Brilliant Energy Weapon [Archive] - Wizards Community

Brilliant Energy Weapon [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ahbah
10-02-06, 02:58 PM Can anyone tell me more about putting brilliant energy on a sword. The descrption claims that it goes through non living matter. Steel Shields and Steel Armor would have no effect. What about leather? It was once alive? Except that undead creatures were also once alive and the the description of brilliant energy states that it can not harm them. So does it go through leather? And what about natural armor? most Natural Armor would also be non living matter.
tarkin
10-02-06, 03:01 PM It goes through all dead stuff, including leather armor as well as undead.

Natural armor is considered to be still alive, as it is physically attached to a living creature, even if the individual cells are dead.

Note, that it is NOT the entire weapon that ignores non-living matter - just the edge/tip.

This specifically means you can't ignore cover. While the tip/edge goes through that tree/stone wall, it can't go deep enough to bite into the target.
utilitarian
10-02-06, 04:09 PM And, I might add, it says SPECIFICALLY what it does in the description

Brilliant Energy

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.
That's pretty clear to me.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ahbah 10-02-06, 02:58 PM	Can anyone tell me more about putting brilliant energy on a sword. The descrption claims that it goes through non living matter. Steel Shields and Steel Armor would have no effect. What about leather? It was once alive? Except that undead creatures were also once alive and the the description of brilliant energy states that it can not harm them. So does it go through leather? And what about natural armor? most Natural Armor would also be non living matter.
tarkin 10-02-06, 03:01 PM	It goes through all dead stuff, including leather armor as well as undead. Natural armor is considered to be still alive, as it is physically attached to a living creature, even if the individual cells are dead. Note, that it is NOT the entire weapon that ignores non-living matter - just the edge/tip. This specifically means you can't ignore cover. While the tip/edge goes through that tree/stone wall, it can't go deep enough to bite into the target.
utilitarian 10-02-06, 04:09 PM	And, I might add, it says SPECIFICALLY what it does in the description Brilliant Energy 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. That's pretty clear to me.