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Correct me if I am wrong, with a hardness of five it will be hard to destroy any weapon out there with wordstrike. I found the errata on weird words and it is clarified and more satisfactory. I'm trying to do my research and find out all the rules on the sound stiker bard before I play it.
If I am wrong, please explain why it is different please.
Thanks in advance
I'll repost the FAQ in question so it is easily referenced, which I'd suggest you do in the future when referencing a FAQ or specific rule, since it puts everybody on the same page re: the topic at hand.
Bard: The sound striker’s weird words ability is confusing. Does it work more than once on the same target? And does it require 30 rolls to adjudicate?
Change the text of weird words to the following “At 6th level the bard can start a performance that is always a standard action to speak up to one word per 4 bard levels laden with sonic energy. Each word deals 4d6 points of sonic damage as a ranged touch attack with a range of 30 feet. The bard adds his charisma modifier on damage rolls with weird words. Multiple words that strike the same target stack into a single powerful attack, applying energy resistance and bonuses on damage rolls only once. The bard can target all words at the same or different targets, but he unleashes all words simultaneously. Each word costs 1 round of bardic performance.” This change will be reflected in future errata.
So if you read the FAQ, you see that it isn't so much "clarifying" the original wording, but rather issuing provisional Errata which OVER RIDES the original wording. ("Change the text... to the following:")
Anyways, the FAQ-Errata is allowing (actually, forcing) you to lump all the Weird Word damage together, so instead of Hardness applying -5 or -10 dmg (or whatever) PER WORD (each doing 4d6+CHA), it applies -5 or -10 dmg (or whatever) vs. the TOTAL damage of ALL words (1 per 4 bard levels, in one usage of the ability). In other words, akin to what the Clustered Shots Feat does vs DR. It is also only applying the bonus damage (CHA to dmg) ONCE to the total instead of per word.
Of course in the Additional Rules chapter discussing object damage, hardness and "energy damage" states "Energy attacks deal half damage to most objects... Some energy types might be particularly effective against certain objects, subject to GM discretion... Sonic might do full damage against glass and crystal objects" so Hardness won't apply at all in those cases (crystalline objects), although the new Errata still applies that you only apply bonus damage once (CHA mod) instead of per-word.
As far as targetting characters (as opposed to unattended objects), the FAQ-Errata means you can sum up the damage before overcoming Sonic RESISTANCE as well, although you likewise only apply bonus damage (CHA mod) once to the total, which is USUALLY a net loss given Sonic Resistance is very rare. AFAIK there isn't any trivial way to use the ability to target attended (i.e. HELD) items, although potentially (?) some special ability could allow Sunder attempts with all ranged attacks including ranged touch.
Overall, the changes make the ability stronger vs. objects with high Hardness (which was the ability's weak point) which makes sense since high Hardness objects are closest to "Crystalline" in the first place... and makes it weaker in other cases, i.e. low Hardness objects (or objects where Hardness is bypassed e.g. glass/crystalline) and targets without hardness (e.g. creatures) because the CHA damage is now only once rather than per word.
EDIT: With a Hardness of just 5 (which is that of Wood), the original version would have been stronger, at least as long as your CHA mod is 6 or higher (i.e. CHA 22+, at CHA 20 there is no difference in net effect). Stone Hardness is 8, and Metal Hardness is 10-20 (before magical Enchantment increases), and is the case the Errata was meant to deal with IMHO. Even if you have 18 or lower CHA (where Hardness 5 is more than CHA mod), the effect is so minor as to not necessitate an Errata... While Hardness 15-20 was potentially shutting down all damage.
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I'll repost the FAQ in question so it is easily referenced, which I'd suggest you do in the future when referencing a FAQ or specific rule, since it puts everybody on the same page re: the topic at hand.
Bard: The sound striker’s weird words ability is confusing. Does it work more than once on the same target? And does it require 30 rolls to adjudicate?
Change the text of weird words to the following “At 6th level the bard can start a performance that is always a standard action to speak up to one word per 4 bard levels laden with sonic energy. Each word deals 4d6 points of sonic damage as a ranged touch attack with a range of 30 feet. The bard adds his charisma modifier on damage rolls with weird words. Multiple words that strike the same target stack into a single powerful attack, applying energy resistance and bonuses on damage rolls only once. The bard can target all words at the same or different targets, but he unleashes all words simultaneously. Each word costs 1 round of bardic performance.” This change will be reflected in future errata.So if you read the FAQ, you see that it isn't so much "clarifying" the original wording, but rather issuing provisional Errata which OVER RIDES the original wording. ("Change the text... to the following:")
Anyways, the FAQ-Errata is allowing (actually, forcing) you to lump all the Weird Word damage together, so instead of Hardness applying -5 or -10 dmg (or whatever) PER WORD (each doing 4d6+CHA), it applies -5 or -10 dmg (or whatever) vs. the TOTAL damage of ALL words (1 per 4 bard levels, in one usage of the ability). In other words, akin to what the Clustered Shots Feat does vs DR. It is also only applying the bonus damage (CHA to dmg) ONCE to the total instead of per word.
Of course in the Additional Rules chapter discussing object damage, hardness and "energy damage" states "Energy attacks deal half damage to most objects... Some energy types might be particularly effective against certain objects, subject to GM discretion......
Quandry, thanks for such a detailed answer. I left the question brief so the reader can add what they wanted. Wordstrike and weird words, being two different powers, both hit the hardness of wood and metal weapons if aimed at them. That is my interpretation reading all the posts. Wordstrike does little but is a low level power. I don't see wordstrike destroying weapons at all. I believe you would subtract hardness first before dividing in half the leftover damage if you could hit a weapon with wordstrike or weird words.
Weird words on the other hand works well against creatures. It didn't occur to me to use it against weapons but you're right, it is more powerful if you could use it against them.
I came up with the same that the damage dice is doubled but not the modifier of the charisma bonus.