Damage and Combat

In The Domains of Dread, damage dealt during combat may be either mundane or exceptional depending on its damage type. Mundane sources of damage are always resisted by untyped DR assuming the source does not have an Enhancement Bonus applied equal or in excess of its penetration threshold—for example a +1 shortsword bypasses 5/+1 DR, but not 5/- DR. Sources of /- DR may also be called “soak” and stack with each other, but /[+x] DR sources do not. Exceptional sources of damage are resisted by DR specific to that damage type or if the DR source clarifies that it absorbs all damage in its text.

Damage Types

Mundane Damage

• Bludgeoning: Inflicted mostly by bludgeoning weapons, as in denting and breaking through blunt force.
• Crushing: Inflicted mostly by certain spells and spell-like abilities, as in asphyxiation or sudden respiratory trauma.
• Piercing: Inflicted mostly by piercing weapons, as in puncturing or stabbing.
• Slashing: Inflicted mostly by slashing weapons, as in cutting or flaying.
• Subdual: Also called nonlethal damage, as in concussing or otherwise incapacitating a target without lasting harm. Inflicted mostly by items and the subdual combat mode.

Exceptional Damage

• Acid: Inflicted mostly by items and by certain spells and spell-like abilities, as in sudden corrosion or dissolution.
• Astral: Inflicted mostly by certain spells and spell-like abilities, as in psychic forces or effects otherwise resonant with the Dread Astral. Visually appears as untyped ingame.
• Cold: Inflicted mostly by items and by certain spells and spell-like abilities, as in hypothermia or flash heat loss.
• Divine: Inflicted mostly by certain spells and spell-like abilities, as in intangible forces associated with ideoligions or true faith.
• Electrical: Inflicted mostly by items and by certain spells and spell-like abilities, as in powerful shocks and lightning.
• Fire: Inflicted mostly by items and by certain spells and spell-like abilities, as in immolation or rapid heat gain.
• Force: Inflicted mostly by certain spells and spell-like abilities, as in arcane or ephemeral, magical power.
• Poison: Inflicted mostly by items and certain spells and spell-like abilities, as in noxious, invective forces.
• Positive Energy: Inflicted mostly by restorative spells and spell-like abilities, healing living targets and damaging only the unliving.
• Primeval: Inflicted mostly by certain spells and spell-like abilities, as in natural forces at their most raw and unrefined.
• Necrotic: Inflicted mostly by certain spells and spell-like abilities, as in rot or sudden leeching of vitality.
• Negative Energy: Inflicted mostly by certain spells and spell-like abilities, healing unliving targets and damaging only the living.
• Sonic: Inflicted mostly by certain spells and spell-like abilities, as in extreme sound or otherwise aural forces.
• Untyped: The source of damage either eludes or falls outside normal classifications.

Combat Modes

At the player’s discretion they may change their character’s combat mode to one of the following using the !combatmode [shortname or opcode], short alias !cm chat command:

• default or 001: The character proceeds with normal damage against human- and AI-controlled entities who are either hostile to the character or have been set as hostile by the character.
• hostile or 002: The character proceeds as though they are hostile to any human- or AI-controlled entity in range, including those who would otherwise be neutral. Sends a notification to all human-controlled targets affected. To become hostile to a single target, use the !hostile, short alias !h chat command and pick the target with the reticle that appears. Selecting that target again will remove hostile.
• subdual or 003: The character proceeds only with subdual damage in place of normal damage on their unaltered weapon attacks. No effect on spells.
• peaceful or 004: The character proceeds without initiating weapon attacks of any kind, including attacks of opportunity, even if they are otherwise attacked. No effect on spells.

Characters will not proceed with lethal damage on any player character who they have not marked with the !fd chat command, per the Character versus Character Rules.