Defending Longsword +2

[RigaMortus]

The way I read this is that you can transfer the +2 to AC if you want to, but won't get a +2 to hit and damage. Assuming this is correct, I thought a magic weapon had to have at least a +1 to have any magical effects. As far as I know, you can't have a Flaming Longsword without it being at least a +1, right? So wouldn't that mean you'd need to at least keep a +1 enhancement on the Defending Longsword's "to hit" and "damage"?

Another question.

Assuming you are allowed to transfer the entire +2 from the Defending Longsword to your AC, what happens if someone tries to Sunder your magic weapon? Would it still count as a +2 weapon, so that only +2 weapons or higher can damage it? Or since you transfered the +2 to AC, does that now mean it has lacks the "protection" the +2 would normally provide from sundering attempts?

 

[Merlion]

Well, I dont remember anything official about those issues...accept that as far as having to have at least a +1 to have special abilities...well the thing is always magical, your just temporarily moving the numerical bonuses from one thing to another.
As for Sundering, if it was me and theres no official info on it I'd say it does still count...its still the same weapon...its still just as magical. That would be my take.

 

[Hypersmurf]

So wouldn't that mean you'd need to at least keep a +1 enhancement on the Defending Longsword's "to hit" and "damage"?

It's why Defending weapons 'hum' when you transfer all the enhancement bonus to AC.

You transfer all of it's enhancement; it can't support the Defending property any more.

Defending cuts out, and the sword becomes +2 again, which means Defending is active. It remembers the previous 'state' - all enhancement transferred - and assumes that state.

Defending cuts out.

This process repeats three hundred times a second, which accounts for the 300 Hz sound you hear.

Assuming you are allowed to transfer the entire +2 from the Defending Longsword to your AC, what happens if someone tries to Sunder your magic weapon? Or since you transfered the +2 to AC, does that now mean it has lacks the "protection" the +2 would normally provide from sundering attempts?

That's how I play it.

It also can't affect DR x/+2 creatures while it's Defending.

-Hyp.

 

[RigaMortus]

Thanks, that is how I thought it worked. Seems like a nice balancing factor. Something for a character to consider, "Do I want more protection to my AC and if so how much? Or do I want to protect this weapon from the Sundering Fire Giant that stands before me? Decisions, decisions..."

 

[Mort]

With all due respect, the above answer just doesn’t seem right to me.
Regardless of whether it’s a plus to defense or offense it’s still a +2 weapon meaning sundering attempts should still require a +2 or higher weapon.
Look at it from a base attack bonus perspective- whatever modifiers are applied BAB is BAB. If you use expertise or power attack your attack bonus goes down, but your BAB stays the same. If it didn’t that would mean that if you used too high of a minus suddenly anything based on BAB would cut out (improved critical, greater two weapon fighting – heck technically any fighter prestige class). Clearly that was not the intent and it isn’t in the above case either.

 

[Hypersmurf]

If it didn’t that would mean that if you used too high of a minus suddenly anything based on BAB would cut out

Well, the whole humming thing was a joke.

But I stand by the Sundering thing.

The wielder transfers the enhancement bonus to his AC.

With Expertise, you take a penalty on your attack - your BAB is not affected.

With the Defending sword, you aren't taking a penalty on your attack, you're actually transferring enhancement bonus.

If the enhancement bonus is not there, then the extra hardness, extra hit points, resistance to lower-enhanced weapons, and ability to penetrate DR, IMO, go with it.

(As a side effect of this, it means that it's possible to break an already-damaged Defender by transferring some enhancement, if the resulting loss of hit points bring the current hit points below zero...)

Do you still allow a Defender with all its enhancement transferred to AC to penetrate DR?

-Hyp.

 

[Mort]

Do you still allow a Defender with all its enhancement transferred to AC to penetrate DR?
-Hyp.

That is a tougher question because you are transferring a bonus from offense to defense. It hasn't come up but I would say no because the weapon is less powerful offensively.

That said, the defender is still a +2 weapon and when itself being sundered should be treated as such (In other words the enhancement bonus is still there, it doesn't go away, it's merely being used for a purpose other than offense). If nothing else, it seems incredibly silly that your weapon is more easy to sunder when focused on defense (The whole point of a defending weapon is to intercept hits, why would it be easier to break?)

 

[Hypersmurf]

If nothing else, it seems incredibly silly that your weapon is more easy to sunder when focused on defense (The whole point of a defending weapon is to intercept hits, why would it be easier to break?)

Bodyguards take bullets...

-Hyp.

 

[Mort]

Bodyguards take bullets...

-Hyp.

But that's why they wear bullet proof vests and are harder to break.

 

[Hypersmurf]

But that's why they wear bullet proof vests and are harder to break.

So make your Defender out of adamantine.

A weapon with an enhancement bonus x pierces DR x. A weapon with an enhancement bonus x gains x hit points, x hardness, and immunity to <x weapons.

When you transfer enhancement bonus to AC, either the Defender is still a weapon with enhancement bonus x - in which case it pierces DR - or it's not - in which case it loses hardness and hit points.

Either interpretation is possible under the Rules As Written, but you can't have both at the same time without a House Rule...

IMO, of course

-Hyp.