Question about mace of disruption

[meltinbradley]

The mace of disruption destroys all undead if it fails its save. When dealing with Vampires and Liches, does it merely destroy its body and then flees to its safe haven or are they destroyed as well?

 

[Vegepygmy]

The mace of disruption destroys all undead if it fails its save. When dealing with Vampires and Liches, does it merely destroy its body and then flees to its safe haven or are they destroyed as well?

IMO, the key to answering your question is the word "destroy."

Disrupting weapons can "destroy" undead creatures. An undead creature is usually "destroyed" when it is reduced to 0 hit points or less.

Vampires, however, are a specific exception. The rules state that: "Reducing a vampire's hit points to 0 or lower incapacitates it but doesn't always destroy it..." (emphasis added). Since the vampire rules draw an obvious distinction between simply being reduced to 0 hit points and being destroyed, and the disrupting weapon specifically destroys undead creatures, I'd say a vampire that fails its save against a disrupting weapon is truly, permanently destroyed.

The lich is a different matter, though. The lich rules don't talk about whether the lich is "destroyed" or not; they simply state that unless the lich's phylactery is destroyed, the lich reappears 1d10 days after its "apparent death." Since destroying a lich with a disrupting weapon doesn't do anything to its phylactery, I'd say the lich reappears 1d10 days later.

 

[Corsair]

IMO, the key to answering your question is the word "destroy."

Disrupting weapons can "destroy" undead creatures. An undead creature is usually "destroyed" when it is reduced to 0 hit points or less.

Vampires, however, are a specific exception. The rules state that: "Reducing a vampire's hit points to 0 or lower incapacitates it but doesn't always destroy it..." (emphasis added). Since the vampire rules draw an obvious distinction between simply being reduced to 0 hit points and being destroyed, and the disrupting weapon specifically destroys undead creatures, I'd say a vampire that fails its save against a disrupting weapon is truly, permanently destroyed.

The lich is a different matter, though. The lich rules don't talk about whether the lich is "destroyed" or not; they simply state that unless the lich's phylactery is destroyed, the lich reappears 1d10 days after its "apparent death." Since destroying a lich with a disrupting weapon doesn't do anything to its phylactery, I'd say the lich reappears 1d10 days later.

I concur on the vampire. The lich I can go either way with. The same problem applies when you talk about ghosts as well, I think. I don't think I'd feel strongly enough to argue with a DM who ruled either way.