Results 1 to 13 of 13
Thread: question: magic arrows vs. DR
-
2007-04-04, 08:04 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2005
- Location
- hyannis, mass.
- Gender
question: magic arrows vs. DR
I'm not entirely sure how damage reduction (DR) works, i know there is something that looks like +/10 or something like that that tells if you need to be using magic weapons or how much damage you need to hit things, etc. I don't worry too much about that part, but if anyone knows it well, or knows what book has an explanation of that and where, i'd be glad to look it up...
Here is my real question:
we were fighting a dragon that had some kind of DR that apparently a certain level of magic damage could overcome. I was shooting +1 magic arrows (because i'm an arcane archer, DMG p176, all my arrows become +1 magic) and I'm using a +3 magic bow. he told me that my +3 magic from the bow did not count towards overcoming the dragon's DR, only the +1 from the arrows counted towards that. Can someone please direct me to the proper source book that explains that part so I can look it up and understand it, and if my DM is incorrect, so that I can properly document the correction?
thanks immensly
Dave / That Wolf GuyI used to have super powers but my therapist took them away.
-
2007-04-04, 08:15 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2005
- Location
- IPR Violation
- Gender
Re: question: magic arrows vs. DR
It sounds like you might be playing 3.0?
3.0:
In 3.0 enhancement bonuses from bow and arrow stack, unlike in 3.5 where only the best count.
DMG 3.0, page 183.
In 3.0 damage reduction also worked differently and you would need a certain enhancement to overcome DR.
Example if a creature has DR 10/+3 you need a +3 magic weapon to overcome it.
DMG 3.0, page 73.
3.5:
The relevant 3.5 rules are as follows:
Originally Posted by SRD 3.5Originally Posted by SRD 3.5Last edited by Lord Lorac Silvanos; 2007-04-04 at 02:01 PM. Reason: Typo in page reference
-
2007-04-04, 09:04 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2005
- Location
- hyannis, mass.
- Gender
Re: question: magic arrows vs. DR
thanks a million - from what you posted above, i get the following:
a 3.0 version of that dragon might have had a DR of 15/+4, which means that if you have +4 magic, it takes full damage, if not, it does not take the first 15 points of damage
a 3.5 version of that dragon might have a DR of 15/magic, which means if you have a magic weapon, it takes full damage, if not it does not take the first 15 points of damage
a 3.0 version of my character with a +3 bow and +1 arrows would be shooting for +4 magic, thus overcoming a DR of ##/+4 or lower, but if facing a dragon with DR ##/+5, the damage would be reduced by whatever the ## is.
a 3.5 version of my character with a +3 bow and +1 arrows would be shooting +3 magic for the purpose of facing a 3.0 monster's DR, but since he'd most likely be facing a 3.5 version of the dragon, would be shooting "MAGIC" which should overcome any ##/magic DR.
is there such a thing as DR ##/epic?I used to have super powers but my therapist took them away.
-
2007-04-04, 09:07 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2004
- Location
- France
Re: question: magic arrows vs. DR
You're correct, and yes, there are monsters with DR X / Epic, the Tarrasque being one of them.
Why should I use a sig ?
-
2007-04-04, 09:24 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2004
- Location
- Bensalem, PA
- Gender
Re: question: magic arrows vs. DR
Not quite. The bespectacled beholder missed one really important detail for describing the 3.0 damage reduction in relation to bows and ammuntion.
In 3.0 only the enhancement bonus on the arrow counted towards overcoming damage reduction.
In 3.5, it doesn't matter if the enhancement bonus comes from the bow or the ammunition.
So that's why your DM said you couldn't bypass DR.John Ling
Frog God Games Lead Pathfinder Developer
Note: unless explicitly stated otherwise, opinions in my posts are my own and not those of Frog God Games.
-
2007-04-04, 09:39 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2007
Re: question: magic arrows vs. DR
Also worth noting that in 3.5 you'd be wasting money firing +1 arrows from a +3 bow.
Spoiler
Gareth the human Transmuter
Ajax the human Seer
Grimshander the artic gnome Sorcerer
Ulfgar the dwarven Cleric
Froben the gnomish Rogue/Illusionist
Granger the human Ranger
and DMing Diabolical Urban Intrigue in Bristol
and refereeing Wizard vs. Fighter: Arena Grudgematch
-
2007-04-04, 09:59 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2004
- Location
- Bensalem, PA
- Gender
Re: question: magic arrows vs. DR
Except he didn't buy those arrows; it's a class feature of the arcane archer. Instead of wasting money, you're wasting a class feature.
Last edited by Zherog; 2007-04-04 at 10:00 AM.
John Ling
Frog God Games Lead Pathfinder Developer
Note: unless explicitly stated otherwise, opinions in my posts are my own and not those of Frog God Games.
-
2007-04-04, 10:01 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2007
Re: question: magic arrows vs. DR
Oh. In that case, waste away.
Spoiler
Gareth the human Transmuter
Ajax the human Seer
Grimshander the artic gnome Sorcerer
Ulfgar the dwarven Cleric
Froben the gnomish Rogue/Illusionist
Granger the human Ranger
and DMing Diabolical Urban Intrigue in Bristol
and refereeing Wizard vs. Fighter: Arena Grudgematch
-
2007-04-04, 10:31 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2005
- Location
- hyannis, mass.
- Gender
-
2007-04-04, 10:34 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2006
Re: question: magic arrows vs. DR
Not in 3.5 it doesnt. You take the higher one and use it.
-
2007-04-04, 11:03 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2004
- Location
- Bensalem, PA
- Gender
Re: question: magic arrows vs. DR
Right. In 3.5 enhancement bonuses do not stack.
However... special abilities do. Let's say you have a +3 holy bow, and you fire a +1 flaming arrow. If it hits the target (and if the target is evil), you'll get +3 to hit and to damage, you'll do 1d6 points of fire damage, and 2d6 points of holy damage.
Magic arrows with different special abilities are generally a good idea. Getting bane is cool - but it doesn't always apply. Instead, get a bunch of different bane arrows and use them according to what you're shooting. Same thing with flaming - most of the time, adding in 1d6 fire damage is great; sometimes, though, it's not. If the flaming is on your arrows instead of your bow, you can easily control when it's used.John Ling
Frog God Games Lead Pathfinder Developer
Note: unless explicitly stated otherwise, opinions in my posts are my own and not those of Frog God Games.
-
2007-04-04, 02:06 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2005
- Location
- IPR Violation
- Gender
Re: question: magic arrows vs. DR
-
2007-04-04, 02:07 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2004
- Location
- Bensalem, PA
- Gender
Re: question: magic arrows vs. DR
No worries. I got yer (round, slimy) back.
John Ling
Frog God Games Lead Pathfinder Developer
Note: unless explicitly stated otherwise, opinions in my posts are my own and not those of Frog God Games.