Damage reduction

[pbd]

Quick question on damage reduction.

Damage reduction of 5/magic means that you get the first 5 damage from any attack removed, unless that attack is magic. What exactally does magic mean in this instance. Will any magic weapon overcome this (for instance a +1 longsword) or does it have to be specific magic damage, like a fireball?

Also, does 5/alignemnt mean any creature of that alignment can overcome the damage, or does it have to be specified that the creatures atacks are of that alignment?

Much thanks,
pbd

 

[Lamoni]

a simple +1 longsword would overcome DR X/magic. As for DR X/alignment, the weapon has to have that alignment to overcome it (holy, unholy, axiomatic, or the other one). Align weapon also works and the natural weapons of most creatures that have alignments are also appropriately aligned to overcome damage reduction. If a demon picks up a mace from the party cleric, it won't overcome DR/evil with that weapon. Being good or evil (or chaotic or lawful) isn't enough in and of itself.

 

[Darklone]

... and nearly all spells (with a few exceptions that cause slashing, piercing or bludgeoning damage) overcome DR anyhow.

 

[FreeXenon]

(Smacking slow post to hurry it up...)

 

[FreeXenon]

From SRD

Monster Entry Damage Reduction Description
Some monsters are vulnerable to magic weapons. Any weapon with at least a +1 magical enhancement bonus on attack and damage rolls overcomes the damage reduction of these monsters. Such creatures’ natural weapons (but not their attacks with weapons) are treated as magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.

Some monsters are vulnerable to chaotic-, evil-, good-, or lawful-aligned weapons. When a cleric casts align weapon, affected weapons might gain one or more of these properties, and certain magic weapons have these properties as well. A creature with an alignment subtype (chaotic, evil, good, or lawful) can overcome this type of damage reduction with its natural weapons and weapons it wields as if the weapons or natural weapons had an alignment (or alignments) that match the subtype(s) of the creature.

Damage Reduction Description

Spells, spell-like abilities, and energy attacks (even nonmagical fire) ignore damage reduction.

So any weapon with an enhancement bonus of +1 or greater OR a creature with DR x/magic (using its natural attacks) will affect a creature with DR x/magic. Normal (non-magical) weapons are reduced by the DR.

Creatures with the appropriate alignment descriptor OR aligned weapons (ie holy or unholy, etc) are required to bypass a DR x/alignment. So a creature with DR x/Evil will be affected normall by a Demon or Devil (evil sub-type) as well as a creature with an unholy weapon. A creature with an evil alignemnt does not qualify to bypass the DR unless it has the Evil Alignment subtype.

A method of damage that is energy based (a bon fire, a lake of acid, Fireball, Cone of cold, Magic Missle) bypasses Damage Reduction.

I hope this helps...

 

[Black_Skull]

If a demon picks up a mace from the party cleric, it won't overcome DR/evil with that weapon.

That is not correct. As stated in page 308 of the Monster Manual 3.5 talking about DR X/alignment:

A creature with an alignment subtype (chaotic, evil, good, or lawful) can overcome this type of damage reduction with its natural weapons and weapons it wields as if the weapons or natural weapons had an alignment (or alignments) that match the subtype(s) of the creature.

 

[Lamoni]

That is not correct. As stated in page 308 of the Monster Manual 3.5 talking about DR X/alignment:

A creature with an alignment subtype (chaotic, evil, good, or lawful) can overcome this type of damage reduction with its natural weapons and weapons it wields as if the weapons or natural weapons had an alignment (or alignments) that match the subtype(s) of the creature.

It does indeed appear that I was wrong. I still don't like that rule much though. It makes sense to me that creatures with an alignment subtype come with appropriately aligned weapons, but DR is already ineffective enough for the PC's without restricting its uses further. I guess it can also make sense that creatures with an alignment subtype have the supernatural ability to cast a limited 'align weapon' on whatever weapon they carry... of course it is always happening and doesn't even take up a free action.

 

[pbd]

If any maical weapon can overcome damage reduction X/magic it kind of marginalizes that effect. For instance, the armor ability invulnerability give DR 5/magic at a cost of +3 aadjusted armor bonus to the price/value. This doesn't seem worth it if any scrub with a plus 1 sword gets past the DR.

pbd

 

[Henry]

That's what invulnerability used to do in 3E, also.

 

[Victim]

Invulnerability is tool for army killing. It also comes in handy against Elementals, Dire whatsits, and most giants.