D&D 5E Negative feedback to spike damage

[Libramarian]

Just tossing out an idea on how to make "solo" encounters tougher. It seems odd that Legendary Resistance protects against failed saving throws but not pure spike damage. What if Legendary Resistance also included a negative feedback mechanism for damage. E.g. after 30 points of damage, the monster has resistance to further damage of that type in the same turn, as the monster turtles up or adapts defensively.

 

[AaronOfBarbaria]

Bigger HP pools are already representative of "better protected against spike damage"

The reason why saves get a special protection is because saves result in effects that, unlike damage, there isn't already a specific number representing graduated resistance to them - so it's either Legendary Resistance that can be worn down, or flat out immunity to a longer list of effects being a more common trait.

The former is typically viewed as the "more fun" alternative.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Your proposal sounds like a good idea for a specific monster, but I don't think it makes a lot of sense normally, because each damage type is so broad in what it covers.

 

[ExploderWizard]

Oh man! I have heard of some harsh DMs but this is really mean. An iron spike does at most maybe a d4 of damage. Making the PCs fight with iron spikes is bad enough, and now you want to make monsters resistant to them? You run a tough campaign.

 

[the Jester]

Just tossing out an idea on how to make "solo" encounters tougher. It seems odd that Legendary Resistance protects against failed saving throws but not pure spike damage. What if Legendary Resistance also included a negative feedback mechanism for damage. E.g. after 30 points of damage, the monster has resistance to further damage of that type in the same turn, as the monster turtles up or adapts defensively.

Why not just build that kind of trait into individual monsters when it's appropriate?