Why do high level monsters hav DR x/magic?

[Voadam]

Well that makes more sense. And it also makes the Lich and Vamp the scary things they are supposed to be. I can't believe I have been playing that wrong for years.

Are most monsters "And" or "Or" ? Or does the "And" usually apply when it is a higher level monster? Is there a list somewhere with monsters and their DR?

It varies a lot but usually depends on toughness. Check out demons for instance. Weak ones like the dretch and babau are cold iron OR good. Mid level ones like the vrock and bebilith have DR good. Tough ones like the Balor and marilith have DR cold iron AND good.

 

[utopia27]

why do high level monsters have DR/magic?

Because if they didn't, they would've gotten eaten when they were little monsters. Having DR/magic gave them opportunity to grow up and become big strong monsters.

 

[Rokes]

Here's my house rule:

A +1 weapon will overcome up to 5 points from DR /Magic. A +2 weapon will overcome up to 10 points of DR /Magic. (+3: 15, +4: 20, +5: 25) A creature with DR X/Magic, will overcome up to DR X/Magic. For example:

+1 Weapon vs. DR 10/Magic - 5 points of damage is ignored per attack.
+2 Weapon vs. DR 10/Magic - No damage is ignored per attack.
+2 Weapon vs. DR 20/Magic - 10 points of damage is ignored per attack.

 

[Awakened]

I think you mean
+1 Weapon vs. DR 20/Magic- No damage is ignored

 

[Aus_Snow]

This is one of those cases where 3.0 is clearly superior to 3.5, IMO. There aren't many such cases, again IMO, but enough that I've generally used a bit of both, along the way. Still do, actually. Plus whatever else, but anyway. . .

 

[blargney the second]

I think this kind of DR is more of a story feature -- it explains why ordinary people with ordinary weapons can't hurt them.

That's how I always interpreted it. It's a good blend of mechanics and story elements.
-blarg

 

[catsclaw227]

I think you mean
+1 Weapon vs. DR 20/Magic- No damage is ignored

He was referencing his house rule.

 

[Li Shenron]

It didn't have the issue as much but it did mean that creatures that had DR x/silver ended up being pretty weak because magic always counted as better than silver.

Well that was a problem with silver, rather that with DR in general... A minor glitch tho, we could say that silver worked like a +0.5 enhancement bonus.

 

[Quartz]

Short answer: it keeps the monster immun to attacks from the riff-raff.

 

[Rokes]

He was referencing his house rule.

Exactly. I also use a house rule where different materials also act as though they are a certain "+" bonus. It makes it a lot easier than trying to recalculate Monster's DR. Now, when you fight something with DR 25/Magic, it actually means something!

I can't wait to see how 4e does DR.