Damage reduction confusion

[Kale_Gresh]

Ok, I think I have the DR concept down but I keep coming up with questions on specific items. This one for instance: http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s220/jgould2005/DDO/Items/Lamannia/KaelthsTouch.jpg

Kaelth's Touch gives DR 5/evil. So this should mean that 5 damage comes off all physical attacks except those that are evil-evil bypasses the DR. But the item description states that this item "is said to ward against undead creatures and evil effect that would do him harm." But doesn't the DR do just the opposite-wards against all attacks that are not evil (good/neutral)? Shouldn't it be DR 5/good or something?

Thanks for your answers :)

[Nospheratus]

That's because whoever added that item to the game doesn't know anything about this game, sadly!

Your interpretation is correct.

[Rusty_Can]

Kaelth's Touch gives DR 5/evil. So this should mean that 5 damage comes off all physical attacks except those that are evil-evil bypasses the DR.

Yes, this is how it works. Anyway, keep in mind that being evil-aligned doesn't mean your attacks have an "evil" component.

This weapon (http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s220/jgould2005/DDO/Unlimited/Items/Weapons/DeathsTouchUpgraded.jpg) would probably break that DR.


But the item description states that this item "is said to ward against undead creatures and evil effect that would do him harm." But doesn't the DR do just the opposite-wards against all attacks that are not evil (good/neutral)? Shouldn't it be DR 5/good or something?


First of all, "flavour" text can be deceptive.

Look at it from the following perspective: its power is based on its holyness, thus you need something "really" evil to overcome it.

That item behaves like others: Marilith Chain (http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s220/jgould2005/DDO/Unlimited/Items/Armor/EpicMarilithChain.jpg) is an evil (and chaotic) item and its Damage Reduction is broken by good-aligned or lawful-aligned weapons.

Imo, DR 5/Good wouldn't make sense for an "holy" item: it's holy, but good-aligned weapons can overcome it?

Last but not least, look at many evil raid-bosses (e.g. devils and demons): among other things, their Damage Reductions usually need good-aligned weapons to be overcome.

[ekniff]

or, as i personally remember it by,

If you are a fire thingy, water kills you
If you are a water thingy, fire kills you

So, if you're good, evil kills you
If you're evil, good kills you.


simple pimple. though this almost never ever happens in games (to the player, ALWAYS happens to monsters). because while players minmax, monsters dont. monsters are RPers, and will gladly don something that will make them more vulnerable to your faction/alignment/element if it fits their bio. but a player WILL don fire armor to protect against fire thingys (for e.g. by using Fire Shield), and by extension, a paladin might wear evil armor to protect against evil thingys. WHICH IS BAD. Paladins MUST wear shiny armor. Rule No 1 of RPGs!