I would rule 2. 6d8 points of damage.
I would rule 2 as well. The 2d8 against Hill Giants is added to the base weapon dice.
You wouldn't multiply any extra Bane dice, so I wouldn't think you'd multiply these.
Right but this isn't Bane. This is the Dwarven Thrower just doing extra damage.
Impact is multiplied. This is a high level specific weapon we're talking here. The Weapon is hitting harder against Hill Giants.
It's better than Bane and costs more. Reverse engineering the cost we have
+2 Weapon costs 8,000.
Returning and another +1 costs the difference of 24,000
Can be thrown 30 ft. Probably +1 enhancement equivalent. Useful, but nothing to write home about.
Extra Damage 2d8 vs Giants and 1d8 vs everyone else. We're going to consider this a +2 Enhancement. The baneish effect is worth about 9 damage while the actual Bane effect is equal while increasing the odds of hitting as well. The difference combined between +2 and +6 is 64,000. Then because only a Dwarf has access to this stuff, we reduce the price by 30%.
So the below costs about 40,000 or so. That leaves approximately another 10,000 gold to account for.
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You wouldn't multiply any extra Bane dice, so I wouldn't think you'd multiply these.Right but this isn't Bane. This is the Dwarven Thrower just doing extra damage.
(emphasis mine)
You make a single attack that deals significantly more damage than normal.
Prerequisites: Base attack bonus +6.
Benefit: When you use the attack action, you can make one attack at your highest base attack bonus that deals additional damage. Roll the weapon’s damage dice for the attack twice and add the results together before adding bonuses from Strength, weapon abilities (such as flaming), precision-based damage, and other damage bonuses. These extra weapon damage dice are not multiplied on a critical hit, but are added to the total.
Pretty lame for the cost.
A +3 Returning Bane weapon?
Sounds right to me.
Worse than Bane. Same damage but less accurate. And the price is rather steep for the paltry effects.
Not everything needs to be equal.
When you set a base line of cost, and have things cost similar prices, you should make sure they have similar power. With situational powers being slightly stronger and general powers a tid bit weaker.
So lets think. Dwarf needs a weapon to go fighting some Hill Giants.
He can get a +2 Impact Returning Giant Bane Light Hammer or He can get the Dwarven Thrower. If the first weapon only functions for Dwarves, not only is it cheaper, its also a more powerful weapon. In fact if he pays 6,000 more its also flaming.
Except the only reason the Dwarven Thrower costs 60,000 is because it's getting the price reduction for being a mostly Dwarf only weapon.
A +2 Throwing Impact Returning Giant Bane Warhammer is the equivalent of a +7 Weapon. It has a range increment of 10. If its only usable by Dwarves it costs 6,000 more than the Dwarven Thrower. It deals 2d6 damage, thrown or not. Against Giants it deals an additional 2d6+2 damage and is more likely to hit.
With vital strike vs Giants it deals 6d6+2 damage.
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This comparison is straying off topic.
The Dwarven Thrower is a unique item, roughly similar in price and function to something comparable, and only deals 4d8 on a Vital Strike against Giants. We can crunch the coppers and break down the damage, but it's not far off. For thematics, it's an awesome weapon.
*goes off to prowl the rest of the forums*
Better damage. Bane is d6s. Furthermore, Bane only deals its bonus damage against the specific creature type, this hammer is +2d8 vs giants and +1d8 vs everything else.Worse than Bane. Same damage but less accurate. And the price is rather steep for the paltry effects.A +3 Returning Bane weapon?
Sounds right to me.
You forget the static +2 damage from having a +2 higher enhancement.
d6s have an avg of 3.5. d8s have an avg of 4.5. Thus 2d8 against giants(only when thrown) equals 9 damage average. Furthermore, this bonus damage only occurs when thrown as opposed to the Giant Bane weapon which gets it regardless if it's thrown or not. The 1d8 against everything else is irrelevant because the weapon is being purchased and used against giants. If you use this weapon in melee, it gets no bonus damage whatsoever.
All in all, a really lackluster weapon considering the alternatives. I may as well call the weapon I threw together the Dwarven Thrower and zap the previous one.
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[old man rant]I can remember a time when uniqueness mattered...
"Congratulations, heroes, you've saved the Dwarven Kingdom of Beardsmoor from the tyrant Reallybadguy. As a show of gratitude, here is the legendary Dwarven Thrower we've been keeping in our vaults, only ever wielded by kings!"
"Pfft, I know an NPC back home that can craft me one with higher DPR, and it'll cost less, too. Is that the best you got?"
I may play a lot of PFS, which requires a certain level of optimization, but if I get the opportunity to give up 2 dmg/rd for something cool and different, I'll take it. In home games, that's pretty much all I'll aim for.[/rant]
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If you're going to be taking Vital Strike you generally want a weapon with at least 2d6, 2d8, or 3d6 damage capabilities. With a warhammer sitting at just 1d8, it's not really a strong choice (unless you're planning on being Enlarged often).
But that's a topic for the Advice forum. Happy Giant slaying!