D&D 5E Chill touch vs Troll regeneration

[CapnZapp]

What is with the flood of new members practising thread necromancy?
Did google change it's search algorithms again? Did another DnD board close?

Apparently nobody has thought to cast Chill Touch on this thread.

 

[Lucas Blackstone]

Actually, I would rule it slightly differently. Chill Touch would prevent troll regeneration during combat, however, it wouldn't work as a "finisher": as soon as the duration of the spell expired the troll would start to regenerate, even from zero hp.

May I ask why you would rule it that way? The regeneration ability says the troll dies if it starts it's turn with 0 hit points and doesn't regenerate. Just curious what your take on it was that made Chill Touch not stop regeneration.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

May I ask why you would rule it that way? The regeneration ability says the troll dies if it starts it's turn with 0 hit points and doesn't regenerate. Just curious what your take on it was that made Chill Touch not stop regeneration.

Just for lore reasons. Chill Touch suspends regeneration, but only for the duration of the spell. I've known trolls come back from scraps of flesh pickled in a jar - an overly literal interpretation of the rules would prevent that common plot device.

For extra LOLs, the troll could come back as a Rot Troll (MToF).

 

[5ekyu]

Just for lore reasons. Chill Touch suspends regeneration, but only for the duration of the spell. I've known trolls come back from scraps of flesh pickled in a jar - an overly literal interpretation of the rules would prevent that common plot device.

For extra LOLs, the troll could come back as a Rot Troll (MToF).

Ok, so you want the lore of previous edition trolls, not the current one.

So, for your games trolls dont die by "starting at 0 and not regen" by default, chill touch thus becomes irrelevant.

Interesting.

 

[CapnZapp]

I think it is a valid standpoint to not allow mere cantrips to negate signature aspects of non-trivial monsters.

Yes, chill touch or even a simple torch can completely remove any fear and trepidation from a Troll encounter by RAW.

But is that a good thing?

 

[Charlaquin]

I think it is a valid standpoint to not allow mere cantrips to negate signature aspects of non-trivial monsters.

Yes, chill touch or even a simple torch can completely remove any fear and trepidation from a Troll encounter by RAW.

But is that a good thing?

A torch, produce flame, firebolt... there are a lot of easily accessible ways to deal at-will fire damage at 1st level, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. On one hand, I feel like using chill touch to stop a troll’s regeneration is against the spirit of the troll’s lore a bit. On the other hand, it is pretty much exactly the kind of thing chill touch exists for, and I wouldn’t want to take that away from a player who probably picked chill touch in no small part for its ability to prevent healing. With those factors in mind, it does seem like allowing chill touch to prevent regeneration, but requiring fire to finish it off seems like a really good compromise to me.

 

[CapnZapp]

That mere cantrips can utterly shut down signature abilities of iconic monsters is obviously cheapening the experience.

I do not think anyone disagrees with that.

 

[Charlaquin]

That mere cantrips can utterly shut down signature abilities of iconic monsters is obviously cheapening the experience.

I do not think anyone disagrees with that.

I do. When a torch can utterly shut down the same ability, it seems perfectly reasonable that a cantrip could do the same, and I think it’s absolutely appropriate that a torch be able to prevent a troll’s regeneration.

Also, what’s this “mere cantrip” business? Cantrips are some of the best tools in a caster’s arsenal.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Ok, so you want the lore of previous edition trolls, not the current one.

So, for your games trolls dont die by "starting at 0 and not regen" by default, chill touch thus becomes irrelevant.

Interesting.

I think you are having difficulty differentiating "Game Mechanics" and "Lore".

Nevertheless, it makes little practical difference, since you can subdue the troll with Chill Touch then kill it with a torch.

Unless you want to be really pedantic, and insist that since torches have no damage listed, they are ineffective against troll regeneration in 5e.

 

[Yunru]

I think you are having difficulty differentiating "Game Mechanics" and "Lore".

Nevertheless, it makes little practical difference, since you can subdue the troll with Chill Touch then kill it with a torch.

Unless you want to be really pedantic, and insist that since torches have no damage listed, they are ineffective against troll regeneration in 5e.

Torches do have damage listed: they do 1 fire damage.