I've been running a group through one of the adventure paths, and the PCs are about to encounter a villain weilding a rod of lightning and thunder. (Leaving it vague to avoid spoiling anyone - it doesn't really matter for the question, anyway. :-) I hadn't looked closely at that rod in the past, and noticed something when I did.
Thunderclap: Once per day as a standard action, the wielder can cause the rod to give out a deafening noise, just as a shout spell (Fortitude DC 16 partial, 2d6 points of sonic damage, target deafened for 2d6 rounds).
On one hand, it's "as a shout spell", but the shout spell explicitly does 5d6 damage (not 2d6 as listed for the rod of lightning and thunder). So is that a change specific for this item or a typo? If it's a change, how much damage do crystal objects/creatures take? For the spell, it is based on caster's level. The rod's CL is 9th so I'd assume 9d6, but if the base damage is reduced, is this, also?
(And I'm assuming the answer applies to the Thunder and Lightning ability, as well?)
Any assistance is greatly appreciated!
Rabit
As I read it, the thunderclap variant only deal 2d6, as specifically written. While it refer the spell, the damage dealt is included in the item description, which we need to follow.
I might double this against crystalline creatures if relevant. However this would be a GM choice.
Thanks for the responses, folks - greatly appreciate it. I was honestly more concerned it was a typo, as it seemed... kinda arbitrary.
As I'm using Hero Lab, without customizing it in the data (which I can do, but...), I'll just stick with the wording as-is. In play, I'll probably double the damage to the more fragile targets in the area, but that doesn't have to be in the write-up.