Brilliant energy whip? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Brilliant energy whip? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ArcanaMaster
07-23-06, 04:58 PM Would a briliant energy whip deal damage to creatures in armor?
Whip: A whip deals nonlethal damage. It deals no damage to any creature with an armor bonus of +1 or higher or a natural armor bonus of +3 or higher. The whip is treated as a melee weapon with 15-foot reach, though you don’t threaten the area into which you can make an attack. In addition, unlike most other weapons with reach, you can use it against foes anywhere within your reach (including adjacent foes).
Using a whip provokes an attack of opportunity, just as if you had used a ranged weapon.
You can make trip attacks with a whip. If you are tripped during your own trip attempt, you can drop the whip to avoid being tripped.
When using a whip, you get a +2 bonus on opposed attack rolls made to disarm an opponent (including the roll to keep from being disarmed if the attack fails).
You can use the Weapon Finesse feat to apply your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier to attack rolls with a whip sized for you, even though it isn’t a light weapon for you.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 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.
Strong transmutation; CL 16th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, gaseous form, continual flame; Price +4 bonus.
utilitarian
07-23-06, 05:12 PM I don't see why that wouldn't work, although it still doesn't help Natural Armor (which is usually the bigger problem in my experience)

A better solution is just to use a Whip-knife instead in my experience.
JiCi
07-23-06, 05:16 PM I don't see why that wouldn't work, although it still doesn't help Natural Armor (which is usually the bigger problem in my experience)

A better solution is just to use a Whip-knife instead in my experience.A brillant energy whip-dagger is even better :P

A brillant energy whip would still deal non-lethal damage even if passes through armor.
ArcanaMaster
07-23-06, 05:26 PM Vorpal whip.
savant_warlord13
07-23-06, 06:33 PM Vorpal whip.
Doesn't help if you can't even deal damage, does it?

What about balor whips? Are they only awesome if balors wield them?
_Chaz_
07-23-06, 06:39 PM They blow up when the Balor dies...

and I can't see you buying one or stealing one...

And a Vorpal Whip would be fun...

an amusing way to keep your slaves on edge...
utilitarian
07-23-06, 06:45 PM They blow up when the Balor dies...

and I can't see you buying one or stealing one...

And a Vorpal Whip would be fun...

an amusing way to keep your slaves on edge...

Unless you disarm the Balor in question prior to his death *grin*

Also note that Brilliant Energy prevents you from effecting Undead and Constructs. It's only really useful in a largely humanoid to humanoid campaign where you can be reasonably sure your enemies will be wearing a substancial amount of heavy armor. It provides little benefit against light armor and nothing for natural armor.
ArcanaMaster
07-23-06, 08:47 PM Doesn't help if you can't even deal damage, does it?Vorpal says nothing about dealing damage.Vorpal: This potent and feared ability allows the weapon to sever the heads of those it strikes. Upon a roll of natural 20 (followed by a successful roll to confirm the critical hit), the weapon severs the opponent’s head (if it has one) from its body. 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. A vorpal weapon must be a slashing weapon. (If you roll this property randomly for an inappropriate weapon, reroll.)
Strong necromancy and transmutation; CL 18th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, circle of death, keen edge; Price +5 bonus.
shift244
07-23-06, 09:42 PM Also note that Brilliant Energy prevents you from effecting Undead and Constructs.Considering that the whip does not normally deal lethal damage, it's not the most effective weapon against those creature types anyway. Removing the the option to deal lethal damage all together does not seem like too much of a difference.. as you would have prepared a weapon to deal with those creatures. You have, haven't you?
utilitarian
07-23-06, 09:57 PM Considering that the whip does not normally deal lethal damage, it's not the most effective weapon against those creature types anyway. Removing the the option to deal lethal damage all together does not seem like too much of a difference.. as you would have prepared a weapon to deal with those creatures. You have, haven't you?

I view the whip as a TOOL. Even if it cannot damage the undead in question, you could have still used it to trip or disarm them. With Brilliant Energy on the Whip, it simply passes through the skeleton's leg or weapon with no effect.

I'm quite fond of a rogue with a Rapier in one hand and a whip in the other. Disarm or trip your foe as he closes, then move in for the kill with your rapier. Never need to even consider doing damage with the whip.
RLRapp
07-24-06, 11:25 PM just make it a Shocking Brilliant energy whip. 1d6 electric damage + the whip's nonlethal.
shift244
07-25-06, 02:34 AM Good point, utilitarian..... I wasn't thinking too much of it as a tool, given the case at hand.
DoomSquirrel718
08-14-06, 08:03 AM I discovered this thread and noticed nobody disagreed with it so here I go.

The Brilliant Energy description in the 3.5 DMG pg.224 suggests that only metal weapons can be used with said magical ability.

"...its significant portion-such as its blade, axe head, or arrowhead"

This is, after all, just suggestive, and I did not find any text that specifically confirms this. Therefore, I request that someone more experienced please clear up this matter.
Pangeon
08-14-06, 10:59 AM I discovered this thread and noticed nobody disagreed with it so here I go.

The Brilliant Energy description in the 3.5 DMG pg.224 suggests that only metal weapons can be used with said magical ability.

"...its significant portion-such as its blade, axe head, or arrowhead"

This is, after all, just suggestive, and I did not find any text that specifically confirms this. Therefore, I request that someone more experienced please clear up this matter.

The description merely says a significant portion- the axe head, arrowhead, etc. are just examples. I'd say a Brilliant Energy whip could be made (I'd imagine that the whole whip save the handle would be energy...) not that it would be that useul.

Whip daggers are vastly superior anyways. They have all of the advantages of a normal whip, do more, lethal, damage, and have a better threat range, with only one of the whips disasvantages. (Which would be the fact that using them are essentially ranged attacks- i.e. you don't threaten and you provoke AoOs.)
mvincent
08-14-06, 02:57 PM Also note that Brilliant Energy prevents you from effecting Undead and Constructs. It's only really useful in a largely humanoid to humanoid campaign where you can be reasonably sure your enemies will be wearing a substancial amount of heavy armor. Use a brilliant energy whip with a ring of x-ray vision to (surprise) attack people in the next room.
Varrik
08-14-06, 04:21 PM Use a brilliant energy whip with a ring of x-ray vision to (surprise) attack people in the next room.

lol. That's brilliant! You could use Clairvoyance too.
AndrasOtto
08-14-06, 08:39 PM Could you use Spell Storing on a Whip? Normally you can't use Spell Storing on a ranged weapon (which a whip is considered), but you are effectively weilding it when it hits the target.
primemover003
08-14-06, 09:10 PM One of the minor artifacts in Dungeon magazine's update of Maure Castle is a Shocking Burst Brilliant Energy whip called the Whip of Red Shadows. If it scores a critical on an opponent it tears it's shadow away from it's body. From that point on any damage it deal to said opponent also inflicts X amount of Wisdom or Charisma damage....

Needless to say the Foclucan Lyrist in the party absolutely loved this weapon as he could bring down heavily armored opponents with his crappy BAB.
mvincent
08-14-06, 10:58 PM Normally you can't use Spell Storing on a ranged weapon (which a whip is considered), but you are effectively weilding it when it hits the target.1) RAW does not actually prevent spell-storing from being placed on a range weapon.
2) RAW implies that spell-storing could not be activated while you are not wielding the weapon, but that may or may not reflect writer's intent (i.e. some DM's might still allow a thrown spell-storing dagger to work).
3) A whip is a melee weapon (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/weapons.htm#weaponCategories).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ArcanaMaster 07-23-06, 04:58 PM	Would a briliant energy whip deal damage to creatures in armor? Whip: A whip deals nonlethal damage. It deals no damage to any creature with an armor bonus of +1 or higher or a natural armor bonus of +3 or higher. The whip is treated as a melee weapon with 15-foot reach, though you don’t threaten the area into which you can make an attack. In addition, unlike most other weapons with reach, you can use it against foes anywhere within your reach (including adjacent foes). Using a whip provokes an attack of opportunity, just as if you had used a ranged weapon. You can make trip attacks with a whip. If you are tripped during your own trip attempt, you can drop the whip to avoid being tripped. When using a whip, you get a +2 bonus on opposed attack rolls made to disarm an opponent (including the roll to keep from being disarmed if the attack fails). You can use the Weapon Finesse feat to apply your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier to attack rolls with a whip sized for you, even though it isn’t a light weapon for you.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 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. Strong transmutation; CL 16th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, gaseous form, continual flame; Price +4 bonus.
utilitarian 07-23-06, 05:12 PM	I don't see why that wouldn't work, although it still doesn't help Natural Armor (which is usually the bigger problem in my experience) A better solution is just to use a Whip-knife instead in my experience.
JiCi 07-23-06, 05:16 PM	I don't see why that wouldn't work, although it still doesn't help Natural Armor (which is usually the bigger problem in my experience) A better solution is just to use a Whip-knife instead in my experience.A brillant energy whip-dagger is even better :P A brillant energy whip would still deal non-lethal damage even if passes through armor.
ArcanaMaster 07-23-06, 05:26 PM	Vorpal whip.
savant_warlord13 07-23-06, 06:33 PM	Vorpal whip. Doesn't help if you can't even deal damage, does it? What about balor whips? Are they only awesome if balors wield them?
_Chaz_ 07-23-06, 06:39 PM	They blow up when the Balor dies... and I can't see you buying one or stealing one... And a Vorpal Whip would be fun... an amusing way to keep your slaves on edge...
utilitarian 07-23-06, 06:45 PM	They blow up when the Balor dies... and I can't see you buying one or stealing one... And a Vorpal Whip would be fun... an amusing way to keep your slaves on edge... Unless you disarm the Balor in question prior to his death grin Also note that Brilliant Energy prevents you from effecting Undead and Constructs. It's only really useful in a largely humanoid to humanoid campaign where you can be reasonably sure your enemies will be wearing a substancial amount of heavy armor. It provides little benefit against light armor and nothing for natural armor.
ArcanaMaster 07-23-06, 08:47 PM	Doesn't help if you can't even deal damage, does it?Vorpal says nothing about dealing damage.Vorpal: This potent and feared ability allows the weapon to sever the heads of those it strikes. Upon a roll of natural 20 (followed by a successful roll to confirm the critical hit), the weapon severs the opponent’s head (if it has one) from its body. 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. A vorpal weapon must be a slashing weapon. (If you roll this property randomly for an inappropriate weapon, reroll.) Strong necromancy and transmutation; CL 18th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, circle of death, keen edge; Price +5 bonus.
shift244 07-23-06, 09:42 PM	Also note that Brilliant Energy prevents you from effecting Undead and Constructs.Considering that the whip does not normally deal lethal damage, it's not the most effective weapon against those creature types anyway. Removing the the option to deal lethal damage all together does not seem like too much of a difference.. as you would have prepared a weapon to deal with those creatures. You have, haven't you?
utilitarian 07-23-06, 09:57 PM	Considering that the whip does not normally deal lethal damage, it's not the most effective weapon against those creature types anyway. Removing the the option to deal lethal damage all together does not seem like too much of a difference.. as you would have prepared a weapon to deal with those creatures. You have, haven't you? I view the whip as a TOOL. Even if it cannot damage the undead in question, you could have still used it to trip or disarm them. With Brilliant Energy on the Whip, it simply passes through the skeleton's leg or weapon with no effect. I'm quite fond of a rogue with a Rapier in one hand and a whip in the other. Disarm or trip your foe as he closes, then move in for the kill with your rapier. Never need to even consider doing damage with the whip.
RLRapp 07-24-06, 11:25 PM	just make it a Shocking Brilliant energy whip. 1d6 electric damage + the whip's nonlethal.
shift244 07-25-06, 02:34 AM	Good point, utilitarian..... I wasn't thinking too much of it as a tool, given the case at hand.
DoomSquirrel718 08-14-06, 08:03 AM	I discovered this thread and noticed nobody disagreed with it so here I go. The Brilliant Energy description in the 3.5 DMG pg.224 suggests that only metal weapons can be used with said magical ability. "...its significant portion-such as its blade, axe head, or arrowhead" This is, after all, just suggestive, and I did not find any text that specifically confirms this. Therefore, I request that someone more experienced please clear up this matter.
Pangeon 08-14-06, 10:59 AM	I discovered this thread and noticed nobody disagreed with it so here I go. The Brilliant Energy description in the 3.5 DMG pg.224 suggests that only metal weapons can be used with said magical ability. "...its significant portion-such as its blade, axe head, or arrowhead" This is, after all, just suggestive, and I did not find any text that specifically confirms this. Therefore, I request that someone more experienced please clear up this matter. The description merely says a significant portion- the axe head, arrowhead, etc. are just examples. I'd say a Brilliant Energy whip could be made (I'd imagine that the whole whip save the handle would be energy...) not that it would be that useul. Whip daggers are vastly superior anyways. They have all of the advantages of a normal whip, do more, lethal, damage, and have a better threat range, with only one of the whips disasvantages. (Which would be the fact that using them are essentially ranged attacks- i.e. you don't threaten and you provoke AoOs.)
mvincent 08-14-06, 02:57 PM	Also note that Brilliant Energy prevents you from effecting Undead and Constructs. It's only really useful in a largely humanoid to humanoid campaign where you can be reasonably sure your enemies will be wearing a substancial amount of heavy armor. Use a brilliant energy whip with a ring of x-ray vision to (surprise) attack people in the next room.
Varrik 08-14-06, 04:21 PM	Use a brilliant energy whip with a ring of x-ray vision to (surprise) attack people in the next room. lol. That's brilliant! You could use Clairvoyance too.
AndrasOtto 08-14-06, 08:39 PM	Could you use Spell Storing on a Whip? Normally you can't use Spell Storing on a ranged weapon (which a whip is considered), but you are effectively weilding it when it hits the target.
primemover003 08-14-06, 09:10 PM	One of the minor artifacts in Dungeon magazine's update of Maure Castle is a Shocking Burst Brilliant Energy whip called the Whip of Red Shadows. If it scores a critical on an opponent it tears it's shadow away from it's body. From that point on any damage it deal to said opponent also inflicts X amount of Wisdom or Charisma damage.... Needless to say the Foclucan Lyrist in the party absolutely loved this weapon as he could bring down heavily armored opponents with his crappy BAB.
mvincent 08-14-06, 10:58 PM	Normally you can't use Spell Storing on a ranged weapon (which a whip is considered), but you are effectively weilding it when it hits the target.1) RAW does not actually prevent spell-storing from being placed on a range weapon. 2) RAW implies that spell-storing could not be activated while you are not wielding the weapon, but that may or may not reflect writer's intent (i.e. some DM's might still allow a thrown spell-storing dagger to work). 3) A whip is a melee weapon (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/weapons.htm#weaponCategories).