Antimagic vs. DR

[rushlight]

During last night's game, a situation arose in which a Pit Fiend was hit with an Antimagic Ray (from the Dragonomicon - basically it's an antimagic sphere which only effects the targeted creature). The spell clearly states that all spells, SU and SP abilities no longer function for or against the target creature. The question we had was: is DR affected?

I ruled at the time that it was, since the description of DR in the DMG tended to a "magical" base, as well as the fact that the DR can only be overcome by a magical effect (a silver weapon with the Holy power or Good-aligned). But the Pit Fiend's regeneration is specified as an EX ability, so it continued to function.

I was wondering if somewhere there is an official ruling on this. I can forsee situations where it might not be so clear as in the case of a Pit Fiend. What about skeletons? They have a DR negated by bludgeoning - it seems that antimagic would have no affect on that DR. Does the antimagic zone only negate the DR aspects that require magical effects to overcome? Should the Pit Fiend's DR have become 15/Silver instead of it's usual 15/Good and silver?

Thanks!

 

[rushlight]

I think I'll take my one free bump here...


Am I the only one to wonder about this?

 

[jgsugden]

Look in the back of the MM (or the SRD). DR is SU or EX, depending upon the creature. It is not very clear on when it is EX or SU. In *most* cases, I would make it SU.

The only times I would make it EX are when the DR is a function of the form of the creature. Some examples of this would be barbarian DR, elemental DR, and skeletal DR. The DR seems like it should be caused by the physical nature of the creature rather than any mystical abilities. Generally, this would be DR #/- or #/bludgeoning (or slashing, etc...)

If there seems to be no directly logical reason for the DR other than a mystical ability, I'd use supernatural. Things like an alignment DR, a silver DR, etc ... would be examples of things I'd call supernatural.

This is a judgement call. That is how I'd make it.

 

[andargor]

There has been some debate over this phrase:

Some magic creatures have the supernatural ability to instantly heal damage from weapons or to ignore blows altogether as though they were invulnerable.

Because of this phrase in the same entry:

Sometimes damage reduction is instant healing. Sometimes damage reduction represents the creature’s tough hide or body.

As you can see, the argument is that "instant healing" points to supernatural, whereas "tough hide" points to extraordinary.

I believe there is another entry (I forget where) that says that DR is "Ex or Su".

IMC, DR is supernatural unless specified otherwise. And the only place in the monster descriptions that DR is extraordinary is the Lycanthrope template. And that's DR X/silver.

So you will have to make a call. Treating "good" as Su and "silver" as Ex is certainly reasonable considering the above.

EDIT: jgsugden : I knew I should've taken the Fast Posting feat

Andargor

 

[James McMurray]

I would also lump constructs into the (Ex) DR group.