D&D 2E Protection from breath weapon

[Caruun]

Hello,

I’m looking at the protection scrolls in the original dmg that are available, and I came across the Protection from dragon breath scroll. It gives the duration and that it’s good vs all forms of dragon breath, but it doesn’t actually say how the protection works - whether it’s a bonus to a saving throw, or half damage, etc. Am I missing some info from somewhere?

Thanks.

 

[Nikosandros]

Yes, it is a bit vague. My reading is that the scroll grants total protection from all the effects of the breath weapon. In Unearthed Arcana (for AD&D 1e) it has basically the same description.

 

[Caruun]

Yes, it is a bit vague. My reading is that the scroll grants total protection from all the effects of the breath weapon. In Unearthed Arcana (for AD&D 1e) it has basically the same description.

Okay, cool, thank you. I figured it was prob taking something from 1e, I just could not find it. I appreciate it!

 

[Mannahnin]

Just judging purely from the text in the 2E DMG I would be inclined to think it's complete protection.

On my first scan of the text in UA I initially thought that in 1E, based on the brief wording and placement directly following the scroll of Protection from Acid, that maybe limits were meant to be inferred from the prior entry.

Protection from Acid: Reading time: 5 segments. The reader of the scroll is protected from all forms of acid, up to a damage limit of 20 hit dice or a time limit of 9-12 turns (d4+8), whichever comes first. Thus, the scroll would provide safety from three separate breath weapon attacks by a black dragon of smallest size (normally 6HD of damage per attack), with a small amount of protection yet unused - assuming that the attacks all take place before the time limit expires.

Protection from Breath Weapons, Dragon: Reading time: 1 round. Only the individual reading this scroll is protected. Protection is not limited by the alignment or type of breath; it extends to all forms of dragon breath and lasts for 6-12 rounds (2d4+4).

But on reflection I still think the intent was total protection for the duration, in part because that duration is so much shorter. 6-12 rounds (minutes) instead of 9-12 turns (90-120 minutes).