A magic user hitting a rod involves the use of magical powers or abilities to strike a rod. This action can have different meanings and implications depending on the context. In some cases, it can be seen as a symbolic act of asserting control or power over an object. The rod itself may represent a source of power or authority, and by hitting it, the magic user is making a statement or demonstrating their skill. It can also be interpreted as a form of enchantment or spell casting, where the rod serves as a conduit for the magic user's energy or intention. By striking the rod, they are infusing it with their power and potentially imbuing it with magical properties or effects.
Xabloyan wrote: Only against those undead specified in the MM i.e. if you raise dead a mummy it turns into a LE 7th level fighter iirc
Again, I realize I may simply work this out with my DM, but it is always nice to have some form of backing to these sort of things, such as a Sage Advice, a Tweet from J. Essentially, a rod is a stick - you could try to make a case that it is similar to a club but clubs generally have weighted ends, albeit not as weighted as a mace.
By striking the rod, they are infusing it with their power and potentially imbuing it with magical properties or effects. This can be seen in various mythologies and fantasy literature where magic users are often depicted using rods or staffs as a focus for their spellcasting. The act of hitting the rod can also have a physical effect in some cases, such as activating a hidden mechanism or releasing a burst of energy.
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I know some, like the rod of lordly might has multiple weapons it can be, or can function as. But what of other rods with potential weapon uses, including rod of resurrection. What sort of weapon proficiency (if used) does it require and what damage does it deal?
And, as a side question, would you let a rod of resurrection work against undead to transform them back into not-dead (alive) state? I've got a fun idea for a part in an upcoming campaign where a mad dwarf cleric smites the undead bringing them to life.
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Re: Rod. What Weapon Is It?
Post by Xabloyan » Mon Aug 26, 2013 3:04 pm
Only against those undead specified in the MM i.e. if you raise dead a mummy it turns into a LE 7th level fighter iirc
Other than that, it's a jo stick.
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Re: Rod. What Weapon Is It?
Post by dren » Mon Aug 26, 2013 3:18 pm
I believe, I haven't searched my books, that rods function as footman maces. I could be wrong. Well that's just like your opinion man.PaladinesAngel Greater Deity of Dragonsfoot
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Re: Rod. What Weapon Is It?
Post by PaladinesAngel » Mon Aug 26, 2013 3:27 pm
Smiting is a mace I think.
I would go staff
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Re: Rod. What Weapon Is It?
Post by predavolk » Mon Aug 26, 2013 3:35 pm
Doesn't a Raise Dead spell kill most undead? Or is that BECMI or 2E?What do I know of cultured ways, the gilt, the craft and the lie?
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Re: Rod. What Weapon Is It?
Post by Thorkhammer » Mon Aug 26, 2013 4:37 pm
Rods are about 3' long and as thick as your thumb. Rods are fashioned from metal, strange wood, ivory or bone. They can be plain or decorated and carved, tipped or not
It goes on to state, "They are fragile and tend to break easily." But that comes at the end of the paragraph, after having described rods, staves and wands. Being that it follows directly after wands, one might conclude that such a statement applies only to wands; others might include the entire group. ymmv
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Re: Rod. What Weapon Is It?
Post by PaladinesAngel » Mon Aug 26, 2013 4:41 pm
predavolk wrote: Doesn't a Raise Dead spell kill most undead? Or is that BECMI or 2E? Quite a few actually are killed outright. Wraiths and such like.Astra De Silver 2nd Lvl Human Monk (Initiate)
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Re: Rod. What Weapon Is It?
Post by garhkal » Mon Aug 26, 2013 6:03 pm
I'd prob say club. Never seen any source list them being as strong (or large) as maces, flails etc.
As to the undead side. Go by the undead's write up.
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Re: Rod. What Weapon Is It?
Post by chris107 » Mon Aug 26, 2013 6:09 pm
Horseman's mace unless I hear otherwise.
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Re: Rod. What Weapon Is It?
Post by genghisdon » Mon Aug 26, 2013 9:49 pm
jo stick or clubWho watches the watchmen?
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Re: Rod. What Weapon Is It?
Post by Black Puddin » Mon Aug 26, 2013 10:00 pm
Xabloyan wrote: Only against those undead specified in the MM i.e. if you raise dead a mummy it turns into a LE 7th level fighter iirc
But it specifies Raise Dead, not Resurrection.~People are always selective about the types of "realism" they want in their games.~ Elfdart
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Re: Rod. What Weapon Is It?
Post by T. Foster » Mon Aug 26, 2013 10:04 pm
Jo stick (and FWIW I'd allow clerics and mages to use bo sticks and jo sticks, considering them to fall under the general heading of "staff")
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Re: Rod. What Weapon Is It?
Post by Xabloyan » Mon Aug 26, 2013 10:57 pm
Black Puddin wrote:Xabloyan wrote: Only against those undead specified in the MM i.e. if you raise dead a mummy it turns into a LE 7th level fighter iirc
But it specifies Raise Dead, not Resurrection. the old name of Resurrection was raise dead fully for a reason.Philotomy Jurament Lesser Deity of Dragonsfoot
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Re: Rod. What Weapon Is It?
Post by Philotomy Jurament » Tue Aug 27, 2013 12:43 am
I don't consider rods to be melee weapons to inflict damage, except for rods that are specifically intended for that. I consider them to be relatively thin (thickness of a thumb) for their length and not inherently robust. Note that the DMG says that both wands and rods usually come in a protective case while "staves stand sturdily alone."
If someone uses a metal rod in melee with the goal of inflicting damage (rather than making contact to trigger a magical effect), I'd allow it to act as a club. A wooden or bone rod might act as a half-damage club. Nevertheless, if someone uses a rod that wasn't really intended for melee as a melee weapon to inflict damage, I'd probably ask for item saving throws during the combat.
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Re: Rod . What Weapon Is It?
Post by K2h2m3 » Tue Aug 27, 2013 4:05 pm
Horseman's mace or light mace depending on edition.PaladinesAngel Greater Deity of Dragonsfoot
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Re: Rod . What Weapon Is It?
Post by PaladinesAngel » Tue Aug 27, 2013 4:10 pm
I always visualised em like modern day walking sticks.Astra De Silver 2nd Lvl Human Monk (Initiate)
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Re: Rod. What Weapon Is It?
Post by T. Foster » Tue Aug 27, 2013 5:18 pm
Philotomy Jurament wrote: I don't consider rods to be melee weapons to inflict damage, except for rods that are specifically intended for that. I consider them to be relatively thin (thickness of a thumb) for their length and not inherently robust. Note that the DMG says that both wands and rods usually come in a protective case while "staves stand sturdily alone."
If someone uses a metal rod in melee with the goal of inflicting damage (rather than making contact to trigger a magical effect), I'd allow it to act as a club. A wooden or bone rod might act as a half-damage club. Nevertheless, if someone uses a rod that wasn't really intended for melee as a melee weapon to inflict damage, I'd probably ask for item saving throws during the combat.
On second thought, this is the better answer - even those rods that require physical contact don't do weapon-damage with a hit so there's no need to declare a weapon-equivalent (though I still like the idea of allowing clerics and mages to use bo sticks and jo sticks in addition to quarterstaves).
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Re: Rod . What Weapon Is It?
Post by PaladinesAngel » Tue Aug 27, 2013 5:22 pm
The rod of smiting is designed for weapon smashing. And the lordly might.Astra De Silver 2nd Lvl Human Monk (Initiate)
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Re: Rod . What Weapon Is It?
Post by Xabloyan » Tue Aug 27, 2013 5:24 pm
The rod of smiting is kinda its own weapon though. I think forcing a cleric to have proficiency with a specific type of weapon like staff, or club, or whatever to use the rod of smiting as a weapon without Np penalty is kind of a ridiculous penalty to enforce.
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Re: Rod . What Weapon Is It?
Post by PaladinesAngel » Tue Aug 27, 2013 5:25 pm
Xabloyan wrote: The rod of smiting is kinda its own weapon though. I think forcing a cleric to have proficiency with a specific type of weapon like staff, or club, or whatever to use the rod of smiting as a weapon without Np penalty is kind of a ridiculous penalty to enforce.
As do iAstra De Silver 2nd Lvl Human Monk (Initiate)
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Re: Rod . What Weapon Is It?
Post by Bedivere » Tue Aug 27, 2013 7:38 pm
I'd say jo stick, club, or horseman's mace depending on the rod, and agree that not all rods are made for striking. Not all my rods are 3' long and thick as my thumb, either.
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Re: Rod. What Weapon Is It?
Post by garhkal » Tue Aug 27, 2013 9:47 pm
Xabloyan wrote: Black Puddin wrote:Xabloyan wrote: Only against those undead specified in the MM i.e. if you raise dead a mummy it turns into a LE 7th level fighter iirc
But it specifies Raise Dead, not Resurrection. the old name of Resurrection was raise dead fully for a reason. And many feel if Raise dead can do it, so should resurrection. Confuscious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!Philotomy Jurament Lesser Deity of Dragonsfoot
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Re: Rod . What Weapon Is It?
Post by Philotomy Jurament » Tue Aug 27, 2013 10:14 pm
PaladinesAngel wrote: The rod of smiting is designed for weapon smashing. And the lordly might.Just so; those fall into the exception category in my approach (i.e., rods that *are* specifically intended for melee), so I consider them robust enough for melee.
I don't think the rod of smiting should require a proficiency slot. I'd grant automatic proficiency to the wielder as part of the rod's magic.
I'm torn on the the question of proficiency slots for the various weapon forms of the rod of lordly might, mainly because the rod actually changes its form, and because acting as a melee weapon is only one of its functions (unlike the very focused rod of smiting). After some consideration, I think I'll go with this: in its natural, "as is" form, the rod acts as a mace but does not require mace proficiency (similar to my ruling on the rod of smiting). However, when used in its sword, axe, or spear configuration, the appropriate weapon proficiency applies. (Of course, it's a rare Fighter who would possess a rod of lordly might and not be proficient in the sword, spear, and axe.)
Last edited by Philotomy Jurament on Wed Aug 28, 2013 1:15 am, edited 2 times in total.The problem is not that power corrupts, but that the corruptible are irresistibly drawn to the pursuit of power. Tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito.
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Re: Rod . What Weapon Is It?
Post by garhkal » Tue Aug 27, 2013 10:38 pm
Good rule, though i have seen some who DO require base prof in the mace to use the rod in that form..
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Re: Rod . What Weapon Is It?
Post by Philotomy Jurament » Tue Aug 27, 2013 10:59 pm
garhkal wrote: Good rule, though i have seen some who DO require base prof in the mace to use the rod in that form..
Yeah, really DM preference on that one. I wouldn't have a problem with such a ruling.The problem is not that power corrupts, but that the corruptible are irresistibly drawn to the pursuit of power. Tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito.
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Re: Rod . What Weapon Is It?
Post by garhkal » Wed Aug 28, 2013 4:27 am
Now as a q.. Would someone with weapon specialty in those rods get to use them as if they were the weapon, or by the item write up for strikes?
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Overall, the action of a magic user hitting a rod is a symbolic and potentially powerful act of magic and enchantment..
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