Hunter's Mark wouldn't make the weapon itself overcome non-magical resistance - just the extra damage the spell provides. At least - that's what I'm reading into it.
That is still a stronger effect (to at least nearly as strong so as to undermine) than magic weapon though. IMO.
And I think making a level 1 spell stronger than a level 2 spell's effect should be avoided for game balance.
You're right in that I hadn't read to the end of the chain. I have now. You're also right in that piercing damage from Hunter's Mark doesn't bypass resistance to "piercing damage." However, the fact that Hunter's Mark is a spell is sufficient evidence that the source of the damage is magical, which specifically gets past resistance to "piercing damage from nonmagical weapons." Of course it does: even if this spell was somehow not magical, it still wouldn't be a nonmagical weapon.
You know, after reading this I am now more convinced that Hunter's mark does not bypass non-magic resistances. The spell makes the weapon attack do extra damage. Is the weapon attack magical? No. Does the spell make the attack magic? No. So is the damage dealt by a "nonmagical attack"? Yes. Then it resists it.
Furthermore, I am happy to apply this conclusion to hex and sneak attack as well.
It doesn't apply to hex. Hex specifically does an extra d6 necrotic damage so that is the damage resistance/immunity that comes into play not bludgeoning, piercing or slashing.
That isn't relevant to why I included it. For example, I would rule that hex damage from a nonmagic attack is nonmagic necrotic damage (if it is relevant).
My point is hex, hunter's mark, and sneak attack all have nearly identical wording so should have the same ruling.
"you [can (SA)] deal an extra [amount/type] damage to [the target/one creature (SA)] whenever you hit it with a(n) [weapon (HM)] attack."
So either a spell should make a nonmagic attack do nonmagic bonus damage, or a nonmagic effect should make a magic attack do nonmagic bonus damage.
And of course every rule is up to the DM. It is a literal rule in d&d, it doesn't need to be mentioned in every rule discussion.
Hunter's Mark wouldn't make the weapon itself overcome non-magical resistance - just the extra damage the spell provides. At least - that's what I'm reading into it.
That is still a stronger effect (to at least nearly as strong so as to undermine) than magic weapon though. IMO.
Not really, I think, the magic weapon gains a bonus to hit, which is nice in addition to the damage, and the whole weapon's damage becomes magical. Also, Magic Weapon scales.
Yeah, and Hunter's mark and hex give different additional bonus effects with more utility instead of a +1 to hit. Maybe "stronger" isn't the right word and I should have used "better" instead.
Magic weapon's whole purpose is to bypass resistance and immunity to nonmagic weapon attacks during an encounter. Therefore, I don't think any spell of an equal or lower level should confer a similar benefit.
Hunter's Mark wouldn't make the weapon itself overcome non-magical resistance - just the extra damage the spell provides. At least - that's what I'm reading into it.
That is still a stronger effect (to at least nearly as strong so as to undermine) than magic weapon though. IMO.
Not really, I think, the magic weapon gains a bonus to hit, which is nice in addition to the damage, and the whole weapon's damage becomes magical. Also, Magic Weapon scales.
Yeah, and Hunter's mark and hex give different additional bonus effects with more utility instead of a +1 to hit. Maybe "stronger" isn't the right word and I should have used "better" instead.
Magic weapon's whole purpose is to bypass resistance and immunity to nonmagic weapon attacks during an encounter. Therefore, I don't think any spell of an equal or lower level should confer a similar benefit.
Shillelagh is a Cantrip that allows Druids with a common club to bypass that resistance from Level 1. Not sure why you are making this argument.
But to the spells at hand:
Magic Weapon: Lasts for an hour, bonus action to cast, requires concentration. Adds +1 to damage and attack rolls against any target you choose. Bonuses scale with spell level
Hunters Mark: Lasts for an hour, bonus action to cast, requires concentration. Adds 1d6 damage against a single target at a time. Duration scales with spell level.
Hunters Mark is inferior for several reasons
No impact on attack rolls
no damage scaling
can only be set to a specific target, and can't be changed until that target is dead.
Magic Weapon is a much more flexible spell with greater utility. Also, nearly every class with spellcasting has an early way to bypass this resistance (Magic Stone, Shillelagh, Smites, Hex, spells in general), so I'm not sure what your hangup is on the RAI.
That is still a stronger effect (to at least nearly as strong so as to undermine) than magic weapon though. IMO.
And I think making a level 1 spell stronger than a level 2 spell's effect should be avoided for game balance.
That isn't relevant to why I included it. For example, I would rule that hex damage from a nonmagic attack is nonmagic necrotic damage (if it is relevant).
My point is hex, hunter's mark, and sneak attack all have nearly identical wording so should have the same ruling.
"you [can (SA)] deal an extra [amount/type] damage to [the target/one creature (SA)] whenever you hit it with a(n) [weapon (HM)] attack."
So either a spell should make a nonmagic attack do nonmagic bonus damage, or a nonmagic effect should make a magic attack do nonmagic bonus damage.
And of course every rule is up to the DM. It is a literal rule in d&d, it doesn't need to be mentioned in every rule discussion.
Yeah, and Hunter's mark and hex give different additional bonus effects with more utility instead of a +1 to hit. Maybe "stronger" isn't the right word and I should have used "better" instead.
Magic weapon's whole purpose is to bypass resistance and immunity to nonmagic weapon attacks during an encounter. Therefore, I don't think any spell of an equal or lower level should confer a similar benefit.
Shillelagh is a Cantrip that allows Druids with a common club to bypass that resistance from Level 1. Not sure why you are making this argument.
But to the spells at hand:
Magic Weapon: Lasts for an hour, bonus action to cast, requires concentration. Adds +1 to damage and attack rolls against any target you choose. Bonuses scale with spell level
Hunters Mark: Lasts for an hour, bonus action to cast, requires concentration. Adds 1d6 damage against a single target at a time. Duration scales with spell level.
Hunters Mark is inferior for several reasons
Magic Weapon is a much more flexible spell with greater utility. Also, nearly every class with spellcasting has an early way to bypass this resistance (Magic Stone, Shillelagh, Smites, Hex, spells in general), so I'm not sure what your hangup is on the RAI.