What is the order of operations for a Conductive Weapon?

[ShroudedInLight]

Let us assume that a character wielding a conductive weapon has successfully rolled high enough to hit an enemy and decides to make use of their conductive weapon.

Does the damage apply before the discharged ability, the ability before the damage, or do both apply at the same time?

I believe they apply simultaneously. Unlike a spell storing weapon, which requires you to deal damage in order to trigger the effect, the text for the Conductive ability only requires that you make a successful attack.

Thoughts?

[Mike J]

Is there a case where order would matter? I can't think of any. You'd need a spell-like or supernatural ability that will affect the weapon damage.

If there is an ability that would affect the damage, I would resolve it in the player's favor. Otherwise, why bother with the weapon special abilty?

In most cases, I'd treat it the same as a flaming weapon. Which damage do you apply first, the weapon damage or the fire damage?

Edited for spelling; clarity.

[Tarik Blackhands]

Order would matter if you wanted to prevent overkill on the target. IE slapping a zombie with Lay On Hands with a conductive sword. Weapon damage killing the zombie is the difference between keeping or wasting 2 LoH charges.

Anyway, my 5cp is that the decision comes on the hit in the sense of roll to hit -> Succeed -> Choose conductive y/n -> roll damage/effects

[Glorf Fei-Hung]

Tarik Blackhands wrote:

Order would matter if you wanted to prevent overkill on the target. IE slapping a zombie with Lay On Hands with a conductive sword. Weapon damage killing the zombie is the difference between keeping or wasting 2 LoH charges.

Anyway, my 5cp is that the decision comes on the hit in the sense of roll to hit -> Succeed -> Choose conductive y/n -> roll damage/effects

I would say even if weapon damage applied first and you did kill the target before using the conductive ability, you're not going to know that you killed the target in that split second.

Creature's don't hit the ground the very instant a killing blow connects.

[ShroudedInLight]

The best example I can come up with is as follows

Example:

You are a Cleric who possesses Channel Positive Energy, Channel Smite, and the Undead sub-domain. You have obtained a conductive weapon. The Undead sub-domain's ability called Kiss of Death enables you to treat a creature as if it were undead for the purposes of healing/damage from positive and negative energy on a successful touch attack. Your conductive weapon can apply this effect on hit.

You are fighting a living opponent. You activate your positive energy channel smite and successfully hit them with your conductive weapon.

One of the following results:

1: Conductive applies before damage, Channel Smite deals damage to the target as if it were undead thanks to Kiss of Death.
2: Conductive applies at the same time as damage, Channel smite deals damage to the target as if it were undead thanks to Kiss of Death.
3: Conductive applies after damage is dealt, Channel smite is wasted.

2/3 of these results benefit the cleric, the final one does not. Which is it?

[Glorf Fei-Hung]

ShroudedInLight wrote:

The best example I can come up with is as follows

** spoiler omitted **

Definitely NOT option 3, because your Kiss of Death ability doesn't stop just because you've already dealt your weapon damage.

It's always active any time you are applying positive/negative energy, so even if conductive occurs after the normal weapon damage. The act of the conductive attack is when the channeled smite is applied. At THAT point your Kiss of Death treats the target as if it were undead, so your positive energy still deals damage as if it were undead!

Beyond that, i still don't think it matters other than you're not going to know if the target is dead by physical hit before you apply conductive damage where you can 'decide' not to use it because in that instant the blow hits before your conductive goes off you still wouldn't know that the creature is being killed by the physical dmg.

[ShroudedInLight]

Interesting, I'll need to keep that in mind. Thank you Glorf. That answers my question, unless a huge debate breaks out.

Also, if the above cleric can gain access to the Sun domain they are dealing up to 20d6+20 to anything they hit with their CS KoD combo. Average on a save is 45, which isn't bad to tack onto every round. Just an fyi.