====== Physical Resistances ======

Weapon strikes typically have one of the three following types: {{:abilities:resist_pierce.png?nolink}}**Piercing**, {{:abilities:resist_blunt.png?nolink}}**Bludgeoning**, or {{:abilities:resist_slash.png?nolink}}**Slashing**.

For each of these, there's a **Physical Resistance** that **halves** the damage that sort of strike does. For example, skeletal ??Longdead?? fellows don't have much that can be pierced, while the puncturable organs of the ??Soulless?? don't really matter to them. A plant only really minds being cut. A statue is easier to smash than to bisect (or poke holes through). These different traits are known as **Pierce Resistance**, **Blunt Resistance**, and **Slash Resistance**.

{{:items:copper_plate.png?nonlink }} Physical Resistances only apply after **[[Protection]]**, and the resulting number is always rounded **up**. The resistances cannot bring damage from a hit down to zero. Notably, {{:abilities:resist_slash.png?15&nolink}}Slash Resistance conflicts directly with the damage bonus Slashing hits get.

=== Sources ===

{{:abilities:resist_pierce.png?nolink }} Pierce Resistance can be applied by [[Death]] [[magic]]; ??Skeletal Body?? (a Level-1 [[Alteration]]) is a self-application by {{path>D1}} mages, while ??Skeletal Legion?? (a Level-6 Alteration) lets {{path>D4}} mages with {{gems>1D}} (or {{path>D3}} mages with {{gems>2D}}) apply it to their entire army.
  * Skeletal Legion is too horrifying a transformation for most units, however; if they fail a [[Magic Resistance]] roll, they get {{:abilities:disease.png?15&nolink}}[[Afflictions|Diseased]].

**All three Resistances** can be applied by [[Water]] magic, along with {{:abilities:affliction_resistance.png?15&nolink}}[[Affliction Resistance]]; ??Liquid Body?? (A Level-4 Alteration) lets {{path>W1}} mages self-apply, while ??Wave Warriors?? (a Level-7 Alteration) lets {{path>W3}} mages with {{gems>1W}} (or {{path>W2}} mages with {{gems>2W}}) apply it to a large swathe of their battlefield.
  * Both have minor problems, however, as becoming part-liquid also provides **-4 [[Strength]]** and **-25% [[Combat Speed]]**.

[[Earth]] mages may apply **all three Resistances** to themselves without drawbacks, through the ??Temper Flesh?? spell (a Level-4 Alteration). This also provides 5 {{:abilities:resist_fire.png?15&nolink}}[[Fire Resistance]]. All three Physical Resistances may also be applied to the [[Bless]] of a [[Pretender God]] with at least {{path>E8}}, through the incarnate **Fortitude** effect.