Post/Author/DateTime	Post
dengarbountyhunter 06-15-07, 12:09 PM	M'kay, the main point is: "are brilliant energy weapons COMPLETELY brilliant energy?". Because if they ARE, as was stated in another thread a while ago, there would be a huge number of brilliant energy weapons at the center of the Earth (since they pass through nonliving material, such as soil and rock). And you'd have trouble storing them... you would have to grow mold on the inside of your scabbard or something. If they are NOT, well the same thing would happen, but they would be prevented from going through everything by their pommel, haft, whatever. But you'd still poke your hip with a sword that only hangs by its hilt in the scabbard.
dengarbountyhunter 06-15-07, 12:12 PM	WTF? double post... Ah, I must have pressed "quote" instead of "edit"... and not seen the "quote" tags while editting.
kreesteeyan 06-15-07, 12:12 PM	You can deactivate the brilliant energy property.
Majick 06-15-07, 12:27 PM	I'm pretty sure it's only the blade or head or whatever of a weapon, not the handle, so your fine, and as stated, any enchantement (unless cursed) can usually be turned off at will
dragonseth 06-15-07, 12:29 PM	You can deactivate the brilliant energy property. I don't believe you can deactivate Brilliant Energy. It's always on. The abilities like Flaming, et cetera, say "on command" they are sheathed in their respective energies. This has no such entry.
kreesteeyan 06-15-07, 12:47 PM	It might be an oversight in case of brilliant energy and it is not unreasonable to rule that brilliant energy property can be deactivated. It makes more sense right? ;) However, if any one wants to go as RAW, here you go: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/magicWeapons.htm Activation Usually a character benefits from a magic weapon in the same way a character benefits from a mundane weapon—by attacking with it. If a weapon has a special ability that the user needs to activate then the user usually needs to utter a command word (a standard action). So a brilliant energy is activated when you are attacking and deactivated when you are not attacking. Thus, brilliant energy weapons can be put in a sheath, do not fall directly to the center of the planet when disarmed, etc etc. I guess allowing brilliant energy to get deactivated is more sensible. ^__^
dengarbountyhunter 06-15-07, 12:48 PM	I wouldn't mind houseruling that they can be turned off. But as far as the actual rules go, what about the two questions I asked in the beginning?
goawayugh 06-15-07, 12:57 PM	Brilliant Energy (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/magicWeapons.htm) A brilliant energy weapon has its significant portion transformed into light, although this does not modify the item’s weight. It always gives off light as a torch (20-foot radius). A brilliant energy weapon ignores nonliving matter. Armor and shield bonuses to AC (including any enhancement bonuses to that armor) do not count against it because the weapon passes through armor. (Dexterity, deflection, dodge, natural armor, and other such bonuses still apply.) A brilliant energy weapon cannot harm undead, constructs, and objects. This property can only be applied to melee weapons, thrown weapons, and ammunition. 1: Only the blade, axe head, etc... is brilliant energy. 2: You can't turn it off.
mvincent 06-15-07, 01:03 PM	"are brilliant energy weapons COMPLETELY brilliant energy?". No. From the rules (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/magicWeapons.htm#brilliantEnergy): "A brilliant energy weapon has its significant portion transformed into light" you'd still poke your hip with a sword that only hangs by its hilt in the scabbard.The concept has been discussed before, but it didn't seem worthwhile to dwell on. Presumeably, the designers knew how to work-around this.
goawayugh 06-15-07, 01:05 PM	If they are NOT, well the same thing would happen, but they would be prevented from going through everything by their pommel, haft, whatever. But you'd still poke your hip with a sword that only hangs by its hilt in the scabbard. Another thought: Don't scabbards usually have leather on the outside? Leather is an organic material.
mvincent 06-15-07, 01:07 PM	Leather is an organic material.Do you believe a brilliant energy weapon would not bypass leather armor? From the rules: "A brilliant energy weapon ignores nonliving matter."
kreesteeyan 06-15-07, 01:12 PM	And also, corporeal undeads? 1: Only the blade, axe head, etc... is brilliant energy. How about the haft? The axe head would fall since it would "ignore" the haft. ;)
Knightblde 06-15-07, 01:15 PM	And Undead
goawayugh 06-15-07, 01:16 PM	You know what? I just realized that it says "nonliving" matter, not "organic" matter. I've been misinterpreting stuff a lot today, and posting stupid advice. I think I'm done posting for today. Apparently I can't think.
dragonseth 06-15-07, 01:21 PM	And also, corporeal undeads? How about the haft? The axe head would fall since it would "ignore" the haft. ;) It's magic.:D
dengarbountyhunter 06-15-07, 01:22 PM	Against undead, a brilliant energy axe would work as a club since only the haft hits them :).
kreesteeyan 06-15-07, 01:30 PM	LOL. But the head would fall off to the center of the planet right? Now you have a mundane haft worth 50k+.
dengarbountyhunter 06-15-07, 02:17 PM	Hey, that's true. Why doesn't the "significant part" fall off? Because it's the whole weapon that is enhanced, probably.
Pentar 06-15-07, 02:18 PM	Hmm... So... is it more difficult to Sunder a Brilliant Energy weapon??
tarkin 06-15-07, 02:30 PM	Hm. Well, a portion of it is immune, but the rest is kind of left open. I.E. the place where it ceases to be brilliant does not have the standard surface treatments that help protect forged iron. And there is no special rule in the DMG. Conclusion: It is just as hard to sunder a brilliant weapon as any other.
Pentar 06-15-07, 02:54 PM	Hm. Well, a portion of it is immune, but the rest is kind of left open. I.E. the place where it ceases to be brilliant does not have the standard surface treatments that help protect forged iron. And there is no special rule in the DMG. Conclusion: It is just as hard to sunder a brilliant weapon as any other. It may depend on the weapon though... Brilliant Energy whips, Spiked chains... and really, even Swords, may be a lot harder to sunder. If we consider that most of the sword's blade is energy, then the only thing to sunder is the hilt... and that's being grasped by the opponent. It'd be pretty hard to argue that striking the guard of a blade would be sufficient to render the weapon ineffective (unlike snapping a sword blade in half or cutting off the haft of a spear). But by RAW, I guess you're right... Just another "one of those things" regarding Brilliant Energy weapons :D I'm sort of glad we've never ever seen one in our campaigns before! :D