DR wigginess

[ConcreteBuddha]

Ran into a strange side effect of the new DR system:

Why would a good character want #/evil DR?

The mantle of faith in the DMG gives 5/evil for 76,000gp, and it's not worth it in my opinion. The shirt of demonskin in the MH is also 76000gp, and it gives 5/good DR.

Wouldn't it make more sense for good creatures to wear #/good DR magic items? Afterall, only good creatures and holy weapons can bypass this.

Not many balors IMC wield holy weapons...
.
.
.
The same probably doesn't apply to evil creatures (or else their buddies would backstab them in their sleep.)

 

[hong]

It's a thematic thing. You are resistant to damage from everything except the absolute foulest of the foul.

Note that DR/evil means creatures with the Evil subtype, not just any random evil d00d.

 

[med stud]

It is the same thing as fiends fighting each others (at least in 3.0). To do permanent damage they would need holy weapons but demons dont use them. Guess that's why the Blood War is so long

 

[dcollins]

Wouldn't it make more sense for good creatures to wear #/good DR magic items? Afterall, only good creatures and holy weapons can bypass this.

Yes, this has been brought up several times since 3.5 came out. I agree with you, this change seems kind of cracked.

 

[The Souljourner]

For the items, yeah, it's not that useful.... but for the monsters... it makes sense. It's not like they go out and *choose* to have damage reduction. They're just really hard to hurt, unless you use their polar opposite alignment. Think of it this way, they are so tough, they always shrug off 5 or 10 damage from every hit.... but the pure holiness of good aligned weapons burns right through them.

No one said damage reduction had to be useful in all cases, or even most. It's not an evolution thing here, guys, it's thematic.

-The Souljourner

 

[med stud]

It's just that some demons in 3.0 had regeneration and the only thing that dealt normal damage to them was good or holy weapons. That could be a real problem in the Blood War.

 

[ConcreteBuddha]

I guess my point was that PCs with access to these items are probably going to choose the most effective item, rather than what fits the theme.

Should the mantle of faith be changed to 5/good? I mean, shouldn't it protect against the attacks of evil subtypes, and not from the attacks by solars and such? It makes sense to me that a "mantle of faith" would provide no defense versus a holy weapon, or a celestial.

 

[Staffan]

No. The thing is that the mantle of faith makes you tougher by infusing you with holy forces. However, attacks that are infused with unholy power negate this holy protection, and thus go through the DR.

Note that it's not just any Evil schmuch that can get through the DR. Evil damage means:
1. Someone has cast an Align Weapon on the weapon striking you,
2. Your foe is using an Unholy weapon, or
3. You're being attacked by an [Evil] Outsider (that is, not just an outsider who happens to be evil like a tiefling often is, but one that actually personifies the concept of Evil).

The kind of people who would wear a mantle of faith would often fight enemies that don't fit into any of these categories, so I don't see the problem.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I guess my point was that PCs with access to these items are probably going to choose the most effective item, rather than what fits the theme.

Should the mantle of faith be changed to 5/good? I mean, shouldn't it protect against the attacks of evil subtypes, and not from the attacks by solars and such? It makes sense to me that a "mantle of faith" would provide no defense versus a holy weapon, or a celestial.

I agree with you completely. I think that the way it is currently portrayed is nonsensical. If you are going to create a magic item to help in the fight against the foe, you're going to make it give DR against their attacks, not against your backstabbing colleagues. Otherwise it is a waste of time.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

I agree with you completely. I think that the way it is currently portrayed is nonsensical. If you are going to create a magic item to help in the fight against the foe, you're going to make it give DR against their attacks, not against your backstabbing colleagues. Otherwise it is a waste of time.

I understand why they do it the way it is for creature DR. But I agree it justs doesn't work when applied to this item. An already overpriced item becomes useless when used as it is intended.