Brilliant Energy and DR [Archive] - Wizards Community

Brilliant Energy and DR [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Darth Sephiroth
10-04-07, 02:23 AM One of my players wanted to know if a Brilliant Energy weapon still retains its base materials ability to pass DR. For instance a Cold Iron weapon with Brilliant Energy used against an armored Fey. I'm just not sure how to handle this because if it does negate it, then they don't want to bother with the special materials on it and wanted to know before spending gold.
Radijs
10-04-07, 04:02 AM A brilliant cold iron weapon will still penetrate DR yes.

Its wonky logic but the weapon retains the properties of the metal that its made from.
ShinAkuma2
10-04-07, 10:11 AM A Brilliant Energy Cold Iron weapon is still Cold Iron. It doesn't stop being metal just because it's magically altered.
Rymosrac
10-04-07, 10:16 AM Here's a question, though. Does a brilliant energy weapon bypass the DR given by adamantine armor? By RAW, there's nothing saying it will. But since the DR is given by the hardness of the armor, and a briliiant weapon bypasses armor, logic MIGHT suggest that the adamantine Dr wouldn't apply. Weird judgment call for the DM on that one.
Vharuck
10-04-07, 11:01 AM Here's a question, though. Does a brilliant energy weapon bypass the DR given by adamantine armor? By RAW, there's nothing saying it will. But since the DR is given by the hardness of the armor, and a briliiant weapon bypasses armor, logic MIGHT suggest that the adamantine Dr wouldn't apply. Weird judgment call for the DM on that one.

That was what I immediately wondered after reading the OP, too.

If I were DM, I'd rule that it does bypass DR granted by an armor. But it seems that, per RAW, it doesn't.
Nezkrul
10-04-07, 03:07 PM correct, by RAW it doesn't. If you and your players dislike that, change it :)
Knightblde
10-04-07, 03:45 PM A Brilliant Energy Cold Iron weapon is still Cold Iron. It doesn't stop being metal just because it's magically altered.

Actually, it does stop being metal. It becomes brilliant energy. If it was metal it would still effect undead and constructs.

I think I would rule that it does ignore adamantine DR because the armor is giving the DR and the armor is ignored.

A brilliant cold iron weapon will still penetrate DR yes.

Its wonky logic but the weapon retains the properties of the metal that its made from.

This statement is not completely true either. I am not sure what the offical ruling is as far as it going through DR, but you do not keep all the properties of the base material. For instance, you cannot sunder a weapon with a brilliant energy weapon. Therefore an Adamantine Brilliant Energy weapon cannot ingore hardness when breaking a weapon.

This is a good question, I await the opinions of others 'cause I don't have an answer.
Platstud
10-04-07, 04:30 PM For instance, you cannot sunder a weapon with a brilliant energy weapon. Therefore an Adamantine Brilliant Energy weapon cannot ingore hardness when breaking a weapon.

What are you, on crack? It ignores hardness. Heck, it ignores the entire weapon, including the hardness.
groveborn
10-04-07, 06:43 PM I don't believe that there is sufficient evidence in the DMG to indicate that the base material is altered in any way. The weapon becomes "Briliant Energy" and all, but it does not lose any properties by the text. It gains the ability to ignore nonliving things, thus bypassing armor and other things, while losing the ability to harm undead and objects.

Since the text does not explicitly state that the weapon loses it's base properties, I'd have to say that a cold iron weapon, Adamantine weapon, and silver weapons all still bypass DR based on that.

As for bypassing DR from Adamantine armor, yes. The armor provides the DR, and bypassing the armor would bypass the DR. Adamantine does not convey some sort of magical protection, just really good hit absorption. The rules don't come out and say it in bolded text, but it's a simple step of logic.

The rules also don't come out and say it, but if you get your head chopped off, you die. It's only implied.
yrogerg
10-04-07, 09:07 PM The rules also don't come out and say it, but if you get your head chopped off, you die. It's only implied.

Some creatures, such as many aberrations and all oozes, have no heads. Others, such as golems and undead creatures other than vampires, are not affected by the loss of their heads. Most other creatures, however, die when their heads are cut off.

...whoops. :P

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Darth Sephiroth 10-04-07, 02:23 AM	One of my players wanted to know if a Brilliant Energy weapon still retains its base materials ability to pass DR. For instance a Cold Iron weapon with Brilliant Energy used against an armored Fey. I'm just not sure how to handle this because if it does negate it, then they don't want to bother with the special materials on it and wanted to know before spending gold.
Radijs 10-04-07, 04:02 AM	A brilliant cold iron weapon will still penetrate DR yes. Its wonky logic but the weapon retains the properties of the metal that its made from.
ShinAkuma2 10-04-07, 10:11 AM	A Brilliant Energy Cold Iron weapon is still Cold Iron. It doesn't stop being metal just because it's magically altered.
Rymosrac 10-04-07, 10:16 AM	Here's a question, though. Does a brilliant energy weapon bypass the DR given by adamantine armor? By RAW, there's nothing saying it will. But since the DR is given by the hardness of the armor, and a briliiant weapon bypasses armor, logic MIGHT suggest that the adamantine Dr wouldn't apply. Weird judgment call for the DM on that one.
Vharuck 10-04-07, 11:01 AM	Here's a question, though. Does a brilliant energy weapon bypass the DR given by adamantine armor? By RAW, there's nothing saying it will. But since the DR is given by the hardness of the armor, and a briliiant weapon bypasses armor, logic MIGHT suggest that the adamantine Dr wouldn't apply. Weird judgment call for the DM on that one. That was what I immediately wondered after reading the OP, too. If I were DM, I'd rule that it does bypass DR granted by an armor. But it seems that, per RAW, it doesn't.
Nezkrul 10-04-07, 03:07 PM	correct, by RAW it doesn't. If you and your players dislike that, change it :)
Knightblde 10-04-07, 03:45 PM	A Brilliant Energy Cold Iron weapon is still Cold Iron. It doesn't stop being metal just because it's magically altered. Actually, it does stop being metal. It becomes brilliant energy. If it was metal it would still effect undead and constructs. I think I would rule that it does ignore adamantine DR because the armor is giving the DR and the armor is ignored. A brilliant cold iron weapon will still penetrate DR yes. Its wonky logic but the weapon retains the properties of the metal that its made from. This statement is not completely true either. I am not sure what the offical ruling is as far as it going through DR, but you do not keep all the properties of the base material. For instance, you cannot sunder a weapon with a brilliant energy weapon. Therefore an Adamantine Brilliant Energy weapon cannot ingore hardness when breaking a weapon. This is a good question, I await the opinions of others 'cause I don't have an answer.
Platstud 10-04-07, 04:30 PM	For instance, you cannot sunder a weapon with a brilliant energy weapon. Therefore an Adamantine Brilliant Energy weapon cannot ingore hardness when breaking a weapon. What are you, on crack? It ignores hardness. Heck, it ignores the entire weapon, including the hardness.
groveborn 10-04-07, 06:43 PM	I don't believe that there is sufficient evidence in the DMG to indicate that the base material is altered in any way. The weapon becomes "Briliant Energy" and all, but it does not lose any properties by the text. It gains the ability to ignore nonliving things, thus bypassing armor and other things, while losing the ability to harm undead and objects. Since the text does not explicitly state that the weapon loses it's base properties, I'd have to say that a cold iron weapon, Adamantine weapon, and silver weapons all still bypass DR based on that. As for bypassing DR from Adamantine armor, yes. The armor provides the DR, and bypassing the armor would bypass the DR. Adamantine does not convey some sort of magical protection, just really good hit absorption. The rules don't come out and say it in bolded text, but it's a simple step of logic. The rules also don't come out and say it, but if you get your head chopped off, you die. It's only implied.
yrogerg 10-04-07, 09:07 PM	The rules also don't come out and say it, but if you get your head chopped off, you die. It's only implied. Some creatures, such as many aberrations and all oozes, have no heads. Others, such as golems and undead creatures other than vampires, are not affected by the loss of their heads. Most other creatures, however, die when their heads are cut off. ...whoops. :P