AchillesReborn
2021-04-03, 03:05 PM
I'm specifically requesting help with the psionic power "Alloyed Hide" on page 93 of Hyperconscious: Explorations in Psionics. It's a psion/psywar power that gives damage reduction and can be augmented to give a different/greater type of DR. I'll copy/paste the text of the power below for easier reference.
"Your outer skin takes on the sheen and strength of hard glass, giving you some resistance to blows, cuts, stabs, and slashes. You gain damage reduction 5/bludgeoning (or DR 5/+2). (You ignore the first 5 points of damage each time you take damage from a weapon, though a bludgeoning weapon bypasses the reduction.) Once the power has prevented a total of 10 points of damage per manifester level (maximum 150 points), it is discharged.
Augment
You can augment this power in one or more of the following ways.
If you spend 2 additional power points, your skin takes on the sheen and strength of mineral, giving you damage reduction 5/magic (or DR 8/+3). This augmentation doesn't stack with the primary effect or other augmentations.
If you spend 4 additional power points, your skin takes on the sheen and strength of iron, providing damage reduction 5/mithral (or DR 15/+6). This augmentation doesn't stack with the primary effect or other augmentations.
If you spend 6 additional power points, your skin takes on the sheen and strength of adamantine, providing damage reduction 10/adamantine (or DR 20/+7). This augmentation doesn't stack with the primary effect or other augmentations."
The part I'm having difficulty understanding is when it says:
You gain damage reduction 5/bludgeoning (or DR 5/+2).
damage reduction 5/magic (or DR 8/+3).
damage reduction 5/mithral (or DR 15/+6).
damage reduction 10/adamantine (or DR 20/+7).
I'm familiar with psionic powers and know how augmentations work. I would understand if it simply gave DR 5/bludgeoning or DR 5/magic, etc. What I don't understand is the "(or DR 5/+2), (or DR 8/+3)." Does this mean a single manifestation of the power gives you two forms of damage reduction and when damaged, you apply whichever is better? Does this mean you have two options to pick between and must choose one when the power is manifested? Is there some rule about Damage Reduction I don't understand? Please advise.
"Your outer skin takes on the sheen and strength of hard glass, giving you some resistance to blows, cuts, stabs, and slashes. You gain damage reduction 5/bludgeoning (or DR 5/+2). (You ignore the first 5 points of damage each time you take damage from a weapon, though a bludgeoning weapon bypasses the reduction.) Once the power has prevented a total of 10 points of damage per manifester level (maximum 150 points), it is discharged.
Augment
You can augment this power in one or more of the following ways.
If you spend 2 additional power points, your skin takes on the sheen and strength of mineral, giving you damage reduction 5/magic (or DR 8/+3). This augmentation doesn't stack with the primary effect or other augmentations.
If you spend 4 additional power points, your skin takes on the sheen and strength of iron, providing damage reduction 5/mithral (or DR 15/+6). This augmentation doesn't stack with the primary effect or other augmentations.
If you spend 6 additional power points, your skin takes on the sheen and strength of adamantine, providing damage reduction 10/adamantine (or DR 20/+7). This augmentation doesn't stack with the primary effect or other augmentations."
The part I'm having difficulty understanding is when it says:
You gain damage reduction 5/bludgeoning (or DR 5/+2).
damage reduction 5/magic (or DR 8/+3).
damage reduction 5/mithral (or DR 15/+6).
damage reduction 10/adamantine (or DR 20/+7).
I'm familiar with psionic powers and know how augmentations work. I would understand if it simply gave DR 5/bludgeoning or DR 5/magic, etc. What I don't understand is the "(or DR 5/+2), (or DR 8/+3)." Does this mean a single manifestation of the power gives you two forms of damage reduction and when damaged, you apply whichever is better? Does this mean you have two options to pick between and must choose one when the power is manifested? Is there some rule about Damage Reduction I don't understand? Please advise.