Vine Horror's Damage Reduction (FF)

[Scharlata]

Hi, swamp dwellers!

Modifying the encounter tables for an adventure in the swamps, I stumbled upon the VINE HORROR from the Fiend Folio (page 185).

According to the 3.5 Update Booklet the critter gains Damage Reduction 5/bludgeoning.

Originally, this plant creature comes with the Special Quality "half damage from piercing and slashing".

My boggy question is: Does the critter gain the (new) Damage Reduction instead of or in addition to the mentioned Special Quality?

Marshy greetings

 

[Squire James]

Since the DR replaced the "half damage" quality in Skeletons, I think it probably should for Vine Horrors too. Of course, I don't quite see why a mace is better than a sword for damaging a vine-like creature (if I had designed the monster, it would be DR 5/slashing) but that's their call I guess!

 

[Scharlata]

Since the DR replaced the "half damage" quality in Skeletons, I think it probably should for Vine Horrors too. Of course, I don't quite see why a mace is better than a sword for damaging a vine-like creature (if I had designed the monster, it would be DR 5/slashing) but that's their call I guess!

Hi!

Good call! Thanx

 

[Plane Sailing]

I don't quite see why a mace is better than a sword for damaging a vine-like creature (if I had designed the monster, it would be DR 5/slashing)

My thoughts exactly. I can't imagine what they were thinking of there. After all, do explorers carry hammers with them to batter their way through jungle vines? No, they take machetes!

 

[Scharlata]

My thoughts exactly. I can't imagine what they were thinking of there. After all, do explorers carry hammers with them to batter their way through jungle vines? No, they take machetes!

Hi!

That's the trick!

Because adventurers carry machetes into the jungle, the critter has to compensate this in getting DR 5/bludgeoning.

Kind regards

Beware: Irony at work!

 

[Dr_Rictus]

As a matter of trivia, the Vine Horror is a variation on the Algoid from the original (1st edition) Fiend Folio. Needing bludgeoning weapons to damage an algae-like creature (i.e., needing something that makes a splash, not a mere cut or a hole) makes much more sense. I'm guessing that when they changed the description of the creature they didn't rethink the DR.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Interesting point, Dr R. I think you may have the right of it there!

Cheers