Does undead ability drain get past PC damage reduction?

[Piratecat]

Here's a stumper for you: one of the PCs in my game has reached the top level of her prestige class, and is now considered an outsider. She has damage reduction +1/20 (I believe).

Let's say she goes up against a normal undead like a ghoul. It hits her, and would normally do damage, but doesn't do enough to get through her damage reduction. Does she still have to make a fortitude save vs. paralyzation?

Likewise, what about other undead as well - shadows, vampires, etc. - against people with (for instance) stoneskin?

Thanks for the advice!

- Piratecat

 

[LightPhoenix]

DMG, p. 74

"Whenever damage reduction completely negates the damage from an attack, it also negates most special effects that accompany the attack... Damage reduction does not negate touch attacks, energy damage dealt along with an attack, or energy drains. Nor does it affect poisons or diseases...."

So yes, a ghoul's paralysis is negated.

LightPhoenix

 

[Cloudgatherer]

For the paralyzation question, DR can negate the damage and thus there is no danger of paralysis. So the answer is "no need to roll a save." (DMG 74).

The only attacks that "ignore" DR are touch attacks, energy/elemental damage, or energy drains. So many undead with energy drain do not need to overcome DR, just need to simply touch the character.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

What an interesting question. Does this mean the Defenders of Daybreak are going after the ghouls now?

 

[Crothian]

What an interesting question. Does this mean the Defenders of Daybreak are going after the ghouls now?

What are Defenders of Daybreak?

 

[Darkness]

What are Defenders of Daybreak?

PC's PCs.

[Edited to crack a terrible joke. ]