Acid flasks and Damage reduction [Archive] - Wizards Community

Acid flasks and Damage reduction [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Oof GruumshNoLike
01-29-06, 12:07 PM This may sound dumb but, one of my players stocked up on acid flasks. He seems to think that acid ignores damage reduction. But he was so convinced, that I started to believe it!

This isn't true is it? If it is, why would any spellcaster in their right mind prepare any other energy-type spells?

Please say it isn't true! I did find one statement in the FAQ that makes it sound true but I could not find it anywhere else.

So, Does acid ignore DR?
Tyler Do'Urden
01-29-06, 12:13 PM All energy damage (fire, cold, acid, electricity, sonic) ignores damage reduction. Doesn't matter where it's from: acid flasks, torches, cone of cold... Damage reduction reduces physical damage. Energy resistance reduces energy damage.

Acid flasks deal acid damage so yes, they get through DR. All 1d6 points of it. W00t.
Oof GruumshNoLike
01-29-06, 12:30 PM OMGWow! How did I not know that! I think it might be because I've never looked up Energy Resistence (actually, never had to. up to this point, it has always been low level encounters so simple monsters like orcs and what not were sufficient challenge).

Man, this really changes things! The Golem I set up is in trouble! Yikes!

Any suggestions (other than adding ER:Acid to my monster)? I guess I could just have his creator there with him to bolster him, huh?
Tyler Do'Urden
01-29-06, 12:43 PM It's a golem. An acid flask deals 1d6 damage. He can only throw one per round unless he's got Quick Draw and either a BAB of +6, Rapid Shot, or Two-Weapon Fighting.

Do nothing. It's fine (unless of course you don't want your players to win the fight).
Oof GruumshNoLike
01-29-06, 01:06 PM Actually, I do like them to win (seems rare, I know). I can't help but root for their ingenuity. I just hate it when they don't feel challenged by what I think is a great encounter.

They start to look bored if the encounter doesn't make them think.

I had them really going last night with a simple puzzle! They took, like, an hour and a half just to complete it because they were so scared to get the answer wrong! They were debating like mad. It was hilarious!
Surreal
01-29-06, 01:49 PM Make it a clay golem. Now acid will heal it. Enjoy :D

edit: whoops, just re-read the entry, and that only works with magical acid attacks. Phooey. Oh well, you can always change that as DM. It'll make the encounter that much more interesting.
Oof GruumshNoLike
01-29-06, 06:00 PM Sweet! Clay Golem... got it. Thanks to all who responded.
wonlee76
01-29-06, 09:38 PM Considering the weight and costs of a flask of acid (10 gp, 1 lb. each), are acid flasks going to be that big of a problem? At low levels, its a pretty expensive item to be toting around not to mention pretty hefty. At higher levels when the weight may become a non-factor due to bags of holding, its still 10 gold to deal 1d6 damage. And with the way range attacks work, loads of ways to pile up penalties to hit, range increment penalties or cover bonus to AC that the range touch attack may still miss.
kjenks
01-29-06, 11:01 PM Considering the weight and costs of a flask of acid (10 gp, 1 lb. each), are acid flasks going to be that big of a problem? At low levels, its a pretty expensive item to be toting around not to mention pretty hefty. At higher levels when the weight may become a non-factor due to bags of holding, its still 10 gold to deal 1d6 damage. And with the way range attacks work, loads of ways to pile up penalties to hit, range increment penalties or cover bonus to AC that the range touch attack may still miss.

The Guided Shot spell solves a lot of those problems. No range penalties, no cover bonus to AC. And now, new with the Spell Compendium version, no concealment.

If I were a quick-drawing, acid-toting hurler, I'd want to prep a few Guided Shot spells for the times when things get sticky.
Ossyrian Ush'Bel
01-30-06, 12:39 PM Or if the party has a spellcaster with telekinesis, in which case they can hurl 15 flasks at a time for 15 d6 damage. Of course I believe that requires an attack roll from each.
kraegor
01-30-06, 05:57 PM Well here is some things to consider:

If the thing they are fighting is a construct (golem) then remember, Golems are MADE from certain materials (besides Flesh golems) and things such as metal, stone, wood etc have saving throws vs acid, fire etc.

Might want to take that into consideration, burning a Stone golem with a torch wouldnt exactly hurt it.
Surreal
01-31-06, 01:48 AM Sweet! Clay Golem... got it. Thanks to all who responded.
A fun idea is to create a clay golem with a decanter of endless acid turned upside down inside its body. Treat the golem as having really wicked regeneration, and the only way to kill it is to figure out some way to turn it upside down to stop the flow of "healing" acid.
Dragonteuthis
01-31-06, 10:03 AM Flasks of acid deal damage normally to Clay Golems.

Which part of "magical attack that deals acid damage" did you miss? Flasks of acid are mundane attacks.

Likeiwse, toss as many flasks of alchemist's fire as you want against iron golems. He'll still be taking damage.
WombleHunter
01-31-06, 10:51 AM If the thing they are fighting is a construct (golem) then remember, Golems are MADE from certain materials (besides Flesh golems) and things such as metal, stone, wood etc have saving throws vs acid, fire etc. I'm not sure what you mean here. All creatures have their own saving throws, regardless of what they are "made of". Some attacks do not allow saving throws. A thrown acid flask is such an attack.Might want to take that into consideration, burning a Stone golem with a torch wouldnt exactly hurt it.Yes and no. It would hurt it in the strictest sense - it would take 1 point of fire damage. However, in the scheme of things that 1 point is pretty much worthless against it's large number of hit points. Plus, a torch is an improvised weapon, so you're trying to hit it's AC with a -4 penalty. Not too easy.
Surreal
01-31-06, 01:07 PM Flasks of acid deal damage normally to Clay Golems.

Which part of "magical attack that deals acid damage" did you miss? Flasks of acid are mundane attacks.
I already noted that in an earlier post. I was just posting an interesting monster idea which the original poster can implement (as DM obviously, he can tweak rules as he sees fit).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Oof GruumshNoLike 01-29-06, 12:07 PM	This may sound dumb but, one of my players stocked up on acid flasks. He seems to think that acid ignores damage reduction. But he was so convinced, that I started to believe it! This isn't true is it? If it is, why would any spellcaster in their right mind prepare any other energy-type spells? Please say it isn't true! I did find one statement in the FAQ that makes it sound true but I could not find it anywhere else. So, Does acid ignore DR?
Tyler Do'Urden 01-29-06, 12:13 PM	All energy damage (fire, cold, acid, electricity, sonic) ignores damage reduction. Doesn't matter where it's from: acid flasks, torches, cone of cold... Damage reduction reduces physical damage. Energy resistance reduces energy damage. Acid flasks deal acid damage so yes, they get through DR. All 1d6 points of it. W00t.
Oof GruumshNoLike 01-29-06, 12:30 PM	OMGWow! How did I not know that! I think it might be because I've never looked up Energy Resistence (actually, never had to. up to this point, it has always been low level encounters so simple monsters like orcs and what not were sufficient challenge). Man, this really changes things! The Golem I set up is in trouble! Yikes! Any suggestions (other than adding ER:Acid to my monster)? I guess I could just have his creator there with him to bolster him, huh?
Tyler Do'Urden 01-29-06, 12:43 PM	It's a golem. An acid flask deals 1d6 damage. He can only throw one per round unless he's got Quick Draw and either a BAB of +6, Rapid Shot, or Two-Weapon Fighting. Do nothing. It's fine (unless of course you don't want your players to win the fight).
Oof GruumshNoLike 01-29-06, 01:06 PM	Actually, I do like them to win (seems rare, I know). I can't help but root for their ingenuity. I just hate it when they don't feel challenged by what I think is a great encounter. They start to look bored if the encounter doesn't make them think. I had them really going last night with a simple puzzle! They took, like, an hour and a half just to complete it because they were so scared to get the answer wrong! They were debating like mad. It was hilarious!
Surreal 01-29-06, 01:49 PM	Make it a clay golem. Now acid will heal it. Enjoy :D edit: whoops, just re-read the entry, and that only works with magical acid attacks. Phooey. Oh well, you can always change that as DM. It'll make the encounter that much more interesting.
Oof GruumshNoLike 01-29-06, 06:00 PM	Sweet! Clay Golem... got it. Thanks to all who responded.
wonlee76 01-29-06, 09:38 PM	Considering the weight and costs of a flask of acid (10 gp, 1 lb. each), are acid flasks going to be that big of a problem? At low levels, its a pretty expensive item to be toting around not to mention pretty hefty. At higher levels when the weight may become a non-factor due to bags of holding, its still 10 gold to deal 1d6 damage. And with the way range attacks work, loads of ways to pile up penalties to hit, range increment penalties or cover bonus to AC that the range touch attack may still miss.
kjenks 01-29-06, 11:01 PM	Considering the weight and costs of a flask of acid (10 gp, 1 lb. each), are acid flasks going to be that big of a problem? At low levels, its a pretty expensive item to be toting around not to mention pretty hefty. At higher levels when the weight may become a non-factor due to bags of holding, its still 10 gold to deal 1d6 damage. And with the way range attacks work, loads of ways to pile up penalties to hit, range increment penalties or cover bonus to AC that the range touch attack may still miss. The Guided Shot spell solves a lot of those problems. No range penalties, no cover bonus to AC. And now, new with the Spell Compendium version, no concealment. If I were a quick-drawing, acid-toting hurler, I'd want to prep a few Guided Shot spells for the times when things get sticky.
Ossyrian Ush'Bel 01-30-06, 12:39 PM	Or if the party has a spellcaster with telekinesis, in which case they can hurl 15 flasks at a time for 15 d6 damage. Of course I believe that requires an attack roll from each.
kraegor 01-30-06, 05:57 PM	Well here is some things to consider: If the thing they are fighting is a construct (golem) then remember, Golems are MADE from certain materials (besides Flesh golems) and things such as metal, stone, wood etc have saving throws vs acid, fire etc. Might want to take that into consideration, burning a Stone golem with a torch wouldnt exactly hurt it.
Surreal 01-31-06, 01:48 AM	Sweet! Clay Golem... got it. Thanks to all who responded. A fun idea is to create a clay golem with a decanter of endless acid turned upside down inside its body. Treat the golem as having really wicked regeneration, and the only way to kill it is to figure out some way to turn it upside down to stop the flow of "healing" acid.
Dragonteuthis 01-31-06, 10:03 AM	Flasks of acid deal damage normally to Clay Golems. Which part of "magical attack that deals acid damage" did you miss? Flasks of acid are mundane attacks. Likeiwse, toss as many flasks of alchemist's fire as you want against iron golems. He'll still be taking damage.
WombleHunter 01-31-06, 10:51 AM	If the thing they are fighting is a construct (golem) then remember, Golems are MADE from certain materials (besides Flesh golems) and things such as metal, stone, wood etc have saving throws vs acid, fire etc. I'm not sure what you mean here. All creatures have their own saving throws, regardless of what they are "made of". Some attacks do not allow saving throws. A thrown acid flask is such an attack.Might want to take that into consideration, burning a Stone golem with a torch wouldnt exactly hurt it.Yes and no. It would hurt it in the strictest sense - it would take 1 point of fire damage. However, in the scheme of things that 1 point is pretty much worthless against it's large number of hit points. Plus, a torch is an improvised weapon, so you're trying to hit it's AC with a -4 penalty. Not too easy.
Surreal 01-31-06, 01:07 PM	Flasks of acid deal damage normally to Clay Golems. Which part of "magical attack that deals acid damage" did you miss? Flasks of acid are mundane attacks. I already noted that in an earlier post. I was just posting an interesting monster idea which the original poster can implement (as DM obviously, he can tweak rules as he sees fit).