D&D 3E/3.5 [3.5] Smite Evil question: Can't find answer on the net.

[DumbPaladin]

I don't have Rules Compendium in front of me, so I apologize if this is clearly listed in that book, but ... so far I'm not finding an answer to this question.

Does a paladin's smite evil ability get stopped (and ignored) by Damage Reduction?

According to the SRD:
Whenever damage reduction completely negates the damage from an attack, it also negates most special effects that accompany the attack, such as injury type poison, a http://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/monk.htmmonk's stunning, and injury type disease. Damage reduction does not negate http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/combatStatistics.htm#touchAttackstoiuch attacks, energy damage dealt along with an attack, or http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#energyDrainAndNegativeLevelsenergy drains. Nor does it affect poisons or diseases delivered by inhalation, ingestion, or contact.


The PHB doesn't list the smite ability as being divine in origin, nor any special kind of damage, so ... does how do the two interact?

If I attack with a 1d8 longsword and do 6 points of smiting damage against a creature with DR 20/--, my interpretation is there's no way I'm doing any damage to that creature except on a critical hit. Am I right?

Thanks!

 

[radmod]

Hmm, how to answer this without making it totally confusing.
The simple answer is that Smite Evil is not an effect. An effect is a consequence. So the consequence of getting through the DR would be the effect. Basically, one way to think about it is, is does something else happen? If you get through DR with a Stunning Fist, then the stun attempt happens. If you fail to break DR, then nothing happens.
Smite Evil directly adds to the damage roll and is not a consequence of getting through the DR. Besides part of Smite Evil is adding CHA to the attack roll. If you hadn't rolled yet then how can you possibly break DR?

 

[DumbPaladin]

Hmm, how to answer this without making it totally confusing.
The simple answer is that Smite Evil is not an effect. An effect is a consequence. So the consequence of getting through the DR would be the effect. Basically, one way to think about it is, is does something else happen? If you get through DR with a Stunning Fist, then the stun attempt happens. If you fail to break DR, then nothing happens.
Smite Evil directly adds to the damage roll and is not a consequence of getting through the DR. Besides part of Smite Evil is adding CHA to the attack roll. If you hadn't rolled yet then how can you possibly break DR?

Okay, that makes sense. I guess what I'm saying is, the extra smite damage can still be defeated by DR once you hit, right?

Like in my earlier example, 1d8 + 6 smite damage versus DR 15 = the monster takes no damage?

 

[ValhallaGH]

Okay, that makes sense. I guess what I'm saying is, the extra smite damage can still be defeated by DR once you hit, right?

Like in my earlier example, 1d8 + 6 smite damage versus DR 15 = the monster takes no damage?

Right. Smite adds damage. If the damage doesn't exceed or bypass the DR then the foe is unharmed.

Good luck.

 

[pawsplay]

Hmm, how to answer this without making it totally confusing.
The simple answer is that Smite Evil is not an effect.

Actually, I think you did quite well with that. Smite evil is, fundamentally, an untyped damage bonus, just like Weapon Specialization.