Resistance and other effects

[phloog]

Where I think the confusiin might lie is in other editions and games, and effect would not be delivered if ALL damage was negated by some resistance. EXAMPLE: a creature negates up to five points from edged weapons. They are struck by a poison blade. In other rules, if a blade did less than 5, it didn't poke through the tough skin, break through the force field, etc, and so the poison couldn't be delivered. I think even in 4e if a situation like that comes up I may use fiat+common sense

 

[DracoSuave]

Non-damaging effects are not the result of damage in 4e. So a thunderwave that tosses you across the room and injures you with thunder damage doesn't fail to toss you across the room just because you didn't get injured. Vines that have wrapped around your ankles and slowed you have slowed you, even if they haven't wounded you with their razor sharp leaves. The fire is still bright and blinded you, even tho you didn't take third degree burns.

 

[tuxgeo]

Well, IMMUNITY states this. Since the OP was asking about resistance it wasn't germane to the discussion, but since you bring it up...

Poison is the one oddball one. Poison is both a damage type and an effect type. As for charm, fear, and illusion they are purely effect types. . . .

This.

Resistance only applies to damage. Immunity, however, can apply both to damage and to effects.
If their descriptions in the Rules Compendium are adjacent to each other, or within Close burst 2 pages of each other, it might be possible to confuse one with the other.

(And, alas, I cannot give XP to AbdulAlhazred again so soon for pointing out this clear distinction.)