Magical Bonuses to Damage Reduction [Archive] - Wizards Community

Magical Bonuses to Damage Reduction [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ellanon
06-06-04, 07:12 PM How do they apply to armor?

We use the variant that divides the current armor bonus in half, rounding down; giving half to the AC, and half to the Damage Reduction - as noted on pg. 109-111.

Is there any official ruling on how magical bonuses apply to damage reduction?
Ellanon
06-06-04, 07:14 PM Duh. I missed that very small section near the bottom of the page. Answered my own question.

To modify my original question, wouldn't a magical enhancement bonus strengthen the armor, making it more resistant to damage? Using the option in the book, our group is thinking of dividing the magical enhancement in half the same way we did for the armor bonus.

Opinions?
DragonWatcher
06-06-04, 09:38 PM I think that Damage Reduction is a powerful thing, and just dividing the enhancement bonus in half and adding it to the armor's DR factor is actually overpowered. Honestly, I think that armor as DR is almost overpowered as it is (though I use it, and love it).

I would not recommend increasing armor's DR value by it's enhancement rating unless you want characters to be invulnerable to weaker attacks. Essentially they become walking tanks, who can wade through a thousand goblins without so much as a scratch (gobbos can't really do much damage).

If that's what you want, though... go for it. :D
Xychotic
06-07-04, 10:31 PM I use the Armor as DR option, but I divide the total AC bonus (including enhancement bonuses) to determine the DR. I also modify the armor's DR value depending on the damage type of the weapons.

I don't think its overpowered at all. If the PCs and their foes both benefit from this, then its fairly balanced.

But, then again. I also allow parrying or class defense (determined by the age in which your character was trained). This makes the whole thing quite fun.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ellanon 06-06-04, 07:12 PM	How do they apply to armor? We use the variant that divides the current armor bonus in half, rounding down; giving half to the AC, and half to the Damage Reduction - as noted on pg. 109-111. Is there any official ruling on how magical bonuses apply to damage reduction?
Ellanon 06-06-04, 07:14 PM	Duh. I missed that very small section near the bottom of the page. Answered my own question. To modify my original question, wouldn't a magical enhancement bonus strengthen the armor, making it more resistant to damage? Using the option in the book, our group is thinking of dividing the magical enhancement in half the same way we did for the armor bonus. Opinions?
DragonWatcher 06-06-04, 09:38 PM	I think that Damage Reduction is a powerful thing, and just dividing the enhancement bonus in half and adding it to the armor's DR factor is actually overpowered. Honestly, I think that armor as DR is almost overpowered as it is (though I use it, and love it). I would not recommend increasing armor's DR value by it's enhancement rating unless you want characters to be invulnerable to weaker attacks. Essentially they become walking tanks, who can wade through a thousand goblins without so much as a scratch (gobbos can't really do much damage). If that's what you want, though... go for it. :D
Xychotic 06-07-04, 10:31 PM	I use the Armor as DR option, but I divide the total AC bonus (including enhancement bonuses) to determine the DR. I also modify the armor's DR value depending on the damage type of the weapons. I don't think its overpowered at all. If the PCs and their foes both benefit from this, then its fairly balanced. But, then again. I also allow parrying or class defense (determined by the age in which your character was trained). This makes the whole thing quite fun.