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<blockquote data-quote="DND_Reborn" data-source="post: 7840494" data-attributes="member: 6987520">Ok, let's examine this point then. Damage isn't clearly physical. I'll repeat part of my post #4:This narrative shows how damage done by a thrown rock from a giant didn't physically harm the character (at least not directly, the &quot;shards of stinging stone&quot; is physical but not necessary really). Weapon attacks of any kind don't have to by physically damaging. The reduction in hit points from the weapon can be reflected in the energy it takes to move so the killing blow is just a scratch, etc.Since hit points don't have to represent physical damage taken, neither does the damage done by a weapon, fire, poison, or any other agent. It can be, certainly, but it doesn't have to be. That damage can just as easily be narrated as luck, skill, energy, etc. depleted by the target of the damage.Now, a couple sessions ago a druid had wild-shaped into a giant eagle. I critical hit was narrated as the shaft piercing the form (the druid-eagle hp was reduced to 0) and then the druid fell over 50 feet! The druid was already injured and nearly went nearly to 0 hp himself (IIRC he had 4 hp left after the fall).It is certainly possible for people to fall 50 feet or more and survive, it is well documented. But how to narrate this damage? The DM decided &quot;luck&quot; was primarily the exhausted factor, as branches broke much of his fall and the actual physical damage was described as bumps and bruises, and having the wind knocked out of him.The point is there are all sorts of ways to narrate damage from any source and how the damage is mitigated to the loss of hp is part of that.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="DND_Reborn, post: 7840494, member: 6987520"] Ok, let's examine this point then. Damage isn't clearly physical. I'll repeat part of my post #4: This narrative shows how damage done by a thrown rock from a giant didn't physically harm the character (at least not directly, the "shards of stinging stone" is physical but not necessary really). Weapon attacks of any kind don't have to by physically damaging. The reduction in hit points from the weapon can be reflected in the energy it takes to move so the killing blow is just a scratch, etc. Since hit points don't have to represent physical damage taken, neither does the damage done by a weapon, fire, poison, or any other agent. It [I]can[/I] be, certainly, but it doesn't have to be. That damage can just as easily be narrated as luck, skill, energy, etc. depleted by the target of the damage. Now, a couple sessions ago a druid had wild-shaped into a giant eagle. I critical hit was narrated as the shaft piercing the form (the druid-eagle hp was reduced to 0) and then the druid fell over 50 feet! The druid was already injured and nearly went nearly to 0 hp himself (IIRC he had 4 hp left after the fall). It is certainly possible for people to fall 50 feet or more and survive, it is well documented. But how to narrate this damage? The DM decided "luck" was primarily the exhausted factor, as branches broke much of his fall and the actual physical damage was described as bumps and bruises, and having the wind knocked out of him. The point is there are all sorts of ways to narrate damage from any source and how the damage is mitigated to the loss of hp is part of that. [/QUOTE]

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