Damage Reduction clarification [Archive] - Wizards Community

Damage Reduction clarification [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
macduffman
09-24-07, 12:33 PM I'm playing a character who has damage reduction. He comes across a foe who deals "repeating wounding" damage; i.e., with every blow, my PC takes damage every turn until healed. In this particular case, the foe was a demon who dealt "Infernal" damage. :eek:

My PC took 2 Infernal damage per round, but he has "DR 3/-". My question is: doesn't Damage Reduction cover this type of damage as well? He claimed that it didn't.

Thanks guys!
Nephlite
09-24-07, 12:42 PM I'm playing a character who has damage reduction. He comes across a foe who deals "repeating wounding" damage; i.e., with every blow, my PC takes damage every turn until healed. In this particular case, the foe was a demon who dealt "Infernal" damage. :eek:

My PC took 2 Infernal damage per round, but he has "DR 3/-". My question is: doesn't Damage Reduction cover this type of damage as well? He claimed that it didn't.

Thanks guys!

Well, is infernal damage energy damage?

Is infernal damage weapon damage?

DR applies only to weapon damage (including Natural weapon).
Naderion
09-24-07, 12:52 PM I don't think this has actually been ruled by any book, but infernal damage is most likely not just a bleeding wound, but something of dark magic, so I would rule that you take damage, too.
StevenO
09-24-07, 05:48 PM DR will not help against round to round damage after it has begun. Your DR works against the attack and if it prevents any damage then the continual damage will not begin; if the damage does get through your DR you will be stuck with it however.

Note that Wounding/Bleeding type weapons last until you regain hp. Even the single hp gained from a 0 level cure minor wound or lay on hands would stop the bleeding. Regeneration and Fast Healing should also prevent continual damage.
Tyler Do'Urden
09-24-07, 08:41 PM So the DM basically made up a damage type to reduce your DR by 2. That's kinda dick.
kalstrand
09-24-07, 11:00 PM There are a few Demons and Devils out there that do infernal damage. The Infernal Dragon or something along those lines has a breath weapon that does 1/2 fire and 1/2 infernal damage.
macduffman
09-25-07, 10:24 AM Are Regeneration and Fast Healing available to PCs? Those sound like special abilities for certain character templates and creatures. My barbarian is just a human. What are my options there?

Thanks for the tip.
InkBlot
09-25-07, 12:08 PM There are classes, prestige classes, spells, powers, magic items, soulmelds, vestiges, et cetera which grant Fast Healing and Regeneration to anybody (PC or not). Most notably, there's the Ring Of Regeneration in the DMG.

Anyway, IIRC, there's an easy way for any cleric to stop the infernal damage. If there's a cleric in the party then at worst he might need to make knowledge (religion) check to figure out what to do, then prepare the right spell the next day (unless the right spell is a cure x wounds spell).

P.S.; Tyler, exactly this situation happened when Opp was DMing. So 1. Macduffman's DM wasn't just making up stuff and 2. Hanlon's razor. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanlon's_Razor)
Vegepygmy
09-26-07, 03:39 AM So the DM basically made up a damage type to reduce your DR by 2. That's kinda dick.Actually, it sounds a lot like the Infernal Wound inflicted by a bearded devil or something similar...in which case, no, DR wouldn't prevent the damage.
Neutronium_Dragon
09-26-07, 05:05 AM "Infernal Wound" causes damage, but it's not typed as "infernal damage". I've never seen that before, though I don't have the BoVD.
Banatine
09-29-07, 08:05 AM No, the BoVD has vile damage, which is not very nice at all. Vile damage cannot be healed unless you are healed within the area of a hallow or consecrate spell.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
macduffman 09-24-07, 12:33 PM	I'm playing a character who has damage reduction. He comes across a foe who deals "repeating wounding" damage; i.e., with every blow, my PC takes damage every turn until healed. In this particular case, the foe was a demon who dealt "Infernal" damage. :eek: My PC took 2 Infernal damage per round, but he has "DR 3/-". My question is: doesn't Damage Reduction cover this type of damage as well? He claimed that it didn't. Thanks guys!
Nephlite 09-24-07, 12:42 PM	I'm playing a character who has damage reduction. He comes across a foe who deals "repeating wounding" damage; i.e., with every blow, my PC takes damage every turn until healed. In this particular case, the foe was a demon who dealt "Infernal" damage. :eek: My PC took 2 Infernal damage per round, but he has "DR 3/-". My question is: doesn't Damage Reduction cover this type of damage as well? He claimed that it didn't. Thanks guys! Well, is infernal damage energy damage? Is infernal damage weapon damage? DR applies only to weapon damage (including Natural weapon).
Naderion 09-24-07, 12:52 PM	I don't think this has actually been ruled by any book, but infernal damage is most likely not just a bleeding wound, but something of dark magic, so I would rule that you take damage, too.
StevenO 09-24-07, 05:48 PM	DR will not help against round to round damage after it has begun. Your DR works against the attack and if it prevents any damage then the continual damage will not begin; if the damage does get through your DR you will be stuck with it however. Note that Wounding/Bleeding type weapons last until you regain hp. Even the single hp gained from a 0 level cure minor wound or lay on hands would stop the bleeding. Regeneration and Fast Healing should also prevent continual damage.
Tyler Do'Urden 09-24-07, 08:41 PM	So the DM basically made up a damage type to reduce your DR by 2. That's kinda dick.
kalstrand 09-24-07, 11:00 PM	There are a few Demons and Devils out there that do infernal damage. The Infernal Dragon or something along those lines has a breath weapon that does 1/2 fire and 1/2 infernal damage.
macduffman 09-25-07, 10:24 AM	Are Regeneration and Fast Healing available to PCs? Those sound like special abilities for certain character templates and creatures. My barbarian is just a human. What are my options there? Thanks for the tip.
InkBlot 09-25-07, 12:08 PM	There are classes, prestige classes, spells, powers, magic items, soulmelds, vestiges, et cetera which grant Fast Healing and Regeneration to anybody (PC or not). Most notably, there's the Ring Of Regeneration in the DMG. Anyway, IIRC, there's an easy way for any cleric to stop the infernal damage. If there's a cleric in the party then at worst he might need to make knowledge (religion) check to figure out what to do, then prepare the right spell the next day (unless the right spell is a cure x wounds spell). P.S.; Tyler, exactly this situation happened when Opp was DMing. So 1. Macduffman's DM wasn't just making up stuff and 2. Hanlon's razor. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanlon's_Razor)
Vegepygmy 09-26-07, 03:39 AM	So the DM basically made up a damage type to reduce your DR by 2. That's kinda dick.Actually, it sounds a lot like the Infernal Wound inflicted by a bearded devil or something similar...in which case, no, DR wouldn't prevent the damage.
Neutronium_Dragon 09-26-07, 05:05 AM	"Infernal Wound" causes damage, but it's not typed as "infernal damage". I've never seen that before, though I don't have the BoVD.
Banatine 09-29-07, 08:05 AM	No, the BoVD has vile damage, which is not very nice at all. Vile damage cannot be healed unless you are healed within the area of a hallow or consecrate spell.