Damaging magic weapons

[Ahrimon]

from the SRD on weapons:

Hardness and Hit Points: An attacker cannot damage a magic weapon that has an enhancement bonus unless his own weapon has at least as high an enhancement bonus as the weapon or shield struck. Each +1 of enhancement bonus adds 2 to a weapon’s or shield’s hardness and +10 to its hit points.

And from the SRD on the Black Pudding:

Acid (Ex): The creature secretes a digestive acid that dissolves organic material and metal quickly, but does not affect stone. Any melee hit or constrict attack deals acid damage, and the opponent’s armor and clothing dissolve and become useless immediately unless they succeed on DC 21 Reflex saves. A metal or wooden weapon that strikes a black pudding also dissolves immediately unless it succeeds on a DC 21 Reflex save. The save DCs are Constitution-based.

So I was wondering. Can a black pudding actualy damage a magic weapon? It seams silly that I could drop a 21 ton weight onto a magic stick and nothing would happen, but if I stick it into a little bit of acid then it would dissolve right away. I've always played it this way, but more and more I'm starting to think that, by the weapon rulse, an ooze (or other creature with such an effect) wouldn't be able to hurt a magic weapon.

What do you guys think?

 

[Hypersmurf]

from the SRD on weapons:

Check the DMG errata. This clause no longer exists - it was an accidental cut and paste from 3E.

In 3.5, you don't need a +4 axe to damage a +4 staff; the +4 staff just has a high hardness and hit points, but given long enough, you can break it with your rusty handaxe, as long as you can occasionally beat the hardness.

-Hyp.

 

[Thanee]

Yes, the ooze can destroy magic items as well.

I believe, that the difference here is mainly, since the Reflex save is made by the item as it seems, that magic items get the save, while mundane items are destroyed automatically. But I'm not entirely sure about that.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Ahrimon]

Check the DMG errata. This clause no longer exists - it was an accidental cut and paste from 3E.

In 3.5, you don't need a +4 axe to damage a +4 staff; the +4 staff just has a high hardness and hit points, but given long enough, you can break it with your rusty handaxe, as long as you can occasionally beat the hardness.

-Hyp.

Huh. I didn't see that in the errata. Thanks for pointing it out. I'll have to go look it up.

I guess it's time to come up with some weapon enhancements that make the weapon immune to cirtain energy types. But that belongs in house rules.

 

[VorpalStare]

Or...you could house rule that the Pudding does acid damage to any weapon that hits it, perhaps equal to that inflicted by a slam attack.

The Acid ability of the Black Pudding, Grey Ooze, and similarly the Heat ability of the Remorhaz and others have an instant weapon destruction ability that breaks the normal rules for damaging objects (PHB p 165). Apparently, around these creatures, the PC's equipment suddenly becomes much more vulnerable than normal to being destroyed.

In this example, the pudding does 2d6 acid damage to anything it hits with a slam attack or up to 21 points of damage per round to wooden or metal objects, "but the ooze must remain in contact with the object for 1 full round to deal this damage." (PHB p 201)

So by the RAW, +5 adamantine weapon (having 60+ hit points) that hits this monster might be destroyed instantly, even though it should take at least 3 full rounds of continuous contact to deal sufficient damage to destroy it per the rules on damaging objects.

What if the attacking PC has acid resistance 30? Then, by the RAW, he should be able to fight this creature indefinitely and neither he nor his equipment take any acid damage.

The rules on damaging objects were included for a reason, and should be used where appropriate.

I would much rather tell one of my players that he noticed his +5 sword started to dissolve/melt/etc. after he hit the creature, rather than that it was destroyed instantly on the first hit....especially if he has the appropriate energy protection going.

 

[frankthedm]

Big deal, so the best weapon got melted, use the one you found before that. Oh, you sold evey last enchanted weapon you ever found and used the coin to commision one superweapon? Thats what you get for putting all your eggs in one basket!