Do you announce Damage Reduction immediately?

[ColonelHardisson]

With respect, I just don't buy that. Weapon damage is already random, with it assumed (by me, if no one else ) that each strike has just as much force put behind it (power attack not withstanding).

Whether you buy it or not, that's how it's described when I'm DMing, which is all that matters. My table, my world.

 

[Asmor]

Worth noting, by the RAW characters should know that their weapons aren't fully effective.

DMG pg 292, third paragraph

"[Describing how DR can mean different things] In either case, characters can see that conventional attacks don't work."

 

[ColonelHardisson]

With respect, I just don't buy that. Weapon damage is already random, with it assumed (by me, if no one else ) that each strike has just as much force put behind it (power attack not withstanding).

To address this again, since what Asmor posted jogged my mind a bit...characters know whether the blows they deliver are full on or glancing, and can tell how damaging they were, even if only in general. So if they only do a point of damage to a 100 hp monster, they know they didn't do much damage, without knowing the creature's hp score. Conversely, they know when they do a lot of damage, so when they deliver 35 damage to a 100 hp creature, they see it hurt. So telling them that their blows don't seem to be falling as heavily as they should, or biting as deeply as the PC knows it should have, seems very appropriate in describing DR.

 

[Ed_Laprade]

I should have thought of a Knowledge check - doh! I agree that characters should have a clue as to what their weapons do - though I'd base it on their experience for RP purposes. A wizard, out of school for the first time, out of spells and cornered by an undead lashes out with his staff for the first time ever. It just seems different to a warrior in the same situation.

If I were the player I'd be really annoyed with you. If he was, as you indicate in both posts, using a staff/stick the DR vs. slashing would have had no effect on the bludgeoning weapon!

 

[Asmor]

If I were the player I'd be really annoyed with you. If he was, as you indicate in both posts, using a staff/stick the DR vs. slashing would have had no effect on the bludgeoning weapon!

Uhh.... I think maybe you misinterpretted the rules for DR.

The quality after the / (in this case /slashing) is what bypasses the DR, not what the DR applies to. So a zombie only takes full damage from slashing weapons.

 

[carborundum]

Thanks for that reference Asmor - I must have missed or skipped over that every time I read it!
To be honest, I have no problem letting them know it isn't fazed by an attack, or hinting that it's not as bothered as they might expect. I was more looking for general opinions whether I should explicitly state that the DR rules were in play. I guess they were used to it from the previous DM - it's my first time with this group.

 

[Rabelais]

I agree with Drowbane. He and I are in the same group. I think that "Your blow doesn't land as hard as you think it should" is probably the most common descriptor for DR, but it might not really be the best way to go about that.

Players should be able to suss out DR when it happens though, generally our group uses the Knowledge (appropriate type) skill, whether it's (religion), (Planar), (Arcane) etc. to figure out what's going on.

 

[Edgewood]

I normally reply with "Your enemy seems to shrug off your attack with ease." or "You blink in amazement at your opponent. What would take down an ordinary man seems to have barely scratched the creature. Perhaps a new tactic is required?" I have never had a complaint from the players about this. However, after the battle is completed I inform the players that DR was at work.

 

[Nifft]

"Your experience in combat tells you that your blow should have damaged BAD GUY more than it seems to have."

or

"Your attack connects, but surprisingly has no effect!"

Within ~5-10 successful attacks, I let them know what the actual DR is, and let them do the math.

Cheers, -- N

 

[carborundum]

Within ~5-10 successful attacks, I let them know what the actual DR is, and let them do the math.

Nice one! Once they know what's going on, let their experience empower them to ... do your donkey work. I love it!