Acid damage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Acid damage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Crazy_DM
08-22-04, 06:29 AM Hej folks,
I have a question, particularly about Acid Fog.
The description says:

..., the fog deals 2d6 points of acid damage to each creature and object...

Now, what about the items worn by a character. Are they treated as the objects in the spell description? Do they take 2d6 damage like its wearer?
Cheers, your Crazy DM.
Fixxxer
08-22-04, 06:35 AM I don't think so. Acid Fog is an area of effect spell, the same as Fireball. As I recall, fireball doesn't deal damage to attended objects in the radius (unless the PC fumbles his Reflex save). You can actually be holding a newspaper soaked in gasoline in your hands and Fireball technically doesn't do anything to it, though it deals 5d6 damage to you. I figure that trying to apply damage to each and every object on your person as well as to yourself is probably a lot more work than the spell is intended to impose.
Crazy_DM
08-22-04, 06:43 AM I give you right with the Fireball and the fumbled saving. Espacially in the DMG is written that worn items only take damage if you roll a natural 1 on your saving.
But Acid Fog does not grant a saving nor does apply SR.
So to make a compromise: You take damage and your items are supposed to make a save?
Cheers, your Crazy DM.
Simetrical
08-22-04, 07:40 AM You can actually be holding a newspaper soaked in gasoline in your hands and Fireball technically doesn't do anything to it, though it deals 5d6 damage to you. ~Fixxxer
The fireball sets fire to combustibles and damages objects in the area. It can melt metals with low melting points, such as lead, gold, copper, silver, and bronze.
Kiri Sittori
08-22-04, 08:38 AM Lightning bolt has the same flavour text (concerning the damage inflicted on objects.) And, on p177, it gives the example of Tordek rolling a nat-1 on his save vs. lightning bolt, so one of his items (randomly, his shield, armour, or Dwarven War Axe) will be attacked by the lightning bolt and makes its own saving throw (which is the same as Tordek's.) Since it's a lightning bolt (or a fireball, in the other case,) the items should be all right (since the damage formula for lightning and fire attacks is [damage/2]-hardness.)

As for no-save effects such as acid fog: if you'd be satisfied with a single attack that can pretty much wipe out ALL of the party's equipment in a couple rounds, acid fog could do it quite well. At least, by literal RAW. Their magical arsenal should survive, with the +10 hp per plus, but that might be "it."

(Hardness is irrelevant, as Acid and Sonic attacks bypass hardness.)
Tanuki, the Bewildered
08-22-04, 09:03 AM Originally posted by Simetrical
[B][a quote from the SRD about Fireballs]

That applies to unattended objects, not the possessions of a character, which only get damaged if they critical fail their reflex save. Fireballs would be even worse for Wizards than they already are if attended objects caught fire - goodbye spellbook, scrolls, and a significant number of wands and staves - and all your coins!
Fixxxer
08-23-04, 04:42 AM Originally posted by Simetrical
You can actually be holding a newspaper soaked in gasoline in your hands and Fireball technically doesn't do anything to it, though it deals 5d6 damage to you. ~Fixxxer

I was going to say something, but Tanuki, the Bewildered basically got what I wanted to touch on. Basically, if the paper is on the ground or perhaps on a desk in front of you, it gets burned up. If you're holding it or it's tucked into your belt or backpack, it becomes immune to damage unless you fumble your saving throw.
Crazy_DM
08-23-04, 05:12 AM Again, thanks your all your replies.
But again I must say that Acid Fog does not gran any saving.
So there is nothing to fumble.
How to handle this?
Phrennzy
08-23-04, 10:16 AM This is one of those cases that you can't apply real world physics to D&D because the game mechanics can't handle it.

The spell deals damage to creatures and objects.

The items held by a creature are considered as part of a creature, and so are not affected seperately. That's Fixxxer's point with the gasoline newspaper (which is a great visual).

Another example would be a platemail clad fighter who dropped his shield to wield his sword with both hands.

Then the Acid Fog rolls in.

The fighter takes 2d6 acid damage. His platemail does not. His sword does not. Nothing he is wearing takes acid damage.
The shield takes 2d6 acid damage.

It would seem then that a spell with a saving throw attached can actually do more harm to your equipment than one without a saving throw at all.
Sphyre
08-23-04, 11:52 AM Another way that makes a little more sense than fixxxer's wonderful visual of how the mechanics work that makes a little more sense is that your character is assumed to always be actively doing his best to protect all of his or her items at all times. This includes throwing your cloak around flamables and wiping the acid off your sword on your acid risistant leather and the sort. All of that is done automatically.

I mean you can dodge a fireball blowing up in your face completely with no possible space to move out of the way with evasion, but somehow not being able to save your items?

Makes a little more sense when you look at it that way.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Crazy_DM 08-22-04, 06:29 AM	Hej folks, I have a question, particularly about Acid Fog. The description says: ..., the fog deals 2d6 points of acid damage to each creature and object... Now, what about the items worn by a character. Are they treated as the objects in the spell description? Do they take 2d6 damage like its wearer? Cheers, your Crazy DM.
Fixxxer 08-22-04, 06:35 AM	I don't think so. Acid Fog is an area of effect spell, the same as Fireball. As I recall, fireball doesn't deal damage to attended objects in the radius (unless the PC fumbles his Reflex save). You can actually be holding a newspaper soaked in gasoline in your hands and Fireball technically doesn't do anything to it, though it deals 5d6 damage to you. I figure that trying to apply damage to each and every object on your person as well as to yourself is probably a lot more work than the spell is intended to impose.
Crazy_DM 08-22-04, 06:43 AM	I give you right with the Fireball and the fumbled saving. Espacially in the DMG is written that worn items only take damage if you roll a natural 1 on your saving. But Acid Fog does not grant a saving nor does apply SR. So to make a compromise: You take damage and your items are supposed to make a save? Cheers, your Crazy DM.
Simetrical 08-22-04, 07:40 AM	You can actually be holding a newspaper soaked in gasoline in your hands and Fireball technically doesn't do anything to it, though it deals 5d6 damage to you. ~Fixxxer The fireball sets fire to combustibles and damages objects in the area. It can melt metals with low melting points, such as lead, gold, copper, silver, and bronze.
Kiri Sittori 08-22-04, 08:38 AM	Lightning bolt has the same flavour text (concerning the damage inflicted on objects.) And, on p177, it gives the example of Tordek rolling a nat-1 on his save vs. lightning bolt, so one of his items (randomly, his shield, armour, or Dwarven War Axe) will be attacked by the lightning bolt and makes its own saving throw (which is the same as Tordek's.) Since it's a lightning bolt (or a fireball, in the other case,) the items should be all right (since the damage formula for lightning and fire attacks is [damage/2]-hardness.) As for no-save effects such as acid fog: if you'd be satisfied with a single attack that can pretty much wipe out ALL of the party's equipment in a couple rounds, acid fog could do it quite well. At least, by literal RAW. Their magical arsenal should survive, with the +10 hp per plus, but that might be "it." (Hardness is irrelevant, as Acid and Sonic attacks bypass hardness.)
Tanuki, the Bewildered 08-22-04, 09:03 AM	Originally posted by Simetrical [B][a quote from the SRD about Fireballs] That applies to unattended objects, not the possessions of a character, which only get damaged if they critical fail their reflex save. Fireballs would be even worse for Wizards than they already are if attended objects caught fire - goodbye spellbook, scrolls, and a significant number of wands and staves - and all your coins!
Fixxxer 08-23-04, 04:42 AM	Originally posted by Simetrical You can actually be holding a newspaper soaked in gasoline in your hands and Fireball technically doesn't do anything to it, though it deals 5d6 damage to you. ~Fixxxer I was going to say something, but Tanuki, the Bewildered basically got what I wanted to touch on. Basically, if the paper is on the ground or perhaps on a desk in front of you, it gets burned up. If you're holding it or it's tucked into your belt or backpack, it becomes immune to damage unless you fumble your saving throw.
Crazy_DM 08-23-04, 05:12 AM	Again, thanks your all your replies. But again I must say that Acid Fog does not gran any saving. So there is nothing to fumble. How to handle this?
Phrennzy 08-23-04, 10:16 AM	This is one of those cases that you can't apply real world physics to D&D because the game mechanics can't handle it. The spell deals damage to creatures and objects. The items held by a creature are considered as part of a creature, and so are not affected seperately. That's Fixxxer's point with the gasoline newspaper (which is a great visual). Another example would be a platemail clad fighter who dropped his shield to wield his sword with both hands. Then the Acid Fog rolls in. The fighter takes 2d6 acid damage. His platemail does not. His sword does not. Nothing he is wearing takes acid damage. The shield takes 2d6 acid damage. It would seem then that a spell with a saving throw attached can actually do more harm to your equipment than one without a saving throw at all.
Sphyre 08-23-04, 11:52 AM	Another way that makes a little more sense than fixxxer's wonderful visual of how the mechanics work that makes a little more sense is that your character is assumed to always be actively doing his best to protect all of his or her items at all times. This includes throwing your cloak around flamables and wiping the acid off your sword on your acid risistant leather and the sort. All of that is done automatically. I mean you can dodge a fireball blowing up in your face completely with no possible space to move out of the way with evasion, but somehow not being able to save your items? Makes a little more sense when you look at it that way.