So I was looking through a monster's pre-combat tactics in one of the APs, and it mentions that he casts a spell to give him fire resistance - this is because he is vulnerable to fire. This got me thinking, is the vulnerability or resistance applied first? For example: Let's say a creature has fire vulnerability, but is under an effect that grants them fire resistance 10. Then let us suppose that this creature is hit for 20 points of fire damage. Now:
Do you subtract 10 points for resistance, lowering the damage to 10, then multiply that 10 damage by 50% for vulnerability for a total damage of 15, or:
Do you multiply the 20 damage by 50% - for a total of 30 - then factor in the fire resistance to lower the final sum to 20?
I'm inclined to apply the former, since the spell would form a protective barrier, it stands to reason that it would be hit before the fire ever touches the creature (and thus its vulnerable physiological vulnerabilities kick in), but I was wondering if there was an official ruling on this?
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The target is vulnerable to an element. The magic is a barrier to the target preventing the energy from even contacting them. There may also be a saving throw to avoid the damage all together.
So here is the path and logic.
1. Saving throw if allowed to lower damage. This never touches the target so neither vulnerability nor resistance applies.
2. The energy resistance now applies to any remaining damage as this barrier protects the actual target.
3. Any remaining energy damage that exceeds the barrier resistance now affects the target... and if that target is vulnerable then the damage is doubled at this point.
I would agree with Thazar except that vulnerability increases damage by 50% instead of doubling.
I would agree with Thazar except that vulnerability increases damage by 50% instead of doubling.
Do'h. So close to sounding like I knew what I was talking about. ;)
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Doing a bit of thread resurrection since I have a question that is awfully similar to this.
If a creature has energy vulnerability but uses a power so they take half damage from that element, how would you play it?
To make this more concrete: If a red dragon(vulnerable to cold) casts fire shield(takes half damage from cold), how much damage would he take?
If you do the math, he would take 75% whichever you put first (Half of 150%, or 150% of half), but it seems like the simple solution is just to have the vulnerability and resistance cancel each other out.
Is there an actual ruling on this somewhere?