Dragonsteel Query

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

zombiegleemax

Apr 09, 2004 4:13:04
Hi

In the DLCS (p. 114), it states that dragonmetal "bypasses the damage reduction of monsters as though it were mithral." Reading the description of mithral in the DMG (p. 284), it does not seem to have the capacity to bypass damage reduction.

Furthermore, in the AoM supplement (p. 78), an abyssal lance (made of dragonsteel, which I presume is the same as dragonmetal) has the capacity to bypass "damage reduction of dragons as if it were an epic weapon." I can't seem to find a reference to 'epic weapons' in the core rulebooks.

Any clarification gratefully received.

Thanks

Simon Collins
#2

maladaar

Apr 09, 2004 4:29:44
This is just a guess, but could epic weapons be listed in the Epic Level Handbook (or whatever it is called)? I know that is not a core book, but stranger things have happened.

Not sure about the Dragonmetal/steel thing.
#3

zombiegleemax

Apr 09, 2004 4:41:34
Another thing about the abyssal lances. The prerequisite is a spell called divine instruction, which I can't seem to find in the PHB, DLCS, or AoM. Did this not make print, or did I miss it somewhere?

If it did not make print, could it be published here on the boards? I imagine it to be a more powerful version of commune but the caster level for the lesser lance is defined as 8th, which would make it theoretically no more than a 4th-level spell, if my understanding of the magic item creation rules is correct.

Thanks

Simon Collins
#4

maladaar

Apr 09, 2004 5:09:09
Now I will have to dig those books out when I get home. I will try to see if I can find anything on that spell.
#5

cam_banks

Apr 09, 2004 8:15:37
Originally posted by SimonCollins
Hi

In the DLCS (p. 114), it states that dragonmetal "bypasses the damage reduction of monsters as though it were mithral." Reading the description of mithral in the DMG (p. 284), it does not seem to have the capacity to bypass damage reduction.

If a creature is listed as having "damage reduction X/mithral", then dragonmetal weapons would bypass the damage reduction.

Furthermore, in the AoM supplement (p. 78), an abyssal lance (made of dragonsteel, which I presume is the same as dragonmetal) has the capacity to bypass "damage reduction of dragons as if it were an epic weapon." I can't seem to find a reference to 'epic weapons' in the core rulebooks.

If a creature has "damage reduction X/epic" then an abyssal lance can bypass the damage reduction. The dragon overlords have this kind of damage reduction, for example.

Cheers,
Cam
#6

cam_banks

Apr 09, 2004 8:20:22
Originally posted by SimonCollins
Another thing about the abyssal lances. The prerequisite is a spell called divine instruction, which I can't seem to find in the PHB, DLCS, or AoM. Did this not make print, or did I miss it somewhere?

That's not a spell, it's divine instruction (i.e. you need a god to show you how to do it). Regular dragonlances have the same prerequisite in the DLCS.

Cheers,
Cam
#7

zombiegleemax

Apr 09, 2004 9:17:52
Originally posted by Cam Banks
If a creature is listed as having "damage reduction X/mithral", then dragonmetal weapons would bypass the damage reduction.

Ah, OK. Got it now. :embarrass
If a creature has "damage reduction X/epic" then an abyssal lance can bypass the damage reduction. The dragon overlords have this kind of damage reduction, for example.

Hah! Finally found it in the Monster Manual (p. 307) - "...at least a +6 enhancement bonus" is how 'epic' is described there. Makes sense now.
Also noticed that Beryl doesn't have it! Only +4.

Thanks
Simon Collins
#8

zombiegleemax

Apr 09, 2004 9:22:15
Originally posted by Cam Banks
That's not a spell, it's divine instruction (i.e. you need a god to show you how to do it). Regular dragonlances have the same prerequisite in the DLCS.

Cheers,
Cam

Oh! OK. For some reason I'd thought it was in italics, but now I check, it isn't. Doh again! :embarrass

Thanks
Simon Colins
#9

cam_banks

Apr 09, 2004 9:24:56
Originally posted by SimonCollins
Oh! OK. It shouldn't have been in italics is all, then.

It isn't.

Cheers,
Cam
#10

zombiegleemax

Apr 09, 2004 9:27:28
Originally posted by Cam Banks
It isn't.

Cheers,
Cam

Jeez, slow down on me!;)
I was checking, I was checking!!
#11

cam_banks

Apr 09, 2004 9:30:02
Originally posted by SimonCollins
Jeez, slow down on me!;)
I was checking, I was checking!!

I keep my superhero costume in my ring, you know. The lightning bolts over the ears are annoying, but red and yellow are nice colors.

Cheers,
Cam
#12

daedavias_dup

Apr 09, 2004 9:34:47
Originally posted by Cam Banks
I keep my superhero costume in my ring, you know. The lightning bolts over the ears are annoying, but red and yellow are nice colors.

Cheers,
Cam

I KNEW IT!!! :D :D :D

This question is kind of related, but are there any other dragonmetal sources other than the wells in Foghaven Vale? Seems kind of weird that it's the only place.
#13

zombiegleemax

Apr 09, 2004 9:43:00
Just want to clarify an issue I raised in my original post in this thread - are the terms dragonsteel (AoM) and dragonmetal (DLCS) interchangeable? And should the word be in italics (as in AoM, presumably denoting a magical substance) or not (as in the DLCS)? These italics are important, don't you know!! ;)

Thanks

Simon Collins
#14

cam_banks

Apr 09, 2004 9:54:48
It seems as if dragonsteel, dragonsilver, and dragonmetal are all one and the same. There may be trivial differences based on how they are processed in the course of being forged into weapons, armor and so forth, but I think you can more or less assume they're all the same kind of material.

Dragonmetal is innately magical, but it doesn't need to be represented in italics. It's a substance that magic items (italicized) are made from, not specifically a magic item itself.

And as far as I know, it's only available in Foghaven Vale. Makes it rarer than kodragon's teeth.

Cheers,
Cam
#15

brimstone

Apr 09, 2004 10:40:15
I thought the Knights of Takhisis found a pool of it on the island where they built Storm's Keep.

Isn't that what they write up for the Darklances says?
#16

cam_banks

Apr 09, 2004 10:51:31
Originally posted by Brimstone
I thought the Knights of Takhisis found a pool of it on the island where they built Storm's Keep.

Isn't that what they write up for the Darklances says?

Nope. The abyssal lance entry doesn't state where the dragonmetal came from, although it does imply there are other natural sources of the metal throughout Krynn. If this is the case, it presents a good case for why the Dark Knights made their base on Storm's Keep, and it makes Ausric Krell (the death knight currently lairing there) particularly dangerous for having a supply of it on hand.

Abyssal lances first appeared in Doug Niles' Wings of Fury, and it doesn't go into any real detail about them there either. It might say more in City of the Lost, but that's one book in my enormous pile of books that I haven't finished yet...

Cheers,
Cam
#17

brimstone

Apr 09, 2004 10:58:43
Yeah...I'm getting a little behind as well...so City of the Lost is in my stack to be read. (along with Dark Thane, A Warrior's Journey, A Wizard's Fate, and The Lioness...I'm not sure if I'll ever get around to reading Conundrum though. ;))

Anyway, okay...that's what I remember then (about the dragonsteel). Although it doesn't state it in the book...I agree that it's a logical assumption that it's there. (in other words, your players won't question the validity of your claim...although you're the DM...so they shouldn't anyway) LOL!