DMG is - I don't have the other). This question was in reference to the spell Wall of Stone, where the hp is given per 5 ft by 5 ft section. So it would be a lot smaller than the 10 x 10 hole, albeit large enough for a medium sized creature to get through.

How very strange. In the spell descrip, its every 5x5 section. Everywhere else, its every 10x10 section. Even stranger is that if you make it part of something else, its suddenly 10x10 and not 5x5. In fact, its not even a special wall. Its just a stone wall. How very inconsistent indeed.

 

[shilsen]

First of all, I just love that word. I applaud you in your mastery of the English language. However, I digest.

Thanks. I'm an Indian (English Ph.D. student) who gets paid for teaching English to American freshmen. Let's just say mastery of the language is a survival trait here

And you're right. No damage to a weapon attacking a wall (magical or otherwise). Probably not realistic as we know it, but I guess it takes one unnecessary (to me) bookkeeping aspect out of the game, and if I do need to deal with the question in-game, I can eyeball it.

 

[Henry]

Thanks. I'm an Indian (English Ph.D. student) who gets paid for teaching English to American freshmen. Let's just say mastery of the language is a survival trait here

And you're right. No damage to a weapon attacking a wall (magical or otherwise). Probably not realistic as we know it, but I guess it takes one unnecessary (to me) bookkeeping aspect out of the game, and if I do need to deal with the question in-game, I can eyeball it.

Yeah, I must admit that realism takes a back seat here, since breaking through a stone wall with an axe in anything less than a year's time and a steady supply of axes really strains my plausibility-circuits. However, without making the system too complex, I would have to say that the hit points and hardness needs to be for a much smaller area than what is given. I'm silly this way, but I can rationalize men flinging balls of fire and lightning, and a 100 foot beast that flies through the air and exhales energies and acids, but I can't visualize anyone simply breaking through a stone wall with anything other than a wrecking ball or time.