Wounds from Eldritch Blasts

[Presto2112]

What do you suppose that a wound from an eldritch blast looks like?

The reason I ask is that somewhere down the line, I'm thinking of having my PCs find the body of someone they're looking for, murdered in his inn room. All they will find on the body are a couple of heavy Eldritch Blast wounds.

But would an Eldritch Blast even leave a wound? The EB is pure energy; not fire or electricity, not force - just pure magical energy. I wonder would it resemble a strangely discolored burn, or simply a mess of flesh like a severe bludgeoning, or would there be a wound at all?

There's no real source for this kind of information at all, so basically I'm just looking for people's opinions on this one.

 

[nute]

It depends on how the damage is done. If an eldritch blast can harm objects, then it logically also must do physical damage to a body. If it does full damage to objects, then treat it as a physical attack - mass blunt force trauma, possibly penetrative. Think a very large shot put thrown very very fast. If it does reduced damage to objects, you're looking at energy-based damage.

Wounds from fire and electricity will result in charred flesh around the wound, possible secondary and partial-thickness burns at the edges and radiating from the point of impact. Wounds from cold will cause bursting of surface blood vessels, possibly deep trauma damage and would be harder to identify if the body is at room temperature.

If "magical energy" exists as any other type of attack, then there's likely been a study on what the wounds look like, unless it's so uncommon no one's used to seeing it.

 

[rgard]

What do you suppose that a wound from an eldritch blast looks like?

The reason I ask is that somewhere down the line, I'm thinking of having my PCs find the body of someone they're looking for, murdered in his inn room. All they will find on the body are a couple of heavy Eldritch Blast wounds.

But would an Eldritch Blast even leave a wound? The EB is pure energy; not fire or electricity, not force - just pure magical energy. I wonder would it resemble a strangely discolored burn, or simply a mess of flesh like a severe bludgeoning, or would there be a wound at all?

There's no real source for this kind of information at all, so basically I'm just looking for people's opinions on this one.

Just making this up...have the flesh shredded!

 

[Firedancer]

Good question.

Clearly you want it to leave a mark, so I would consider it like a burn, but more focused in its area of effect. So the skin would look damaged, but no blood as its energy. Its not fire, so I wouldn't have it burn fabric, but damage it as if crushed (which won't do a lot of damage to fabric).

Have they encountered warlocks before in the game? Could talk it up a bit "there are a couple of signs of trauma, scabbed over skin, tinged yellow. The wound doesn't bleed, the wound clearly cautorised, but its not just a general burn, the clothes show no sign of fire".

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

A purple nurple. Eldritch blasts go right to the nipple. Warlocks are bullies like that.

 

[nute]

A purple nurple. Eldritch blasts go right to the nipple. Warlocks are bullies like that.

Purple nurples are Vile damage, though.

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

The EB is pure energy; not fire or electricity, not force - just pure magical energy

Isn't fire basically "pure" energy? I know you're talking DnD; I'm just being contrary.

It might help if you make a distinction between the way fire burns and the way an eldritch blast "burns." Maybe rather than leaving the flesh all charred and black, it's a much cleaner burn, maybe appearing as a lesser degree: reddened skin, blisters, etc. Just a thought.

 

[sukael]

I'd say that a wound from an eldritch blast looks remarkably like a more unpleasant version of a wound from a magic missile, personally.

 

[starwed]

I'd have it depend somewhat on the flavor of the warlock.

And, of course, the strength of the blast should matter. If a 20th level warlock hits a commoner for 10d6 damage, it's going to be messy.

 

[CrimsonWineGlass]

As a common consensus in the games I have played in an eldritch blast has an effect similar to a ball of magma being thrown at the person. Cauterization, etc, also some splashing over a small radius. Basically burning on contact but no spreading of the fire. Also, I'd go with a purplish tint to the wound or the burn maybe.