Brilliant Energy? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Brilliant Energy? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
PhrozenPhlame
01-15-04, 09:19 PM Ok, my question is: Why are "Brilliant Energy" weapons so powerful? My characters are usually able to bypass most armor anyway. It's natural armor that gives me problems when it comes to bypassing it, but Brilliant Energy does not go through natural armor. Can someone explain why Brilliant Energy is such an expensive ability to add to a weapon? :uh-huh:
unusualsuspect
01-15-04, 09:24 PM because not everybody has the apparent inherit ability to bypass the AC bonuses to armor that a lot of people have.
Darklion
01-15-04, 11:48 PM Can someone explain why Brilliant Energy is such an expensive ability to add to a weapon? Because a human with a 10 Dex, wearing +5 full plate and a +5 heavy shield (normally an AC of 30) is treated as an AC of 10. Even if you can hit AC 30, it's still going to be much easier to hit AC 10.

It's priced so heavily because it's assumed that a significant number of a character's opponents are going to be humanoids wearing armor. And it makes melee combat a much better option for characters with low BAB, like arcane spellcasters, bards, and rogues, who aren't as capable as overcoming the normal AC of a fully-armed opponent.
Psifon
01-16-04, 12:40 AM It also gives VERY good synergy with Power Attack.
tarkin
01-16-04, 11:56 AM Brilliant Energy weapons have some serious drawbacks preciously because when they are so powerfull.

I prefer to not use Brilliant Energy unless I have some significant other weapon ability.

Prime useage is as arrows - get 25 B.E. arrows and 25 non-B.E. arrows, say with construct bane or undead bane. Works great.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
PhrozenPhlame 01-15-04, 09:19 PM	Ok, my question is: Why are "Brilliant Energy" weapons so powerful? My characters are usually able to bypass most armor anyway. It's natural armor that gives me problems when it comes to bypassing it, but Brilliant Energy does not go through natural armor. Can someone explain why Brilliant Energy is such an expensive ability to add to a weapon? :uh-huh:
unusualsuspect 01-15-04, 09:24 PM	because not everybody has the apparent inherit ability to bypass the AC bonuses to armor that a lot of people have.
Darklion 01-15-04, 11:48 PM	Can someone explain why Brilliant Energy is such an expensive ability to add to a weapon? Because a human with a 10 Dex, wearing +5 full plate and a +5 heavy shield (normally an AC of 30) is treated as an AC of 10. Even if you can hit AC 30, it's still going to be much easier to hit AC 10. It's priced so heavily because it's assumed that a significant number of a character's opponents are going to be humanoids wearing armor. And it makes melee combat a much better option for characters with low BAB, like arcane spellcasters, bards, and rogues, who aren't as capable as overcoming the normal AC of a fully-armed opponent.
Psifon 01-16-04, 12:40 AM	It also gives VERY good synergy with Power Attack.
tarkin 01-16-04, 11:56 AM	Brilliant Energy weapons have some serious drawbacks preciously because when they are so powerfull. I prefer to not use Brilliant Energy unless I have some significant other weapon ability. Prime useage is as arrows - get 25 B.E. arrows and 25 non-B.E. arrows, say with construct bane or undead bane. Works great.