Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Xyplex 07-29-04, 03:49 AM	I've been thinking recently ... someone commented on the boards a while back that it's pretty much unnessisary for anyone to get a weapon with a bonus of higher than +1 ... higher bonuses to damage and hit can be provided through other means, and there are unique characteristics that one can purchase, build, or order added to one's weapon that bypass the usefullness of having a +2 weapon or better. That is, in 3.5 with creatures having only n/magic the question becomes, what's the point? I'm curious what the reprocussions would be to reintroduce the n/+x system, but keep the other characteristics ... that is if it has become n/silver, one doesn't switch it to the n/+1 ... but if it has become n/magic than look for the previous n/+x and institute that ... don't change the new level of n ... just add the necessity of having a more powerful weapon to accomplish the task. (To be specific, in my campaign setting your typical NPC is about 3rd level ... a Lieutenant, or equivalent leader of 40-60 people, would be 6th level ... with the local lord / general being 9th level ... and following patterns ... hence there will be a fair number of magic items floating around, even using the NPC stats, so n/magic creatures become less threatening ... but if they retained their n/+x values they'd be threatening again ... restore the balance of power so to speak)
green_yawgmoth 07-29-04, 04:30 AM	I absolutely HATE 3.5 magic and DR. 3.5 has a few things I like about it, but not much. I'd say use 3.0 and add 3.5 ideas as you see fit. http://img30.photobucket.com/albums/v91/yawgmoth/kittyjig.gif
BlaineTog 07-29-04, 04:34 AM	Just for the record, Enhancement boni are statistically the best ones you can buy for straight damage.
Will Brandiman 07-29-04, 04:35 AM	There's a fairly good compromise system on Monte Cook's website (http://www.montecook.com/dmonly.html)
JoshRodriguez 07-29-04, 08:10 AM	I actually like the new DR system. The DR is usually much lower across the board so it's easier to damage things like Iron Golems even if you don't have a magic weapon handy. There's the problem that you need a pretty specific weapon to get around the DR on some of the tougher monsters, but I just use those for plot hooks. Demons attacking the village? Looks like it's time to quest for the Sword of the Archangel. Or the alchemist The Fonze who sells Demonbane oil. Or Supermud the wizard/blacksmith who knows how to enchant weapons with the appropriate spells. The new DR system only really hinders a party that's geared more towards hack'n'slash and doesn't usually take time to prepare themselves to fight expected enemies. A good DM won't put the party up against monsters they can't really harm without a lot of warnings ("If you do that then the Invincible Sorceror Kebidabu will attack you!"), time to prepare, and the ability to find it's weaknesses. You shouldn't be playing with a bad DM. If you don't like it, though, you can always just use the DR's listed in the 3.0 manual. If you don't have access to it, then replace the silver/adamantium/magic stuff with whatever feels appropriate. edit: 3.0 Iron golem had a DR of 50/+3 and was immune to most magic. Without a +3 weapon you can't hurt it. The 3.5 Iron Golem has a DR of 15/admantine. A high STR fighter with a mundane greatsword can theoretically hurt it. Which one would you really want to deal with?
Camellan 07-29-04, 10:06 AM	Originally posted by Xyplex I've been thinking recently ... someone commented on the boards a while back that it's pretty much unnessisary for anyone to get a weapon with a bonus of higher than +1 ... higher bonuses to damage and hit can be provided through other means, and there are unique characteristics that one can purchase, build, or order added to one's weapon that bypass the usefullness of having a +2 weapon or better. Actually, in one of the first 3.0 suppliments, there was a property called 'Sure Striking". It was a +1 power that allowed you to penetrate DR. Most of the damage monsters twirled out on that. (+1 holy, lawful, sure striking, ghost touch, shocking spiked chain of doooooom). I find the current system far better having the characters have to plan what weapon types they want, rather than just jacking everything with Sure Strike. YMMV, of cource.
Sildatorak 07-29-04, 12:54 PM	I say go for it. There are surprisingly few monsters that are n/magic, most had alignment or materials put in place. I made this switch as a houserule for the campaign I'm planning, and I had to change less than two dozen monsters (probably only about 10 if you don't count the ones that went from n/magic to n/+1).
autolycus 07-29-04, 02:20 PM	Since there is nothing stopping you from doing this in your own game...so why the post? Do you need help figuring out what "+x" to give various creatures? Or do you want some of the 3.5 systema nd some of the 3.0 system and don't know a good compromise? Just curious. -autolycus
ChaoticGod 07-29-04, 02:47 PM	I have a fairly simply fix for DRX/magic. Each Magical Plus penetrates 5 points of DR. So if a Creature has DR20/Magic then magic weapons work as follows . . . A +1 weapon removes 5 points of DR but that leaves 15 A +2 weapon removes 10 points but leaves 10 A +3 weapon removes 15 points but leaves 5 And a +4 or +5 weapon bypasses the DR completely. This only works if the weapon also meets any other requirements of the DR such as silver, piercing, holy, etc. If any of these requirements aren't met then the monster gets its full DR. This makes higher bonus weapons still needed but leaves in the flavor based aspects of 3.5 DR which I like. Werewolves should only fear silver, demons should only fear holy weapons, etc. A +5 weapon should not be the end all, be all of enchanted weapons.
Xyplex 07-29-04, 02:58 PM	This makes higher bonus weapons still needed but leaves in the flavor based aspects of 3.5 DR which I like. Werewolves should only fear silver, demons should only fear holy weapons, etc. A +5 weapon should not be the end all, be all of enchanted weapons. ChaoticGod, this is exactly what I was looking for ... thanks!