Dragon Damage Reduction [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dragon Damage Reduction [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
cchopps
09-08-03, 12:30 PM While I am in great favor of the 3.5 Damage Reduction rules, I am a bit put off with what was decided for dragons.

It seems that in general a Dragon gets DR 15/Magic at Very Old and DR 20/Magic at the Wyrm stage. I hate to say it, but it seems to me that a DR of just magic for a CR 17+ monster is a bit of joke. Very few characters of that level will not have at least a +1 weapon.

Basic solutions would be to add a damage type (ie. piercing) at a certain level or perhaps even Epic for those with CR 20+

While the game I am currently running is far from this level of play I am wondering what sort of experience other DMs have had with Dragons in 3.5 and how it might affect game balance to add more to the DR.

Thanks!
WizO_Negathael
09-08-03, 02:11 PM I had the same problem with the DR for dragons myself, until I had the reasoning explained to me.

DR x/magic is purely flavour. It is not supposed to protect the creature from wandering adventurers - it is to protect them from the milling masses. I know it was explained better on the previous thread, which you can find here: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=60790, although the thread won't be around for too much longer (it is on the 3.5 boards).
The Ultimate Dragongod
09-08-03, 02:17 PM So they've weakened the dragon in 3.5?
The Abominable Darkling
09-08-03, 02:21 PM Not really. In 3.0, the dragons' damage reduction wasn't any more impressive. It picked up damage reduction 20/+3 at the Wyrm stage. That's a minimum CR of 18 (for a white wyrm). Now honestly, what 18th-level character won't have a +3 weapon? While this change might look significant on paper, in practice, the 3.5 dragons' DR is just the same as it always was.
cwslyclgh
09-08-03, 03:00 PM While this change might look significant on paper, in practice, the 3.5 dragons' DR is just the same as it always was. I agree, the DR of dragons has never been helpful against opponents taking on creatures of thier CR., it is more for making sure that the army of 1st level warriors doesn't take the dragon down with hails of arrows, etc.
The Ultimate Dragongod
09-08-03, 03:03 PM Well, there is a difference. Now, low level adventurers can mess with dragons and not just adventurers of their level. Of course, the average dragon's AC is monstrous, so that point is moot. And also, even a few levels (2-3) below a dragon's CR and their attack bonus seems to be right on everyone's AC.
Oberon_of_Avalon
09-08-03, 03:06 PM The dragon hasn't been weakened by its new DR in my opinion. Its other abilities are formidable enough to wipe out the unprepared. That coupled with their super-genius intellect and their centuries of life, could make for a deadly encounter even if the adventurers are wielding +5 dragon bane swords and arrows.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
cchopps 09-08-03, 12:30 PM	While I am in great favor of the 3.5 Damage Reduction rules, I am a bit put off with what was decided for dragons. It seems that in general a Dragon gets DR 15/Magic at Very Old and DR 20/Magic at the Wyrm stage. I hate to say it, but it seems to me that a DR of just magic for a CR 17+ monster is a bit of joke. Very few characters of that level will not have at least a +1 weapon. Basic solutions would be to add a damage type (ie. piercing) at a certain level or perhaps even Epic for those with CR 20+ While the game I am currently running is far from this level of play I am wondering what sort of experience other DMs have had with Dragons in 3.5 and how it might affect game balance to add more to the DR. Thanks!
WizO_Negathael 09-08-03, 02:11 PM	I had the same problem with the DR for dragons myself, until I had the reasoning explained to me. DR x/magic is purely flavour. It is not supposed to protect the creature from wandering adventurers - it is to protect them from the milling masses. I know it was explained better on the previous thread, which you can find here: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=60790, although the thread won't be around for too much longer (it is on the 3.5 boards).
The Ultimate Dragongod 09-08-03, 02:17 PM	So they've weakened the dragon in 3.5?
The Abominable Darkling 09-08-03, 02:21 PM	Not really. In 3.0, the dragons' damage reduction wasn't any more impressive. It picked up damage reduction 20/+3 at the Wyrm stage. That's a minimum CR of 18 (for a white wyrm). Now honestly, what 18th-level character won't have a +3 weapon? While this change might look significant on paper, in practice, the 3.5 dragons' DR is just the same as it always was.
cwslyclgh 09-08-03, 03:00 PM	While this change might look significant on paper, in practice, the 3.5 dragons' DR is just the same as it always was. I agree, the DR of dragons has never been helpful against opponents taking on creatures of thier CR., it is more for making sure that the army of 1st level warriors doesn't take the dragon down with hails of arrows, etc.
The Ultimate Dragongod 09-08-03, 03:03 PM	Well, there is a difference. Now, low level adventurers can mess with dragons and not just adventurers of their level. Of course, the average dragon's AC is monstrous, so that point is moot. And also, even a few levels (2-3) below a dragon's CR and their attack bonus seems to be right on everyone's AC.
Oberon_of_Avalon 09-08-03, 03:06 PM	The dragon hasn't been weakened by its new DR in my opinion. Its other abilities are formidable enough to wipe out the unprepared. That coupled with their super-genius intellect and their centuries of life, could make for a deadly encounter even if the adventurers are wielding +5 dragon bane swords and arrows.