D&D 3E/3.5 Converting DR from 3.0 to 3.5

[Cheiromancer]

Does anyone know how the old system of damage reduction was converted over? I'm trying to update a template for celestials that, among other things, improves their damage reduction. It would do things like improve a 15/+1 DR to 20/+2. I'm not sure how to handle it.

Thanks in advance!

 

[CRGreathouse]

It's a gut thing, mostly. DR amounts were generally halved across the board (DR 20/+1 -> DR 10/magic).

For the penetration type, see what might fit (traditional weaknesses, opposite alignment, etc.). Weak creatures should have this with " or magic"; strong creatures might have " and magic" or even two types (DR 15/silver and chaotic).

Adamantine is used when the creature actually has tough hide/scales/rock exterior/whatever; silver and cold iron are for mythological weaknesses (and weakly for lawful/chaotic creatures, respectively); the alignments are typically used for Outsiders and others strongly typed with their morality; magic is used for generically hard-to-damage foes, especialy those that should be able to kill many peasants/soldiers while being killed by heroes easily; epic is used for "doomsday" monsters and those with CRs above 18-22+; damage type (piercing, slashing, bludgeoning) is used for creatures with special structural strengths or weaknesses (skeletons and zombies) or mythological weaknesses (rakshakas).

Generally, just do your best. I'd err on the side of ignoring the upgrade or keeping it /magic if you can't find a flavorful way to keep it -- the machanics are (usually, and should be) second to the story in the case of 3.5 DR.

 

[Goolpsy]

Just give them 15/Evil or 20/Evil...

I must say i prefer the old system

 

[Random Hero]

I agree, depending on the power level of the celestial, ranging from DR 10/evil to DR 20/evil would probably suffice.

Depending on its subtype (lawful or chaotic) you could give them DR [?]/evil and chaos or DR [?]/evil and law

If they are powerful enough DR 20/epic and evil could be reasonable.


I like 3.0's DR system more too. I think it made more sense, but what are you gonna do? :\

 

[Goolpsy]

i do like that a AND b part..

i must make a monster sometime that has 15/5 AND Good etc.

 

[Stalker0]

You should never go above 15/X DR in 3.5 unless the monster is extremely uber (like the solar).

And I much prefer teh new DR system

 

[Goolpsy]

ye its making the monsters look so weak, nothing special about having a +8 weapon anymore, sure its Epic, but a +1 Holy Sword, is just as effective against some Demons Damage reduction, as the +8, Ghost touch, Keen, mighty cleaving, Flaming Burst, Speed, Vorpal, Holy Sword...

So a big nice weapon, isn't as nice anymore... How does the Damage reduction of the Great Wyrm Prismatic Dragon even look in 3.5? In 3.0 u needed a +15 weapon to get past its damage reduction

 

[Stalker0]

A couple of options:

1) Combine DRs. Good and Adamantine, Chaotic and Cold Iron, etc.

2) For creatures like the dragon mentioned, you can always use some DR 5/- to toughen them up a bit.

 

[radferth]

I combined adamantine and magic in my current camapaign, and it works quite well. Granted I have always played that weapons with much of a plus were always made of mithral or adamantine anyway (throwback to 1st ed. days), so it is redundant at times anyway. Mainly I wanted to cut down on the golf bag effect I have seen in some games.