Acid damage - How does it Work?!? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Acid damage - How does it Work?!? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
GreyWanderer
12-16-04, 06:21 PM My question is this: in D&D, acid is considered a form of energy. That’s difficult to deal with, since, in our world, it’s matter (usually a liquid). I’m talking about acid produced by spells of course, not acid produced and bottled by an alchemist – that I see as similar to normal real-world acids.
So, I was trying to decide how to visualize acid damage produced by spells. I see one of three choices:

1. Acid is a physical liquid. Spells that do acid damage simply conjure a temporary form of matter (Protomatter?) that evaporates when the duration is up. This is most like acid in our world, but bends the rules severely.

2. Acid is energy. Any spell that does acid damage creates that form of energy. Objects continue to take damage after the initial attack just as an object heated in a furnace is still hot (and melting) for a time after it’s removed from the furnace. This most closely matches the existing rules.

3. Acid is energy that behaves like a liquid. A compromise between the first two, the acid is energy, but it pores forth and splashes an object. This has the advantage of being able to effect nearby objects with splash damage.

Any thoughts?

Grey
Willie the Duck
12-16-04, 08:04 PM real acid gets used up as it damages things (i.e. as it protinates objects, the excess protons in solution are used up). This is realistically a slow effect and one is rarely exposed to it in real life. Maybe D&D acid is very potent (pH 1.0-), but comes in very small doses, such that it can be summoned, do serious damage, yet have no lasting effects or significant splatter (unless the spell or itme lists otherwise).
Seeker95
12-16-04, 08:45 PM It works the same way as fireball, ice storm, or any other damage spell. The actual physics of it is immaterial. That being said, I would go with an answer of D. It depends. Some spells will do damage over time. Some spells will do damage and be done. Of the choices you offered, I'd lean more toward C. In either case, this is only if the explanation is not used to alter or interfere with mechanics.
KittenWarrior
12-17-04, 10:12 AM I'd go with option 3.
Acid, like light, sometimes behaves like energy and sometimes like matter. The circumstances of the application decide which behavior is prevalent.

Ain't physics great? :cheer:

Cheers,
KW
Soulmage
12-17-04, 10:47 AM Actually, if you read a lot of the acid spell descriptions you'll notice that many of them do not allow spell resistance. So what they're doing is summoning actual physical acid, vs. it being a magical energy effect.
spamfiltre
12-17-04, 11:58 AM You can apply whatever visualization you want, but individual spells describe the effects. In a similar manner to instantaneous fire effects not being able to cause things to catch fire (certain spells specifically state that the target can catch fire, but the bulk of spells don't allow that), Acid descriptor spells might or might not allow continuing damage.

If you follow the rule of the spell in question, it should help you visualize.

For example, an acid spell that doesn't do continuing damage might be seen as a fine mist - damaging while the spell is in effect, but once the spell ends, there isn't enough acid left to continue to do damage. On the other hand, an Acid Arrow continues to do damage, so you can imagine the acid being more visible/tangible.

In D&D it is energy, though, so you need to suspend disbelief when it comes to casting damaging acid spells underwater, or in other circumstances where logic might apply.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
GreyWanderer 12-16-04, 06:21 PM	My question is this: in D&D, acid is considered a form of energy. That’s difficult to deal with, since, in our world, it’s matter (usually a liquid). I’m talking about acid produced by spells of course, not acid produced and bottled by an alchemist – that I see as similar to normal real-world acids. So, I was trying to decide how to visualize acid damage produced by spells. I see one of three choices: 1. Acid is a physical liquid. Spells that do acid damage simply conjure a temporary form of matter (Protomatter?) that evaporates when the duration is up. This is most like acid in our world, but bends the rules severely. 2. Acid is energy. Any spell that does acid damage creates that form of energy. Objects continue to take damage after the initial attack just as an object heated in a furnace is still hot (and melting) for a time after it’s removed from the furnace. This most closely matches the existing rules. 3. Acid is energy that behaves like a liquid. A compromise between the first two, the acid is energy, but it pores forth and splashes an object. This has the advantage of being able to effect nearby objects with splash damage. Any thoughts? Grey
Willie the Duck 12-16-04, 08:04 PM	real acid gets used up as it damages things (i.e. as it protinates objects, the excess protons in solution are used up). This is realistically a slow effect and one is rarely exposed to it in real life. Maybe D&D acid is very potent (pH 1.0-), but comes in very small doses, such that it can be summoned, do serious damage, yet have no lasting effects or significant splatter (unless the spell or itme lists otherwise).
Seeker95 12-16-04, 08:45 PM	It works the same way as fireball, ice storm, or any other damage spell. The actual physics of it is immaterial. That being said, I would go with an answer of D. It depends. Some spells will do damage over time. Some spells will do damage and be done. Of the choices you offered, I'd lean more toward C. In either case, this is only if the explanation is not used to alter or interfere with mechanics.
KittenWarrior 12-17-04, 10:12 AM	I'd go with option 3. Acid, like light, sometimes behaves like energy and sometimes like matter. The circumstances of the application decide which behavior is prevalent. Ain't physics great? :cheer: Cheers, KW
Soulmage 12-17-04, 10:47 AM	Actually, if you read a lot of the acid spell descriptions you'll notice that many of them do not allow spell resistance. So what they're doing is summoning actual physical acid, vs. it being a magical energy effect.
spamfiltre 12-17-04, 11:58 AM	You can apply whatever visualization you want, but individual spells describe the effects. In a similar manner to instantaneous fire effects not being able to cause things to catch fire (certain spells specifically state that the target can catch fire, but the bulk of spells don't allow that), Acid descriptor spells might or might not allow continuing damage. If you follow the rule of the spell in question, it should help you visualize. For example, an acid spell that doesn't do continuing damage might be seen as a fine mist - damaging while the spell is in effect, but once the spell ends, there isn't enough acid left to continue to do damage. On the other hand, an Acid Arrow continues to do damage, so you can imagine the acid being more visible/tangible. In D&D it is energy, though, so you need to suspend disbelief when it comes to casting damaging acid spells underwater, or in other circumstances where logic might apply.