Am I right on this? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Am I right on this? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Shayde
06-04-04, 03:19 PM Last night I got into a messy argument with one of my players over enhancement bonuses and special abilities regarding magic weapons.

The DMG says that a magic weapon with a special ability must have an enhancement bonus of at least +1

My player was arguing that the +1 value of the bane ability counts as an enhancement bonus.

My ruling was that the +1 cost modifier for the Bane ability did not count as an enchancement bonus, stating that an enhancement bonus provides its bonus to attack rolls and damage.

Was I correct in saying that she couldn't have a weapon with the Bane special ability that had no enhancement bonus
Faragdar the Wise
06-04-04, 03:35 PM Yes, you were right. Quoting from the SRD, "Magic weapons have enhancement bonuses ranging from +1 to +5," and "In addition to an enhancement bonus, weapons may have special abilities. Special abilities count as additional bonuses for determining the market value of the item, but do not modify attack or damage bonuses." Bane is a special ability. The weapon must first have a +1 enhancement bonus.
Aranael
06-04-04, 03:37 PM You were totally right, they were a nincompoop, on a thousand levels. One, that they argued Against what the DMG went out of its way to state. Two, that they argued against their DM on magic item creation. Three, that they argued a point in the DMG, as a player, and did not go out of their way to make sure you knew they were only being constructive, because four, they were not being constructive.... need I go on?

You win, they lose, you're right in every way, you can't have a weapon with a special ability without a base +1 bonus, and the special ability equivalency increase in cost does not count towards it. Even if he was right, that he argued against his DM in what is one of The most DM- control heavy areas of the game, and for good reason, in an attempt to get something that you even Remotely felt was broken past you means he loses. Flat out, no matter what, the validity of his argument (which is absent here) notwithstanding. Feel better now?
Shayde
06-04-04, 03:37 PM Thank you.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Shayde 06-04-04, 03:19 PM	Last night I got into a messy argument with one of my players over enhancement bonuses and special abilities regarding magic weapons. The DMG says that a magic weapon with a special ability must have an enhancement bonus of at least +1 My player was arguing that the +1 value of the bane ability counts as an enhancement bonus. My ruling was that the +1 cost modifier for the Bane ability did not count as an enchancement bonus, stating that an enhancement bonus provides its bonus to attack rolls and damage. Was I correct in saying that she couldn't have a weapon with the Bane special ability that had no enhancement bonus
Faragdar the Wise 06-04-04, 03:35 PM	Yes, you were right. Quoting from the SRD, "Magic weapons have enhancement bonuses ranging from +1 to +5," and "In addition to an enhancement bonus, weapons may have special abilities. Special abilities count as additional bonuses for determining the market value of the item, but do not modify attack or damage bonuses." Bane is a special ability. The weapon must first have a +1 enhancement bonus.
Aranael 06-04-04, 03:37 PM	You were totally right, they were a nincompoop, on a thousand levels. One, that they argued Against what the DMG went out of its way to state. Two, that they argued against their DM on magic item creation. Three, that they argued a point in the DMG, as a player, and did not go out of their way to make sure you knew they were only being constructive, because four, they were not being constructive.... need I go on? You win, they lose, you're right in every way, you can't have a weapon with a special ability without a base +1 bonus, and the special ability equivalency increase in cost does not count towards it. Even if he was right, that he argued against his DM in what is one of The most DM- control heavy areas of the game, and for good reason, in an attempt to get something that you even Remotely felt was broken past you means he loses. Flat out, no matter what, the validity of his argument (which is absent here) notwithstanding. Feel better now?
Shayde 06-04-04, 03:37 PM	Thank you.