What school of magic does a normal enhancement belong to?

[Malecentaur]

In my campaign, when you use Detect magic to see magical auras, I describe the colours an aura has and the shapes it takes, which gives the players clues as to what kind of magical effect they are facing. Every school has a specific colour of magic. All spells and all of the magic items that are described individually have a descriptor of the magical aura they radiate or the school they belong to: evocation, transmutation and such.

I cannot find the school that a normal +1 enhancement belongs to though. Transmutation sounds the most logical choice, but I wanted to check. All comments are welcome!

 

[Eltanin]

I'm pretty sure it is in fact transmutation. That's what magic weapon is, and I think that the enhancement is essentially just a permanent version of same.

 

[Thanee]

What enhancement? There are several.

Enhancement to a weapon (attack/damage) = Evocation
Enhancement to an armor (armor) = Abjuration
Enhancement to natural armor = Transmutation
Enhancement to an ability = Transmutation

Bye
Thanee

 

[RigaMortus2]

As Thanee said

Magic Items and Detect Magic
When detect magic identifies a magic item’s school of magic, this information refers to the school of the spell placed within the potion, scroll, or wand, or the prerequisite given for the item. The description of each item provides its aura strength and the school it belongs to.
If more than one spell is given as a prerequisite, use the highest-level spell. If no spells are included in the prerequisites, use the following default guidelines.

Armor and protection items = Abjuration
Weapons or offensive items = Evocation
Bonus to ability score, on skill check, etc. = Transmutation

 

[taliesin15]

plus if the enhancement is so normal that its rather mundane, why not Universalist?

 

[Nonlethal Force]

As others have said - you need to figure out the spell used to give an item its enhancement. Once you find out that spell, that'll tell you which school it comes from. If you are using WotC material they list all the spells needed for crafting items. If it is a homebrew item, find a spell that is similar to the effect of the item and use that spell.

 

[Hypersmurf]

As others have said - you need to figure out the spell used to give an item its enhancement.

Not if it's an enhancement bonus to weapons, armor, or shield... as others have said.

Those are defined in the DMG.

-Hyp.

 

[Malecentaur]

I'm pretty sure it is in fact transmutation. That's what magic weapon is, and I think that the enhancement is essentially just a permanent version of same.

Thank you, I shouldn't have overlooked that. :\

Thanee states that evocation would be more logical for weapons and abjuration for armor.
Evocation means summoning up a force, which isn't the case here. In my view, that would apply only to such enhancements as Frostbrands and Flaming Swords, which have a magical force added to them.
I would have gone for abjuration if Eltanin's post had not reminded me of the spells (Greater) Magic Weapon and Magic Vestment, which give the +1 to +5 enhancement bonuses I refer to and which belong to the Transmutation schools. (And which have never been used in our campaigns yet, for which reason I forgot about them).

Thank you everyone!

 

[Hypersmurf]

Thanee states that evocation would be more logical for weapons and abjuration for armor.

Thanee's not saying evocation is more logical.

Thanee's saying that if you open your DMG to the Magic Items chapter, and look for the paragraph with the subheading "Magic Items and Detect Magic", it states in black and white that weapons or offensive items with no spell prerequisites have an Evocation aura.

A wizard, a cleric, a ranger, a druid, a paladin, or a sorcerer can all craft a +1 sword, whether or not they have the Magic Weapon spell; the spell is not a prerequisite. All they need is a high enough caster level and the Craft Magic Arms and Armor feat. A +1 sword has no spell prerequisites; as such, it radiates Evocation. Not Transmutation.

-Hyp.

 

[Sejs]

Straight, nude enhancement bonus on a weapon (i.e. a +1 longsword) - transmutation.


Reasoning: the Magic Weapon spell is a transmutation.