D&D 5E Do You Hint at Damage Resistance?

[plisnithus8]

Would a Prception checkbe out of place to notice this in the middle of combat?

 

[KarinsDad]

If that's the way you want to run it, go ahead. It just doesn't sound particularly fun or useful to me. As a DM, I let the players know, because their PC's know how the world and their abilities work.

Do they?

So, in the "CR 5 monster with 80 hits points and no damage resistance vs. a CR 5 monster with 40 hits points and damage resistance" case, what exactly do the PCs know?

As a DM, what information do you change between the one example and the other? Is there really a difference here when the end result (i.e. number of average rounds to take the monster out) is the same?

 

[Azzy]

Yes. I usually say something like "he doesn't appear to be as hurt as you'd expect him to be", which is basically code for "he resisted that attack." I see little reason in hiding that sort of thing from the players.

Yeah, do pretty much the same thing.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

Would a Prception checkbe out of place to notice this in the middle of combat?

Yes, this would be a good use for a passive perception check for a lower damage attack and an active perception check for a high damage attack where it should be pretty obvious to an observer that something is not right.

 

[Caliban]

Do they?

Yes. The PC's have lived in the game world their entire lives and practiced their abilities to the point where they can use them to fight monsters.

So, in the "CR 5 monster with 80 hits points and no damage resistance vs. a CR 5 monster with 40 hits points and damage resistance" case, what exactly do the PCs know?

As a DM, what information do you change between the one example and the other? Is there really a difference here when the end result (i.e. number of average rounds to take the monster out) is the same?

Usually something along the lines of (for the no resistance creature): "You strike a mighty blow to the creature, doing full damage, but it still looks pretty healthy."

Or (for the creature with resistance) something like "You felt the blow hit home with full force, but your weapon was unable to penetrate its hide. It obviously took some damage from your attack, but not as much as you would have expected."

The difference should be obvious - the players now have information that can let them know to change tactics. Hopefully your players aren't mindless automatons that senselessly keep repeating ineffective attacks.

It's resistant to fire? Switch to Magic Missile or Lightning Bolt, or upcast Shatter. Or use a Save-or-Suck spell instead.

It's resistant to non-magical weapons? Maybe the barbarian switches from his non-magical Greataxe to a +1 longsword.

Maybe the barbarian starts using the Help action instead of attacking so the Rogue with the +1 Rapier can get their sneak attack more reliably.

Perhaps the ranger switches from their non-magical bow to a magical melee weapon.

Maybe the Paladin or the Wizard casts "Magic Weapon" on someone's weapon so it can do full damage.

All sorts of things are possible, depending on the party and their available options. But none of it is likely if the DM purposely withholds information from them that should be obvious.

 

[JeffB]

Narrate it, and when it becomes appropriate lay out it in game terms (usually a "wth is going on?" question from the players).

 

[Valetudo]

Do they?

So, in the "CR 5 monster with 80 hits points and no damage resistance vs. a CR 5 monster with 40 hits points and damage resistance" case, what exactly do the PCs know?

As a DM, what information do you change between the one example and the other? Is there really a difference here when the end result (i.e. number of average rounds to take the monster out) is the same?

Depends on a monster, not its hp. I would describe a werecreatures immunity different than a iron golems. Two different monsters with different hp, but with immunity to nonmagic weapons. The werecreature instaheals while the weapon would just bounce off the golem. The important part is how you tell your players.

 

[Blue]

As a DM, do you hint that an attack doesn't do full damage against a creature with damage resistance?

I have been, but they discussed it on the Cannon Fodder podcast (Glass Cannon podcast after show), and now I'm second guessing.

I never hint about damage resistance -- I flat out state that the damage isn't doing as much as expected. PCs fight battle after battle - seeing a greataxe they've swung hundreds of times in earnest do a minimal wound, it's absolutely noticeable to them. If it's DR (like a few cases in 5e and more common in earlier editions) they likely they can even estimate how much from my description.

 

[Shiroiken]

I will imply it, but in such a way that it could either be a creature with resistance or a creature with a lot more HP than the damage represented. One trick I sometimes use is how the creature reacts to the attack, with them not attempting to avoid resistance damage as much (since it hurts less). Once a fire sorcerer hit a resistance creature, but was able to ignore the resistance. The creature acted surprised, since it usually didn't worry about it, and this confused the players until they figured it out (when another player dealt fire damage).

 

[Mercule]

Almost always. I think there was one time, since starting 5E, where it wouldn't have been obvious, but I can't remember why. Otherwise, I try to make it clear. Usually, I base the communication on what makes narrative sense. Some things heal wounds almost as fast as they're dealt. Others never take significant damage. Whatever it is, I try to walk right up to the line without actually saying, "They have resistance/immunity to X." Seeing as how what's obvious to the DM isn't always obvious to the players, if they don't catch on after a couple of hits, I do actually say, "Hey, he's resistant to that."

On the flip side, I don't generally give out exactly how damaged critters are. If someone wants to spend an action to use Medicine to size up a critter, they'll get a percentage. Otherwise, I borrow a page from 4E and tell the players, "He's bloodied," when the critter reached half hit points.