DefiantPC Divine Damage Immunity

[Omertalvendetta]

Divine Damage Immunity (Su): At 3rd level, a defiant
gains immunity to damage from divine power, such as that
dealt by a flame strike spell.

Given only one example, (flame strike) I would like to ask what constitutes as "divine power." I searched through about 90% of my 3.5 books and only in about 3 cases did I find that any particular spells "damage" from a divine source being defined as "divine power", flame strike being one of them. Flame strike does both "divine power" and fire damage (which would supposedly not be resisted via not being "divine power") But in my mind, ANY divine magic drawn from a deity constitutes as divine power, thus making any damage based divine spells "divine power" regardless of their doing fire damage or cold damage or any other type under the logic that they're being taken from a divine source, and thus "divine power."

1. If indeed this ability only applies to said cases such as flame strike, it is almost pointless because it only targets a few spells in specific.
2. If this ability applies to ALL divine sources of damage it would be probably considered overpowered, but only under the correct circumstances via battling a cleric/druid.

 

[DumbPaladin]

There are a few spells that mention the ability damage is divine in origin -- I'd think "divine power" refers to that type of damage. However, any spell altered by the Consecrate Spell metamagic changes half of the damage to a divine origin. So theoretically, any spell that deals damage could do half of it from that origin. There's also a feat that lets you do the same to any wands or scrolls you use.

I'm not sure if there are other ways of dealing damage (besides spells) that can be divine in origin.

 

[Omertalvendetta]

It just seems rather lame that the ability would be that useless. Since not that many spells, unless under the right circumstances, deal the kind of damage the defiant would be immune to.

 

[DumbPaladin]

I can't speak as to whether it's "lame" or not -- it's just a very specific ability. It seems like it's for flavor, but may once in a while come in handy. There are many that are more specific than this ... I'd say it's certainly not a reason to choose a prestige class.

But a PrC can't give you a great ability EVERY level for 10 levels ... or all people playing a character that fit that PrC would only choose that PrC.

 

[Persiflage]

Spells that (explicitly or implicitly) seem to inflict "divine power damage":

SRD

Flame Strike
Holy Smite
Searing Light (dubious)

Book of Exalted Deeds

Ayailla's Radiant Burst
Phoenix Fire
Rain of Black Tulips
Rain of Embers
Righteous Smite
Storm of Shards
Vengeance Halo

Complete Divine

Castigate (possibly)
Deific Vengeance (probably)
Nimbus of Light

Spell Compendium

Light of X (maybe)


And that's... pretty much it, as far as I can tell. There may be more in campaign-specific sourcebooks, but that's about as many as I can find. I don't know whether you think the above list makes the class feature worthwhile, but if you're likely to be up against NPC's equipped with the Book of Exalted Deeds I suppose it could be

 

[FEADIN]

Why not give immunity to damage from Salient divine ablity...?
That's true divine power.
Mmmm may be too strong?

 

[Andras]

One of the abilities of the Paragnostic Apostle from the CompChamp lets the mage do half divine if an energy based spells damages an opposite alignment enemy. I used that often with my previous character. .