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It came up last night but I have before seen on the forum people stating nonlethal damage overcomes DR. One of the reasons was that DR protects against Hit Point Damage and nonlethal is not Hit Point damage. So here are some of my questions.
1) At what time, if any, does straight nonlethal damage overcome DR?
2) In the instance of DR/(Adam, Silv, Cold Ir), would weapons of only these types bypass DR for nonlethal?
3) In the instance of DR/(Slash, Pierce, Bludg), would only weapons of these type bypass DR for nonlethal?
4) Do all spell affects bypass DRs, ie Aque Orb or Merciful Spells?
Any situation that you can think of or have seen come up. I would just lke to get the RAW answer. I know what I think the answer is, but just want to make sure I am correct.
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An Invulnerable Rager's DR is doubled against nonlethal damage, if it matters. Not sure if all DR has the same effect (pretty sure it doesn't, though).
DR still reduces the amount of non-lethal damage you take.
dot
1) At what time, if any, does straight nonlethal damage overcome DR?
Only when the DR is DR/non-lethal (which I don't think I've ever seen).
2) In the instance of DR/(Adam, Silv, Cold Ir), would weapons of only these types bypass DR for nonlethal?
Correct
3) In the instance of DR/(Slash, Pierce, Bludg), would only weapons of these type bypass DR for nonlethal?
Correct.
4) Do all spell affects bypass DRs, ie Aque Orb or Merciful Spells?
Spells that deal bludgeoning, slashing, or piercing damage are affected by DR, whether they deal non-lethal or lethal. All other spells are not affected by DR.
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#4 is a subject of some house rules and much forum debate.
From the "Special Abilities" section, Damage Reduction: is the amount of damage the creature ignores from normal attacks.
The rules on damage reduction state: Spells, spell-like abilities, and energy attacks (even nonmagical fire) ignore damage reduction.
The Rules as Written state spells always bypass DR.
The debate comes from spells that state they do "bludgeon/slash/pierce" damage and whether DR should apply. The rules as written say no, and the FAQ in 3.5 summarized the reason for listing the damage as such was to differentiate it from things that might be reduced by "energy reduction" protection.
However, James Jacobs and others have echoed that they will play games with a rule that DR does affect those physical spells. You'll have to consider whether you like the idea of a skeleton walking over piercing (but magical) spike stones and being destroyed and walking over a field of non-magical stones that happen to be spiky and not being destroyed.