Sharp objects in a Bag of Holding

[Jaguar]

I'm looking into Bag of Holding and a friend of mine says that you can't put any sharp objects into it.

If a bag of holding is overloaded, or if sharp objects pierce it (from inside or outside), the bag immediately ruptures and is ruined, and all contents are lost forever

In my reading on the rules, it's referring to deliberate piercing of the bag. Most people seem to have made the assumption that any sharp object in a bag of holding will instantly pierce it, but there does not appear to be anything in the rules that states that. If this was the case, then Bags of Holding would of fairly limited use, in my opinion.

I've searched the net, but no-one seems to be asking this question.

[Anguish]

I think that clause is put there to keep from trying to imprison an enemy in a bag, probably with a bottle of air. That said, the text is what it is. Open to DM interpretation.

[Jaguar]

Anguish wrote:

I think that clause is put there to keep from trying to imprison an enemy in a bag, probably with a bottle of air. That said, the text is what it is. Open to DM interpretation.

Don't know about that. Anyone using a sharp object to escape a Bag of Holding will end up killing themselves.

[GM Rednal]

Yeah, but the NPC's trying it may not know that. XD Of course, a simple way around this is simply putting some kind of padding or sheath around any sharp objects you'd like to store.

[Gisher]

Bubble wrap. The solution is bubble wrap.

[VRMH]

It's a bit of a D&D tradition, this phenomenon. Anything sharp in a Bag of Holding, and it'll rupture. Any other Bag of Holding in a Bag of Holding, and it'll go BOOM!. It's just the way things have "always" been, which is why you won't find much online discussion on the issue.

[Handy Haversack of Hillarity]

I for one am against putting sharp objects in magical bags.

[Diego Rossi]

PRD wrote:

Bag of Holding

This appears to be a common cloth sack

A common cloth sack, like the one used for potatoes or grain, with the same resistance as common cloth sacks.

You put a sharp item in, apply a bit of pressure (like putting other items on top of the sharp object) and you have a very high chance of tearing it up. In this version of the game magical objects get an increase in hardness and hit points only if they are weapon or armor.

@VRMH The traditions has different interpretations. Multiple sourcebooks in the years said that the content of the bag is dispersed in the astral plane, so it is not destroyed, only lost. Note that the item say "lost forever", not destroyed.
My group still use that old explanation, so a guy escaping a bag of holding by piercing it is lost in the astral plane, but he is alive and can find a way to return home. Or at least go to a more friendly location.

[jbadams]

The chances of there being an intentional piercing from the inside of the bag are so low that the rule is basically pointless unless accidental piercing can occur.

Yes, there's an obscure corner case in which a suicidal character with the correct items that is for some reason in a bag could do so, but that's exceptional enough it's probably not worth the extra character count to note inside piercing is possible unless it can also happen by accident.

[Nixitur]

VRMH wrote:

Any other Bag of Holding in a Bag of Holding, and it'll go BOOM!

Not in Pathfinder! If you place a Bag of Holding into a Bag of Holding, you simply can't open the inner one while it's in the extradimensional space. The only exception are a Bag of Holding and a Portable Hole.

[Ravingdork]

I for one would never do this to a player unless it was specifically stated that they were placing an uncovered blade into the bag (My default assumption is that the characters know how their own gear operates). Even then I'd be rolling randomly to see whether or not it pierces the bag, likely at times when they throw something new on top or jostle the co tents when looking for something to pull out.

[Zhayne]

I would require either an active attempt to pierce the bag or some insanely remarkable carelessness to rupture it, like trying to make a three point jumpshot with your spear.