Damage reduction question

[Shadeus]

A 10th-level dwarven defender gains damage reduction (6). Damage reduction is supposed to apply to all attacks seperately, right? So if you get hit with 5 swords, each damage roll is reduced by 6 points (to a minimum of 0).

So does that mean they are immune to magic missiles since they can only do a max of 5 points of damage each?

 

[SableWyvern]

Yep & yep.

 

[Bobbystopholes]

Damn good question. I'd say yes. The description isn't like Acid Orb out of T&B which says you can split the damage up into any number of orbs as long as they total at least 1d6. You can fire (15) 1d6 orbs or (1) 7d6 and (1) 8d6 orb. Magic missile says you can additional missles, not damage. Therefore, in my mind at least, they would be separate damaging attacks and would negate any magic missile damage, unless they were empowered and a 4 was rolled

Still, at 10th level DD, you'll be about what, 16th character level? Magic Missile shouldn't be hurting you anymore anyway!

 

[Bonedagger]

So does that mean they are immune to magic missiles since they can only do a max of 5 points of damage each?

Normally magical energy attacks ignore damage reduction.

 

[hong]

A 10th-level dwarven defender gains damage reduction (6). Damage reduction is supposed to apply to all attacks seperately, right? So if you get hit with 5 swords, each damage roll is reduced by 6 points (to a minimum of 0).

So does that mean they are immune to magic missiles since they can only do a max of 5 points of damage each?

DR protects against physical damage (ie damage from a physical object), not magical or energy damage. A fireball won't be affected, nor will magic missile.

 

[Bobbystopholes]

D'oh! I feel stupid.

So, if a creature with 20/+2 DR is hit with a +1 Flaming Longsword, will the fire damage not be DR'd? I mean, obviously, the longsword won't be able to do any damage, but since the flaming enchantment isn't physical, would that d6 hurt him normally?

 

[James McMurray]

Yep

 

[hong]

D'oh! I feel stupid.

So, if a creature with 20/+2 DR is hit with a +1 Flaming Longsword, will the fire damage not be DR'd? I mean, obviously, the longsword won't be able to do any damage, but since the flaming enchantment isn't physical, would that d6 hurt him normally?

Interesting question. If DR stops all the damage from a hit, it typically also stops any secondary effects from that hit (energy drain, poison, etc). It would seem, therefore, that if you hit someone with a flaming sword but didn't do enough physical damage to beat DR, the flaming damage also wouldn't apply.

 

[James McMurray]

That is not true though. The secondary effects stopped are the ones you mentioned. Extra energy damage is not a secondary effect of a weapon with energy enhancements, it is bonus damage (that is not subject to DR).

 

[SableWyvern]

For some reason I was possessed of the strange notion that magic missiles do not do magical energy damage. I am stupid.

I hereby alter my original answer to:

Yep & Nope.