D&D 5E Tidal Wave Vs. Fire Elemental

[Z. H. Darkstar]

I once had a similar situation come up during PotA, when the party found themselves in the middle of a fight between water and fire elementals. A water elemental walked into a fire elemental's space, and a discussion over the number of gallons contained in a water elemental ensued.

 

[Imaculata]

Let them be Indy with their gun taking out the bad guy with the sword.

^ I could not agree more.

As a DM, I am ultimately on the side of my players, not on the side of my fictional villains. My players are the heroes, and my villains are there to be defeated. If they happen to find some glorious way to instantly kill the boss, good for them, and good riddens! He was living on borrowed time anyway. Such amazing victories are rare, and should be cherished and applauded.

[video=youtube;7YyBtMxZgQs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YyBtMxZgQs[/video]

 

[Adam Broady]

There is actually a calculation to the damage. I came here doing research for an upcoming campaign. Tidal wave is 10x10 on the Face and it moves down the 30ft ramp so if you assume actual wave portion is 1ft deep thats 1 ft^3=7.5 gallons. So in a 10x10 grid that's 100ft^3 = 750 damage. More than enough to 1 shot it but it's way better than the DM plucking a number that "feels" right.

 

[jaelis]

OTOH, a fire elemental can move through water and take only one point of damage per 5 feet traveled. So it's not like immersing it in water is supposed to be an autokill. If you start from there, it doesn't seem like a wave of water would do that much. I'd probably have it deal +4d8 cold damage on top of the bludgeoning.