D&D (2024) Damage Threshold, the new "need a magic weapon"?

[tetrasodium]

That would suggest you are also against high Armor Class, all energy immunity's, condition immunity's, spell immunity, etc.

Uncovering an enemy's weakness, weak spots or vulnerability to exploit should prove rewarding. Likewise expecting all your tactics should simply just work on every enemy sounds like complacency the GM should punish now and again.

Agreed. Learning which spells and weapons to attack tough monsters with and remembering when to use what after obtaining them can be very rewarding as is the process of getting them because you know they will be needed. That doesn't work out so much when players can expect to just use their default go-to thing with good results for all opponents.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Can you justify why you think that is?

Yes...any ability that negates the effects of a character's actions has the potential to render the character's actions null and void for that round.

I don't see how (for the sake of argument) a Stone Golem having Damage Threshold 10 in combat with a warrior is any different than a monster having Magic Resistance in combat with a spell-caster.

I’m sorry, what tactic does a fighter have other than attacking?

Use of Weapon Mastery's, use of different weapons (ranged vs. melee, piercing vs. bludgeoning, etc.), Use of different magic weapons, Grappling, Pushing (a target off a ledge*) etc.

*Which was how the Stone ( ? ) Golem was defeated in the Golden Voyage of Sinbad movie.

 

[FrogReaver]

Yes...any ability that negates the effects of a character's actions has the potential to render the character's actions null and void for that round.

I don't see how (for the sake of argument) a Stone Golem having Damage Threshold 10 in combat with a warrior is any different than a monster having Magic Resistance in combat with a spell-caster.

I’m not talking about just for a round.

Fire resistance/immunity by itself is fine because a spell caster can do a different damage type or other effect next round.

5e Magic resistance is the equivalent of disadvantage to hit by a fighter, except not as bad because there’s alot of save for half effects, as well as spells that don’t require a save for an effect (plant Growth and other difficult terrain effects come to mind).

If you mean fire resistance, that’s fine. If you mean slashing damage resistance, that’s fine too. Half damage is still fine.

Soo… not really the same at all!

 

[Upper_Krust]

I’m not talking about just for a round.

Fire resistance/immunity by itself is fine because a spell caster can do a different damage type or other effect next round.

5e Magic resistance is the equivalent of disadvantage to hit by a fighter, except not as bad because there’s alot of save for half effects, as well as spells that don’t require a save for an effect (plant Growth and other difficult terrain effects come to mind).

5e Magic Resistance has the ability to render single target spells extremely ineffective.

If you mean fire resistance, that’s fine. If you mean slashing damage resistance, that’s fine too. Half damage is still fine.

Immunities exist in the game too, such as "immune to damage from normal weapons".

Soo… not really the same at all!

Damage Threshold 10 (to still use that example of a CR 10 Stone Golem) would likely require a fighter dealing 1d8+6 to roll a 5 on the d8 to injure the golem. Which is about half as effective and thus similar to the principle of having Disadvantage. Soo... do you not think its kinda similar?

Then again maybe Damage Threshold is a bit too gritty a mechanic for those who prefer little to no challenge or thought required in their combat encounters. On which you could argue its absence might be better for new players.

 

[Gorck]

Well, I'm happy we didn't see damage thresholds become a major thing. Nothing worse than having your character do nothing... well maybe doing nearly nothing is worse psychologically.

If only there were other things characters could do in combat besides dealing damage, like . . . I don't know . . buffing, debuffing, healing, crowd control, etc.

 

[Lanefan]

If only there were other things characters could do in combat besides dealing damage, like . . . I don't know . . buffing, debuffing, healing, crowd control, etc.

.....negotiation, distraction, summoning, scouting or lookout, fleeing for the hills....