shatter...shatter .... SHATTER!!!!!!!

[Evilserran]

So i have been toying with some builds for a friend who is new tothe game, and i had an interesting concept. A Character that can heal and focus on debuffs/buffs (cleric) and shattering opponents gears. Is this too "mean" to use on a dm? I am invisioning with my current build his ability to shatter well over 20 times a day. (not using entirely pathfinder material, but concept is within pathfinder limitations)

Also, what exactly happens if a wand or magical item were to be shattered?

[tkul]

if you mean the shatter spell then it only works on glass, ceramics, crystal, and porcelain, so for the most part useless against enemies unless they're made out of one of those materials or are using a lot of potions. Shattered potions would be destroyed, same with any other items made of the allowed materials, it would gimp the character relying on them but it'll also be destroying your treasure allotment so you'll end up falling further and further behind the curve.

If you mean something along the lines of sunder where you're granting broken conditions then the first time you do it the item becomes degraded but still functions, the second time it breaks. If you break a magic item you need to use some power magics to restore them or you just end up with masterwork quality items once they're mended. I don't usually recommend players break NPC equipment because it's generally intended as your reward for overcoming something, but if you really want to then you pay the price.

[Gargs454]

While this doesn't have much to do with the concept per se, just keep in mind that a lot of GMs go with a theory of "What's good for the goose is good for the gander." So, while shattering/sundering the gear of NPCs/monsters isn't necessarily mean, it may lead the DM to try to do the same to you and/or your party on occasion. I know that personally, as a GM, I pretty much never try to sunder/disarm because frankly, it usually just slows down the fight without actually placing most PCs at much of a risk. However, do it to the GM enough and he may decide to push back on occasion.

That being said, it should not, in and of itself, be a huge problem. A GM should let the players have their fun, but at the same time, he wouldn't be making up rules if he were to use your own tactics against you.

Also, as mentioned, shatter only works on certain materials. Sunder is also somewhat limited (at least in theory). An owlbear for example, is not real likely to be all that affected -- though a GM may let you "sunder" a limb (not sure off the top of my head if that's RAW or not but I am sure somebody will chime in on that :p)

[Claxon]

Shatter only functions against non-magical object.

Quote:

hatter creates a loud, ringing noise that breaks brittle, nonmagical objects; sunders a single solid, nonmagical object; or damages a crystalline creature.

Used as an area attack, shatter destroys nonmagical objects of crystal, glass, ceramic, or porcelain. All such unattended objects within a 5-foot radius of the point of origin are smashed into dozens of pieces by the spell. Objects weighing more than 1 pound per your level are not affected, but all other objects of the appropriate composition are shattered.

Alternatively, you can target shatter against a single solid nonmagical object, regardless of composition, weighing up to 10 pounds per caster level. Targeted against a crystalline creature (of any weight), shatter deals 1d6 points of sonic damage per caster level (maximum 10d6), with a Fortitude save for half damage.

So, this wont work after a few levels when everyone's objects they're using have become magical.

[bkowal]

Sounds like the worst idea ever if it actually worked, which it doesn't. Why would you want to destroy your enemies' sweet magic items? You know you get those items after you kill them, right?

[Hawktitan]

There is always Make Whole for magical destroyed items.

[cre100382]

I played a Warlock in 3.5 that used shatter constantly, clothing, buckles, etc. Now I play a magus who likes to tie the boot laces of bandits together while the leader is haggling over toll fees.

[Evilserran]

oohhh i didnt realize it didnt break metal... well then... nevermind that idea! Thanks guys for pointing out the massive flaw in my design lol... Forest for the trees and all that

[Aristophanes]

It does break non-magical metal objects, but only one at a time. (See Claxon's post, above! ;-)