Holy Burst vs. Elemental Burst

[Plutocracy]

I've never owned a holy burst weapon before just because they are always only like +1or +2 since holyburst adds soooo much to minimum level required.

Does anyone know the reason why holy burst damage only scales up 1d6 per multiplier, while elemental burst scales up 1d10 per multiplier?

I mean, holy burst is awesome for rapier, scimitars, kukris etc... but for heavy picks it seems a little steep to "pay" so much for minimum level just for an extra 5d6 on critical hits, when elemental burst is 3d10 and only "costs" +2 extra to minimum level. 5d6=17.5 average, and 3d10=16.5 average, pretty similar damage for huge price discrepancy. It seems a +4 acidburst heavypick > a +1 holyburst heavy pick pretty severely (around 3 extra damage per hit, and +3 more to hit).

Sure there is elemental immunities, but there are also many neutral creatures unaffected by holy (mephits, elementals, many humanoids, etc...).

In other words, elemental burst multiplies with multipliers, while holyburst, which costs a lot more, only adds. Shouldn't the one that costs way more scale more rather than less? Or at least the same?

Anyone know reasoning? Just one of those things? Just bored and wondering...

[Baahb3]

IIRC the +4 Acid Burst Heavy Pick (+6 over all) would be the same as a +3 Holy Burst Heavy Pick.

Element = +1 Enhancement
Burst = +1 Enhancement

Alignment = +2 Enhancement
Burst = +1 Enhancment

The burst part of the enhancement is the same for both it is just the first part (element/alignment) that costs more in enhancement points.

Regardless, I would say it is because elements don't aid you in over coming DR on creatures where alignments do, there are lots of alignments like 10/Good or 10/Chaotic but none that I can think of that are 10/Acid.

[blitzschlag]

well, on your example its 7d6 holy damage which is 24.5 damage average against 1d6+3d10 which is 20 damage average.

but in general i'd take a +5 acid-burst over a +2 holy burst in a non raid situation as you just can throw on power-attack and still hit stuff (even with 3/4 bab classes).

[xoowak]

The non-crit part of holy adds 2d6 as opposed to the 1d6 of elemental, which gives the holy a slight edge. Also I would say there are probably more elemental-resistant enemies than there are neutral ones.

Elemental burst is a +2 mod, alignment burst is +4

+4 Acid Burst Pick(+6) = 4 + 3.5 +3(5.5) = 24
+2 Holy Burst Pick(+6)= 2 + 2(3.5) + 5(3.5) = 26.5

[Plutocracy]

Thnx for replies all. So holy burst picks still pulls a bit ahead, just -2 to hit, and are absolutely awesome for rapiers and such. Still weird a +1 enhancement bonus (elemental "burst" part) on picks equals 16.5 extra on crit and a +2 enhancement bonus on picks (holy "burst" part) equals 17.5 on crit. But whatever, thats just nitpicking.