Are there general rules on Resistance and Vulnerability beyond when a stat block states an explicit instance? For example, do undead creatures generally have vulnerability to radiant damage and resistance to necrotic? Do reptilian creatures have a natural vulnerability to cold damage? Or is it just whatever is stated on the stat block, and that's it? It seems like it would be illogical to use necrotic attacks on undead, just like it would be to use a fire spell on an fire elemental or some other fire-based creature.
Just what the stat block says, but I see where you're coming from.
That's what I was afraid of. It seems like it's just common sense to have your Paladins and Clerics have an edge on undead creatures, and that fire-based spells would have a little more "oomph" against ice or snow-based monsters, etc, while the converse would be true for using Chill Touch on zombies. Oh well. I'll probably still give consideration to those situations when I DM, and just let ppl know that it's not an official rule.
To answer to the first question, yes, only the conditions in the stat blocks matters.
I can understand your concern, because the definitions of this damage types have changed with editions. For example in 5e, necrotic damage is something that withers "matter" in general. So living and non-living things.
To answer to the first question, yes, only the conditions in the stat blocks matters.
I can understand your concern, because the definitions of this damage types have changed with editions. For example in 5e, necrotic damage is something that withers "matter" in general. So living and non-living things.
Matter is matter, so it works and that's fine. I just figure it becomes a little more fun for the player if they get a bit of an edge, or more interesting if they can't use a favorite spell because of resistance. I just like the wrinkle.
For 5th edition, they removed the idea of creature types and of those creature types having associated immunities, resistances & vulnerabilities.
Now, you will find all of that information stated explicitly for each monster.
Out of curiosity, what do you mean by creature types? They refer to categories like 'undead,' 'celestial' and 'aberration' and all that in 5e. Was there something beyond that in past editions? In 5th, 'undead' is probably the only category where you'd assume everything would be vulnerable to a particular dmg type, unless you maybe wanted to include fiends. I'm just curious how they may have been categorized before.
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Are there general rules on Resistance and Vulnerability beyond when a stat block states an explicit instance? For example, do undead creatures generally have vulnerability to radiant damage and resistance to necrotic? Do reptilian creatures have a natural vulnerability to cold damage? Or is it just whatever is stated on the stat block, and that's it? It seems like it would be illogical to use necrotic attacks on undead, just like it would be to use a fire spell on an fire elemental or some other fire-based creature.
Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.
Just what the stat block says, but I see where you're coming from.
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Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.
To answer to the first question, yes, only the conditions in the stat blocks matters.
I can understand your concern, because the definitions of this damage types have changed with editions. For example in 5e, necrotic damage is something that withers "matter" in general. So living and non-living things.
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D&D Beyond FoundersFor 5th edition, they removed the idea of creature types and of those creature types having associated immunities, resistances & vulnerabilities.
Now, you will find all of that information stated explicitly for each monster.
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Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.