(Ex) or (Su)?

[Lord Pendragon]

Is a trumpet archon's DR (DR 10/evil) an Extraordinary ability, or a Supernatural one? I couldn't find it listed in the SRD entry for the trumpet archon, nor could I find any guidelines under "damage reduction" in the glossary. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Infiniti2000]

It's Su and is listed in the errata:

Damage Reduction
Damage Reduction is either extraordinary (Ex) or
supernatural (Su). Use the following guidelines if it
is not specified.
• DR X/slashing, piercing, or bludgeoning
should be (Ex)
• DR X/adamantine should be (Ex)
• DR X/-- should be (Ex)
• DR X/silver or cold iron should be (Su)
• DR X/magic should be (Su)
• DR X/chaotic, lawful, holy, or unholy
should be (Su)

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Thank you, Infiniti, that's exactly what I needed!

 

[Infiniti2000]

No problem.

Note that DR/Evil is not explicitly listed, but I think the guidelines are sufficiently obvious to declare it Su.

PS Am I guess right if I wager that you plan on using an Anti-Magic Field in the near future?

 

[Nail]

Is there any core monster (3.5e) with DR X/holy?

......I'm making the distinction from "good". Silly Errata.....

 

[Lord Pendragon]

PS Am I guess right if I wager that you plan on using an Anti-Magic Field in the near future?

Actually, no. My paladin has recently acquired a holy sword that allows him to channel (per the Channeling rules in the BoED,) the power of a trumpet archon (adjusted to 10th-level via a 20 level monster class patterned after the astra deva monster class provided in MoTW.) He's 12th-level and this is his cohort, so as he increases in level, so too will his access to the trumpet archon's powers (the trumpet archon powers will "gain" a level each time he does). Channeling allows the Channeler to acquire all the (Sp) and (Su) abilities of the channeled celestial, but none of the (Ex) abilities. Everything else seemed crystal clear, except for the DR, which I couldn't find a designation for. If it were (Ex) then my paladin wouldn't acquire it while channeling. Since it's (Su), he does.

My paladin will be happy to hear that he can benefit from the archon's DR/evil while wielding his sword. Though sadly it won't help him against a large portion of the campaign's foes, which are devils (and therefore I believe all have Evil natural attacks and treat any wielded weapon as Evil as well.) Still, very useful for the mooks, summoned critters, etc. etc.

I ain't complaining.

 

[Ferrix]

Actually, no. My paladin has recently acquired a holy sword that allows him to channel (per the Channeling rules in the BoED,) the power of a trumpet archon (adjusted to 10th-level via a 20 level monster class patterned after the astra deva monster class provided in MoTW.) He's 12th-level and this is his cohort, so as he increases in level, so too will his access to the trumpet archon's powers (the trumpet archon powers will "gain" a level each time he does). Channeling allows the Channeler to acquire all the (Sp) and (Su) abilities of the channeled celestial, but none of the (Ex) abilities. Everything else seemed crystal clear, except for the DR, which I couldn't find a designation for. If it were (Ex) then my paladin wouldn't acquire it while channeling. Since it's (Su), he does.

My paladin will be happy to hear that he can benefit from the archon's DR/evil while wielding his sword. Though sadly it won't help him against a large portion of the campaign's foes, which are devils (and therefore I believe all have Evil natural attacks and treat any wielded weapon as Evil as well.) Still, very useful for the mooks, summoned critters, etc. etc.

I ain't complaining.

Oh now this is brilliant!

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Oh now this is brilliant!

Thanks.

Playing a paladin, I'd wanted to pick up Leadership almost since 1st-level. The problem was that our party is rather large (7 PCs +2 animal companions +1 paladin's mount) so adding yet another character into the mix would present a logistical nightmare. Straight Channeling also seemed a bit problematic, since it had the potential to overbalance my paladin vs. the fighter (when Channeling a celestial by the RAW presented in the BoED, the channeler also gains access to all of the celestial's skill ranks, as well as the celestial's stats -5, unless the mortal's stats are better than that.) The stats alone (trumpet archons gain significant stat boosts,) might have allowed the paladin to completely overshadow the fighter.

This way, the paladin gains some neat abilities and access to the clerical spellcasting he would have gotten with a standard cohort (minus the extra action each combat round), without adding an extra body to the group. Also, it doesn't steal any thunder from the party cleric, since even though the paladin will have access to divine spells, there won't actually be another cleric in the party.

It also fit really well with the theme of the character and his destiny in the campaign. I had written in his backstory that he saw an angel in his dreams as a child, calling him to arms. The DM liked the idea that the sword could be drawing its power from that angel.

Overall, I think it'll really work out well. None of the overpowered cleric spells (Righteous Might and Divine Power mostly,) have much benefit for a paladin who already has a good strength and full BAB, so there's little abuse, but a lot of utility and a huge amount of flavor.