In the process of editing my homebrew Water Elemental.
Since they are made entirely of water, should the Water Elemental of some kind of Damage Reduction to fire damage? I seems weird that fire, especially non-magical fire, in whatever amount would hurt a creature made entirely of water. I know that 5e got rid of most Damage Reduction rules from earlier editions, but I'm thinking that reintroducing some damage reduction for special creatures wouldn't upset the game mechanics much, right? Something like DR 8 vs. fire damage, for instance. Would that bog down calculations for combat?
While we're on the topic, what's the difference between "regular" fire and magical fire? Esp. in regards to water-based creatures like the Water Elemental.
Interesting question I was actually discussing a similar consideration with a friend the other day.
personally I was of the kind that they wouldn’t have a reduction if it is a fire attack against the water elemental, BUT they would have a bonus or advantage if the water elemental is attacking fire. My reasoning was based around this: If you throw a large amount of water on a fire, it snuffs it out, but if you expose water to a large amount of fire, it turns to steam and is dispersed. So it’s kind of a question of quantity of each element in the situation.
as far as the mundane vs magic question, I’ve always considered it simply a question of following basic thermodynamics or not. Regular fire requires the basics of a fuel source, oxygen in the right ratios, and reacts to the environment as dictated by thermodynamics. Simply put, magic fire does not. Magic fire doesn’t require a true fuel source, can be created with out one or with the right amount of oxygen, behaves in the environment as dictated by the casters will, not how it naturally would as real fire.
For the Summon Elemental spell they listed Water as only being resistant to Acid and Fire elemental types as immune to Fire.
I guess I would note that if the fire can be put out, such as regular fire or the magical Searing Smite spell, then it would cease and not cause damage in future turns but the initial damage should still apply as the fire or heat would turn the water to steam.
We tame water with fire every time we make tea. but if it wasn't for the kettle the fire would be in trouble too. I wouldn't bother with resistances unless it was just to emote a glancing blow for fluff. Although, I'd definitely rule up a Fog Cloud if it came to fists and grappling between the two. Maybe attract/birth a few Steam Mephit or something.
In the process of editing my homebrew Water Elemental.
Since they are made entirely of water, should the Water Elemental of some kind of Damage Reduction to fire damage? I seems weird that fire, especially non-magical fire, in whatever amount would hurt a creature made entirely of water. I know that 5e got rid of most Damage Reduction rules from earlier editions, but I'm thinking that reintroducing some damage reduction for special creatures wouldn't upset the game mechanics much, right? Something like DR 8 vs. fire damage, for instance. Would that bog down calculations for combat?
While we're on the topic, what's the difference between "regular" fire and magical fire? Esp. in regards to water-based creatures like the Water Elemental.
Interesting question I was actually discussing a similar consideration with a friend the other day.
personally I was of the kind that they wouldn’t have a reduction if it is a fire attack against the water elemental, BUT they would have a bonus or advantage if the water elemental is attacking fire. My reasoning was based around this: If you throw a large amount of water on a fire, it snuffs it out, but if you expose water to a large amount of fire, it turns to steam and is dispersed. So it’s kind of a question of quantity of each element in the situation.
as far as the mundane vs magic question, I’ve always considered it simply a question of following basic thermodynamics or not. Regular fire requires the basics of a fuel source, oxygen in the right ratios, and reacts to the environment as dictated by thermodynamics. Simply put, magic fire does not. Magic fire doesn’t require a true fuel source, can be created with out one or with the right amount of oxygen, behaves in the environment as dictated by the casters will, not how it naturally would as real fire.
For the Summon Elemental spell they listed Water as only being resistant to Acid and Fire elemental types as immune to Fire.
I guess I would note that if the fire can be put out, such as regular fire or the magical Searing Smite spell, then it would cease and not cause damage in future turns but the initial damage should still apply as the fire or heat would turn the water to steam.
We tame water with fire every time we make tea. but if it wasn't for the kettle the fire would be in trouble too. I wouldn't bother with resistances unless it was just to emote a glancing blow for fluff. Although, I'd definitely rule up a Fog Cloud if it came to fists and grappling between the two. Maybe attract/birth a few Steam Mephit or something.
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