This is for a campaign of mine which will have zones that automatically give spells and weapons the merciful quality. AKA: nonlethal damage.
1) What would the magic /weapons look like vs non-merciful. For example a merciful dagger isn't actually stabbing, so what is it doing?
2) What do the wounds look like? Do the targets get bloody noses? Bruises? Scratches?
I know it's all fluff and no mechanics, but I'm looking to make colorful descriptions of actions even if they're merciful.
Thanks all.
Like rainbows and sunshine.
Like rainbows and sunshine.
Where as my first thought was "pony giggles and pixie dust."
Still, to actually answer the OP's question, I provide this:
1) A merciful dagger is still slashing, but now it's doing nonlethal slashing damage. Creatures with DR vs. specific types of damage are still going to soak that damage, lethal or nonlethal. I see their depiction as going two ways: the highly magical way or the mundane way. Magically, merciful weapons appear as regular (or immaterial) weapons that are used in exactly the same way. Instead of actually breaking skin they pass through it, leaving nonlethal-equivalent wounds when removed. The "mundane" aspect would have the weapons looking identically but be enchanted to act as a sort of rubber, bending and scraping when they should pierce and slash, or flexing against the target when they should shatter bone.
2) I imagine that the wounds don't actually penetrate the skin. Blunt weapons leave painful welts and purple bruises, piercing weapons would leave throbbing red marks, and slashing weapons would leave dark scrapes and raw slashes. It's important to remember that nonlethal damage can still kill someone- it just takes a lot longer.
Hope any of that helps.
2) I imagine that the wounds don't actually penetrate the skin. Blunt weapons leave painful welts and purple bruises, piercing weapons would leave throbbing red marks, and slashing weapons would leave dark scrapes and raw slashes. It's important to remember that nonlethal damage can still kill someone- it just takes a lot longer.
This. Probably the best(non-funny) way I've seen to described the injuries taken from Merciful weapons.
Spells would look the same, but the damage dealt would in a less-lethal form. Fireball would leave 1st degree burns, Magic Missile would leave bruises, and so on.
I would have weapons in those areas appear translucent, nearly like illusions..
And when a dagger affected by this hits it seems to stab through the target not into it. But it hurts as much as if it actually had ripped the target open.
edit: spelling and such
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What does a weapon with both the Merciful and Deadly enchantments look like?
A nerf bat with a metal spike at the bottom. You fight with the soft part and coup de grace with the spike.
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No, this kind of Deadly:
Deadly (Hobgoblin)
Source Advanced Race Guide
Aura faint necromancy; CL 5th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, inflict light wounds; Price +1 bonus.
DESCRIPTION
This special ability can only be placed on weapons that normally deal nonlethal damage, such as whips and saps. All damage a deadly weapon deals is lethal damage. A whip (or similar weapon that cannot damage creatures with armor or natural armor bonuses) with this special ability deals damage even to creatures with armor or natural armor. On command, the weapon suppresses this ability until told to resume it.
Which, can be added to any weapon with the Merciful enchantment.
I always picture merciful weapons as kind of translucent, with the wounds appearing as welts and dark bruises.
And, since this is advice, not rules, I would say don't allow those 2 enchantments together. Isn't there a rule about putting two opposing enchantments on one weapon (more focussed on not allowing fire and ice on one weapon) but I think applicable here.
And, since this is advice, not rules, I would say don't allow those 2 enchantments together.
Why not?
I'd allow them but I'd rule that the deadly kicks in first so that in the end you have a whip that deals nonlethal damage against armored targets but with +1d6 bonus damage.Not game braking for +2.
What if you are putting it on a sword, which is more along the lines of what bbt is asking?
I saw that. Moving there to mull it over.
Magically, merciful weapons appear as regular (or immaterial) weapons that are used in exactly the same way. Instead of actually breaking skin they pass through it, leaving nonlethal-equivalent wounds when removed.
This is what I'm leaning towards. Perhaps the weapon looks mostly normal, but with blue motes that run across the weapon/spell effect.
Though the nerf bat idea is amusing, I'm not trying to DM a cartoon.