D&D 5E Rounding Down - Minimum Damage

[DMCF]

One of my players is a rules lawyer which is useful at times since I can ask for a page number and it'll get served right up. Last night was kind of an opposite experience. One of the characters rolled a [1] on the damage die for a spell that is AoE. Several Stirges (also at 1hp) saved. I figured "O.K., half damage so unfortunately your AoE just annoys them". Then the lawyer chimed in.

He insisted there was a minimum of 1 damage taken. I asked for a quote a few times but he just kept repeating himself. Since it was just a couple Stirge and one of the guys had 20 minutes left I let it go. This morning I scanned the PHB and I didn't see a "minimum 1 damage" rule. All I can find is the rule to round down.

I don't mind giving benefit of the doubt once in a while and this event was really minor. I think it could have game chancing implications at lower levels though so I'd like to know if anyone else knows where the source for this argument is?

 

[Shiroiken]

This is a carryover rule from older edition. I'm pretty sure it doesn't exist in 5E, but I also think most older DMs would grandfather it in. If you have a "minimum 1" rule, make sure you carry it over to all types of rolls to remain consistent.

 

[Paraxis]

There is no minimum in 5e everything rounds down unless otherwise stated. This is in obvious need for errata in some instances like regaining HD during a long rest, as it sits now if you have only 1 HD and spend it during a long rest you wouldn't regain any HD ever.
Now Mr. Mearls has said that this particular instance of the rules you should have a minimum of 1, there is no such ruling yet for damage. http://www.sageadvice.eu/2014/09/02/1st-level-1hd/

 

[abirdcall]

Without a minimum of 1 damage if you had 6 or less strength and you punched someone you would heal them.

 

[Paraxis]

Without a minimum of 1 damage if you had 6 or less strength and you punched someone you would heal them.

No you would do a minimum of 1 damage.

 

[delericho]

As far as I'm aware, there's no such rule. But as with the regaining of hit dice with an extended rest, this is one I'll be adding.

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

It makes sense to do minimum damage. But, equally, a save is a save, whether halving damage from an ancient red dragon or a kitten with the flu.
How about, if you save and the damage rolled is 1, you take no hp damage but suffer a minor embuggerance equivalent to half a hp (also known as one irk).
Examples could include: in the case of the stirge, its proboscis is bent so it's harder to shift so it takes an action plus a bonus action to remove it? In the case of a spell attack, perhaps some of your beard/braid/eyebrow/fingernail is singed/frozen/zapped off. Perhaps you bite your tongue (and the player has to thpeak like thith for five minuteth in real time) In the case of a poison attack, your eyeballs bug out for an hour but you're otherwise fine. Little bit of colour but still 'damage'.
And rules apply to monsters too - so if you play minimum 1hp damage, remind Mr Rules Lawyer that when he is at 1hp and finds himself in a minimum damage scenario, he'd have to abide by the rule too. I'd bet having half his moustache fall off as he gulps his healing potion might be more appealing to him than dropping unconscious and turning into a scratching post for that poorly kitten.

 

[aramis erak]

I have found no minimum. I'm of the "minimum damage is 0" school.
The minimum 1 damage is a holdover from prior editions, and your rules lawyer hasn't bothered to actually learn 5E...

 

[Sunseeker]

Yeah sorry, a save against 1 damage would, IMO, mean you take 0 damage. Sorry, sometimes the dice gods hate you.

 

[Inglorin]

There is no minimum in 5e everything rounds down unless otherwise stated. This is in obvious need for errata in some instances like regaining HD during a long rest, as it sits now if you have only 1 HD and spend it during a long rest you wouldn't regain any HD ever.

... until they hit level 2, gain another HD and halving 2 HD, fortunately, is 1 HD regained after a long rest. As the first level is so incredibly fast to pass through I don't think that this is a problem at all. It MIGHT be a feature after all.


Edit: spelling