Mettle + Immortal Fortitude = no damage?

[Particle_Man]

From Tome of Battle: The Book of Nine Swords

There is a crusader stance called Immortal Fortitude that says that, if you would take a blow that would take you below 1 hp, you can make a fort save = the negative hp total and if you succeed, you stay alive, conscious and with 1 hp.

If a character is in this stance and has mettle (which allows no effect from an attack that would normally have a partial effect on a successful save), would the character take no damage at all from an attack that would otherwise reduce him to 0 or less hp (assuming a successful Fort save).

This seems especially relevant because Crusaders get Mettle as a class ability.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

My gut instinct would no.

Does the description of Mettle mention that it only works against certain types of effects, such as magical ones?

 

[Sejs]

I'm inclined to say no.

Mettle itself says "You can resist magical attacks with greater effectiveness than other warriors" which indicates it's for spells and such, but then it goes on to say it functions against "an attack that would normally produce a lesser effect on a successful save (such as a spell with...)".

Reason A: Mettle seems to indicate it's for use against magical attacks, such as spells.

Reason B: It'd be rather powerful. Moreso than it should be.

I wouldn't let Mettle work with Immortal Fortitude for the same reason I wouldn't let Evasion work with Defensive Roll.

 

[KarinsDad]

Mettle only affects spells. At least the Mettle on page 50 of Complete Divine only affects spells.

 

[Particle_Man]

That is the weird thing. The ToB description of Mettle has a line of flavour text at the beginning saying 'you can resist magical attacks' but doesn't exclude non-magical effects in the crunch section, just talking about fort and will saves vs. various effects.

 

[szilard]

it goes on to say it functions against "an attack that would normally produce a lesser effect on a successful save (such as a spell with...)".

Weapon damage doesn't "normally produce a lesser effect on a successful save" - so the answer would be no.

-Stuart