mithril vs. silver

[The Souljourner]

In 3.5, enhancement bonus has no effect on damage reduction. If the creature has 10/silver, then you *must* have a silver weapon to bypass it. Nothing else will bypass it, not even an epic vorpal longsword +10 of speed.

If a creature has damage reduction 10/magic, you *must* have a magic weapon to bypass it. Doesn't matter if it's a +1 dagger or the aforementioned +10 longsword. Silver, adamantine, whatever, have no ability to bypass that damage reduction. However, it has to be a *magic* enhancement, not a natural one due to the material. That's why it's called "magic" not "enhancement".

Same goes for all DRs in 3.5. They list what you must have to bypass it, there is no more heirarchy of DR bypassing.

And to answer the original question - no, I wouldn't allow mithral to bypass silver DR. Yeah, they're similar materials, but there are inherent disadvantages to silver weapons, and only advantages to mithral (besides the cost), and I think those disadvantages are balancing factors that were taken into consideration for those monsters who have silver damage reduction.

-The Souljourner

 

[rtricher]

Thanks for clarifying that bit for me still using 3.0 over here.

 

[Ferret]

Re: Re: mithril vs. silver

Yes. It's not silver. Now, in the house rules thread, I might have a different answer.

Plus it doesn't work with quick silver.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Re: Re: Re: mithril vs. silver

Plus it doesn't work with quick silver.

Of course, those creatures need prolonged exposure to silver in order to be hurt by it. A slash with normal silver is enough, but quicksilver is just to fast for that

But you got a point. Even though it's called "-silver" it's not silver.

 

[paulewaug]

......And to answer the original question - no, I wouldn't allow mithral to bypass silver DR. Yeah, they're similar materials, but there are inherent disadvantages to silver weapons, and only advantages to mithral (besides the cost), and I think those disadvantages are balancing factors that were taken into consideration for those monsters who have silver damage reduction.
-The Souljourner

Hey!
Some useful input!
Thanks Souljourner!
I posted this in the "Rules section" because I wanted input on the valid rules and how silver and mithral relate to each other by the rules. With regards to scarcity and value-economics, etc.

Obviously implementing "Mithral counts as Silver" Would be a House Rule because, No, it is never stated in any of the books that "Mithral Is counted as Silver for purposes of bypassing DR."

But I didn't want to say "hey here is a house rule what do think?!"
I wanted to see if there was a valid reason, based upon the rules of these two materials to have or not have them do the same thing.
Thus my opening with:

Paulewaug-
Can you see any reason Not to allow mithral to by pass DR Silver?

(It costs more to offset the lack of the -1 damage silver weapons have so that seems fair to me.)

If a moderator thinks this should be in the House Rules section they are absolutely more than welcome to move it, but for now I am looking for input on Why Not to allow Mithral to bypass Silver DR.
MY reasoning is that it is rare and costs more-But as Souljourner has pointed out the designers may have taken the value and material affects in to consideration when designing the DR/Silver.
This is a valid point and useful input.


SO yes By the rules Mithral Is Not Silver so is not inherently by the rules allowed to bypass Silver.

KaeYoss makes a good point as well in that even though it is called various "-silver" names that does Not necessarily mean that it should be allowed to bypass DR. Good point, because no it is never mentioned in the rules that it Does.
Thanks for the input! (To everybody! )

 

[kreynolds]

Hey!
Some useful input!

I'm sorry that the rest of us have failed to meet your expectations.

I wanted to see if there was a valid reason, based upon the rules of these two materials to have or not have them do the same thing.

There is a perfectly valid reason...it's not silver.

...I am looking for input on Why Not to allow Mithral to bypass Silver DR.

Because it isn't silver.

MY reasoning is that it is rare and costs more-But as Souljourner has pointed out the designers may have taken the value and material affects in to consideration when designing the DR/Silver.
This is a valid point and useful input.

"It isn't silver" is a valid point. The fact that you don't like it doesn't change that. It just isn't what you wanted to hear.

Thanks for the input! (To everybody! )

You're welcome. Next time you ask for input, be ready to receive it. There's no need to be abrasive when you don't hear what you wanted. Everyone will be happier that way, know what I mean?

 

[sithramir]

My reply would be exactly as kreynolds answer except i would probably use "is not" instead of isn't, but thats just me.

Mithril "is not" silver. Adamantite "is not" silver either. If they were they'd be called silver. Yes it might be called something like "true silver" but thats a name given to it. I think adamanite should bypass silver DR.

I might call something a demon that is a devil in actuality. They both come from another plane so why not group them the same? Because when you hit one with elemental damage the other would be hurt from, that one may be immune. They are different things. Just like mithril and silver. Closer than a devil to a demon but still different.

 

[kreynolds]

My reply would be exactly as kreynolds answer except i would probably use "is not" instead of isn't, but thats just me.

What about "it's not"? I used that one too. Maybe that's our middle-ground?

 

[sithramir]

What about "it's not"? I used that one too. Maybe that's our middle-ground?

"It's not" a bad idea. Works for me!

 

[Voadam]

Before I got the srd and found out the particulars I was expecting mithral to count as silver and adamantium to count as "true iron" and count for cold-wrought iron but such was not the case.

I think the cost, rarity and specialness of mithral and adamantium are enough to house rule them as such.