Damaging objects with acid/sonic attacks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Damaging objects with acid/sonic attacks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Devon0074360
05-26-07, 04:38 PM On page 165 of the PHB it states, "acid and sonic attacks deal damage to most objects just as they do to creatures; roll damage and apply it normally after a successful hit. Electric and fire attacks deal half damage to most objects; divide the damage dealt by 2 before applying the hardness."

Does this imply that acid/sonic attacks bypass hardness? It says they deal damage to objects just as they do to creatures. When acid/sonic attacks damage creatures, that damage comes straight off of their HP. THis leads me to believe they bypass hardness. Aditionally, for electric/fire, it specifically states to divide the damage by 2 before applying hardness. I would think that they would keep the language consistent if acid/sonic attacks were subject to hardness and have it read "roll damage and applt it normally to hardness after a successful hit.

Sorry if this has been asked before, or is posted in the wrong forum. I'm new here and had a difficult time searching the previous threads.
jacobi289
05-26-07, 04:43 PM It seems reasonable that acid would bypass hardness (who cares what the material is when it is being dissolved at the molecular level), and sonic attacks shatter hard things.
Xeviat-DM
05-26-07, 04:47 PM Some substances are more resistant to acids than other substances. Unless otherwise stated, you're probably better off having hardness protect against acid and sonic, but continue to not halve the damage.

Specific effects do state that sonic avoids hardness (XPH sonic augmentation), but I'm not sure if all effects should; after all, sonic powers in the XPH deal -2 points of damage per damage die (in relation to fire and cold), in return for the ability to ignore hardness.
Fireclave
05-26-07, 05:03 PM Acid and sonic damage are subject to hardness. That line, "deal damage to most objects just as they do to creatures," refers to the fact, just as if you were targeting a creature, acid and sonic damage are not reduced.

There are specific acid and sonic effects that explicitly bypass hardness (such as most the sonic versions of most psionic energy powers, stonebreaker acid, etc), but these are the exceptions, not the rule.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Devon0074360 05-26-07, 04:38 PM	On page 165 of the PHB it states, "acid and sonic attacks deal damage to most objects just as they do to creatures; roll damage and apply it normally after a successful hit. Electric and fire attacks deal half damage to most objects; divide the damage dealt by 2 before applying the hardness." Does this imply that acid/sonic attacks bypass hardness? It says they deal damage to objects just as they do to creatures. When acid/sonic attacks damage creatures, that damage comes straight off of their HP. THis leads me to believe they bypass hardness. Aditionally, for electric/fire, it specifically states to divide the damage by 2 before applying hardness. I would think that they would keep the language consistent if acid/sonic attacks were subject to hardness and have it read "roll damage and applt it normally to hardness after a successful hit. Sorry if this has been asked before, or is posted in the wrong forum. I'm new here and had a difficult time searching the previous threads.
jacobi289 05-26-07, 04:43 PM	It seems reasonable that acid would bypass hardness (who cares what the material is when it is being dissolved at the molecular level), and sonic attacks shatter hard things.
Xeviat-DM 05-26-07, 04:47 PM	Some substances are more resistant to acids than other substances. Unless otherwise stated, you're probably better off having hardness protect against acid and sonic, but continue to not halve the damage. Specific effects do state that sonic avoids hardness (XPH sonic augmentation), but I'm not sure if all effects should; after all, sonic powers in the XPH deal -2 points of damage per damage die (in relation to fire and cold), in return for the ability to ignore hardness.
Fireclave 05-26-07, 05:03 PM	Acid and sonic damage are subject to hardness. That line, "deal damage to most objects just as they do to creatures," refers to the fact, just as if you were targeting a creature, acid and sonic damage are not reduced. There are specific acid and sonic effects that explicitly bypass hardness (such as most the sonic versions of most psionic energy powers, stonebreaker acid, etc), but these are the exceptions, not the rule.