WotC 3.5e DR / epic

[Nostagar]

ok, a buddy and I are arguing about this one.

Of course, since 4e came out, WotC has closed the 3x forums, or i'd be asking this there.

one place, in the MM states that a weapon needs to be an epic weapon; eg: having an enhancement bonus of +6 or better to penetrate DR x/epic.

He says that it means that it's the only way a weapon qualifies as overcoming /epic DR.

I was arguing that any weapon that is epic is considered epic for the purposes of overcoming DR even if the enhancement bonus is +5 or less, such as having a +6 or greater special ability, or total special abilities.

I would appreciate ways to help solve this argument. (preferably showing that I'm right and he's wrong, but if I'm wrong, so be it... :) )

[LazarX]

It's essentially a DM's call as epic rules were never really nailed down to that great a degree.

You also should be asking this in the 3.5 sub forum here. Pathfinder has no rules in this particular area.

[Jeraa]

A weapon is only considered an epic weapon when it has an enhancement bonus of +6 or higher. (A +6 longsword is an epic weapon. A +5 flaming weapon is not an epic weapon.)

Quote:

A few very powerful monsters are vulnerable only to epic weapons—that is, magic weapons with at least a +6 enhancement bonus.

From the 3.5 FAQ:

Quote:

For creatures that have damage reduction bypassed by epic weapons, does the weapon have to be a +6 or greater weapon, or can it just have enhancements that push it into the epic category (like a +5 keen shocking burst vorpal longsword)?

To be considered an “epic” magic weapon, the weapon’s actual enhancement bonus must be +6 or greater. Special properties such as keen are treated as equivalent to enhancement bonuses only for the purpose of pricing and for the maximum power of a weapon (for non-epic gaming). A +5 keen shocking burst vorpal longsword is still only a +5 weapon for the purpose of bypassing damage reduction, and thus wouldn’t overcome DR 10/epic.

[LazarX]

Again, that's the 3.5 FAQ, not part of the Pathfinder ruleset which does NOT include everything from that SRD.

[master arminas]

Please note though, that a +4 or +5 bane weapon of the correct type WILL bypass DR/epic. For example, a lawful evil outsider bane +5 sword will be a +7 weapon when used against lawful evil outsiders; thus it will bypass DR/epic.

Master Arminas

[TriOmegaZero]

Good luck having such a weapon on hand when you encounter one, however. :)

[Jeraa]

LazarX wrote:

Again, that's the 3.5 FAQ, not part of the Pathfinder ruleset which does NOT include everything from that SRD.

The 3.5 FAQ just clears it up. The Pathfinder Bestiary (PRD link)says the exact same thing on page 299, right column, 1st paragraph. An epic weapon is one with a +6 enhancement bonus or better.