holy damage?

mirtexxan · 06-12-2023, 08:54 PM

Hi guys, reading through Magic Items... ehm, what exactly is "holy damage" when does it apply? Is it defined anywhere?

My guess is that it is a followup INJURY that only applies to evil and Evil creatures (GM definition)... still it's a very poorly introduced in the system, imo.

DouglasCole · 06-13-2023, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mirtexxan

Hi guys, reading through Magic Items... ehm, what exactly is "holy damage" when does it apply? Is it defined anywhere?

My guess is that it is a followup INJURY that only applies to evil and Evil creatures (GM definition)... still it's a very poorly introduced in the system, imo.

It's a "tag" that applies to certain weapons, objects, abilities, or damage that may trigger a monster's Vulnerability. Several of the undead in the Nordlond Bestiary either take double damage from holy object, or they don't regenerate holy or magical damage.

malloyd · 06-13-2023, 12:54 PM

Note that it's not a specific type of damage in the sense of having defined sources or special rules either.

By way of example, at one time there were some joke monsters floating around that had Vulnerability to Fruit or DR (Limited: Fruit Only). This does not mean GURPS has a "fruit" type of damage. What it means is in a fight with these things, the GM will sometimes have to decide if something inflicts fruit damage. Sometimes things intended specifically for fighting these things may specifically tell you the damage "counts as fruit", to make it simple for the GM to decide in that case.

That's all those holy tags are telling you - use this against something that has a trait of reacting differently to "holy" items, and the different effect applies.

ravenfish · 06-13-2023, 01:05 PM

By way of another example, some monsters have defenses that don't work against silver. This doesn't mean that "silver" is a damage type- the defenses can be bypassed by cutting damage from a silver blade, crushing damage from a silver chandelier falling on their head, and so on. So too with a vulnerability to "holy" sources of damage.

Anders · 06-13-2023, 03:18 PM

Holy water, for instance, probably does holy damage.

DouglasCole · 06-13-2023, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anders

Holy water, for instance, probably does holy damage.

Vampires have Vulnerability (Treats holy water as acid), for example.

mirtexxan · 06-13-2023, 04:10 PM

Guys, maybe I was not clear in my post.
I was actually referring to the Holy Weapon enchantment in Magic Items p.7.

What's the meaning of "add +2 holy injury or +3 vs. demons undead and anything else the GM deems to be capital-E Evil"?
This is more than just a tag, or "holy water".

06-12-2023, 08:54 PM	#1
mirtexxan Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Italy	holy damage? Hi guys, reading through Magic Items... ehm, what exactly is "holy damage" when does it apply? Is it defined anywhere? My guess is that it is a followup INJURY that only applies to evil and Evil creatures (GM definition)... still it's a very poorly introduced in the system, imo.

06-13-2023, 12:54 PM	#3
malloyd Join Date: Jun 2006	Re: holy damage? Note that it's not a specific type of damage in the sense of having defined sources or special rules either. By way of example, at one time there were some joke monsters floating around that had Vulnerability to Fruit or DR (Limited: Fruit Only). This does not mean GURPS has a "fruit" type of damage. What it means is in a fight with these things, the GM will sometimes have to decide if something inflicts fruit damage. Sometimes things intended specifically for fighting these things may specifically tell you the damage "counts as fruit", to make it simple for the GM to decide in that case. That's all those holy tags are telling you - use this against something that has a trait of reacting differently to "holy" items, and the different effect applies. __________________ -- MA Lloyd

06-13-2023, 01:05 PM	#4
ravenfish Join Date: May 2007	Re: holy damage? By way of another example, some monsters have defenses that don't work against silver. This doesn't mean that "silver" is a damage type- the defenses can be bypassed by cutting damage from a silver blade, crushing damage from a silver chandelier falling on their head, and so on. So too with a vulnerability to "holy" sources of damage. __________________ I predicted GURPS:Dungeon Fantasy several hours before it came out and all I got was this lousy sig.

06-13-2023, 03:18 PM	#5
Anders Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gothenburg, Sweden	Re: holy damage? Holy water, for instance, probably does holy damage. __________________ “When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love ...” Marcus Aurelius Author of Winged Folk. The GURPS Discord. Drop by and say hi!

06-13-2023, 04:10 PM	#7
mirtexxan Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Italy	Re: holy damage? Guys, maybe I was not clear in my post. I was actually referring to the Holy Weapon enchantment in Magic Items p.7. What's the meaning of "add +2 holy injury or +3 vs. demons undead and anything else the GM deems to be capital-E Evil"? This is more than just a tag, or "holy water".