"THIS does only 1d4 damage?!"

[Olidammara]

As my wife waited for me to gather my gear at the fencing club the other day, she wandered to the front where we sell archaic model swords and armor stuff. She asked about this blade and that blade, short sword vs. long sword, and then picked up a dagger and asked with incredulity, "This does only 1d4 damage?!"

We did our best to talk through the D&D damage representation system -- armor protection, weapon approximations, scaling injuries against combat experience and whatnot -- but I'd like to gather some additional feedback here.

How do you explain to a new player that a dagger injury could kill a low-level "common" person with one blow, but barely harm an adventuring hero? And why will armor prevent a character from being "hit" with a dice roll at all?

 

[Wolfspider]

How do you explain to a new player that a dagger injury could kill a low-level "common" person with one blow, but barely harm an adventuring hero? And why will armor prevent a character from being "hit" with a dice roll at all?

Well, first of all, you're looking at D&D combat and damage with the wrong concepts in mind. The kind of dagger attack that would kill a commoner in one blow doesn't even scratch a higher level character. Lost hit points do not mean that a blow has actually been struck. And combat involves making successful attacks, not being "hit." I would suggest that you read back over the combat section in the PHB before trying to explain such concepts to your wife and others.

 

[Olidammara]

Well, first of all, you're looking at D&D combat and damage with the wrong concepts in mind. The kind of dagger attack that would kill a commoner in one blow doesn't even scratch a higher level character. Lost hit points do not mean that a blow has actually been struck. And combat involves making successful attacks, not being "hit." I would suggest that you read back over the combat section in the PHB before trying to explain such concepts to your wife and others.

So you can't explain it either, huh? Thanks.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

D&D combat is, at best, abstract.

"The dragon bites you for 50 points of damage."

Think about that. If a 20 foot long creature BITES me, you know what's going to happen? I'm going to die. It doesn't matter if I'm a US Special Forces veteran. It doesn't matter if I'm Mike Tyson. If something that big BITES me, I'm going to die ... or at the very least lose an arm or leg. Regardless, no matter who I am I'm not going to be able to swat it with a sword immediately afterwards.

"Damage" is fatigue, bruises, and minor scrapes. I'd only worry about "real" damage when the players drop below 1 hit point.

 

[Horacio]

So you can't explain it either, huh? Just say so next time, or don't try to contribute anything at all.

Anyone else have something USEFUL to post?

A bit oversensitive are you...

 

[hong]

Guys, this is OLIDAMMARA we're talking to, here.

It is a mortal sin to take Oli too seriously.

It is also a mortal sin not to take Oli seriously enough.

This post has served no useful purpose whatsoever, and is thus more useful than might be realised.


Hong "om mani padme hum" Ooi

 

[Desdichado]

Olidammara:
So you can't explain it either, huh? Just say so next time, or don't try to contribute anything at all.

Anyone else have something USEFUL to post?

Sure he can. And he did post something useful. Go back and reread the hit points section of the PHB in the combat chapter.

 

[Olidammara]

Consider yourself duly blessed, Hong. You may reroll your next dice result.

... UNLESS it's a 1d4 dagger cut that may or may not kill you, depending on your character level. Explain that, Mr. Smarty Britches.

 

[angramainyu]

Watch the tone, please.

 

[Psychotic Dreamer]

Hit points do not directly represent life force or whatever you wish to call it. Hit points are a combination of luck, ability to avoid having major organs damaged, life force and other things.

Fighting types are the best at avoiding major damage from attacks.

Thats my take on it at least.