i believe it is treated as elemental damage for this purpose. i have looked before and never found anything else other than the damage rules that seem the same for all spell damage versus objects, half damage then apply hardness.
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Look what damaging spells have the force descriptor in the CRB.
Blade Barrier -> force weapons
Clenched Fist -> big, punching hand
Crushing Hand -> big hand squeezing
Mage’s Sword -> force weapon
Explosive Runes -> explosion
Magic Missile -> force projectiles
Spiritual weapon -> force weapon
With the exception of Explosive runes they are all direct physical attacks, so I would rule that force attacks against items are treated as physical attacks.
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i believe it is treated as elemental damage for this purpose. i have looked before and never found anything else other than the damage rules that seem the same for all spell damage versus objects, half damage then apply hardness.
Energy Attacks: Energy attacks deal half damage to most objects. Divide the damage by 2 before applying the object's hardness. Some energy types might be particularly effective against certain objects, subject to GM discretion. For example, fire might do full damage against parchment, cloth, and other objects that burn easily. Sonic might do full damage against glass and crystal objects.
It speak of energy damage, not spell damage. It applies to a dragon breath weapon, an elemental flame attack and the fire damage from a torch or to energy damage from spells, not to all spells.
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Do they ignore hardness?
Normal physical attacks, like a axe hit or a giant smashing a door. So they don't ignore hardness unless, for some reason, they are particularly effective. Similarly they can be ineffective against some target like physical attacks.
Examples: a clenched fist or crushing hand would be totally ineffective against a blanket [but not against the guy hiding under it ;-) ].
i believe it is treated as elemental damage for this purpose. i have looked before and never found anything else other than the damage rules that seem the same for all spell damage versus objects, half damage then apply hardness.Energy Attacks: Energy attacks deal half damage to most objects. Divide the damage by 2 before applying the object's hardness. Some energy types might be particularly effective against certain objects, subject to GM discretion. For example, fire might do full damage against parchment, cloth, and other objects that burn easily. Sonic might do full damage against glass and crystal objects.It speak of energy damage, not spell damage. It applies to a dragon breath weapon, an elemental flame attack and the fire damage from a torch or to energy damage from spells, not to all spells.
but you cannot find anything that treats force damage differently. that's why it makes me think that you should treat it as elemental for this purpose.
the only way i can think of to get around this is carry around an adamantine longsword to use with a telekinesis spell and eventually cut your way through it :)
If think it's a good FAQ question.
I have no hard rule evidence, but my guts tell me, Force is NOT elemental.
So a force effect would NOT ignore hardness but would deal FULL damage to an object.
Thinking about it, is there really that big a difference between force and sonic?
Or rather, isn't sonic a special use of force?
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but you cannot find anything that treats force damage differently. that's why it makes me think that you should treat it as elemental for this purpose.the only way i can think of to get around this is carry around an adamantine longsword to use with a telekinesis spell and eventually cut your way through it :)
Smashing a weapon or shield with a slashing or bludgeoning weapon is accomplished with the sunder combat maneuver (see Combat). Smashing an object is like sundering a weapon or shield, except that your combat maneuver check is opposed by the object's AC. Generally, you can smash an object only with a bludgeoning or slashing weapon.
Spiritual Weapon
A weapon made of force appears and attacks foes at a distance, as you direct it, dealing 1d8 force damage per hit, + 1 point per three caster levels (maximum +5 at 15th level). The weapon takes the shape of a weapon favored by your deity or a weapon with some spiritual significance or symbolism to you (see below) and has the same threat range and critical multipliers as a real weapon of its form.
The other spells have similar text that make very clear that the spell has a physical manifestation.
On the other hand Energy damage in Pathfinder come from:
- fire
- acid
- cold
- electricity
- sonic
You are confusing spells effects with energy effects. Spell effects have a myriads of forms.
Following your logic to the extreme, a summoned creature is a spell effect, so it would do half damage to objects.