Alternate damage resistance

[hong]

I think Hongs method will *greatly* change how DR works and how it is used for creatures.

Pah. 3E is more robust than you think.

There isa reason monsters may have a 10/+3 or a 30/+3.

If there is, I don't know what it is.

That is like saying that all flying creatures should all of a sudden have 10 HD. ie. just another arbitrary change.

And the reason why something might have 10/+3 instead of 30/+3 is...? As far as I can tell, DR values are already completely arbitrary. Adding some consistency to the mix is hardly a bad thing.

 

[Destil]

And the reason why something might have 10/+3 instead of 30/+3 is...? As far as I can tell, DR values are already completely arbitrary. Adding some consistency to the mix is hardly a bad thing.

What would you gain, though? Unless you wanted some odd half-mesure system like this for DR, it really dosn't seem you gain anything by adding such an arbirtary rule.

Stoneskin, Barbarian DR, Protection From Arrows, Lantern Archons, there are plenty of examples of creative ways to tweek the DR numbers and make things interesting.

 

[hong]

What would you gain, though? Unless you wanted some odd half-mesure system like this for DR, it really dosn't seem you gain anything by adding such an arbirtary rule.

Well for starters, having DR reduced to one number (effectively) is easier to remember than having two.

And there's also the matter of allowing not-quite-spiffy-enough-weapons to partially bypass DR, which is what started this thread in the first place....

Stoneskin, Barbarian DR, Protection From Arrows, Lantern Archons, there are plenty of examples of creative ways to tweek the DR numbers and make things interesting.

I don't really see how having a lantern archon have DR 20/+1 as opposed to 10/+1 makes it more "interesting" in any substantial manner.

 

[Destil]

Well for starters, having DR reduced to one number (effectively) is easier to remember than having two.

It's not, really. Since then you have to start either A)doing math (and thus you have a second thing to remember, the formula for DR), or B)Listing it the exact same way as it's listed now. It's about as much easier as THAC0 is than Attack Bonus: does the same thing, but in a more roundabout way.

And there's also the matter of allowing not-quite-spiffy-enough-weapons to partially bypass DR, which is what started this thread in the first place....

True.

I don't really see how having a lantern archon have DR 20/+1 as opposed to 10/+1 makes it more "interesting" in any substantial manner. [/B]

More options for the DM (an opponent who's really strong against non-magical weapons, but a pushover with them) and for mages with a summon monster spell. (The particular DR makes them a great selection in many encounters where you want something to annoy or harry your opponent).

 

[hong]

It's not, really. Since then you have to start either A)doing math (and thus you have a second thing to remember, the formula for DR), or B)Listing it the exact same way as it's listed now. It's about as much easier as THAC0 is than Attack Bonus: does the same thing, but in a more roundabout way.

I'm not sure how you can say that DR X/+1 is much easier to remember than DR +1, when there are six million monsters with different values of X. I had to go to the books to look up the archon's DR, for example.

More options for the DM (an opponent who's really strong against non-magical weapons, but a pushover with them) and for mages with a summon monster spell. (The particular DR makes them a great selection in many encounters where you want something to annoy or harry your opponent).

Personally, I can think of a lot other knobs to tweak when I want to fine-tune an encounter. This isn't an area where 3E is lacking (especially with monster books popping up all over the place).