Randomly decided to check in after years and see talk of Doordie and Amel. Lots of fun memories! Arguably my first long time character, Narwyn, ended up closely aligned with Amel as his protege.
Doordie was one of the best RP's I ever played with. His stories, with his character Amel, were amazing. Rich, deep, complex. I hope Doordie is doing well! You have a really great Uncle!
Registered Member #787
Joined: 8:48:31 am GMT 05/30/06
Posts: 1761
So, as many of you are aware, I am NWN inept. It's why my characters mechanically, are so bland, and basic. I've always been curious about SR, and not so much on the 'should I have an item with it', but more of the 'how useful is it really'.
There are many items on Thain that provide such in either a permanent item based SR, or an edible temporary buff. Not to mention classes with such spells or abilities. While I don't mind doing field testing, as it were, to determine what SR works where and against what, I'm hopeful someone might be able to save me a bit of time.
Obviously such a ring/amulet/cloak/whatever, won't hold up against some arch-mage, but perhaps against the less skilled denizens of Thain, might they provide some use?
Registered Member #787
Joined: 8:48:31 am GMT 05/30/06
Posts: 1761
Yeah, I've read the wiki before, and it just made my poor brain all the more confused. I suppose it'd be another reason to go and test out various levels of SR, to see what minimum number works decently/reliably against the denizens of Thain monsters. Oooor, I can wait for the Dogbert.
Registered Member #198
Joined: 6:30:40 pm GMT 08/02/04
Posts: 2228
Spell Resistance is a DC to beat, and the last line of the spell defense checks. It is like armor class against spells, but unlike physical combat, is the last defense checked for.
A spell resistance of 16 means that a caster has to get a higher penetration value.
d20+caster level+spell pen. modifier vs SR16.
So if we have a SR of 28 on a critter and your level 10 mage is trying to land a spell with no spell penetration feats it would be:
D20+10+0 vs SR28
This means you need a 19 or 20 on your check to beat it. Add in a spell penetration feat, you now beat it on a 17 or higher.
So reverse this: Your PC is wearing a spell resistance 16 belt. A goblin thaumaturge that is caster level 8, with no feat, is trying to cast a spell on the PC.
Goblin d20+8+0 vs PC SR16
This means on a 9 or higher the spell gets through, below that, the resistance bubble flashes around the PC.
Hundbert Registered Member #293
Joined: 1:22:43 am GMT 10/06/04
Posts: 3124
Tim's got it all exactly right, EC. For Thain, an item/ability/buff/whatever that nets you 16-20 is pretty damned solid. You're going to ignore the acid arrows from the mephits on the way to Khalador's pretty regularly. Yuan-ti entangles are the least of your concerns.
But if you're going to head to Azuul's Lair, a Hellchanneler is still going to fry your ass with every spell. If you're a monk/cleric/druid getting up into the 30+ range, then you're going to start seeing resists again even against the more powerful casters.
Tim's got it all exactly right, EC. For Thain, an item/ability/buff/whatever that nets you 16-20 is pretty damned solid. You're going to ignore the acid arrows from the mephits on the way to Khalador's pretty regularly. Yuan-ti entangles are the least of your concerns.
But if you're going to head to Azuul's Lair, a Hellchanneler is still going to fry your ass with every spell. If you're a monk/cleric/druid getting up into the 30+ range, then you're going to start seeing resists again even against the more powerful casters.
I think Doggy and Caitiff summed it up really nice. SR is a nice thing to have VS pseudo-casters, that is, monsters that have a few caster class levels for flair, like Bugbear priests, Goblin shamans, various outsiders like Succubi, Gnoll warlocks, Skeleton clerics/wizards, Mephits ETC. It's not so good against pure casters -- NPCs or PCs with a caster class as their only or main class. A concrete example, SR 18 might be good against a Slaadi Summoner that, despite having 14 levels, effectually only has 7 caster levels (the sheet will say something like Outsider (7), Cleric (7)), which makes your SR viable (SR 18 VS 7 + 1d20). On the other hand, going up against a Duergar priestess might be tough as these are pure casters with, I think, 14 caster levels (level 14 cleric), which renders your SR 18 a poor means of magic protection (SR 18 VS DC 14 + 1d20).
EntropicChaos wrote ... There are many items on Thain that provide such in either a permanent item based SR, or an edible temporary buff.
Emphasis mine.
That edible buff, by the bye, is a really neat buff considering it is relatively easy to obtain. I always have a few handy and I find it does well against most spell-casting monsters. Just don't think it's totally super spell-proof against everything, because really it's not. Bagnorn shamans will still eat you for breakfast.
Also, note that spells as feats bypass these defenses. A Shadowdancer's Shadow Daze, for instance, bypasses SR much like an Ettercap's magic-like ability to produce web. These "spells" are, I think, supposed to emulate a creature's ability to produce a spell-like effect as an inherent ability and thus bypass SR much like a dragon's breath does. So, basically, SR counteracts spells born from prayer or a spell tome (or magical bloodline for sorcerers/bards), but not spell-like feats and abilities.
Registered Member #787
Joined: 8:48:31 am GMT 05/30/06
Posts: 1761
Thank you, Corlupi. That actually answered a question I had on how it worked against ability-spells. Since I know they're spells, but not spells. I had Bishop liberate a cloak that has SR on it, for those times when it might be advantageous to have such about.
[ The Island of Thain ]
Spell Resistance: How Does it Work, and Should I Use It?
