Self inflicted damage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Self inflicted damage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Asilomar
07-24-07, 07:04 PM If a character hits a wall with a natural weapon with the intent to do damage either to the wall or to something that the character thinks is on the wall, should that character take damage himself?

I ruled that they would take 1/2 the damage delt as non-lethal, but that bothered the player.
Elessar
07-24-07, 10:38 PM If they had Improved Unarmed strike or a natural attack (like claw, slam, etc.), I'd say no... and if they beat the wall's hardness, they do damage to it.

If they don't have Improved Unarmed Strike, but they beat the wall's toughness, I'd say no.

If they don't have Improved Unarmed Strike, and they don't beat the wall's toughness, I'd ad hoc a rule that made them take 1 nonlethal damage. I think having them really hurt themselves just for trying something is a little too harsh just from the perspective of having fun.
Kouk
07-25-07, 03:43 AM I don't think adding a game effect makes that any more fun for anyone. You certainly are within your rights to say "You strike the wall... but you realize you have just punched a solid stone wall and your hand hurts." But you shouldn't start taking away hit points. In general a person can't kill themselves by punching a wall really hard, though they may break some bones (bone breaking isn't really handled in D&D).
Mock26
07-25-07, 03:57 AM Add in half damage, but allow for a reflex save to avoid the damage entirely. Allowing such a strike to cause damage to the attacker adds a level of realism that will probably make the game more fun for everyone. And, since it is non-lethal damage then there is no fear of the person punching the wall until they die.
Asilomar
07-25-07, 12:45 PM Okay, now say that the reason that they are punching the wall is that they have the monster called the "Choker" enveloping their hand and they are attempting to do damage to it ... it is like a cloaker and the text reads that any damage done to it, they get half-damage.

And one of my players is a Satyr and it enveloped his head. If he head-butts the wall with his horns, should he take damage as well as the Choker?
Some_call_me_Tim
07-25-07, 06:09 PM If a character hits a wall with a natural weapon with the intent to do damage either to the wall or to something that the character thinks is on the wall, should that character take damage himself?

I ruled that they would take 1/2 the damage delt as non-lethal, but that bothered the player.I think your player has a point here. The rules don't support your assertion. Don't try and bring real-world logic into a fantasy game.

Be careful with any ruling like that. If I was a slimy weaselly power-gaming munchkin, I would file that away, wait until I got some adamantine armor and demand that any monster that hit me with a natural weapon should take damage as well because adamatine is tougher than any wall known to munchkin-kind.

Okay, now say that the reason that they are punching the wall is that they have the monster called the "Choker" enveloping their hand and they are attempting to do damage to it ... it is like a cloaker and the text reads that any damage done to it, they get half-damage.

And one of my players is a Satyr and it enveloped his head. If he head-butts the wall with his horns, should he take damage as well as the Choker?The official choker does not have the engulf extraordinary ability. If it is a cloaker, then the engulf applies to any attack from the outside. So an engulfed satyr will not take damage for using his horns. However, if his pixie buddy attacks with a short sword he takes 1/2 damage.
Mock26
07-25-07, 06:51 PM Given your example of a "choker" engulfing the person's fist, I would rule that the person could punch a wall with a choker-covered fist and that he would do normal damage to the choker and half damage to himself.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Asilomar 07-24-07, 07:04 PM	If a character hits a wall with a natural weapon with the intent to do damage either to the wall or to something that the character thinks is on the wall, should that character take damage himself? I ruled that they would take 1/2 the damage delt as non-lethal, but that bothered the player.
Elessar 07-24-07, 10:38 PM	If they had Improved Unarmed strike or a natural attack (like claw, slam, etc.), I'd say no... and if they beat the wall's hardness, they do damage to it. If they don't have Improved Unarmed Strike, but they beat the wall's toughness, I'd say no. If they don't have Improved Unarmed Strike, and they don't beat the wall's toughness, I'd ad hoc a rule that made them take 1 nonlethal damage. I think having them really hurt themselves just for trying something is a little too harsh just from the perspective of having fun.
Kouk 07-25-07, 03:43 AM	I don't think adding a game effect makes that any more fun for anyone. You certainly are within your rights to say "You strike the wall... but you realize you have just punched a solid stone wall and your hand hurts." But you shouldn't start taking away hit points. In general a person can't kill themselves by punching a wall really hard, though they may break some bones (bone breaking isn't really handled in D&D).
Mock26 07-25-07, 03:57 AM	Add in half damage, but allow for a reflex save to avoid the damage entirely. Allowing such a strike to cause damage to the attacker adds a level of realism that will probably make the game more fun for everyone. And, since it is non-lethal damage then there is no fear of the person punching the wall until they die.
Asilomar 07-25-07, 12:45 PM	Okay, now say that the reason that they are punching the wall is that they have the monster called the "Choker" enveloping their hand and they are attempting to do damage to it ... it is like a cloaker and the text reads that any damage done to it, they get half-damage. And one of my players is a Satyr and it enveloped his head. If he head-butts the wall with his horns, should he take damage as well as the Choker?
Some_call_me_Tim 07-25-07, 06:09 PM	If a character hits a wall with a natural weapon with the intent to do damage either to the wall or to something that the character thinks is on the wall, should that character take damage himself? I ruled that they would take 1/2 the damage delt as non-lethal, but that bothered the player.I think your player has a point here. The rules don't support your assertion. Don't try and bring real-world logic into a fantasy game. Be careful with any ruling like that. If I was a slimy weaselly power-gaming munchkin, I would file that away, wait until I got some adamantine armor and demand that any monster that hit me with a natural weapon should take damage as well because adamatine is tougher than any wall known to munchkin-kind. Okay, now say that the reason that they are punching the wall is that they have the monster called the "Choker" enveloping their hand and they are attempting to do damage to it ... it is like a cloaker and the text reads that any damage done to it, they get half-damage. And one of my players is a Satyr and it enveloped his head. If he head-butts the wall with his horns, should he take damage as well as the Choker?The official choker does not have the engulf extraordinary ability. If it is a cloaker, then the engulf applies to any attack from the outside. So an engulfed satyr will not take damage for using his horns. However, if his pixie buddy attacks with a short sword he takes 1/2 damage.
Mock26 07-25-07, 06:51 PM	Given your example of a "choker" engulfing the person's fist, I would rule that the person could punch a wall with a choker-covered fist and that he would do normal damage to the choker and half damage to himself.