Can you use improved sunder to attack a stowed item?


Rules Questions


If I have improved sunder and I attack a stowed item would I invoke an AoO?
For example two pole-arm fighters are going at it and I sunder his first pole-arm, he draws a dagger and moves in, then I sunder the pole-arm on his back. Would that invoke an AoO or does improve sunder mean I get to sunder the stowed item without suffering the AoO?


Sunder allows you to attack a worn or carried object, right?

A stowed polearm is a worn or carried object.

Improved Sunder lets you attempt a Sunder without triggering an Attack of Opportunity, right?

So, if you have Improved Sunder you can attempt to sunder a stowed polearm without triggering an Attack of Opportunity.


That is the question. Since attacking a stowed item seems to imply it would be "unattended" and that would mean attacking an item thus taking your eyes off the character you are fighting.
Thanks for the clarification.


"Stowed" is not "unattended".

Well, it is if it is stowed in a cabinet, or in a locker, etc. But when it's stowed on a person's body, it's still attended.


Blake is correct. An object that is worn or carried by a creature is attended, even if they are not currently using it.

Unattended would be if it were laying on a table, or in a pile on the floor, or in a chest or cupboard. Basically anything other than being worn or carried.

The Exchange Owner - D20 Hobbies

Attended is anything held, worn, stowed, or carried.

My vote would be you can't sunder something stowed inside something, like a pair of smoked goggles in a backpack. Worn things like spell component, dagger in scabbard, belt, helm, boots.


I think it depends on where its stowed. I would say a sheathed weapon is a valid target.


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I would say it's not valid to target if it's completely out of sight. A weapon in a sheath you can still see to target. A dagger inside a sack, not so much.

Although you could sunder the sack and see what poured out. Combat pinata.

The Exchange Owner - D20 Hobbies

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Scythia wrote:

I would say it's not valid to target if it's completely out of sight. A weapon in a sheath you can still see to target. A dagger inside a sack, not so much.

Although you could sunder the sack and see what poured out. Combat pinata.

+1

I did that to a flying wizard once from a flying monk, all his stuff fell 100 feet onto the battlefield.


James Risner wrote:
Scythia wrote:

I would say it's not valid to target if it's completely out of sight. A weapon in a sheath you can still see to target. A dagger inside a sack, not so much.

Although you could sunder the sack and see what poured out. Combat pinata.

+1

I did that to a flying wizard once from a flying monk, all his stuff fell 100 feet onto the battlefield.

I'm imagining-

Wizard: "Fear my mastery of magics great and powerful"

Player: "That's fine, but I hope you've got an hour or two to gather up all of your junk."
-Sunders bag

The Exchange Owner - D20 Hobbies

Scythia wrote:

Player: "That's fine, but I hope you've got an hour or two to gather up all of your junk."

-Sunders bag

More like, "I'm done with you -move action to draw a scroll- read scroll"


Scythia wrote:
James Risner wrote:
Scythia wrote:

I would say it's not valid to target if it's completely out of sight. A weapon in a sheath you can still see to target. A dagger inside a sack, not so much.

Although you could sunder the sack and see what poured out. Combat pinata.

+1

I did that to a flying wizard once from a flying monk, all his stuff fell 100 feet onto the battlefield.

I'm imagining-

Wizard: "Fear my mastery of magics great and powerful"

Player: "That's fine, but I hope you've got an hour or two to gather up all of your junk."
-Sunders bag

That's what unseen servants are for.


DM_Blake wrote:
Scythia wrote:


Wizard: "Fear my mastery of magics great and powerful"

Player: "That's fine, but I hope you've got an hour or two to gather up all of your junk."
-Sunders bag

That's what unseen servants are for.

I don't think that would be a great idea. They don't have your awareness of possession, so you can't say "pick up my belongings", and unless it was a sack with fairly specific items, it would be problematic to give them a command that would work.

Especially if it's over a populated area.


Scythia wrote:

I would say it's not valid to target if it's completely out of sight. A weapon in a sheath you can still see to target. A dagger inside a sack, not so much.

Although you could sunder the sack and see what poured out. Combat pinata.

I love that idea.

I'm envisioning an espadachín (spanish word for sword fighter) specializing in 2 handed weapons sundering his opponents bags, spell component pouches, what have you and yelling "¡¿Quién más tiene una piñata?!" (Who else has a pinata?!)


Scythia wrote:

I would say it's not valid to target if it's completely out of sight. A weapon in a sheath you can still see to target. A dagger inside a sack, not so much.

Although you could sunder the sack and see what poured out. Combat pinata.

Just remember what happends if you puncture a bag of Holding. And be ready for your teammates crying when it happends.


Cap. Darling wrote:
Scythia wrote:

I would say it's not valid to target if it's completely out of sight. A weapon in a sheath you can still see to target. A dagger inside a sack, not so much.

Although you could sunder the sack and see what poured out. Combat pinata.

Just remember what happends if you puncture a bag of Holding. And be ready for your teammates crying when it happends.

Barb: "I BROKE HIS BAG - WAAAAAAAGH"

Rogue: "WAAAAAAARGHL"

Ranger: "Heh."

Cleric: "That's... that's horrifying! Who on this plane would carry such things?!"

The necromancer's bag of holding is spewing forth a veritable Pu Pu Platter of his life's 'reagent collection.'


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Hydromancer wrote:
Cap. Darling wrote:
Scythia wrote:

I would say it's not valid to target if it's completely out of sight. A weapon in a sheath you can still see to target. A dagger inside a sack, not so much.

Although you could sunder the sack and see what poured out. Combat pinata.

Just remember what happends if you puncture a bag of Holding. And be ready for your teammates crying when it happends.

Barb: "I BROKE HIS BAG - WAAAAAAAGH"

Rogue: "WAAAAAAARGHL"

Ranger: "Heh."

Cleric: "That's... that's horrifying! Who on this plane would carry such things?!"

The necromancer's bag of holding is spewing forth a veritable Pu Pu Platter of his life's 'reagent collection.'

The stuff in the bag is lost for good if the bag breaks.


Cap. Darling wrote:
Hydromancer wrote:
Cap. Darling wrote:
Scythia wrote:

I would say it's not valid to target if it's completely out of sight. A weapon in a sheath you can still see to target. A dagger inside a sack, not so much.

Although you could sunder the sack and see what poured out. Combat pinata.

Just remember what happends if you puncture a bag of Holding. And be ready for your teammates crying when it happends.

Barb: "I BROKE HIS BAG - WAAAAAAAGH"

Rogue: "WAAAAAAARGHL"

Ranger: "Heh."

Cleric: "That's... that's horrifying! Who on this plane would carry such things?!"

The necromancer's bag of holding is spewing forth a veritable Pu Pu Platter of his life's 'reagent collection.'

The stuff in the bag is lost for good if the bag breaks.

Ah I had forgotten about that. Could some attempt to forcefully turn it inside out if it's not won like a backpack on the opponent?


Hydromancer wrote:
Cap. Darling wrote:
Hydromancer wrote:
Cap. Darling wrote:
Scythia wrote:

I would say it's not valid to target if it's completely out of sight. A weapon in a sheath you can still see to target. A dagger inside a sack, not so much.

Although you could sunder the sack and see what poured out. Combat pinata.

Just remember what happends if you puncture a bag of Holding. And be ready for your teammates crying when it happends.

Barb: "I BROKE HIS BAG - WAAAAAAAGH"

Rogue: "WAAAAAAARGHL"

Ranger: "Heh."

Cleric: "That's... that's horrifying! Who on this plane would carry such things?!"

The necromancer's bag of holding is spewing forth a veritable Pu Pu Platter of his life's 'reagent collection.'

The stuff in the bag is lost for good if the bag breaks.

Ah I had forgotten about that. Could some attempt to forcefully turn it inside out if it's not won like a backpack on the opponent?

I dont see how. Just lille the guy and take his xp as well as his stuff.


Cap. Darling wrote:
Scythia wrote:

I would say it's not valid to target if it's completely out of sight. A weapon in a sheath you can still see to target. A dagger inside a sack, not so much.

Although you could sunder the sack and see what poured out. Combat pinata.

Just remember what happends if you puncture a bag of Holding. And be ready for your teammates crying when it happends.

To be fair, that's why Sunder, which can be very effective against non-monster opponents, is so rarely used. It destroys the shinies that you're expecting to forcefully inherit.

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