D&D 5E What does immunity look like?

[Not a Hobbit]

Dear ENworlders:

When my players go up against creatures which have resistance to certain damage, I usually tell them something like "It seems that the blow didn't do as much damage as it probably should have."

But I'm not sure how to describe blows against a creature who is immune to a type of damage. Let's take for example, a jackelwere. They are immune to damage from nonmagical weapons which are not silvered. So when the fighter attacks with a common longsword and scores a hit, what happens? Does the blow bounce off of the jackelwere? Does the blow land but the jackelwere goes all Wolverine and the wounds heal? (Sorry to mix jackels and wolverines there). Is there some forcefield around the jackelwere which glows when struck, deflecting the blow away?

So how do I describe the effect of immunity without coming right out and saying "Your mundane weapons are of no use here!"?

Thanks for any suggestions.

--Scott

 

[fjw70]

In your example I would say that the sword bounces harmlessly off the jackalwere. Sort of like bullets off of Luke Cage.

 

[Nailen]

I would describe it as the blow bouncing off. And possibly the jackalwere laughs...

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[jgsugden]

If the rules are not specific, figure out what makes the most sense in the story of your game. As the DM, you're telling the players the story that they're influencing with their characters... just tell the best story you can.

For Jackalwere immunity to nonmagical weapons, I have the weapons literally have no effect on them. The weapon doesn't even move their fur. It makes an odd - but very unique - mental picture for the PCs.

 

[Arilyn]

Yeah, go with what seems cool in the story, and your preferences.

 

[Ath-kethin]

For my part I use the "super-fast-healing" option for most corporeal creatures (your jackalwere, for example). The blow strikes, and might even be an excellent hit (i.e. high attack roll), but it just doesn't "stick." For some reason, weapons just bouncing off a creature's bare skin (or fur) just doesn't jive with me. For corporeal undead I simply describe the blow as having no effect (it's not like a zombie cares if its belly is filleted).

Now, if it was something like, say, a balor, I might describe the weapon passing harmlessly through it like a ghost.

 

[Satyrn]

Just use whartever description makes sense to you for whatever creature you're using at the time. Whatever you describe will be good enough.

And be sure to change it up from monster to monster as appropriate.

Also, it's just fine to say "Your attack is ineffective, it's immune" when you're feeling lazy or uncreative, or even if it's yet another immune creature and you want to make joke about the overuse of that feature.

 

[MNblockhead]

I admit, I'm often lazy and often say "you hit, but your hit doesn't seem to have affected it."

But it is interesting to think about how to spice it up. Immunity should mean no damage, but not necessarily no effect. With the Jakalwere, a hit may stop it, or push it back. I might still allow rules for knocking prone, pushing back, grappling, etc. In many cases, immune simply means no damage. No HP loss.

For an iron golem, easy, your sword connects with a shower of sparks, but leave not a mark.

For a were creature, your hits may destroy clothes and cut fur, but some force prevents the weapon from fully contacting and cutting or impacting the flesh, causing the weapon to just glance off.

For other creatures, the weapon may pass through it.

For others maybe there is some force like a magnet that make it impossible to connect with and damage the target (this would be good with immunity to all but non-magical weapons).

You could also have all weapon types a creature is immune to shatter on contact. Players will hate you, but if used sparingly, it can make for an interesting encounter. Also, losing a mundane weapon isn't as big a loss as losing a magical or silvered weapon.

 

[schnee]

Yeah, the same as others - flavor it per creature.

Like the Rakshasa immunity to spells - maybe they would flow around them, like water around a rock in a stream, gracefully... and on a Golem, it would shatter and spray like a fire hose stream hitting a granite wall.

It's a great time to have a little DM fun, and spice it up for players.

 

[Imaculata]

I always make something up on the spot that fits the creature, and clearly informs my players that the creature is completely immune to that type of damage. Something along the lines of:

"You strike a powerful blow against the creature with your sword, but you do not even make a scratch on its skin. Sparks fly off it's arm and your blade rings with the sound of metal against solid stone. The creature seems unphased by your attempt to harm it."

I try to not only bring the scene to life, but also leave no doubt that they shouldn't try this again.