Half Damage

[Scott]

When an opponent is subject to half damage, like a skeleton taking damage from a bladed weapon, what damage do you half? The total? Just the weapon damage, and then add strength & magic? Something else?
Scott

[GRWelsh]

Just the weapon damage, IMO. In other areas of the rules when damage is doubled or multiplied, it only applies only to the weapon damage and not the bonuses (for example, thieves' backstabbing, spears set for charge, charging lances, etc.). So, it seems reasonable to treat it the same way when a rule says damage is to be halved or otherwise divided.

[Axe Mental]

I take it as any damage done with the weapon that relates to the edged portion doing the damage. Str. would increase the force behind the edge, magic makes the edged weapon more effective at cutting, a backstab using an edged weapon only means the cut is placed more effectively..right, but it's still cutting. So, I can't think of a situation where damage inflicted with an edged weapon wouldn't be halved.

[northrundicandus]

Scott said:

When an opponent is subject to half damage, like a skeleton taking damage from a bladed weapon, what damage do you half? The total? Just the weapon damage, and then add strength & magic? Something else?
Scott

I commonly halve the total, including magic and strength. At one time I halved just the normal die damage, then added any bonuses for strength and magic. The justification being that magic is, well 'magic', and strength would help wound the target regardless of weapon type. Halving the full amount won out though because it is faster in actual play. ;-)

I also do goofy things like make making certain monsters (like skeletons) only take 1 point of damage from weapons like arrows, because there really isn't much left to penetrate in the foe.