Epic monster's DR useless?

[Dark Dragon]

Epic monsters often have a DR of 6 or higher (if you add some template, DR could rise to over 10). Brilliant Aura (drd level 7) from MoF turns the weapons of the affected allies into brilliant energy weapons AND gives them a +X ENHANCEMENT bonus to damage (X is half caster level, round down).

From the SRD:
Table: Damage Reduction Rankings

Power Rank
----- ---- -----------
Best +5 enhancement bonus
2nd best +4 enhancement bonus
3rd best +3 enhancement bonus
4th best +2 enhancement bonus
5th best +1 enhancement bonus
Weakest Silver, mithral, or other special material

DR makes no difference between an enhancement bonus to attack or damage. A level 21 druid and his companions would easily overcome the DR of most epic monsters without having +10 swords, maces, arrows and so on. Only constructs and undead are immune against this spell, but for the rest...
Perhaps we missed something in our group, but I don't think so (we had a long debate about the spell after the party (level 14) easily killed one of Loth's hunting hounds because the druid had cast Brilliant Aura).

 

[Darkness]

An enhancement bonus to damage (or attack rolls) isn't the same as a magical weapon.

 

[James McMurray]

Not only are they not the same, but even if they were, the only way it would become a problem is if you were playing in FR and had a 21st level druid along. Probbly a fairly isolated occurence.

 

[hong]

if you were playing in FR and had a 21st level druid along. Probbly a fairly isolated occurence.

Hong "bashing FR: a sport for the whole family" Ooi

 

[The Iron Mark]

Actually, the enhancment bonus from the spell and from a weapon are one and the same. But I do agree, FR is quite powerful.

 

[Crothian]

This is not a problem with the DR with Epic creatures, this is a problem with the spell. THanks for proving that this is a troublesome spell and should be altered.

 

[James McMurray]

The only way to take my statement as a bash of FR is to suffer from a persecution complex.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Actually, the enhancment bonus from the spell and from a weapon are one and the same. But I do agree, FR is quite powerful.

The spell grants an enhancement bonus to damage to the attacks.
Magic weapons are granted an enhancement bonus on the weapon itself, which works on both attack and damage rolls. That's a difference.

It may be a gray area, but IMHO the spell was not made to overcome DR.

 

[Pax]

It may be a gray area, but IMHO the spell was not made to overcome DR.

I agree, 101%

 

[Hejdun]

The spell grants an enhancement bonus to damage to the attacks.
Magic weapons are granted an enhancement bonus on the weapon itself, which works on both attack and damage rolls. That's a difference.

Using this exact logic, Greater Magic Weapon won't pierce DR either.

Which might not be an altogether bad thing (perhaps quite to the contrary).