Author Topic: Stacking Weapon Energy Damage  (Read 4012 times)

Offline Captnq

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Stacking Weapon Energy Damage
« on: December 06, 2012, 11:59:26 PM »
Clearly I need to move this question here.

CORROSIVE
(click to show/hide)

ACIDIC BURST [SYNERGY]
(click to show/hide)

ENERGY SURGE [SYNERGY]
(click to show/hide)


Now, admittedly, it's not clearly written out, and I can find no examples either for or against this, but...

Should not Energy Surge and Acidic Burst add +2d6 acid damage to corrosive and total +3d6 acid?

Quote from: Acidic Burst
An acidic burst weapon functions as a corrosive weapon.
Quote from: Energy surge
An energy surge weapon functions as a weapon of the prerequisite type (corrosive, flaming, frost, or shock).

AS. Not INSTEAD OF.

"as" = Used in comparisons to refer to the extent or degree of something: "hailstones as big as tennis balls".

So Energy Surge (acid) and Acidic Burst both have the quality of Corrosive.

Quote from: corrosive
A weapon that has this property deals an extra 1d6 points of acid damage on a successful hit.

"Extra" = Added to an existing or usual amount or number.

So if you have Corrosive + (Energy Surge = Corrosive) + (Acidic Burst = corrosive) to have corrosive x 3 or 3d6 acid damage.

Now, am I missing something here? Am I the only one reading it this way or what?
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Offline rot42

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Re: Stacking Weapon Energy Damage
« Reply #1 on: December 07, 2012, 03:57:26 AM »
I think that the designers chose poorly when they decided to list the synergy abilities as "+1" but only to a weapon with the prerequisite property rather than as +2 with sensible upgrade clause. In the case at hand, "as" should be read "in the manner of", emphasizing that an Acidic Burst weapon continues to deal the 1d6 [Acid] from being Corrosive rather than having the base enchantment be entirely replaced by the synergy upgrade (which would suck).

Offline RobbyPants

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Re: Stacking Weapon Energy Damage
« Reply #2 on: December 07, 2012, 07:42:35 AM »
Edit: answered a question you didn't ask! :blush

They way I read that, since they all say "extra" damage, I think the three stack. So, a great axe with all three properties should be dealing 4d6 + 2d10 acid damage on a crit (if you activate the surge ability as well). I agree with rot42 about the wording.
« Last Edit: December 07, 2012, 07:47:14 AM by RobbyPants »
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Offline Captnq

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Re: Stacking Weapon Energy Damage
« Reply #3 on: December 07, 2012, 08:22:01 AM »
I think that the designers chose poorly when they decided to list the synergy abilities as "+1" but only to a weapon with the prerequisite property rather than as +2 with sensible upgrade clause. In the case at hand, "as" should be read "in the manner of", emphasizing that an Acidic Burst weapon continues to deal the 1d6 [Acid] from being Corrosive rather than having the base enchantment be entirely replaced by the synergy upgrade (which would suck).

Uh... huh?

So... you think that they stack?

Please remember that in the DMG Flaming (+1) and flaming burst (+2) read the same as Corrosive and Acidic burst, except they are a total +3, not a total +2.

I believe the reason for the synergy is because the reduced cost in comparison to Flaming burst. Personally, I'm trying to figure out if flaming, icy, and shock burst need to be changed.
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Offline Garryl

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Re: Stacking Weapon Energy Damage
« Reply #4 on: December 07, 2012, 09:49:11 AM »
Don't synergy properties replace their prerequisites rather than adding to them?

Offline Captnq

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Re: Stacking Weapon Energy Damage
« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2012, 10:25:39 AM »
Don't synergy properties replace their prerequisites rather than adding to them?

AH! There we go. I had the wrong keyword search. They stuck the rules for that in chapter 6 of MIC. Ya'd think they put it in the weapon section...

Okay. The guidelines are quite clear. I need to reduce the cost of Icy, Frost, Flaming burst and make them synergetic. Hrmm... seems quite a bit need to be upgraded, actually.

Thanks!
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Offline SorO_Lost

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Re: Stacking Weapon Energy Damage
« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2012, 02:59:37 PM »
Synergy abilities replace their prerequisite(s) effect, not stack into them.

See DMGII (page unknown) and MiC 225.